We are pleased to announce that we will be holding a FREE Open Evening on

Thursday 10^th May 2012.

Join us at our practice open evening to find out about the great orthodontic system- Invisalign. You will also be able to discuss other treatments that we have to offer.

For patients that sign up for treatment on the night there will be a choice of SPECIAL OFFERS. Either choose from a huge reduction of £200 off your treatment cost or FREE tooth whitening!

The Invisalign system is the clinically accepted, nearly invisible way to straighten your teeth and improve your smile- without braces. It works through a series of clear and removable aligners that almost no-one will tell your wearing.

The benefits of Invisalign treatment are;

• It is comfortable to wear, no wires or brackets to rub or cause sores.
• The appliance is removable, you don’t have to restrict what you eat as you can remove it at meal times.
• It is nearly invisible. The appliance is smooth and clear.

Here at Alexandra Dental Care we are able to offer you interest free credit, allowing you to spread the cost of treatment.

The evening will be held at the practice; Alexandra Dental Care. 54 Alexandra Road. Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE11 9AZ.

Thursday 10^th May 5.30pm till 8pm.

Please call the practice to book your FREE space. 01283 216347 or complete a contact form.

If you want to give your smile, and potentially your love life an extra boost then here at Alexandra Dental Care there are a number of options to suit you and your budget.

A popular way of brightening your smile is tooth whitening, this can also help you to look younger. Having your teeth straightened or having gaps closed can make a huge difference to your appearance. Veneers can help hide a number of imperfections, giving you a winning smile! If you are embarrassed that you wear a denture then have a chat with dentist George Savva who can discuss the benefits of dental implants.

We are always at hand to discuss any treatment options with you, we will always explain what is involved with different treatment.

Don’t forget that we can give you the option of spreading the cost of treatment over a ten month period interest free.

It is hard to believe but it is 15 years since George and Yogi took the practice over from Wyndham Davis.

George and Yogi have kept the practice abreast of modern thinking in dentistry and through their commitment to continual training are able to offer the latest techniques and treatments. They have continued to invest in the latest equipment, all this meaning that you receive the best possible dental care for you and your family.

Also reaching the loyal mile stone of 15 years are hygienist Helen Ward, dental nurse and oral health educator Jo Lowe and practice manager Michelle Hornsby.

Michelle enjoys helping all the patients of the practice and is always at hand should you wish to discuss treatments, payment options or just for an informal chat.

Michelle said

“When I first started working with George and Yogi we only had three surgeries s and five members of staff. Today we have four surgeries, four dentists, two hygienists and a team of 13 hard-working and committed people.”

“I believe we have grown by offering consistent quality dental care, focused on achieving long-term dental health for all of our patients. We do this in a calm, caring and friendly environment in which it is a joy to work”.

Hygienist Helen added “I can’t believe I’ve been here for 15 years! The practice has totally changed since I first started. Over the years I have got to know my patients well. I feel their gum problems have improved dramatically and the patients are so much more motivated and interested in their smile. I have always enjoyed working with my colleagues, some of them for 15 years”

“Much has changed in the past 15 years that I’ve worked here, but the patients remain the same, cheerful and friendly” Said Jo when congratulated on her service.

One in four British people now consider dental care a luxury rather than a necessity, a new study has found.

The study was carried out among 10,000 adults, it found that one in four people avoided trips to the dentist for 18 months, while one in nine had not been for more than five years.

The study also found that one in two parents admitted that they have taken their child to the dentist too late, resulting in one in ten of the children needing a filling before they were five years old.

The effects of poor dental hygiene extends far beyond unsightly fillings.

Gum disease, which affects around 80% of British people at some point, has been linked to conditions ranging from heart disease to miscarriage.

Here at Alexandra Dental Care we recommend visiting a dentist twice a year in order to maintain proper health and hygiene for your teeth.

Reasons to visit dentist every six months:

Early diagnosis for tooth decay:

The very first reason to visit the dentist regularly is so you can avoid certain dental issues such as tooth decay. These problems seem minor at very first, but they can gradually become overwhelming with the time and may lead to other major dental problems.

Clean teeth:

Most of us work hard to remember to brush during the day and night and flossing twice a day, but even that might not be enough. For proper oral hygiene, you must do it in the right way. At Alexandra dental Care we have two hygienists and two oral health educators who can show you the right way to brush to ensure a more effective method to maintain your dental health and overall oral hygiene. We will not only clean up your teeth by removing dental plaque or tarter but also give suggestions to make your teeth healthy.

Timely diagnosis of severe dental diseases:

Here at our practice we are committed to combating the growing problem of oral cancer. We understand the importance of early detection and the prevention of the condition.  Your dentist will carry out a full examination of all the soft tissues in and around your mouth, making visits to the dentist just as important for people with no teeth at all. Early detection is the key to fighting the disease and regular trips to the dentist will ensure that your gums and soft tissues get checked out regularly.

Diagnosis of gum disease:

 Gum disease, or an infection in the gum tissues and bone that keep your teeth in place, is one of the leading causes of adult tooth loss. It can be treated and reversed if diagnosed early. Unfortunately, not receiving treatment will lead to a more serious and advanced state of gum disease. Regular cleanings and check-ups and daily brushing and flossing are key weapons in the fight against these conditions.

You should never give your dental problems a chance to get worse. If you take good care of your teeth and gums, they will stay healthy for life. Regular dental check-ups are essential not only for your oral health, but it also helps to maintain an overall good health. Some major diseases such as heart diseases and strokes are connected with gum diseases. If not diagnosed in time, dental issues can become more than oral problems and will lead to serious health issues. Prevention is always better than cure. Visiting your dentist at least twice a year will not only make your teeth healthy, but also save you money and time in the long run.

Nearly all of our patients take advantage of our budgeting scheme, Practice Plan.

Our plan will cover most of the costs involved in regular examinations and scale and polishes, even x-rays are included. Any treatment that is not covered by your monthly payments has a reduction in cost by 20%, making it a smart choice when budgeting for your family finances.

A recent study carried out by scientists has resulted in them claiming that sugar is a poison and its sale should be as tightly regulated as cigarettes and alcohol.

They warn that sugary foods and drinks are responsible for illnesses including, obesity, heart disease, cancer and liver problems.

They also claim that it contributes to 35 million deaths a year worldwide and is so dangerous it should be controlled through taxation and legislation.

In an article entitled ‘The Toxic Truth about Sugar, published in the journal Nature, the scientists add; ‘A little is not a problem but a lot kills – slowly.’

 The authors (from the USA) warn that obesity is now a bigger problem than malnourishment across the world, and that sugar not only makes people fat but also changes the body’s metabolism, raises blood pressure, throws hormones off balance and harms the liver.

The damage done mirrors the effects of drinking too much alcohol – which the scientists point out, is made from distilling sugar.

Robert Lustig, the author who is a childhood obesity expert from California University said that “like alcohol, sugar is widely available, toxic, easily abused and harmful to society.”

The study has recommended that using taxation, the price of things like fizzy drinks should be doubled, the sales should be restricted to those over 17 or 18 and tightened regulations regarding the use of vending machines and snack bars.

Dr Laura Schmidt who also works at the University of California said that they do not want to stop people from consuming sugar but to increase peoples choices by making foods that aren’t loaded with sugar easier and cheaper to buy.

The study also found that the world’s consumption of sugar has tripled in the past 50 years and that there are now more obese people than malnourished ones across the world.

 Do you know your sugars?

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 120g for men and 90g for women.

Product                                                                                                            Sugar
per 100g/ml.

Hovis soft white loaf                                                                                            3.5g

Heinz baked beans                                                                                                 5g

Coca-Cola                                                                                                         10.1g

Mars Bar                                                                                                              60g

Heinz tomato ketchup                                                                                        23.7g

Special K red berries cereal                                                                                   23g

Innocent strawberry and banana smoothie                                                          10.5g

Starbucks skinny peach and raspberry muffin                                                      43.6g

If you are worried about your child’s sugar consumption then why not bring them along to see one of our Oral Health Educators. Jo and Zoe hold regular sessions where children and teenagers can learn the dangers of sugar on their dental health and pick up tips on ways to keep their teeth healthy and clean.

During February half term we are holding sessions every day at 9.30 and 11.30am where children can take part in the fun and interactive oral health sessions

Call 01283 216347 or complete a contact form to book a space.

The Invisalign treatment consists of a series of nearly invisible, removable aligners that you change every two weeks for the next set of aligners. Each aligner is individually manufactured for your teeth, and your teeth only. As you replace each aligner, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week until they have straightened to the final position.

What’s more, a virtual 3D treatment plan (ClinCheck© treatment plan) shows the series of movements your teeth will go through over the course of the treatment. This allows you to see up front what your teeth are expected to look like at the end of the treatment. Based upon the results of the ClinCheck treatment plan, your custom-made, clear aligners are produced especially for you.

Traditional orthodontic treatment could take anything up to 2 years to complete with lengthly monthly visits to the orthodontist for sessions of tightening and band changing.

Invisalign treatment works far quicker with only a few review appointments needed during the treatment time.

The aligners are completely transparent, therefore far more difficult to detect than traditional wire and bracket braces. This means you can get that great, straight smile without people noticing that you are going through treatment.

If you have concerns that your teeth look crooked, crowded or you simply want to feel more confident about your smile then Invisalign may be the perfect option for you.

Treatment with Invisalign is:

Discrete – since the aligners are virtually invisible most people won’t notice you’re in treatment.

Comfortable – there are no metal wires or bands to irritate your mouth.

Convenient – it does not disrupt your lifestyle, you can remove your aligners to eat the food you want and clean your teeth.

If you would like to discuss treatment, including spreading the cost interest free then please call our friendly team on 01283 216347 or complete our contact form.

Let’s face it, who doesn’t want the perfect pearly white smile? No celebrity comes without one these days, and with the advances of dental cosmetic treatment it is something that is now available to everyone. But what people forget is that the perfect smile really does begin with good dental hygiene. Before any cosmetic treatment is done the patient has to have good oral hygiene.

Following some simple tips will help you maintain good oral hygiene.

Brushing

Brushing your teeth twice a day is essential, once in the morning and once again at night time, ideally just before bed, or after all your meals and drinks. The front and back of teeth should be brushed, and then the biting surfaces. This is all to prevent the build-up of bacteria in your mouth that can cause cavities. We all have bacteria living in our mouths, and everywhere else on our bodies, and when we eat sugary foods the bacteria feeds on the sugar and produces an acid, which then attacks the teeth. This bacteria is called plaque, which is a gooey film covering your teeth.

The attack is most prominent for up to 30 minutes after eating a sugary snack, so if you’re going to eat something sugary then eat it all at once. This is a mistake parents often make, letting their child space out their sweets. If they’re going to eat sweets let them eat them all at once, and then get them to brush their teeth afterwards. This will most definitely help to minimise decay, as you are leaving less chance of leaving anything sugary in the mouth for the bacteria to feed on. It doesn’t mean you can’t ever enjoy sugary foods, drinks or sweets again, just be aware of the attack on your teeth afterwards, and brushing after that snack or meal will minimise any harm to your teeth.

Foods and drinks to look out for are fruit juices which are very acidic to the teeth, fizzy drinks, toffees and boiled sweets. Toffees can stick to fissures in your teeth which will cause decay, and sucking on a sweet is increasing the time of the acid attack. It’s is also definitely advised not to give children fruit juices in a bottle. This also increases risk of decay

Flossing

Flossing your teeth is just as important as brushing, as food and plaque can easily stick between the teeth and in those hard to reach places. Flossing enables you to remove the food and prevent acid attacks in-between your teeth, which are common problem areas. To floss you just need to hold the floss at either end using both hands, gently slide in between your teeth and pull through. Floss can be used between front and back teeth, where spaces are tight. Some people may have bigger spaces between their teeth, and if this is the case floss won’t be of much help. To clean in bigger spaces between the teeth try using inter dental brushes, which are little brushes on the end of a little handle. The brush is flexible so can be bent and moved for easier access. They also come in different sizes so you can use them for all spaces, big or small.

Keeping your gums clean

Your gums can often get forgotten, but it is just as vitally important to keep clean. When brushing your teeth also brush over your gums, and also over your tongue using small circular motions, to remove any build-up of bacteria. Do not press too hard, you do not want to damage the gums. Gum disease is such a common problem, and as said in our previous blog, this has been linked to heart disease.

It is believed that bacteria underneath the gum line can seep into the blood stream and travel to the heart and other organs causing harm. A way to combat the build-up of tartar, which is plaque that has hardened, is to have regular scale and polishes, either every 6 months or yearly

Mouth Washes

There are many mouth washes on the market but the best mouth wash comes down to personal preference. Only let children use mouthwashes specifically designed for children as adult mouthwashes can contain fluoride which could be harmful to a child if swallowed in large quantities. Mouth washes can help remove bits of food stuck between the teeth and make your breath smell nice. Mouth washes containing chlorhexidine can help when you are experiencing gum problems, but they are not advised to be use on a daily basis.

DON’T SMOKE!!

Smoking can cause serious damage to your gums, receding them quicker than non-smokers. And once the gum is lost it can never be replaced. That is why smokers are more likely to have gum disease as the toxins and chemicals in cigarettes have a devastating effect on the gums, as well as other parts of your body! Smoking will also stain your teeth and make your breath smell.

As we are fast approaching the end of another busy year I wanted to pass on my personal thanks to everyone, staff and patients alike for another great year at Alexandra Dental Care.

The practice has continued to grow this year with the arrival of new dentist Yasminder Virdee and hygienist Vicky Gopsill.

George Savva and his dedicated implant team have been particularly busy with providing dental implant treatments. They have restored the smile of many patients’, old and new. For those patients that he has treated they will be experiencing their first Christmas without unsightly gaps and tucking into their Turkey without the help of dentures.

We have been extremely busy with ‘Smile Makeovers’ this year. Patient feedback has been fantastic and we always love reading how just a small subtle change to your smile right through to the bigger cases of a full smile makeover can make such a difference to your confidence, relationships or even job prospects.

This year the practice purchased a state of the art CEREC machine.  CEREC is one of the latest advances in dentistry using CAD-CAM technology to allow the fabrication of crowns, inlays and onlays in a single visit. This means fewer injections, less drilling, no messy impressions and less time out of your schedule. 

Our summer whitening offer proved to be very popular with many people taking up the half price deal. We will be running a similar offer some time next year. Keep visiting our blog pages for details.

Yogi Savania has been busy studying hard over the past year, upgrading his skills in a variety of orthodontic treatment techniques. We are now pleased to announce that we have added Invisalign (clear, no bracket braces) to our range of orthodontic treatments We hope that all the lovely patients that he has treated this year are enjoying this holiday time showing of their straight, crowded free smiles.

Our celebrations for 2011 Smile Month were great fun and saw the local community getting involved with the help of the Burton Mail. Winners walked away with prizes of £250 cash, electric toothbrushes, a dental hamper and a healthy food hamper. Keep visiting our website for details of next year’s fun competition and celebrations.

We have been busy over the party season with our treatments for facial lines and wrinkles. We offer a range of facial ascetic treatments, helping our patients to fight the inevitable aging process. We hope you all enjoyed the party season.

2011 saw the practice join the social network revolution, we joined both Facebook and Twitter. Why not ‘Follow’ us on Twitter – @alexandradenta1 or ‘Like’ us on Facebook – Alexandra Dental Care.

We would all like to say a huge thank you to all of you, our patients.  The number of referrals we receive via word of mouth continues to impress us. Thank you for your support and the belief in what we do.

Big thanks to all our staff for their work and tireless devotion to the practice and our patients.

I myself saw my 15^th anniversary of working here at Alexandra Dental Care this year. I would like to take this opportunity to say that I am always at hand for our patient, whether it is for just an informal chat or you wish to discuss treatment or payment options.

2012 will see us continuing to improve the practice and everything we do, from customer care through to the quality of the dentistry that we deliver.

Happy New Year

Michelle Hornsby.

Practice Manager.

In our modern world it is not just about the sparkly dress and novelty tie anymore, one of the biggest things we are judged on is our smile!

When you are getting dressed this party season spare a thought for your smile. Is it as bright and white as you would like? Bright coloured lipsticks, especially red can make teeth look especially yellow.

 Don’t be fooled by the DIY home whitening kits that are on sale, and at this time of year promoted as a ‘cheap quick fixes’.

 There are so many products to choose from, with supermarket and chemists shelves literally groaning with whitening products and toothpastes.

The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) has issued a warning claiming that many DIY whiteners fail to give a good result or can even cause permanent damage to your teeth.

 One of the big concerns is that DIY kits do not make custom made trays to fit your teeth as we do here at Alexandra Dental Care.  The gel is not held to the teeth by close fitting trays so areas could be missed and the whitening gels can leak out onto the gums and into the mouth.

 Here we take an impression which is then sent to our dental laboratory, they make up custom made trays especially for your mouth. The tray has a small ‘well’ on the front of each tooth were the gels sits. As the tray is close fitting no gel can escape and it is held in precisely the correct place on the tooth meaning maximum results.

 Some DIY products do not contain any bleaching agents at all yet claim to make your teeth ‘whiter’ they instead contain pumice. Pumice stone is extremely abrasive, teeth should not be cleaned with such a harsh product, it could potentially cause significant damage to enamel or cause recession in the gums.  They types of product only remove stains (rather harshly!) but do not bleach the colour of teeth.

 Here we use a gel that contains a product that will change the colour of your actual tooth and whiten them, not just removing the stains.

 Teeth Whitening at shopping centre kiosks are growing in numbers, these kiosks are generally franchise owned, so they are not administered by dental professionals. They are not dentists, rather workers “dressed up” in medical garments to give people a false sense they are being treated by a dental professional. This kind of treatment is not only dangerous but barely legal. The catch that makes the process legal is that operators do not place the product in the “patient’s” mouth. Instead, the “patient” inserts the bleaching product themselves.

Undergoing teeth whitening at a kiosk can cause irreversible damages to your teeth. The bleach generally used at these kiosks consists of high concentration hydrogen carbamide peroxide. Chemicals at this high of a concentration are extremely acidic, and if not properly administered, can ruin tooth enamel.

 Professional teeth whitening should always be done under the supervision of a Dentist. Here at Alexandra Dental Care we assess each patient and decide on the advisability of bleaching, and prediction of outcome for each patient. Furthermore, our dentists have knowledge of the oral anatomy, principles of patient care, and the possible dangers involved: i.e. (if gums are not adequately protected or if there is gum disease).Where as a worker in a shopping centre will have none of these qualities.

 We offer whitening treatment for £446, you can also take advantage of our 10 months interest free option. This means for £44.60 per month you can have that bright white smile that will last for years and be safe in the knowledge that it has been carried out by a dental professional.

If you a member of our monthly budgeting scheme, Practice Plan you benifit from the 20% reduction in fees, meaning that whitening is only £356.80 or £35.68 per month on the interest free credit option.  

 For more information please call reception on 01283 216347 or complete the contact us form.

Most of us would head straight to the medicine cabinet if we suffered a severe headache, but is there an alternative solution that your dentist could help you with?

A recent case of a 28 year old lady from Widness, Cheshire highlighted what an awful lot of us would not expect- your dentist can help!

This particular lady suffered regular headaches from the age of 18, they soon turned into migraines which were so bad that she was constantly vomiting and she would temporarily loose the sight in one eye.

The condition was so bad that she was prescribed antidepressants and beta blockers from her GP, but the migraines still persisted. In the last two years she had been suffering around 4 a week and having to take numerous weeks off from work.

A consultant migraine specialist advised her to cut out caffeine, chocolate and daytime sleeping and to exercise along with drinking lots of water.

This unfortunately did not help the young lady. In desperation she turned to the internet to seek advice, then browsing the social networking site Twitter she came across a dentist who claimed that he could cure the problem.

The young lady then contacted the dentist who saw her and found that she had classic signs of jaw clenching and realised that she would often wake in the morning with a headache, meaning that she was grinding her teeth during the night while she was sleeping.

The dentist went on to take impressions and then fitted her with a mouthgaurd that she would wear overnight.

The next morning she woke up migraine free for the first time in a decade. She now suffers with the occasional headache but has not had a migraine since she started to wear her mouthguard.

How we can help.

Here at Alexandra Dental Care dentist Dr Yogi Savania has a special interest in this field of dentistry.

 Yogi has helped many of our patients to overcome head and neck pain that comes from problems relating to the teeth and muscles of the jaw joint (Temporo-mandibular Joint or TMJ for short)

If your teeth don’t fit together correctly, the muscles that move your jaw can be under extra strain. Many of the muscles of the head and neck are linked to the jaw and so common symptoms are tension headaches, especially first thing in the morning, migraine type headaches, pain in the neck and shoulders.

Other signs are clicking, grinding or pain in the jaw joints, ringing or buzzing in your ears and difficulty opening and closing your mouth.

Many people grind or clench their teeth. Often this is a subconscious habit and most people are unaware of it particularly if it occurs in their sleep. Eventually it can overload the teeth causing fractured teeth and fillings, toothaches or even loosen teeth.

 If you suffer from head or neck pain, regular headaches or migraines then please contact the surgery to discuss the treatments we have available.