Dental Blog - Crofts Dental Practice

Dental hygiene for fresh breath

If you are looking for fresh breath in Essex, then look no further than Crofts Dental Practice. We understand how important dental hygiene is for oral health, and also aesthetics and confidence. Bad breath is an unattractive feature, and if you are concerned about having bad breath then it may be a result of having poor dental hygiene. Speak to us if you are concerned, and we will be able to guide you on the best course of action for your teeth.

What causes bad breath?

Bad breath is caused by the decay of bacteria in the mouth, which can produce bad smells. Therefore, a good level of dental hygiene is important as it removes the decaying materials from the teeth, which is what could be causing the smell, and can reduce your risk of cavities.

If you are looking for fresh breath in Essex, and feel like your dental hygiene is of a sufficient standard, then the reasoning behind your bad breath could be something else, and in some cases more serious. Throat and lung infections can also contribute to bad breath, so it is important to get yourself checked as soon as possible.

How to prevent bad breath

Bad breath can be prevented by brushing twice a day using the correct techniques and flossing at least once a day. By maintaining this as a dental hygiene routine, your breath should stay fresh. There are other methods to maintain a good hygiene routine and avoid bad breath, such as avoiding particularly high-sugar foods, and using mouthwash occasionally if you are looking for a particularly fresh feel in your mouth.

Hygiene appointments

We advise that you come in for a hygiene session regularly, to make sure that your teeth are as clean as they can be. This treatment is also referred to as a scale and polish and involves the professional cleaning of your teeth. This is to ensure that plaque and cavities are kept at bay, and with a good dental hygiene routine as well, your teeth will be perfectly clean. Often regular toothbrushes, and a slack routine, can mean that certain areas of the teeth may get neglected. This is where cavities will form and where the source of bad breath may emerge.

Interdental Brushes

Interdental brushes are another way in which you can ensure that your teeth are being cleaned to their fullest potential. Interdental brushes are often given to patients that have been fitted with braces, as often a regular toothbrush cannot reach certain areas of the teeth, and therefore they can become a hotspot for plaque and decay. However, even with teeth that do not have braces, interdental brushes can be very useful at removing excess food that you may have missed. They also provide a softer and more precise brushing method closer to the gums, as brushing too firmly at the gums can cause them to recede.

If you are interested in improving your dental hygiene routine, and making sure that you have fresh breath in Essex, then get in contact with Crofts Dental Practice, and we will be able to assist.

If you’re looking for a dentist who provides unparalleled dental excellence in Essex, why not try Croft Dental Practice?

Why?

It’s easy to overlook regular check ups in our busy lives; but did you know that regular check ups are essential for not only our oral health but also for our general health. It is important to head off potential problems at the pass before they can develop into something more serious. We at Croft Dental Practice offer a range of treatments to keep your oral health optimised.

Orthodontics in Essex Perhaps you have missed going to see a dentist for a while are you maybe suffering from an anxiety with going to see a dentist are you new tit the area or just looking for a new dentist. We at Croft dental Practice have been the go to dentist in Epping for almost 30 years. That of course speaks for itself .We specialise in preventative dentistry and orthodontics and also have a range of other treatments available from general dentistry to cosmetic and whitening procedure that will get you smiling. With our fully trained staff and a raft of expertise we can transform your smile easier and for less than you could imagine. Advances in dental procedures along with state of the art equipment allow us to offer treatment to you in a relaxed and comfortable way. We foster relationships with our local community and we sincerely value our patients both young and old. So if its general orthodontics in Essex that you require with check-ups and teeth cleaning, we can offer a full service to keep your teeth in tip top condition.

What can we do for you

If you need orthodontics to realign and manoeuvre your teeth into position we can help with this also. At our practice we can really help to give you the smile you have always wanted. We offer cosmetic whitening techniques and veneers for far less than you could imagine. Our knowledgeable and welcoming staff at Croft dental practice will discuss the treatment options available and discuss with you the best way to achieve the smile you always wanted. Despite the aesthetic side of things, orthodontics are also important to us. Orthodontics in Essex includes the little touch ups that you might be looking for, whether this be alignment of your jaw and teeth, or if you are simply unhappy with the way your mouth sits.We have a range of payment options including a dental plan which allows you to spread the cost with easy monthly payments. Children of our paying patients are able to receive check ups free of charge.

Perhaps you have a fear of going to the dentist and let’s face it many of us have, we are very experienced in helping you get the treatment you deserve. Our staff are well trained in dealing with anxious and the more nervous of our patients. Upon arrival we will ask you to complete a general questionnaire so we can have a better understanding of your general health. Then you will meet your dentist and he will discuss the questionnaire with you before performing a thorough examination of your dental health. Once we have completed this we will have a better understanding of any treatment you may need and can then design a treatment program for you.

So don’t delay! Contact Croft dental practice today because a brighter smile is nearer than you could imagine.

Wow! A dentist providing unparalleled dental care for over 30 years?

In today’s fast moving world that surely is a find. Here at Crofts Dental Practice situated in leafy Epping, we have indeed been looking after our patients oral health day in day out for over 30 years. We have always strived to foster close ties with our community, and our patients come from a wide area including Essex, Hertfordshire and London, and enjoy a full service and first class dental and preventative dentistry orthodontics treatment.

Who are we?

Here at Crofts Dental Practice our dedicated team are on hand to provide you with a first class dental service. Whether it’s preventative dentistry in Essex such as dietary or daily health tips and tricks, you can be assured you are in safe hands. We offer a full service of treatment options at affordable prices. Our dentists are highly trained and specialised and patient care is at the heart of our practice. The team is lead by Dr Jazz Battu who qualified from the prestigious Guys kings and St Thomas’ dental school in London and Gan Dharrie-Maharaj who qualified at the Royal London hospital in 1993 and Dr Tarik A M Shembesh, who graduated from the University of London with honours.

But don’t take our word for it! As you would expect after 30 years, we have many patients happy to share their experience with you on our testimonials section of our website.

What we can offer you?

There are many different services that we can offer you, ensuring that whatever your need is, it will be fulfilled. Whether this be cosmetic dentistry, such as teeth whitening, fillers or smile makeovers, or the everyday essentials that you are looking for. We offer a wide range of services such as emergency dental care, root canal therapy, extractions or bridges or crowns. And if that isn’t enough, we can also provide you with the important, everyday tips and tricks that are essential in preventative dentistry – dental hygiene advice, children’s teeth and sensitive gums advice, as well as mouth cancer screening. But if you’re looking for more than just preventative dentistry in Essex, we can also help you with services of facial aesthetics, for example lip fillers, wrinkle reduction, or dermal fillers. These are used to replace lost volume in the face, caused by the loss of collagen. Whether this be due to age or missing fat, these non-permanent injections are painless, and give you a youthful, natural look that you were born with.

Why?

Sometimes in our busy lives, we can overlook our dental care and forget to look after ourselves. Whether you’re new in town or are looking to change your dentist, we can offer you a full service dental treatment for less than you think. We specialise in preventative orthodontics, and our friendly welcoming practise has over 30 years practise in providing this to many other people like yourself. So no matter what your problem may be – a sporting accident, illness or something else that can randomly pop up in day to day life, here at Crofts Dental Practice we have your back – why not leave the rest up to the professionals?

The pros and cons of dental implants

If you have lost one or several of your teeth then you will possibly feel self conscious about your smile. But negative emotional impacts are only a small factor in the wide range of complications that you may experience due to your incomplete smile.

Dental Implants in Essex Aesthetically, missing teeth can lead other people to wrongly surmise that you are less intelligent, less successful and less trustworthy than those who are rocking a beautiful, pearly white smile. It can also lead to premature aging as your cheeks can appear sunken where teeth are not there to fill out the face.

Physically, poor oral health leads to poor nutrition. Missing teeth can be painful where the sensitive gum tissue can be damaged and cut at the site of missing teeth. You may have noticed that you have ended up eating foods that you are able to eat rather than what you should or want to be eating.

Your surrounding teeth can also move to accomodate for your missing tooth, causing issues throughout the entire mouth. Teeth are more exposed to harmful bacteria when not neatly lined up against one another and are at more risk of decay or damage.

It therefore comes as no surprise that is is important that you seek to replace teeth that have been knocked out or have needed to come out due to illness, disease, age or injury. We are here to advise you in a considerate and non-judgemental way on the best methods that are available to you.

What is a solution?

Perhaps the most popular option today, due the longevity, reliability and functionality of the end result is dental implants in Essex. This is where a small metal screw is surgically inserted into the jawbone, where it fuses over time with the bone and surrounding soft tissues to become a permanent fixture in the mouth, not unlike a natural tooth root.

When it comes to replacing teeth, as with any procedure, surgical or not, the advantages and disadvantages need to be weighed up so that you can have a full understanding of what you are committing to.

We need to take several scans in order to ensure that you are suitable for the treatment. There are many different options within the realm of dental implants in Essex which means that a lot of our patients can benefit from them. You perhaps may need some prior treatment to take place before we are able to insert the implant into your jaw.

If you have some kind of underlying dental or health condition then you may need to get this under control before you have dental implants in Essex for your smile transformation. Such conditions like gum disease or tooth decay may create complications so we believe it is better for you to wait until these issues are under control.

This is a permanent solution and you may find that like many of our patients, you hardly notice that you have a tooth implant over time. The crowns look and feel just like regular teeth and perform in just the same way as your original tooth did. With appropriate care of the site to avoid infection and rejection of the metal screw, then there is no reason why this treatment will not last you for your lifetime.

Dental crowns: a common dental restoration

We competently perform one of the most common kinds of restorative dentistry that takes place in a modern dental practice, which is dental crowns in Essex. They are used to fix teeth that have been broken, are weak due to excessive decay or because of a very large filling.

Known as the multi-taskers of dental work, dental crowns in Essex are used both restoratively to protect your tooth and cosmetically to enhance the appearance of your smile. If we have informed you that you need to get one of these ‘caps’ to fit over your teeth, then chances are that you are very likely to accidentally cause further damage to your tooth whilst eating and chewing. This can happen at any given time and is best to be avoided.

There is nothing wrong with getting one of these caps placed over the top of your teeth and dental crowns in Essex are a common restorative dental procedure that we frequently do to protect your teeth from further harm. They are coloured to look exactly like the natural hue of your tooth and are therefore invisible to see to the untrained eye. We are even able to tailor make every cap so that they suit your unique smile and teeth; there is no one size fits all for this kind of procedure.

Advances in technology

Previously, it was generally considered a somewhat lengthy and uncomfortable procedure for you when a crown needed to be fitted. You had to have moulds taken of your teeth which we then had to send away to a laboratory for the dental caps to be made and returned. They were then glued onto the teeth using a special cement.

With digital scanners and the innovative Cerec machine, this is a thing of the past. We first scan your teeth and then use these high quality images to construct a ceramic cap within a half hour using our in-house Cerec machine, meaning that the entire treatment can be done within the one appointment.

We use only the best materials to ensure longevity and durability of your cap. It is important to be able to provide you with a peace of mind when it comes to protecting your teeth from further harm as well as getting your time and money’s worth from your dental treatments with us.

If the materials are not of the best quality, there is a chance that after several years of wear and tear, the cap can come loose. This is considered to be a dental emergency and you should quickly present yourself to us in order to recover that exposed tooth.

When is this treatment a good option?

If you have discoloured fillings and would like to improve upon the appearance of your smile, then having a natural coloured cap covering these fillings or even replacing them is a very good option that we can offer you.

Alternatively, if you have had a root canal treatment, then you will need to have a crown to protect and cover that restored tooth. This allows you to bite and chew as if it were a real and fully functional tooth.

This treatment option is also used to anchor a denture or a bridge more firmly in place in your mouth. Their uses are really quite extensive and as such has been subject to rigorous testing to ensure quality and durability.

Need orthodontics in Essex? Come to Crofts Dental Practice to get that dream smile

Fewer things fill dental patients with more dread than being told they need braces. The image of that awkward teenager with large metal braces shoots through their mind and causes many patients to refuse treatment; leaving them with misaligned teeth and unresolved confidence issues.

At Crofts Dental Practice, we can resolve the majority of dental alignment issues without having to fit traditional metal braces and can offer our patients a wide range of orthodontics in Essex to straighten their smiles.

Different types of braces

As dentistry has evolved, so have the different kinds of alignment solutions that can be offered to patients. Some dental practices are affiliated with a particular dental brand or type of dentistry, but at Crofts Dental Practice we will always put our patients needs first when discussing orthodontics in Essex with them.

Lingual braces

Lingual braces are comprised of both metal and brackets. Unlike traditional braces, they are fitted to the back of teeth and are therefore not visible when you smile.

They can be used to treat slight alignment problems or more complicated orthodontic issues.

Inman aligner

More specifically geared towards correcting overcrowding of the front teeth, the Inman aligner gently guides your teeth in to the new, desired position over a matter of weeks.

A plus of this type of brace is that it is removable and can be taken out when you are eating or cleaning your teeth. It is also ideal for orthodontic relapse and can even help with protrusions and with dental rotations.

Six-month smiles

This type of brace boasts being able to straighten teeth in a period of six months and in our experience at Crofts Dental Practice, it does just that!

With this particular brand of braces, there are actually two separate aligners that may be used. One is an invisible aligner that is custom made, fitted to your teeth, and the other is an invisible brace, comprised of thin wires to gently push your teeth into their new position.

As its name suggests, the average treatment time is around 6 months and this brace type can be used to correct crooked, spaced or misaligned teeth.

Invisalign

Invisalign is an ideal orthodontic option for our patients who have mild to moderate alignment issues. This system uses a series of clear, thin aligners to gently move your teeth into their new position.

One of the best things about using Invisalign is that the outcome is predictable. Using computer 3D modelling, you and your dentist can discuss how you want your teeth to look after treatment. Then, a customised set of aligners will be designed specifically to get your teeth into that position by the time treatment is completed.

These are just a few of the options you will have when you come to Crofts Dental Practice for orthodontics in Essex. we will specify any treatment based on your individual needs to give you the best outcome.

Call us today about orthodontic options!

Want to straighten or whiten your smile? Get porcelain veneers fitted in Essex

From time to time, we have all looked through a celebrity magazine and stared quizzically at someone whose teeth have seemingly transformed overnight.

Years ago, cosmetic dentistry was truly a luxury reserved for the stars of Hollywood due to prohibitive pricing; that has all changed.

Porcelain Veneers in Essex Many dental surgeries across the UK now offer a range of cosmetic dental treatments to all their patients, so that perfect smile is now within your reach!

A popular form of cosmetic dentistry is the acquisition of porcelain veneers in Essex. These provide instant straightening for slightly misaligned teeth and can also whiten your teeth without the need for cleaning!

Advantages of porcelain veneers

At Crofts Dental Practice, our dental team are extremely experienced in fitting porcelain veneers in Essex and have helped many of our patients straighten their teeth using them.

There are many other positive aspects to having dental veneers fitted, which we have heard from our patients time and time again.

Stain resistant

With the average diet containing multiple acidic foods such as coffee and orange juice, it is no surprise that our teeth can become stained.

Even if you have your teeth whitened professionally, given time, they may become stained again, meaning you can either choose to have them whitened again or you may opt to have veneers fitted.

One benefit of porcelain veneers is that they are stain resistant. So even weeks after they have been fitted, your smile will look as good as it did when you first left our dental surgery.

Corrects imperfections

Staining isn’t the only issue that veneers can correct.

Through our busy lives, we may incur minor or major cracks on our teeth, causing them to become misaligned or misshapen.

When you come to our dental surgery, we will examine your teeth and customise veneers to restore the natural shape to your teeth and hide the appearance of any cracks or misalignment. As dental veneers can be fitted in two settings, it really is a quick dental makeover.

Less invasive

Interestingly, many dentists are using porcelain veneers in Essex to replace the traditional dental crown. Traditionally, when a patient had a crown fitted, it was an arduous task of slowly prepping the tooth with specific drilling techniques, to ensure the crown stayed in place. As veneers are easier to fit and have a stronger bond to the tooth, they offer the perfect solution to traditional crowns.

Easy maintenance

Dental veneers have a long lifespan once fitted and require no special treatment to keep them looking their best. Indeed, all you need to do is keep up with your daily oral hygiene routine and your restoration will be easy to maintain.

Dental veneers are suitable for everyone not so confident about the look of their teeth and provide our customers with an instant boost of confidence. At Crofts Dental Practice, we offer our patients a free consultation and offer a dental plan to help you spread the cost.

Is it time to unlock your smile potential with Orthodontics in Essex?

Are you worried that your crooked teeth are knocking your confidence and that the only solution open to you is that of ugly metal braces? Don’t despair, at Crofts Dental Practice we offer many solutions to any dental problems you may have and seeking orthodontics in Essex may just be the light at the end of the tunnel for your teeth!

But just what is Orthodontics in Essex?

This type of dental practice deals with the correction of the alignment of teeth and jaws. If these are not straightened this can lead to further dental issues because crooked teeth, for example, can sometimes be very hard to keep clean and tooth decay can occur.

So what treatments could there be for my crooked teeth?

We offer a number of solutions that could be the answer to your prayers for a stunning smile, the first is that of Invisalign treatment. If you feel self-conscious when thinking about having the old school metal braces, this could be the perfect treatment for you. Invisalign aligners are practically invisible as they are made from clear material. A series of bespoke aligners are made specifically for each patient and these are each worn for around two weeks at a time, before moving on to the next aligners.

There is also another innovative alternative treatment which is that of lingual braces, they are are a dentistry solution for modern times. The treatment is very simple, an impression of the teeth is made and then a bespoke metal bracket is shaped for your teeth. These brackets are fixed to the back of the teeth and attached with bands. These braces move to align with teeth over time and can take anything from 12 to 18 months.

We also offer the Inman Aligner treatment which is ideal for overlapping or protruding front teeth. With this procedure, the teeth are guided to an ideal position in a very short time, in most cases 16 to 18 weeks. The Inman is very adaptable as it can be removed to fit with your lifestyle.

How do I look after my teeth after treatment

Overlapping and wonky teeth can not only cramp your style, but they can also damage your health. With overcrowding or crookedness, teeth can be very hard to clean, especially in between, so it can be hard to complete an oral health regime properly. By getting one of our many new and contemporary treatments like Invisalign, Inman or Lingual braces, you will gain positive benefits to your oral health.

We recommend always cleaning your teeth twice a day and flossing or using an alternative, to ensure that you keep bacteria and plaque at bay.

Hello beautiful!

Your goal of a bright and straight smile will soon be reached if you take the opportunity of all the great treatments there are on offer here. You can feel safe in the knowledge that you will be in the good hands of dental professionals who, collectively, have years of experience between them. Let us use it to help you.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

Are you greeted with a super smart smile or a rather sad looking grimace with crooked or yellowing teeth? Today, more than ever, we all want to look our best and all of us here at Crofts Dental Practice, want to help your teeth look and feel the best that they possibly can!

If it is a bright white smile that you feel that you are missing, then having your teeth whitened could be the answer, but if your teeth are crooked or maybe chipped, another solution could be veneers in Essex!

Can Veneers in Essex solve both stained and crooked teeth?

Yes! You heard correctly. If you have overlapping or wonky teeth and you think they need whitening up, veneers in Essex could help by changing the size, colour and shape of your tooth. These are made of very thin porcelain and are attached to the front of your natural tooth, simply and easily and can be expected to last from 10 to 20 years.

How exactly does this treatment work?

First, your teeth will need to be prepared for the procedure, sometimes a small piece of tooth needs to be taken away to allow enough room for the veneer to be attached. It is possible to have this procedure for just one tooth or for a number of teeth. Depending on what is needed for each specific case, we can make the shape of the new tooth covering longer or even closer to other teeth.

If there is just a single tooth that is the issue, because of staining, for example, the porcelain can be matched in colour to the other teeth in the mouth. But if it is a Hollywood glamour puss smile that you are after, all of your front teeth can be covered and made lighter in colour and in shape if that is desired.

The treatment of porcelain veneers takes longer than composite as these are crafted by a technician, so could take a couple of weeks, but we think the result is well worth it!

Making you feel at ease

We understand very well that some people have worries before any dental treatments. If you are a nervous patient, make sure to let us know at our initial discussion. We offer a whole range of options for the specific needs of each patient, to reflect the individual and the unique dental treatments that are required and we are very used to dealing with those that have fears of dental procedures. Our team will make sure that your road to a beautiful smile runs smoothly and painlessly!

And it’s as easy as that!

There is no need to suffer in silence as with today’s modern dental technologies, there are plenty of remedies! The treatment for stained or crooked teeth is simple, easy and painless, so why not make the most of our expertise and ask us how our treatments could be the solution for you!

A fabulous smile is only half a year away

How many years have you spent wishing you had a lovely straight set of teeth? It can seem like a great smile will take forever to achieve, but if you choose Six Month Smiles at Crofts Dental Practice in Essex, your lovely new smile could be as little as 4 months away.

Six Month Smiles in Essex Six Month Smiles cosmetic braces only take 4-9 months to straighten out mild to moderate alignment issues. It’s not very long is it?

What are Six Month Smiles?

Six Month Smiles are modern-day discreet fixed braces for adults with mild to moderate alignment issues. Fixed braces draw the teeth into position using wires pulling through brackets attached to the teeth.

Six Month Smiles are different from traditional braces because the Lucid-Lok brackets are made of clear ceramic and are smaller than metal brackets. The wire that runs between the brackets to create the pull is thinner and coated in a tooth-coloured material.

Six Month Smiles create a discreet-brace look that blends in with your teeth rather than overwhelming them. The smaller brackets and fine wire use a gentle force on your teeth.

These braces are designed to work on your front 6-8 teeth only. These teeth, known as the ‘social 6’, are the teeth that show when you smile. They can be moved with gentler forces, and more quickly, than the back teeth because they only have one root. Pre-molars and molars have 3 roots, and so require more force and take longer to move.

The whole process takes only a few months and then you will have your new smile.

After treatment

Everyone who has their teeth straightened needs to wear a retainer after straightening is complete. A retainer holds the teeth in their new positions and stops them wandering out of place.

You can wear a removable retainer, which goes over your teeth like a mouth guard, at night. Or we can fix a bonded retainer to the back of your teeth, and this is then permanently in place.

Want to know more about how you can get a new smile in only half a year? Come in for a free consultation.