Root Canal Treatment at MSC

What is Root Canal Treatment?

Root canal treatment (also known as endodontics) is a procedure that is used to remove infection from the root canal of your tooth.

Why it’s Important

The blood or nerve supply of a tooth - known as the pulp- can become infected due to decay or injury, and if this happens, the infection could spread through the root canal system of the tooth, potentially leading to an abscess. Therefore, root canal treatment (RCT) is important because it helps to stop the spread of infection. If root canal treatment is not carried out, the spread of infection will occur and it is possible that the tooth will need to be taken out.

Given that the pulp cannot heal once it is destroyed and that it is not advisable to leave an infected tooth in the mouth, there is the alternative option of having the tooth removed. While this may seem like a preferable option to some people, it is usually best to keep as many natural teeth as possible.

What Happens During Treatment?

A time-consuming treatment that requires a lot of skill, root canal treatment means you will need to make a minimum of two visits to your dentist. Firstly, the infected pulp is removed; also, if there are any abscesses, these will be drained at this stage. After this, the root canal is cleaned and shaped to prepare it for filling. A temporary filling is put in before the tooth is then left to settle.

At a later visit, the tooth will be checked. Once all of the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled.

Following Treatment

There are treatments available to you if the root canal treatment leads to tooth discolouration, which is rare. It may be a good idea to restore the tooth with a crown to strengthen it. Take care of any teeth that have undergone this treatment in the same way as you would with your normal teeth; clean them at least once a day- ideally with a fluoride toothpaste, reduce the number of sugary snacks you eat and keep them to mealtimes if possible, and visit your dentist regularly for check-ups.

If the root canal treatment is not advised by your dentist, or if the treatment is unsuccessful and repeated RCT attempts also fail, apicoectomy becomes necessary. This form of treatment attempts to get rid of the root tip and all of the infected tissue. A small incision will be made into your gum before the infected tissue and remaining few millimetres of the root tip are taken away. Finally, a filling is placed to seal the root end. Depending on the location of the tooth and the complexity of the roots, the treatment can last between 30-90 minutes.

How Midlands Smile Centres Can Help

Root Canal Treatment is a very important type of treatment for patients. Given the problems that a damaged or decayed root canal can cause, you will be happy to learn that root canal treatment is available here at Midlands Smile Centres and is performed by our highly skilled, experienced dentists. If you're experiencing pains, swelling or abscesses, it's important that you book a dental appointment as soon as possible, to reduce the amount of permanent damage that could be caused.

Emergency Dental Treatment at MSC

Emergency dental treatment is available at Midlands Smile Centres practices across Birmingham. You do not need to be a Midlands Smile Centres patient to receive our emergency dental treatment. It is always advisable in dental emergencies to see a dentist quickly. Doing so will mean a better chance of resolving the problems with your teeth.

Due to the fact that we at MSC have practices situated around Birmingham, we are often closer to patients who require help than the Dental Hospital or other dentists providing emergency dental treatment. We are usually able to give you the attention you require faster than a Dental Hospital.*

Warning signs that dental problems are occurring can be subtle. At times, warning signs can easily go unnoticed due to low levels of pain being more difficult to detect during the day. Midlands Smiles Centres can be contacted if pain killers are failing to provide the necessary relief from pain.

Visit our website for Emergency Dental Treatment from MSC. 

If possible, we will arrange for treatment to take place at your nearest Midlands Smile Centre practice. If this is not possible, please note that Selly Oak MSC and Kings Heath MSC are usually staffed by our emergency dentists.

Contact us immediately if you have any of these problems:

• Toothache that has lasted for more than 30 minutes after taking pain relief, cleaning and flossing between your teeth.
• A lump on your gum line next to the root of your teeth. This could be an abscess and could result in tooth loss if it is left untreated.
• A broken tooth or broken filling. Failure to receive treatment for this could result in further tooth or filling damage and eventual tooth loss.
• A broken crown. Without treatment this could result in untreatable decay to the root of the tooth, abscesses and eventual tooth loss.

• A tooth which has been knocked out. Place the dislodged tooth in a sealed container filled with milk and take it with you to the dentist. The reason for this is that dislodged teeth can sometimes be re-inserted. Do not wash or clean the tooth as this reduces the possibility of it being reinserted.
• A lost tooth. The wound left in your gum can be attended to by a dentist. Infection in the wound can cause abscesses and other complications. This is particularly important if you plan to have a dental implant.
• A loose or partially dislodged adult tooth. Avoid touching the tooth, except if you are preventing the tooth from falling out. Try to support the tooth instead of applying pressure to the tooth to keep it in place. Your dentist may be able to reinsert the tooth into its original location.

 

You do not need to be registered or have previously been a patient of Midlands Smile Centres to access our emergency dental treatment service. If you need Emergency Dental Treatment from Midlands Smile Centres, you can find everything you need on our website. 

*assumes Midlands Smile Centre practices are closer to patients than Birmingham Dental Hospital and patients call during practice opening hours.

A Guide to Invisalign

What are Invisalign Braces?

Invisalign braces are braces that make use of transparent, removable aligners to gradually manoeuvre your teeth into the desired position.

The Benefits of Invisalign Braces

Without incorporating wires or brackets, Invisalign braces utilise superior modern-day technology to move your teeth and help you to attain the kind of smile you are looking for. As a result of Invisalign braces being see-through, they are much more appealing visually than traditional braces, and much more discrete than traditional braces. Also in comparison to traditional braces, Invisalign braces are more comfortable to wear.

Another advantage of wearing Invisalign as your choice of braces is that they are very well-suited to eating. Plus, they are easier to clean than traditional braces. Both of these advantages are a result of the fact that Invisalign braces can be removed.  

The Treatment Process

The transparent aligners are specifically-made for the patient by one of our experienced MSC orthodontists. For this treatment process, a mould will need to be taken of your teeth. The aligners will be created on the basis of this mould so that the fitting found for your teeth offers optimum comfort.

The treatment plan will incorporate a series of different aligners and each one is slightly different. This series of aligners will help to move your teeth into the required position. We at Midland Smile Centres are also able to offer you the ClinCheck 3D treatment plan. This enables you to see what your teeth will look like once the treatment is finished before it actually takes place.

The Cost

Treatment for Invisalign starts from £40.50 a month. 

What’s the next step?

You can discover more about Invisalign treatment and how it can benefit you by booking an appointment for an Invisalign consultation and talking to one of our experienced orthodontists. You can request an appointment by filling out our Invisalign form.

If you are interested in the idea of having Invisalign braces or you are curious to learn more about this treatment, then you may be interested in our Invisalign Open Evening from 5pm to 8pm on 2^nd March 2017, at Selly Oak MSC. Any questions you have about this form of treatment could be answered here.

This open evening is your chance to receive a consultation for Invisalign treatment without an appointment and for free. This open evening is a one-time offer, where you can save money by not only receiving a free consultation, but also receiving free tooth whitening with your Invisalign treatment. Overall, this offer means that you will be making a saving of £255.  

Invisalign Open Evening - MSC Selly Oak:  2^nd March 2017, 5 pm - 8 pm

Going Further

To increase the charm of your smile even more, you may want to think about other types of treatment. One of these treatment types provided by Midland Smile Centres is veneers. Veneers are thin, tooth- coloured layers of material - normally porcelain - that can be placed over teeth that are decayed, damaged, discoloured or have an irregular shape. They create a noticeable aesthetic improvement and do so with only minimal tooth destruction.

We also offer white fillings. An alternative to grey amalgam fillings, white fillings provide the kind of function you would expect and boast a natural appearance as well. In addition to white fillings generally having a more aesthetically pleasing look, they can also make a person feel less self-conscious about their teeth when they laugh or smile.

Considering treatment is an important step in moving forward. Making sure that the treatment is right for you is of high importance. The advance in new technology has enabled huge leaps in the medical industry, such as Invisalign treatment, opening you to more than one available method of treatment for a number of concerns you may have. No problem is too small and everyone should have access to treatment that they feel they require. Some of these treatments above are just a few possibilities available to you. Midlands Smile Centre is here to help, if you have any questions about the open evening, or would like to book an appointment before-hand, contact us.

Cosmetic Dentistry at Midland Smiles Centres

While the health of your teeth is absolutely essential, the way your teeth look is also something that can be very important. The aesthetic value of teeth can sometimes make a person more confident, and here at Midland Smile Centres, we are able to help teeth look their best. With various forms of treatment available, you might want to consider cosmetic dentistry with MSC now, and look forward to a new year with a perfect smile.

One treatment on offer at Midland Smile Centres is white fillings. Whilst being able to provide you with the function that ordinary filling do, white fillings have the added advantage of being much more pleasant to look at. An alternative to grey or silver fillings, white fillings have a natural appearance and avoid making a person look older or feel self-conscious when smiling or laughing.

If you would like to remove the stains from your teeth, then Airflow may be the treatment for you. A specially designed treatment, Airflow polishing utilises a jet of air, water and sodium bicarbonate to clean and polish your teeth. It can reach between your teeth and can remove the build-up of plaque. Offering a better clean than a normal scale and polish and more comfortable for the patient receiving it, Airflow can be effective in making your teeth less sensitive, too.

To make a clear difference to the appearance of your smile, opting for teeth whitening is an obvious choice. At MSC, we can provide you with special teeth whitening trays made specifically to fit your teeth. These trays should be to be filled with whitening gel. They will then need to be worn for a few hours every day. Given the extent of discolouration of the patient’s teeth, the treatment may need to be increased. Our highly experienced dentists will decide whether home whitening is suitable for you. This form of teeth whitening will only affect natural teeth, and can be stopped as soon as you are satisfied with the results.

For teeth that are discoloured or have an irregular shape, veneers can be used. Veneers are also suitable for teeth that have suffered decay or damage, and they are applied when crowns are not needed. Usually made from porcelain, veneers are placed over teeth, and in contrast to crowns, they do not require you to have large parts of your healthy tooth removed. The impact of having veneers fitted is a definite improvement to the appearance of your smile, and in most cases, only one or two veneers can help you achieve this aesthetic enhancement.

The treatment available at Midland Smile Centres can be accompanied by sedation. This is perfect for those who are anxious about having dental treatment or entering a clinic. Our intravenous sedation (via a vein in the arm) will make you drowsy and unaware of treatment, but still enables you to cooperate with the dentist.

If cosmetic improvements to your teeth are something that you are interested in, then it might be worth getting in touch with Midland Smiles Centres to find out more about the treatments we offer. Our highly skilled and experienced dentists are sure to help you achieve the smile that you desire.

Emergency Dental Treatment

Midland Smile Centres are always available to provide help with any dental issues you have that need immediate attention. We can be reached at any time on our emergency treatment number, which can be found here: emergency treatment. Additionally, you do not need to be a patient of Midlands Smile Centres to have access to emergency treatment.

Another brilliant thing to be aware of in regards to MSC emergency dental treatment is that getting to us is quicker than making your way to the Dental Hospital in emergency situations. This is largely due to the fact that we have a number of practices, and they are situated around Birmingham, which means that finding a dentist near you shouldn’t be a problem. We at Midland Smiles Centres are confident that we can provide you with the dental assistance you need more quickly than the Dental Hospital.*

Apart from this being reassuring and positive news, especially for those suffering from problems that require immediate dental assistance, it is also great for the chances of successful treatment. The quicker a problem can be attended to, the more quickly it can be resolved.

It is worth taking a moment to think about emergency dental treatment and why it may be necessary, as there are a number of ways in which your teeth can suffer and thus necessitate emergency treatment. Some of these ways or the knock-on effect they can have may not be obvious, so it is certainly a good idea to learn about the dental issues that may arise, and how we can help you in these urgent situations.

One major reason for seeking immediate dental assistance is when you have had one of your teeth knocked-out. In these cases, Midland Smile Centres dental staff will be ready to give you the help you need. However, there are a couple of steps you can take that will be helpful in ensuring that the tooth is successfully re-inserted. After your tooth has been knocked-out, it is advisable to put the tooth into a container of milk and remember to take it with you to the dentist. Also, refrain from cleaning or washing the tooth.

Sometimes you may have a tooth that is loose. With the assistance of one of experienced dentists, this tooth may be also be re-inserted successfully, so getting in touch promptly via our emergency line is a wise decision. You may not realise though that unless you are stopping the tooth from falling out, touching a partially dislodged tooth is not recommended. It is a much better idea to support the tooth rather than using pressure to hold it in place.

Be aware as well, that lost teeth are another reason to seek help. This is due to the fact that the wound that is left after the tooth has been lost can become infected, possibly resulting in abscesses and further complications. Seeking assistance for this problem is especially important if you have plans to have a dental implant.

Some problems may seem less urgent, and you may believe that they do not require the attention of a dentist due to their seemingly minor nature. Tooth ache is a dental issue that may seem small but will actually require the immediate attention of an MSC dentist via our emergency number. If you experience a tooth ache which lasts for more than 30 minutes after taking painkillers and cleaning and flossing between your teeth, you should contact us.

Another issue with your teeth that could perhaps be overlooked or ignored but MSC should be alerted to immediately, is the formation of a lump on your gum line beside the root of your teeth. It may be that this lump is an abscess, and without treatment, it could result in tooth loss.

Other problems that you need to contact Midland Smile Centres about on our emergency treatment number include: a broken tooth or filling - this can lead to additional tooth or filling damage as well as tooth loss if it goes untreated; a broken crown - this can result in untreatable decay in the root of the tooth, abscesses and eventual tooth loss if you do not receive treatment.

Make sure that you are always aware of the symptoms related to emergency dental problems and ensure you respond quickly in emergency situations. Failure to do so may lead to further complications. If you have any dental issues that require immediate attention, call our emergency treatment number.

*assumes Midland Smile Centre practices are closer to patients than Birmingham Dental Hospital and patients call during practice opening hours.

How Your Dentist in Birmingham Can Meet Your Needs

Without question, maintaining the standard of your teeth is important. We at Midland Smile Centres understand this well, and as a result, we take every step to ensure that your dental needs as an individual are catered for.

First of all, we are based in several locations around Birmingham so that it is never difficult for you to get to us. We have seven MSC practices dotted around the city: Alcester, Handsworth Wood, Sheldon, Northfield, West Heath, Kings Heath and Selly Oak. So whatever it is that you need us for, we shouldn’t be too hard to reach.  

There are a number of reasons why you might need to get in touch with us or come to visit one of our practices. There are times when emergency treatment is required. In these instances, a same day emergency service is available, and this can be accessed by registered as well as unregistered patients. Aside from emergencies, there are a range of treatments that we can provide in order to improve your dental standards. These treatments vary from orthodontics- encompassing an array of brace types- to dentalimplants, cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening, white fillings and porcelain veneers, as well as other treatment types. It may be worth knowing that Midland Smile Centres also offer facial aesthetic treatments.

These types of treatment can be necessary for different reasons. Orthodontic treatment can be used to rectify the problem of teeth being crooked or crowded inside a person’s mouth. Bridges and dentures on the other hand are suitable for those that have missing teeth. Another type of treatment we offer is root canal fillings, which are needed when the root of your tooth has become extremely damaged or has been afflicted by decay.

Patients who are considering having treatment but are nervous about having the procedure will be pleased to know that Midland Smiles Centres will do their best to calm and reassure anxious patients. Also, if requested, sedation can be provided at various MSC sites.

When it comes to ensuring you receive the treatment you want, you may wish to first ask some questions. For any queries about the treatment you are interested in or to learn more about what is involved, free consultations may be available, and the helpful staff at MSC can be easily reached by phone. Alternatively, you can send a message via their website.  

Another factor that is part of planning for treatment, is cost. With MSC there are no hidden costs, and with the Smile Plan, treatment is made more affordable. And, for treatment costing £500 or more, we are able to offer you finance options as well.

Take the time to read through what we offer at Midland Smile Centres and you will see that we are perfectly able to meet your dental needs. Our dentists in Birmingham are highly skilled and experienced and our staff are always ready to help you. Put the standard of your teeth first and choose Midland Smile Centres today.

Oral and Kidney Health Linked?

Your oral health is very important for your body, it’s possible that your general health and well being could be severely affected by a lack of oral hygiene. Keeping your mouth clean and healthy means you not only avoid oral problems such as cavities, gum disease or losing teeth, but you could also avoid a number of other serious health problems.

The Link

Recent discoveries have strengthened the link between dental health and general health and well being. Now studies are showing the link between periodontal (gum) disease and kidney problems. These studies have shown that people who have gum disease are not only more likely to suffer from kidney disease, they also have a higher mortality rate than those who suffer from kidney disease alone. People who suffer from kidney disease are also more likely to experience a number of oral health problems.

Studies

One such study looked at gum health and kidney function indicators in a group of around 4000 adults aged over 40. Taking into account factors such as people who smoke and also their age, it was shown that those who had lost teeth had a much higher chance of suffering from chronic kidney disease than those who still had their natural teeth.

Those who suffer from kidney disease could also suffer from oral health problems. These problems include tooth loss, inflammation in both the mouth and salivary glands, gum disease, larger amounts of plaque, chewing problems, bone loss in the jaw, bad breath and a dry mouth.  

Another study examined data from around 14,000 patients, and showed that in 10 years the mortality rates of those who suffered from gum disease and chronic kidney disease was 41%, compared to 31% of those who suffered from chronic kidney disease alone. This is quite significant, if it is ascertained that this is a causal association then by controlling and treating gum disease it might be possible to improve the health of those with kidney disease.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is a very common problem, three out of every four adults in the UK over the age of 35 suffer from it, and it is the leading cause of tooth loss. A common symptom of gum disease is bleeding and/or sore gums during your daily tooth brushing. Other symptoms which are normally indicators of the early stages being untreated include bad breath, unusual or unpleasant tastes, loose teeth or gum abscesses.

You can help avoid gum disease simply by maintaining good oral hygiene. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day for about two minutes, using fluoride toothpaste and regular flossing. Regularly visiting your dentist means you can get the heads up on any signs of gum disease, and if there are any, you can start taking measures to ensure it doesn’t become a severe problem. Your dentist is the best tool you have for fighting off gum disease.

If you’ve already suffered from gum disease, you can restore your smile using one of our restorative treatments, such as Dental Implants or Denture Implants. These treatments not only fill the gap in your smile, they also can help reduce bone loss in your jaw due to missing teeth. Implant treatments aren’t only for people with gum disease, anyone who has lost teeth can have this treatment for a brilliant smile.

Midlands Smile Centres

Midlands Smile Centres is a dentist in Birmingham that offers Implant treatments and more. Call your local practice and talk to one of our friendly receptionists to book a check-up. We can check your dental health and if needed, we can discuss the plan for your treatment.