PLANNING FOR YOUR PERFECT DAY
Michele King and the team at Portstewart Family Dental are ready to help you prepare the wedding of your dreams with advice on dental care and skincare.
As we ease out of lockdown, many of our patients who put their wedding plans on hold are beginning to consider what the post-pandemic wedding might look like.
When working with patients preparing for their wedding we try to thoroughly understand the emotional challenges that such a moment brings. Our advice would be to plan well in advance to ensure that your aesthetic treatments are carried out at the right time in order to give the full effect and allow each treatment to support and build on the other.
12 TO 18 MONTHS
What are your likes and dislikes about your smile? What would make you smile and feel more confident in front of the camera?
Do you have a crooked smile?
Consider orthodontics to straighten and align your teeth. It is incredible the difference in confi dence that the correction of a slightly crooked tooth or crowding can make, especially when you are the one centre stage on the big day.
Anterior alignment (front teeth onlyshowing on your smile line) can be completed in as little as six to nine months, however correction of all teeth can take up to two years. So, depending on your concerns we can tailor your treatment plan to suit your needs. We can complete this treatment using clear braces, clear aligners, metal braces or Inman aligner, so we have lots of options to help you on the way.
It could be that you are very conscious of your smile for other reasons such as stained/discoloured teeth or fillings. Now is the time to speak to your dentist, voice your concerns and ask about your options. It could be a simple as a polish or may need full mouth reconstruction, crown bridgework or implants - plan ahead so that your treatment can easily be completed in good time. With the help of our 3D intra oral scanner we are able to perform a 3D digital setup of your proposed smile, so you can see if you would like the results before you even begin.
SIX MONTHS
To get that beautiful glowing skin on your wedding day I would consider either a Dracula Facial or Profhilo.
The Dracula Facial was pioneered by Dr Sister in London, where I was trained. It is a perfected PRP (platelet Rich Plasma) treatment, which gives a real radiance to the skin using your own blood. It is a very specific treatment in the way that it is completed. If performed in the correct manner to Dr Sisters specifications the results are outstanding.
I have seen incredible results with sagging skin in the face and neck area and a real change in the vibrancy of the skin, the effects of which can last up to 18 months.
Profhilo is a pure hyaluronic acid treatment. It works by stimulating your elastin and collagen, it’s like giving your skin a big drink of water, which rejuvenates your skin. Ideally given as a series of three treatment sessions. Again, the results are truly amazing.
Now would be the time to consider anti-wrinkle injections, to correct fine lines and wrinkles or a brow-lift to open up the eye area. You are maybe considering an enhancement such as a cheek lift or a tear trough treatment to banish those dark circles from under your eyes. Maybe you would like to correct the asymmetry in your lips or have a more “pillowy” pout with lip augmentation. You’ll be made welcome, so come in and talk through your concerns and we will see how we can help.
THREE MONTHS
So, three months before the wedding, I would suggest a visit with our hygienist Tracey Watley and myself for a fi nal check-up. Tracey will remove all tartar/calculus which cause gum disease (bleeding gums and bone loss, leading to loose teeth). She will polish the teeth and remove staining. For tougher staining such as tobacco staining we can use our air polisher which gently polishes away deep stains without any damage. This ensures that in the run up to the wedding your gums and teeth will be in optimal condition.
ONE MONTH
In the last month tooth whitening is an excellent treatment. This can be performed either using bespoke home kits constructed by your dentist or an in surgery Zoom treatment, which brightens up the colour of your teeth. A final polish will further enhance your smile to show off its brilliance.
By now your skin is glowing and your smile even more confident.
Final touch-ups for your skin can help to ensure you’re feeling and looking your best. A last-minute top-up of your anti-wrinkle injections or final sculpting is ideal.
With aesthetic treatments, there is no one size fits all approach, and it is important you choose a practitioner who is willing to take the time to fully understand your concerns and your objectives. Just like an amazing wedding, proper planning will make a world of difference and our team can support you along the way.
Note: we advise against having soft tissue fillers treatments (including dermal fillers and Profhilo) either two weeks before or three weeks after COVID-19 vaccination.
Until the next time…
Michele x
TAKE CARE OF YOUR TEETH AND GUMS
With lockdowns and quarantine, our oral health is something on all our minds at present.
Michele King from Portstewart Family Dental gives you some top tips on preventive dentistry.
WHAT IS PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY?
Preventive dentistry is the modern way of helping you keep a healthy mouth. It helps you to keep your teeth, and means you need to have less dental treatment. The two main causes of tooth loss are DECAY and GUM DISEASE. The better you prevent or deal with these two problems, the more chance you will have of keeping your teeth for life.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
Firstly, we will check your teeth and gums, and talk to you about any treatment you need. The main aim is to help you get your mouth really healthy. In a healthy mouth it is unlikely that decay or gum disease will continue to be a problem.
Our dental team including myself, Peter King or Tracey Watley, our hygienist will thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar from your teeth. This is often called a ‘scale and polish’.
We will show you the best ways to brush, and how to clean in between your teeth using interdental brushes or fl oss, to remove the bacterial ‘plaque’ which forms constantly on your teeth.
You will be told which oral care products are the best ones for you to use.
The dental team will probably talk to you about your diet, and any habits you have such as smoking and drinking.
We will also make sure that all your fillings are in good condition and that there are no rough edges to make cleaning difficult.
WHAT ELSE CAN THE DENTIST AND HYGIENIST DO TO HELP PREVENT TOOTH DECAY?
Fluoride helps teeth resist decay. Our dental team will recommend the right level of fl uoride for you to use in your toothpaste. Fluoride varnishes may be recommended for children to help prevent decay
CAN DIET AFFECT MY TEETH?
Food and drinks containing sugar cause decay. If you cut down on how often you have sugary snacks and drinks this will help a lot. Foods such as cheese, fruit, nuts and vegetables are better for your teeth.
WHAT IS DENTAL EROSION?
Dental Erosion is the loss of enamel caused by acid attack. When the enamel is worn away it can lead to pain and sensitivity. Foods and drinks that contain acid, such as citrus fruits, fi zzy drinks, smoothies, fruit juice and fruit teas, can all cause dental erosion if you have them often.
CAN I PREVENT DENTAL EROSION?
Acidic foods and drinks can be harmful if you have them often in large amounts. Try to have acidic food and drinks only at mealtimes and drink acidic drinks through a straw. We recommend that you do not brush your teeth for at least one hour after eating or drinking anything.
CAN SMOKING AND DRINKING AFFECT MY TEETH AND GUMS?
Yes. Smoking can cause tooth staining, tooth loss and mouth cancer, and make gum disease worse. If you smoke, you may need to visit the dental team more often, but the best advice is to try to give up. Alcoholic drinks can also cause mouth cancer and if you smoke and drink you’re more at risk.
WHAT CAN I DO AT HOME?
It is very important that you keep up a good routine at home to keep your teeth and gums healthy. We recommend that you:
Brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, with fl uoride toothpaste - brush in the way your dental team have shown you.
Spit out after brushing and do not rinse, so that the fluoride stays on your teeth longer.
Clean in between your teeth with ‘interdental’ brushes or floss - brushing alone only cleans up to about 60 percent of the surface of your teeth.
Use a mouthwash. Many mouthwashes contain antibacterial ingredients to help prevent gum disease, and fluoride to help prevent decay. Don’t use the mouthwash straight after brushing.
Using the mouthwash in between the times you brush your teeth means that your teeth and gums are protected for longer.
WHAT ORAL CARE PRODUCTS SHOULD I USE?
There are now many specialised toothpastes, including total care toothpastes and toothpastes made specially to help with plaque and gum disease, and sensitive teeth.
Mouthwashes can help, and there are different types including ones with anti-bacterial ingredients.
Adults should use a toothbrush with a small to medium-sized head and soft to medium filaments (bristles).
Tests have shown that electric or ‘power’ toothbrushes with an oscillating, rotating action are better than manual toothbrushes at removing plaque. They can remove up to twice as much plaque as a manual toothbrush.
So, stay safe and keep brushing!
Until the next time,
Michele x
“I LOVE MY NEWSTRAIGHT TEETH!”
Gone are the days of ugly train track braces for adults. At Portstewart Family Dental they have braces that are discreet and can give you the perfect smile – just like bride-to-be Hayley.
At Portstewart Family Dental we offer a range of orthodontic options. So, if you are interested in improving your smile or feel conscious of crowded or crooked teeth, read on. Most cases of anterior crowding can easily be treated in six to nine months, some cases in as little as four months.
Our first step is to arrange a consultation during which we will discuss your main concerns. We can then take digital 3D image of all your teeth, using our intra-oral scanner which we can then use to predict possible end results. You can decide if this is for you even before we start.
There are many advances in orthodontics so we will always have several options as to how your treatment is completed, some of these include:
Inman Aligner: a removable appliance that is worn for 20hours per day. Ideal for those patients who require a few hours a day without the appliance in.
Clear aligners, similar to the well renowned Invisalign but at a reduced cost.
Fixed braces using clear ceramic brackets and a tooth coloured wire to gently but quickly guide your teeth into position.
Hayley was delighted with the results of her treatment Picture by Image31photography
Michele made me feel comfortable from the very beginning, talking me through each stage and giving me the best possible advice.
So, instead of me nattering on this month, I thought you might like to hear from one of our lovely patients. This is Hayley’s story…
“From the time my adult teeth came through I had always been really insecure about my teeth. I never, ever smiled in photos and if the mention of teeth came up in conversation my hand would cover my mouth instantly in case someone would look at mine. Teeth are such a huge thing now and people spend a lot of time and money trying to achieve the ‘perfect smile.’
After years of contemplating whether to get braces and I had a conversation with one of my best friends who said: “I’ve known you since you were 17 and it’s always been your thing, spend the money and make yourself happy.” I booked the appointment at Portstewart Family Dental.
Michele made me feel comfortable from the very beginning, talking me through each stage and giving me the best possible advice. We decided on ceramic fixed retainers top and bottom to achieve the best possible results for my teeth. I was very nervous about pain during treatment, after reading every horror story online, but to my surprise I sailed through each checkup and tightening and very rarely had much discomfort. The change in your teeth happens very quickly and watching your mouth transform is incredible.
My braces were on for just over a year. When Michele removed my braces, I was honestly blown away, I actually nearly cried. My treatment also included a full whitening treatment which was the cherry on top of the cake! The confidence having straight teeth has given me is amazing and I can now confidently smile in every photo and be happy with what I see. I’m now the one talking about teeth without embarrassment and advising anyone I know who are unhappy with their teeth to not give braces a second thought and just DO IT!”
From all at Portstewart Family Dental we would like to wish Hayley and Davy a very special day on their wedding day planned in the near future and every happiness together. We just can’t wait to see the photos! Have a great day xx
GOOD DENTAL HEALTH IS CHILD’S PLAY!
Good diet plays a huge part in the oral health of your children. As school starts again, Michele King from Portstewart Family Dental has some ideas for meals and snacks that are tasty and healthy.
Your child’s nutrition is key to both their whole-body health and their oral health. In the current times, the health of our families is constantly on our minds. While it’s diffi cult to make sure they are eating the foods that are best for them when they are away from you, it’s not impossible to do so. We have put together some quick, healthy meal ideas and easy options for healthy snacks that will allow you to play a strong role in their daily health and nutrition, as well as remind them how much you love them every time they take a bite.
BREAKFAST ON THE GO!
Mornings can feel rushed when kids head back to school. Getting yourself up and ready for the day before 9am is hard enough — add a child or two to the routine and providing a healthy breakfast might seem impossible. It’s not! The following are some tips that will help the whole family get the day started off right:
• Ditch the sugary cereals and doughnuts. Eggs make for a great option and are an excellent source of vitamin D, which is needed to absorb calcium for strong bones. If you don’t have time to cook them in the morning, boil some the night before for breakfast on the go.
• Pair breakfast with milk to add calcium to your child’s diet.
• Yoghurt is a great grab-and-go meal that will help strengthen and fortify your child’s teeth. It contains phosphates that help with remineralization. Just be careful of sugar levels in some yoghurts advertised for children, better to mix up your own plain yoghurt with fruits and berries.
• Make sure your children end their morning meal with a firm, crunchy fruit, like an apple. They remove plaque from teeth and increase saliva fl ow, keeping teeth clean and shiny.
• Best practice is to get the kids to brush their teeth before breakfast and then mouthwash afterwards. This way they are not brushing any softened enamel after breakfast and the fluoride in the mouthwash helps to harden up the enamel again.
LUNCH FILLED WITH LOVE
Preparing lunch for your kids doesn’t have to be time consuming or done in a rush. A lot of prep work can be done in advance. Bento-style meals are more popular than ever and are made by fi lling a lunch container with teeth-healthy foods like cheese, meats, fruits, and vegetables, which you can cut and chop ahead of time. You can make lunches fun by cutting crisp fruits and calcium-fi lled cheese into fun shapes with cookie cutters. Children are drawn to bright colours, so include a rainbow of fruits, veggies, meats, and cheeses. Variety will keep lunches interesting and ensure that your child is getting all of the vitamins and minerals they need to stay strong, healthy, and smiling.
SNACK ON!
Kids like snacks — there’s no way around it. Three healthy meals a day is a thing of the past, which isn’t necessarily bad, but it does pose an extra challenge for parents trying to keep their littles fed well. Your kids want crisps and cookies and all of those expensive, pre-packaged treats they see on TV, which lead to tooth decay and other health problems if eaten regularly. If you are struggling to fi nd healthy snacks that will satisfy your child’s snack tooth, consider some of the following:
Fill up a fruit bowl with melon, pears, oranges, and pineapple. These sweet and colourful treats will tame kids’ craving for sweets.
Make a veggie tray with carrots, celery, cucumbers, broccoli, and a little ranch dressing for dip. The crisp veggies will help clean you children’s teeth, and all of the vitamins and minerals will fortify their pearly whites.
Unsalted whole-grain pretzels are the perfect alternatives to greasy crisps. Mix in some low-salt nuts and sunfl ower or pumpkin seeds to add some extra protein.
As we mentioned earlier, cheese is a great teeth-healthy snack. Buy easy-to-grab packages of string cheese, or cube up some cheddar.
Remember that sugary beverages can also cause tooth decay. Water and unsweetened milk are the best tooth-healthy options. Too boring? Make them fun by finding colourful or unique water bottles to put them in. Let your child pick one they will be proud to show off in the lunchroom or with friends. You can also sweeten water naturally with cucumber or berries, which are both tasty and tooth friendly.
From all at Portstewart Family Dental we wish all the kids a healthy and happy start back to school.
THE FUTURE OF DENTISTRY
from Local Women Magazine april 2021At Portstewart Family Dental the team are fully trained in the use of lasers, which can be used for pain free treatment in all aspects of dentistry.
The use of lasers in dentistry may sound a bit like science fiction, but it’s actually scientific fact! Laser technology was first applied to dentistry in the early 1960s and has been gaining popularity ever since.
The best part of about dental lasers is that they don’t just have one application: lasers can be used in many aspects of dentistry, from diagnosis to treatment.
BENEFITS OF LASER DENTISTRY
You may now be able to have your dental procedure performed with a dental laser.
Here are more reasons why you may want to consider this procedure before you visit your dentist:
Less bleeding
Reduced pain
Faster healing period
Less damage to the surrounding tissue
Reduced chance of infection
LASERS CAN HELP RE-SHAPE YOUR GUMS
Gum reshaping or contouring (also called a gum lift) may be recommended for either medical or cosmetic reasons. One of the biggest blessings of lasers in dentistry is that they can replace scalpels. Instead of making cuts in the gums, dentists can use highly precise lasers to dissolve gum tissue instead.
***before & after img***
Because it cauterizes instead of cuts, gum shaping and removal with lasers can be more comfortable, reduce bleeding and speed up recovery time. Whether the treatment is to help exposure a partially erupted wisdom tooth which keeps getting infected or to reshape a piece of gum around a front tooth to make it more aesthetically pleasing, the laser makes this easy for both the patient and the dentist.
***image ***
LASERS CAN HELP TREAT GUM DISEASE
One of the symptoms of gum disease (a.k.a. periodontitis) is the formation of deep pockets between your teeth and gums. One of the treatments for chronic gum disease is scaling and root planing, where these pockets are cleaned and the root is smoothed out so your gums can re-adhere to them.
The addition of lasers to this process has been shown in studies to help gums re-attach to the tooth.
LASERS CAN HELP RELIEVE PAIN
The Epic line of diode lasers from BIOLASE provide a therapeutic and non-invasive way to treat pain in as little as ten minutes. Using a special handpiece attachment, our laser transforms from an award-winning surgical and whitening device to a fully capable solution for reducing and managing oral and maxillofacial pain, such as from grinding (bruxism) and clenching.
LASERS CAN BE USED TO TREAT TONGUE TIE AND HIGH FRENAL ATTACHMENTS
Removing muscle attachments that restrict tongue or lip movement. The surgery is less painful than when a scalpel is used, with less bleeding and faster healing. A high frenal attachment can lead to a gap in-between the two front teeth. When this is removed, the gap between these teeth can be closed using braces.
Lasers Can Be Used to Accelerate Tooth Whitening Procedures
Our laser enables us to perform tooth whitening procedures in under an hour.
Lasers Can be Used For Reducing The Discomfort From Cold Sores And Cankers. Cold sores can sometimes be very painful and unsightly. Although it is not possible to completely remove the virus that causes cold sores as it hides in the nerve ganglion, it is possible to reduce the pain and indeed the life span of a cold sore using the healing properties of our laser. The lesion also often heals with less scarring.
ARE DENTAL LASERS SAFE?
Before any dentist or hygienist can use a laser it is required that they undergo specifi c laser training. At Portstewart Family Dental both myself, Peter King and Tracey Watley our hygienist have completed all the necessary training, to ensure your treatment is completed to the highest safety standards and to obtain the optimal results. Lastly, wearing a pair of special glasses during the operation will give you that extra protection!
Overall, dental lasers offer more comfort, quicker healing and added effectiveness to most dental procedures.
Talk to your dentist to learn more about dental laser treatment.
Michele x