Dentist Forum

Fizzy vitamin supplements rot teeth

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:23:45 +0000

Fizzy vitamin supplements it seems are nearly as bad for our teeth as fizzy drinks. According to the University of Helsinki fizzy vitamin supplements are acidic and have a corrosive effect on our teeth. So don’t swill the drink around in your mouth, and use a straw or consider changing to a vitamin pill.

New materials in dentistry

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:00:24 +0000

An excellent article in the February edition of Chemistry World on new dental filling materials, new bone growth materials and new adhesives. You can also listen to it as a podcast. This is probably an article more for dentists than the layman but very interesting neverless.

Tooth Grinding

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:48:48 +0000

Do you grind your teeth? If so you need to read this excellent article on the BBC website on bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching to the layman). Teeth grinding and clenching mainly seems to happen at night but can also be a problem during the day.

If you are stressed you are more likely to start grinding your teeth, however not everyone agrees with this. Telltale signs of bruxism are worn away tooth enamel, worn down teeth, fractured teeth, sensitivity if the tooth dentin is exposed,jaw pain, facial pain and headaches. Anger and frustration can also cause you to grind and clench your teeth.

What can you do about bruxism:

De-stress yourself – change your life, change your job, change your expectations, have a holiday, take the dog out for long walks (you might have to buy one first!)
Learn to relax – take up yoga, have some cranial osteopathy, have a warm bath before going to bed
See your dentist – wear a plastic guard over your teeth at night to absorb the grinding forces

Dental Treatment Abroad – Medical Tourism Show London April 2010

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:45:55 +0000

Are you free on 17-18 April 2010? How about putting this in your diary. The Health and Medical Tourism Show at Olympia in London. Find out about dental treatment abroad and the different dental procedures available. Exhibitors from lots of different countries including Poland and Hungary in Eastern Europe. Where can you get free tickets from – www.destinationhealth.co.uk

Denti-Brush – Wire-free Interdental brushes

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:40:36 +0000

Just thought I would mention a favourite product of mine which I use every day. Denti-Brush Interdental Brushes are the most effective interdental brushes I have ever come across and are really comfortable to use. They are very gentle on the gums and teeth and they have soft flexible rubberish heads which means they can get into the smallest areas between the teeth. They can be used with crowns, veneers and implants. I find other brushes are horrible to use compared with the Denti-Brush ones.

They are certainly a little delicate and can easily bend but if you are careful a box can last you ages. The plastic travel case which comes with them keeps them in good order.

Denti-Brush Interdental Brushes

Possible Dental Complaint

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 07:55:01 +0000

Email received from a concerned dental patient

“I hope that you don’t mind that I have sent you this email, but I really didn’t know who to ask about this, and would really appreciate your advice about something, please. Excuse me that it is a bit long-winded, but I will endeavour to explain my situation.

I am a family carer, and I care for 3 members of my family; for this reason, it is often quite difficult to put myself first, even when it comes to pre-booked appointments. I am an NHS patient and, until recently, I was undergoing treatment between my Dentist and the Hospital, as I am suffering drastic bone loss in my gums, and I am slowly losing my teeth. Unfortunately, due to my role as a carer I have had to cancel dental appointments on a few occasions, as something has happened with one of the people who I care for, where they have been unwell, etc. As I don’t have anyone to turn to for support at these times, I have had no alternative but to put whatever I have to do for myself on hold. As I cannot plan ahead for unforeseeable events like this, on two of the occasions, I have only been able to give them two and a half hours notice of cancellation.

Ultimately, I recently received a letter from my dental practice saying that they were ‘deregistering’ me for missing appointments, to make way for new patients. They argued that they cannot be expected to accept 2 hours notice, as it was not enough time to fit anyone else in the slot. As I already suffer with stress and anxiety, this has only added to my worries. I emailed the Practice Manager, explaining that I am a carer, but they wrote back to me basically saying that they are a ‘busy practice’ and they are not changing their mind.

I feel very strongly that I am being discriminated against because I am doing the job of being a carer, and have to put others before myself. I am at a real loss now as to what to do, because a temporary dental prosthesis has already been made for me, which was supposed to be fitted so that the hospital could see how I tolerate it (I suffer with globus hystericus) so that they could cut back on it’s size. Unfortunately, I now can’t go back to see my own Dentist, so don’t know what to do now!! Therefore, any advice that you could give me as to what, if anything, I can do about this (ie. If I can make a complaint to anyone) would be very much appreciated.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Many thanks”

NHS Dental Treatment Plans

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:26:40 +0000

Before your NHS dentist does any Band 2 or Band 3 treatment he has to give you a written treatment plan. This treatment plan details the treatment and how much you will pay.

Broken Porcelain Bridge

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:46:22 +0000

Email received from a concerned patient

“A porcelain bridge rooted to my left hand front tooth, that is secured to what I believe to be the eye-tooth has broken away from both anchorage points. Several attempt have been made to correct the decay in the rear tooth, without any repair being effective for anything other a relatively short time. I was told a year ago, that should the bridge fail due to the caries it would not be possible to recreate the bridge and due to my overbite I would need to go private should any form of denture be considered. Is there any solution to this situation via NHS Treatment?

If some alternative approach is not feasible and as my teeth are in such a terrible state, (extractions having been carried out since my late teens) it would seem the only viable options is to have total extraction. Can this be conducted on The NHS and dentures be provided?”

How to make a complaint about dental treatment

admin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:30:51 +0000

Common Dental Complaints

Badly done treatment
Broken crowns and bridges
Excessive fees

Was the treatment NHS dental treatment or was it private dental treatment? The process is different.

NHS Dental Treatment

Complain to the dentist/dental practice. You may do this verbally if you wish but it is much better to do it in writing. According to the NHS Primary Care Trust’s contract with the dentist you should get an acknowledgement of your complaint within 3 days and a full written response within 10 days. Your letter to the dental practice should be brief and concise, use bullet points and headings, do not ramble on and do not accuse anyone at this stage. Stick to the facts – what is wrong, when did you first notice the problem and what do you want the dentist to do to resolve the situation. The dental practice should have a formal complaints procedure – ask to see a copy of this if you would like to. Your complaint should normally be within 12 months of the work or as soon as the problem came to your notice.
If you cannot resolve your problem with the dental practice then write to your local Primary Care Trust (PCT) who will investigate the complaint.
If you are still not happy you should then contact The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS www.pals.nhs.uk ) PALS provide help, advice and support on NHS services. There is a PALs associated with every NHS trust and they will make sure your complaint is properly investigated. If necessary they will help you get in touch with the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS). ICAS is a free service and they will help you to make a formal complaint.
If you are still not happy then next in line is the Health Service Ombudsman.

[Note: Previously the Healthcare Commission were the people to contact before you went to the Ombudsman with your complaint however they ceased to exist on 1 April 2009. The Care Quality Commission are now the regulators of health and social care (in England) and the complaints system is now different and is listed above]

Private Dental Treatment

Complain to the dentist/dental practice as detailed above.
If you are not satisfied then complain to the Dental Complaints Service (this is an independent service funded by the General Dental Council) www.dentalcomplaints.or.uk . You can create a complaint letter online at the above website. The Dental Complaints Service will investigate both sides of the complaint and give their recommendations. Although they have no formal powers and can only offer recommendations they say that their recommendations are almost always followed.
Then it’s the courts if you still think you have a case against the dentist.

[Note the General Dental Council (the dental regulator) will only investigate complaints that concern serious patient safety issues]

Is it always the dentist’s fault

It is important to remember that when things don’t go according to plan it is not necessarily the dentist’s fault. For instance a particular tooth might be diseased or damaged so much that nothing any dentist can do will save it.

What is a Bridge

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:15:50 +0000

What is a Dental Bridge?

A bridge spans a gap in a row of teeth and is one option to cover up the gap or missing tooth. A bridge is a number of crowns joined together. The smallest bridge is a 3-unit bridge which is made up of 3 crowns and covers the gap and one tooth either side of the gap.

The teeth either side of the gap have to be filed down and then once the bridge is made in the lab the 3 unit bridge is glued in place on top of the 2 teeth either side of the gap.

Dental bridges can be made from different materials. A basic bridge is normally made from porcelain fused to metal and this is what you would usually get on the NHS. A porcelain fused to metal bridge has a metal sub-base with a covering layer of porcelain. This material produces a very strong bridge but whilst perfectly adequate for side and rear teeth there are better looking options for front teeth. A more superior bridge might be made of zirconium and will look significantly better from an aesthetic point of view but this type of bridge is not normally available on the NHS.

Other options for covering up a gap or missing teeth are a partial denture or implants.