The Prodenta Blog

COVID UPDATE II

17th June 2020

To all of our patients and local community.

We hope that you and your family are well keeping safe. The recent events of the pandemic have uprooted our normal routines and many of our comforts. The dental world has been similarly changed and our practice has been closed for face to face appointments for a number of weeks. This has caused an unavoidable disruption in the way we operate and would normally care for our patients. It has been just as frustrating for us as it has been for you.

We are different to most other environments as social distancing between a dentist and patient is not possible while working in the oral cavity. This was the part of the rationale behind the instruction from the Chief Dental Officer to cease all routine dental appointments and refer emergencies to a local NHS center. This phase of dental care is coming to an end.

We are making plans to reopen as soon as possible. Prodenta is planning a gradual opening starting from the 8th of June as per yesterday’s announcement. When we do reopen there may be a period where you will notice some changes in the way we work. These will be designed to keep you and our staff safe, until the covid risk reduces further. Unfortunately, there are still challenges on supply chain of PPE and also construction of new protocols which may be needed to be sorted first. We will also prioritise those patients who have has emergencies over the last few months. If you have an appointment in the diary – we intend to honor those that rescheduled for after the 8th June.

In the meantime we are here for you via phone 02072232244 and email enqs@prodenta.co.uk. Please call if you need an appointment which will be able to now offer

We are also starting virtual consultations for to offer cosmetic consultations and also oral health advice for our existing patients. Please feel free to forward this link to anyone who may be interested in an online dental consultation. We are offering this service free for a short time.

www.prodenta.co.uk/virtual

We miss you and we hope to see you soon.

Shubhra and the team at Prodenta.

Covid 19 – Prodenta Update

1st June 2020

To all of our patients and local community.

In the meantime we are here for you via phone 02072232244 and email enqs@prodenta.co.uk. Please call if you need an appointment which will be able to now offer

www.prodenta.co.uk/virtual

We miss you and we hope to see you soon.

Shubhra and the team at Prodenta.

Am I Too Young For Botox Treatments?

22nd March 2017

What do an 8 year old in the US and a 15 year old in the UK both have in common?

Apparently, being injected with Botoxin by their well-meaning mothers…

The 8 year old having facial aesthetic treatment may or may not have been a publicity stunt, and there was also some serious back peddling by the mother of the 15 year old to suggest treatment was for an (as yet unconfirmed) medical condition. However, since introducing anti-wrinkle treatments at ProDenta, we have noticed the average age of a patient requesting Botox is getting younger. The majority of under-30s enquiring about these types of facial aesthetics come in for two main reasons:

Their friends have had it done, or
They have a strong desire to prevent the development of deep creases.

With whitening regulations coming into force in October 2012 – making it illegal to offer tooth whitening on anyone under the age of 18 – could it be time to set similar standards for cosmetic Botoxin treatments?

Let’s break this down. Age 15 is below the age of consent, so clearly, it’s too young – but is 18 reasonable? What about 21? Katie “Jordan” Price confesses to starting her Botoxin treatments at age 25. Could there be untold benefits from starting young?

Our chief practitioner, Dr. Shubhra Lallu, advises those in their early to mid-twenties to focus on daily skin health, rather than opting for Botox right away. Applying SPF cream daily comes highly recommended, as well as minimising UV exposure – whether it’s from a sunny holiday in Madrid, or a sun bed on St. John’s Hill! Like UV, smoking also damages the collagen fibres, which is basically the scaffolding that supports the skin. Keep hydrated – drinking 8 glasses of water a day isn’t just an old wives’ tale, it really helps to keep your skin supple and healthy. Finally, use good quality creams. Shubhra highly recommends a night cream with retinol, and the NeoStrata Aminofil two stage cream, as it has volumising properties. A gentle glycolic skin peel would also be beneficial to remove dead cells and refresh your skin’s surface.

The late twenties and early thirties are when we tend to see our patients for their first treatments. By your late twenties, you might start to notice small creases when the skin is static, and more pronounced wrinkles when the face is expressive. Anti-wrinkle injections at the site of these wrinkles would work well at this stage to stop the overuse of the muscles, and further development of deep lines. However, patients in this age group may wish to consider slightly lighter doses of Botoxin to retain some natural movement – in fact, it’s not uncommon to only see them twice a year.

Moving forward a decade, however, changes things. You may wish to consider a slightly more frequent series of Botox treatments in your 40s, upping the amount to 3 or 4 times a year. A deeper peel could also be considered, such as a non-toxic TCA. This is designed to reduce age spots, improve skin texture, and to reduce fine lines, but you do need to be prepared for about three days of post-operative redness.

Practically speaking, there is an ideal upper limit, too. The UK government has approved the use of Botox on patients between the ages of 18-65 years – however, it can be used “off label” for any age. That being said, in your golden years, you may find that the skin is too lax for Botoxin to have any real benefit – so you may consider more invasive work at this stage.

Bear in mind that genetics also have a part to play. You might be lucky and naturally produce barrels of collagen for life, or experience different wrinkles, fine lines, or crows’ feet to other people. This is perfectly normal, and our number one piece of advice to stay looking your freshest is to develop an effective daily skincare routine at a young age to prevent needing more invasive damage control later in life.

The Power of Teeth Whitening

8th December 2015

It’s no surprise that the majority of adults in the UK want white teeth. Not only do they look dazzling, but there are some very eye opening stats that make having whiter teeth a no-brainer. Did you know:

Whiter teeth can make you look up to 20% more attractive
Pearly whites can improve your employment potential by 10%
Most people associate whiter teeth with earning £10,000 more annually
White teeth improves the perception of success, or a better education
Whiter teeth can make the difference when applying for a new job, or getting a date

A study carried out recently by Oral B polled 2,000 Brits and professional dentists to find out how important teeth whitening was to the country as a whole. Over 75% wanted celebrity smiles like Holly Willoughby, Simon Cowell or Kate Middleton, and over a third associated beautifully glittering smiles with greater wealth, higher status, a better education, and more attractiveness. The psychology on teeth whitening is clear!

Of course, the best time to step out for nights on the town, festive parties and celebrations is over Christmas and New Year. That’s why, for December and January, ProDenta are offering our patients a special Christmas gift.

Do you have a friend or a loved one who’s looking to dazzle their Christmas party guests? Are you throwing the New Years soirée to end all New Years soirées? Well, just for you, we’re offering up to £100 off teeth whitening for Christmas and New Year. If you book in for teeth whitening in December or January for both you and a friend, you’ll receive a massive £50 off each whitening treatment – that means a saving of up to £100 together!

All you need to do is contact us to book in for teeth whitening treatment with your friend, loved one, or party partner in crime, and you’ll receive the £50 discount off our usual price of £250. It couldn’t be easier!

All You Need to Know About Mouth Cancer

3rd November 2015

What do Michael Douglas, Sigmund Freud and Diane von Furstenberg have in common?

They have all been diagnosed with oral cancer.

The number of mouth cancer rates have been rapidly increasing over the last decade, and the latest predictions indicate that the trend is set to continue. In fact, mouth cancer claims more lives than cervical and testicular cancer combined, and results in more yearly deaths than road traffic accidents!

So, to coincide with Mouth Cancer Action Month, we have a visual graphic to share with you; outlining the risk factors, early detection methods, treatment, and prevention tactics that you can take to prevent and beat oral cancer.

Mouth Cancer Action Month Graphic

So why are 1 in 10 people unaware of the risks of mouth cancer?

While smoking and alcohol are more well knows as risk factors, poor diet is becoming increasingly considered as a risk, as well as the HPV virus – more commonly known as herpes.

So, be Mouthaware:

That first-thing morning cigarette doubles your chances of developing mouth cancer. Ditch it!
Heavy alcohol consumption links to a third of mouth cancer cases. Cut down!
Human papilloma virus (HPV), or herpes, is predicted to take over as a leading cause of mouth cancer. Be aware!

Remember…

With oral cancer, early diagnosis is essential. Survival rates increase from 50% to a whopping 90% with early diagnosis. That’s why, for the month of November, we’re offering free oral cancer screenings at ProDenta. Just book an appointment online, or come in and see us.

Mouth Cancer can have a variety of representations. If you notice any lumps, red or white patches, or ulcers that aren’t healing; don’t ignore them. Get it checked by your dentist or GP, and be Mouthaware.

Brush Your Teeth Correctly, For Goodness’ Sake!

12th December 2013

As a dentist, I’m often asked the question, “Am I brushing my teeth correctly?” To which I often answer; “Which of your remaining three teeth are you particularly concerned about?”

If you have all of your own teeth, as opposed to a set of dentures with a bona fide receipt, and no fillings; then yes. Yes you are. Well done, you. Gold stars all round.

If circumstances dictate that you have gaps, fillings and/or bleeding gums, then probably not.

The most appropriate epithet I can apply to this situation is, “Sort your railings out!” – Allow me to explain. In the past, you’ll probably have been told by a dentist, hygienist, orthodontist, philosopher, gangster rapper, fortune teller, or bloke down the pub (that isn’t me) that you should “brush in a circular motion, massaging the gums, blah blah blah…”

Now, imagine you’re painting a set of railings – or a wooden fence. I’ll tell you one thing for nothing; if I was the foreman supervising you painting said fence posts in a circular motion with a massaging action, I’d first of all give you a bollocking for missing the gaps in between the posts, and I’d follow it up by sacking you on the spot, then dealing with the Employment Services Tribunal later.

Never brush your railings – or your teeth – side to side, as you’ll miss the gaps, where loads of bacterial crap gets in. Always brush up and down – never side to side!

While we’re at it, make sure you ride that brush well over the gums. Seriously. Teeth have a smooth surface; kind of like a well-finished roof. But after 3 bags of Monster Munch, great big lumps of sticky, gluey carb are going to settle into the gums, like the gutters of the oral cavity. If you leave it to settle in and build up, that roof won’t stay up forever. Keep those gutters clean, however, and the roof will look after itself.

It’s not that difficult. Honestly.

This blog post is (definitely not) sponsored by Wickes fence post painting and roof tiling services – mainly because B&Q came up with a better offer. Seriously, though, they didn’t.

Toothpaste: The Biggest Dental Scam Going

14th November 2013

So, toothpaste – what’s that all about? Well, it’s basically the bit of liquid that goes on your toothbrush. It makes brushing your teeth slightly less boring than brushing without it. Of course, we’re all fully aware of why you should be brushing your teeth, aren’t we? In order of priority, if you don’t brush your teeth:

You will go hungry.
Your teeth will fall out. Nobody even remotely fit will come within a mile of you.
Your breath will stink. Refer to point two.
Are you a freak, or what? Refer to point two. Again.

So, for goodness’ sake, brush your teeth.

Anyway, what about toothpaste?

Well, to be quite frank, you actually don’t really need the best, premium sparkly stuff. If you get the one on offer – with fluoride, of course – that’ll do. For all the marketing guff that comes with toothpaste, let’s be honest – it’s essentially a way of making wafting a small hairbrush around your mouth more palatable. Firstly, so the acidic nasties in last night’s curry don’t rot your teeth, and secondly – well, see point two. Again.

You could also use a mouthwash. No, not the remnants of last night’s Stella – but a well-advertised sparkly spangly one with a clinical sounding name and “dentists recommend”* and a model in a white coat with glasses on the front. At the same time, though – don’t expect to pull ladies looking even remotely like the mouthwash girl if when you look in the mirror, it doesn’t so much as crack than launches itself off the wall and legs it out the door. A blinging yellow smile with bits in it will only draw attention to what you don’t want people to see. Develop a comedic patter instead. Or just stay in, and be boring.

At the risk of sounding like a dentist, toothpaste is a way of transferring an antiseptic abrasive to the teeth to remove plaque. You could always save money by dabbing a wet toothbrush into a pinch of salt and proceeding with vigour.** Of course, keep an expensive toothpaste nearby for guests. Make sure it contains all manner of chemicals with long words that sound fancy. And make sure you brush correctly! No amount of whitening toothpaste full of “low-abrasive silica,” “oral microbial flora” or “bamboo micropowder” is going to make a difference if you’re not actually cleaning your teeth. Sort it out. Brush first, ask questions later!

*Dentists don’t recommend any particular brand unless the wheels are being largely greased. This blog is sponsored by no toothpaste we’ve ever heard of. Save your money! Enjoy it!

**Seriously, though; don’t really do this. You do actually need fluoride in toothpaste to keep your teeth sorted. At the same time, I have yet to see a toothpaste in any supermarket across the country that doesn’t have fluoride in it – flashy packaging or otherwise.

Keep Your Teeth Naturally White

12th November 2013

Everyone wants whiter teeth and there are various treatments you can undergo in order to clear up any discolouring and return them to their former glory. Discolouration is a natural process that happens as we get older, but fortunately there are steps you can take to help keep your teeth naturally white for longer.

Avoid Foods That Stain

Certain foods can leave a lasting impression on your teeth so it is bet to cut down on them. Red Wine, black coffee, soy sauce, blueberries, beetroot and curry can all have this effect if eaten often so try to keep it to a minimum.

Don’t Smoke

Smoking is bad for you in many different ways and your teeth suffer too as a result. While smoke can be an irritant and lead to gum disease, it also discolours your teeth over time. It would be best to give up smoking altogether.

Rinse After Eating

Water is the healthiest drink in the world and should be drunk often anyway but it can also help dislodge any harmful particles stuck in your teeth after meals. When food gets stuck, it can cause all kinds of dental problems so you need to remove it as soon as possible.

Eat Whitening Foods

Some foods can actually help whiten your teeth. Any crunchy vegetables are good as chewing them has an abrasive effect that helps scrub your teeth clean, although it is best not to overdo it as you might damage the enamel. However, some foods even have natural whitening properties, such as strawberries, which contain whitening agents.

Eat More Cheese

Cheese is good for your teeth thanks to all the calcium in it but ending a meal with some can also help encourage the remineralisation of your teeth and make them stronger. Milk and yoghurt are also good.

Use Baking Soda

Baking soda can clean and whiten your teeth if used correctly. Simply mix it with water and a pinch of salt to make a paste and brush your teeth with it for a minute, before rinsing. Be aware that baking soda is abrasive though so try to limit this treatment to twice a week as it may damage the enamel if done too often.

Use Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen Peroxide is an antiseptic and disinfectant, making it the ideal ingredient in mouthwash. If you mix some with an equal amount of water and rinse your mouth out as you would with mouthwash, it can help clean and bleach your teeth. But whatever you do, don’t swallow any.

Chewing Gum

Chewing sugar-free gum after meals helps remove any food stuck between your teeth, encourages saliva production and helps neutralise any harmful acids in your mouth. This in turn helps keep them white.

Brush and Floss

The most obvious step is one that many continue to get wrong or simply neglect. Regular brushing and flossing remains the best way to keep your mouth healthy. When it comes to whitening, it is far easier to prevent staining, rather than removing any existing stains, and this step goes a long way to achieving that, as well as providing all the other benefits of good dental health. There’s even a tutorial on brushing your teeth properly here on the site.

When All Else Fails

Of course, it’s not always going to be as easy as following these steps – sometimes, life just gets in the way. But never fear – you can always give us a call or come in for a chat about how we can clean and whiten your teeth to get them back to their very best.