In the UK diabetes diagnosis has increased from 1.4 million in 1996, to 2.5 million in 2008. By 2025 there are predicted to be more than four million people with diabetes in the UK. It is also estimated that there are around half a million people currently living with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in the UK.  

Research suggests that the management of periodontal disease can affect the gums and other supporting tissue around the teeth.  It can also help to reduce the risk of a person developing diabetes and can also help those with diabetes control their blood sugar levels.  

Sunita Verma, Principal at Sparkle Dental Boutique says “Establishing a routine periodontal programme is one way to help keep diabetes under control.  We take extra care with patients who have diabetes. Periodontal disease triggers the body’s inflammatory responses, which can affect insulin sensitivity and ultimately lead to unhealthy blood sugar levels. We therefore look for symptoms of periodontal disease such as swollen or red gums, or bleeding during tooth brushing and take the time to educate patients about the risk factors of diabetes.”

Eating yoghurt regularly could slash a child’s risk of developing tooth decay, according to new research.

Consuming the dairy product at least four times a week reduced the chances of three-year-olds developing cavities by 22 per cent, compared to those who ate it less than once a week.The findings, published in the Journal of Dentistry, came from a Japanese study which was investigating earlier claims that dairy foods generally could ward off dental decay in children.

But while butter, cheese and milk appeared to have no major benefit, high consumption of yoghurt did have a protective effect in young children.It’s not clear why yoghurt reduces the need for fillings.

But one theory is that it contains proteins that ‘bind’ to the surface of teeth and seals them against attack from harmful acids.This seal means the calcium and phosphate which makes up tooth enamel is not broken down over time.The research, by experts at Fukuoka University and the University of Tokyo, supports earlier work by Australian scientists who exposed extracted teeth to yoghurt and found it kept decay at bay.

Fears over children’s dental health in the UK were raised last year when figures revealed a steep rise in the number of children being admitted to hospital for emergency dental work due to tooth decay. Nearly 30,000 children a year in England need hospital treatment, many to have rotten teeth pulled. Children from poorer areas are twice as likely to need treatment as those from affluent families.

In the latest study, Japanese researchers looked at more than 2,000 children aged three and quizzed parents on their eating habits. Each child also had a dental check to assess the state of their teeth. The results showed a clear link with yoghurt but not with other popular dairy produce.

In a report on their findings the researchers said: ‘High consumption of yoghurt may be associated with a lower prevalence of dental cavities in young children.’ But British Dental Health Foundation chief executive Dr Nigel Carter warned: ‘It should be remembered that many yoghurts in the UK contain added sugar and it is well established that increasing the frequency of sugar containing foods and drinks leads to an increase in dental decay.

‘Yoghurts are also quite thick and will tend to coat the teeth for longer which can also lead to problems. If parents wish to increase their children’s yoghurt intake it is therefore important that this be confined to meal times.’ 

Source: Daily Mail

Before treatment: Gaps between teeth

After treatment: Gaps closed using composite bonding

Have you ever wanted to improve your smile…but were anxious about having extensive dental treatment? 

Well with our one visit smile makeover, remarkable improvements can be made in one appointment…and the great news is that it is as simple as having a filling! 

If your teeth are worn with jaggedy edges or are chipped, perhaps you have always had gaps between your teeth, then the one visit smile makeover is the ideal way to improve the aesthetics of your smile. 

Dr Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique says, “We can make dramatic changes to the way people look and feel about their smiles in one very easy visit.”

“Take the above case for example, the patient was very conscious of a gap between her teeth that she felt was really visible. Within a space of an hour we were able to close the gap using tooth coloured resins and blending them to match the exact colour of the patients natural teeth. Something that had bothered the patient for many years, was now a distant memory.”

The British Dental Health Foundation, the oral health charity is advising men to brush their teeth regularly, after a study found that infertile men are more likely to suffer from gum disease.  A study of 56 men aged between 23 and 52 by the Bikur Hospital, Jerusalem and the Hebrew University Hadassah School of Medicine found that more than half the men with low sperm counts or no sperm at all, suffered from developed gum disease.  

Sunita says “Brushing your teeth twice a day is absolutely essential, to ensure not only an attractive smile, with healthy teeth and gums, but also better general health.“

Dentists are often the first people to notice that someone has an eating disorder. Those with bulimia, have a noticeable difference in the condition of their teeth and a loss of teeth is not an uncommon occurrence.

Bulimia is an eating disorder where the sufferer overeats and then induces vomiting, by pushing fingers or using an implement such as a toothbrush into the back of the mouth.

Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique says “Bulimia can cause very serious dental problems. Gastric acid found in the mouth as a result of vomiting causes the tooth enamel to erode and the teeth can become soft. The gums also start to erode causing fillings to jut out over the gum line. In severe cases, if the condition is left untreated the final outcome could be the complete loss of all teeth.

In terms of dental advice for those suffering from bulimia, you should not brush your teeth immediately after vomiting as this will turn the teeth yellow and will also speed up the tooth decay process. Rinsing the mouth with water is a better option and in addition, chewing gum will also help combat the effects of gastric acid on the teeth.  A fluoride mouthwash and tooth paste is advisable to help reduce tooth decay.

For those who have a huge wearing down of enamel, we can restore these teeth with crowns. A crown strengthens existing, damaged teeth so as to preserve its functionality. Crowns also improve the aesthetics of your smile.”

Sunita says “Bulimia is an illness that in the majority, affects women of all ages. Many patients don’t like to say that they are suffering from bulimia but their dental health reveals a different story. We have an all female team who are sympathetic and caring when seeing patients whose dental health has suffered as a result of bulimia. Fortunately, there is a lot of help available and it is vital that if anyone is suffering from bulimia that they come in to see us, so that we can help to reduce any further damage to the teeth.”

Modern cosmetic restorations like dental implants, crowns and bridges, look and feel just like your own natural teeth. All result in improved appearance and good oral hygiene. How?

• Crowns preserve compromised teeth and combined with bridges, they prevent teeth from drifting. Implants also prevent drifting and they preserve bone tissue. All three procedures are directly responsible for improved self confidence…which will of course keep you smiling!                                 

• A bridge is a combination of crowns and artificial restorations that close a gap left by a missing tooth (or teeth) restoring your smile and redistributing the workload.  Placing a crown on a high risk tooth as early preventive treatment, saves time and money and maybe even your tooth!  

• If you are in good general and oral health, you may be an excellent candidate for dental implants – no matter what your age.

Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique says, “If you’ve not been to see me for a while then you may see me wearing loupes or special magnifying glasses with a light shining from the loupes, very much like the light you see on a miners helmet! 

No need to worry, loupes give a better visualization of the oral cavity and are a great tool for making accurate diagnosis. They allow me to see even the slightest imperfection which is particularly useful when carrying out detailed dental or cosmetic procedures.

For my patients this means greater confidence and perfect results.”   

Fiction: Braces are only for kids

Fact: There is no upper age limit for orthodontics providing your teeth, bones and gums are healthy. In fact braces have become trendy with celebrities such as Tom Cruise wearing braces as an adult.  

Fiction: Braces are very noticeable and `everyone can see them’

Fact: They need not be. There are several styles of very discrete braces which are suitable for some circumstances and the conventional metal braces are much smaller and very much more attractive than they used to be.   

Fiction: You always need to have teeth extracted before braces

Fact: No. This may only be necessary if the teeth are very overcrowded. 

Fiction: Orthodontic treatment takes years

Fact: With new technological advancements, many dental corrections can be made in as little as 12 weeks, using new removable appliances like the Inman Aligner. On average treatment time varies from 6 – 24 months.   

Fiction: Any dentist can fit braces

Fact: The majority of orthodontic treatment is carried out by those with formal postgraduate orthodontic training. An orthodontist on the General Dental Council Specialist List has undergone between 3-5 years of specialist training after qualifying as a dentist. Sparkle Dental Boutique’s orthodontist, Dr Shahla Rahman, is a Specialist.  

Fiction: Braces make teeth weaker and more mobile

Fact: Quite the opposite. Successfully treated teeth are more effective at load bearing and are less likely to be ground down. Provided you take extra care of your teeth while the braces are on, your bite should be healthier after treatment.   

Fiction: After braces are removed, teeth just move back to their old position again

Fact: Minor tooth movements are normal throughout life, but if you wear retainers as instructed at the end of treatment, your teeth should remain aligned.   

When a patient asks about options for improving their overall smile, particularly when their teeth are crooked, they have two options: the option of porcelain veneers or the option of orthodontics (braces).      

Sunita Verma, Principal of Sparkle Dental Boutique says, “Sometimes patients are reluctant to have orthodontic treatment assuming that they are too old for braces, or that orthodontics are only for children or that they will have to wear braces for a number of years. This is simply not true!”  

“We offer a new procedure offered at Sparkle Dental Boutique called short term orthodontics (STO). With STO, we can give our patients the smiles that they desire through simple orthodontic tooth movement. The simple treatment philosophy is that if teeth are in the wrong position, move them!”

Many types of tooth movement can be easily and safely accomplished in about six months, using orthodontic brackets and wires. 

STO overcomes the two main obstacles that prevent adults from accepting orthodontic treatment, that is treatment time (within the range of 4-9 months) and the appearance of the brackets and wires. STO also allow quick and more predictable tooth movements.  

Sunita says, “The case shown above was treated within 5 months using a functional brace and clear braces. Once we had corrected the tooth position, we then whitened the teeth and finally conservatively treated the tooth using a technique called cosmetic bonding, to give a very aesthetically pleasing result.”   

Source: Short Term Orthodontics: The Cosmetic Dilemma, Dr R Swain Dentistry 10 December 2009

Your phone is wireless. Your computer too. So why aren’t your braces?  

Many teens as they grow are conscious about not only looking good but also feeling good too. Invisalign Teen™ is the ideal solution offering a clear alternative to conventional braces. It’s clear, comfortable and best of all its invisible, so no one will know you have them on!  

Unlike fixed braces, Invisalign Teen™ allows you to remove the aligners which means you can continue to enjoy your normal life. You can continue regular daily activities whether that’s  playing sport, musical instruments or even eating and drinking while still being able to brush and floss with ease.  Invisalign Teen™ is particularly suited for continued brushing and flossing and is gentle on your teeth and mouth. 

How does it work? 

At your appointment, we take photographs, digital x-rays and impressions of your teeth and make a treatment plan.

The records that have been taken are sent to Align Technology where they are turned into a 3d digital representation of your teeth. This allows us to show you your projected end results before starting treatment!  A series of aligners will then be custom manufactured for you. The aligners fit around your teeth only and will be changed every two weeks for a new one. Each aligner is slightly different from the previous one moving your teeth gently into the desired position and giving you a smile to be proud of.  

The length of treatment depends on the severity of your case and on average takes between 9-18 months.