Wealden Times | WT197 | July 2018 | Interiors supplement inside

Health
open communication with the clinician where concerns
and possible outcomes can be discussed is vital.
Examples of previous work and bespoke digital predictions
of the client’s end results, as well as trial smiles, can be
created to provide patients with a good understanding of
what to expect before going ahead with any changes.
The most common complaints are “I don’t like the way
my teeth look” and “I just don’t like smiling anymore
in photos” which may be as a result of mismatched
fillings or old crowns in front teeth, crowded, worn, or
missing teeth or old ‘silver’ fillings in the back teeth.
Most troubling is loose or missing teeth which not only
can be debilitating aesthetically but functionally too.
We can resolve these concerns with a variety of procedures:
hand-built tooth coloured fillings and veneers, ceramic
restorations, implant crowns and bridges, dentures - and
sometimes just with improved cleaning and whitening.
However small your worry, if it is important to
you then it is important to ask and find out how it
might be changed. Discussing your concerns will
allow you to find out specifically what your options
are and how they can be achieved before you start.
StoneRock Dental Care, Stonerock House,
High Street, Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent
01580 752202 stonerockdentalcare.com
Elmsleigh House Dental Clinic
What are the most common dental
health issues for people as they age?
As we age the risk of tooth decay increases. It increases
when teeth are not cleaned thoroughly, possibly
because of dexterity problems such as arthritis, and
when prescribed medications cause dry mouth.
Older people often have a legacy of dated dental
treatments, which need replacing with modern alternatives.
Tooth wear can be a problem, but modern materials and
techniques mean that lasting repairs can be made.
Teeth can also move with age, but there are many
orthodontic solutions available to all ages, from bespoke
fixed braces such as Insignia and Incognito, Invisalign clear,
removable aligners to faster systems for adults such as Cfast,
which can straighten most adults’ teeth in 6-9 months.
Gum disease, diabetes, heart disease, auto-immune
conditions and dementia are all associated with a deterioration
in oral health, which should be closely monitored.
It is important to maintain regular check-ups
with your dentist, so that as you age your dentist
can take preventive measures and plan treatment
for the future to minimise problems.
Are people keeping their own teeth
longer than they used to?
With better oral health education and products available
to keep your teeth healthy, people can look after their
teeth for life, with regular dental check-ups, preventive
measures and hygiene appointments. However, people
can lose teeth at any age as a result of gum disease,
tooth decay, dental infections and trauma.
As people are now living a lot longer, we have to look after
our teeth to ensure they last, with healthy eating and visiting
your dentist for regular check-ups and preventive treatment.
If teeth are too badly damaged to save, what are
the options for replacements?
Dentures have been the option for replacing teeth for
many years, and a clinical dental technician can now make
dentures that fit securely and look like natural teeth.
However, no matter if you have lost one, several or
all your teeth, expertly placed dental implants offer the
best fixed long-term solution. They provide a stable
base to which your crown, bridge or implant-stabilised
denture can be securely attached, and will be made to
look, fit and function just like your natural teeth.
Prices vary widely for implants, but always look
for a dentist who has years of expertise and uses
well-researched materials, rather than the cheapest
option; often these dentists have only been on a short
course and use cheaper systems that do not last.
The dental implant team at Elmsleigh House have
helped patients who have had implants placed elsewhere
fail, and are referred patients for dental implants because
they are trusted for their expertise and longlasting results.
One of the first implant patients at Elmsleigh House is still
enjoying her replacement teeth placed over 30 years ago.
What are the relative costs, time taken
and longevity of the different options?
This is a difficult question to answer because each
option depends on an individual’s dental health and
overall health – and the level of expertise, technology
and quality of materials used by the practitioner.
With dental implants, it is essential they are placed in
healthy gum and bone, so sometimes extra work is needed
such as a bone graft to ensure secure and longlasting
results. Everything must be bespoke to the individual.
To ensure the best dental care at any age, it is
important to:
• Brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one
other time in the day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Cut down on sugary food and drink
• Visit your dentist for regular check-ups, as often
as they recommend, and your hygienist for
professional cleaning.
Elmsleigh House Dental Care, 6 Station Hill, Farnham, Surrey
01252 713797 elmsleighhouse.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
128