Dr John Swift
Dr John Swift BDS
Continued professional education with focus:
Cosmetic dentistry with particular interest in porcelain veneers, occlusion & cosmetic restorative treatments, dermal fillers and Botulinum toxin wrinkle treatment.
John grew up in Birmingham and graduated from Guys Dental School in London in 1996. He worked in Beckenham before joining Crescent Lodge Dental Practice in 1998.
In May 2004 Dr Swift and Dr Larsson bought the practice from Dr Brown.In 2007 John went on to be the sole owner. John believes that all patients should receive the service and standard of dentistry that he would like and expect to receive himself.
In his spare time John enjoys keeping fit, travel, arts and the theatre.
Associate Dentists
Dr Lars Franke DDS
Continued professional education with focus:
Root Canal Treatment, Periodontal Treatment, Dentures with precision attachments.
Lars was born in Germany and graduated from Mainz faculty of Dentisty in 2000. He then worked in Germany for 2 years before coming to England in 2003 and joined the practice in 2004.
Lars has continued his education focusing on root canal treatments and the latest techiniques asociated with this field.
In his leisure time Lars enjoys all sports especially Cycling and Running.
Dr Per Nilsson DDS
Continued professional education with focus:
Per was born in Lund, Sweden, and graduated from the University of Lund in 1984. After working as a dentist in Sweden and Italy he moved to America where he continued his professional education with the main focus to become an implantologist.
Per worked for a Swedish implant company as an implant specialist for many years and at the same time graduated from the University of New York with an American dental degree in 1993. He then opened a practice in New York which he ran for 12 years, with a focus on cosmetic dentistry, full mouth reconstruction and implants.
Dr Nilsson belongs to many associations including the American and British Dental Associations and the American Academy of Osteointegration [implants] and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
In his spare time Per enjoys golfing, skiing, cycling and spending time with his family.
Dr Fabrizio Rapisarda DDS
Continued professional education with focus:
Oral surgery and Implantology
Dr. Rapisarda was born in Rome, Italy, and graduated from Rome University La Sapienza in 1994 where he concentrated on periodontology and periodontal surgery. He then specialised in Oral surgery in Florence. He focused on implantology, difficult extraction procedures, apicectomies and grafting techniques. He practiced in the Oral and Maxillo Facial department of the Orthopaedic Traumatic Centre (CTO) Hospital, treating seriously injured patients. He ran his own practice for 8 years in parallel.
He moved to England in 2004, and initially worked in hospital as an oral surgeon, removing deeply impacted wisdom teeth under general anaesthesia, before joining the Crescent Lodge Dental Practice. He provides surgical dental treatments with Intravenous Sedation or Gas-and-Air, following an Anaesthetic Certification in Sedation.
He also took several specialised postgraduate courses in aesthetical implant procedures, and advanced techniques in implantology, focusing on bone augmentation and bone grafting in London, Paris and Detroit (USA). Leveraging his experience, Dr. Rapisarda enjoys treating both medical aspects and cosmetic ones, restoring beautiful smiles.
He is a black belt in Judo and a Scuba DiveMaster. In his spare time, Fabrizio enjoy swimming, travelling, and playing with his little boys.
Dr Dino Birkenstock DDS
Continued professional education with focus:
Invisalign Therapy, Dental Orthopaedics, Endodontic Treatment and Cosmetic Dentistry
Dino grew up in Dinslaken, Germany and graduated from Rostock University, faculty of Dentistry in 1999. He then worked in a private practice in Munich for 5 years and wrote his doctoral thesis about rotary root canal preparation in 2004. He moved to London in 2005 where he joined Crescent Lodge Dental Practice.
Dino is continuing further education in orthdontics and cosmetic dentistry, with particular interests in Invisalign orthodontic treatment.
In his spare time Dino enjoys travelling, sports and good food.
Styliani (Stella) Kourkouta DipDS, MMedSci, FDS RCS, MRD RCS, FDS (Rest Dent) RCS Eng
Specialist in Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
Stella joined Crescent Lodge Dental Practice as a Specialist in Periodontics in 2008. Following her dental degree from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, she undertook extensive postgraduate training in the UK in the fields of Periodontology, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Fixed & Removable Prosthodontics, and Endodontics. She completed her training in Restorative Dentistry at the Eastman Dental Hospital in London (2000-06), and recently completed an implant fellowship at the University of North Carolina, USA. She also holds the Dental Diploma in Homoeopathy. She is a Fellow and Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and a member of the British Society of Periodontology, British Dental Association, and American Academy of Osseointegration.
In her spare time she enjoys travelling, dancing, going to the opera and theatre, cooking and cake decorating.
Sharon
Sharon has just joined Crescent Lodge Dental Practice after completing a four year residency in the United States,in Fort Lauderdale, South Florida leading to a diploma on the speciality of Prosthodontics.Her interests thus lie in the rehabilitation of complex cases in patients with and without teeth involving current concepts in implant and cosmetic dentistry.Sharon's in depth training focused on both cosmetics and function as being the ideal goals of treatment.
Prior to her postgraduation education in the United States,Sharon worked in dental schools and general practice all over the UK and also worked in Spain on the Costa Blanca where she gained an insight into dermal fillers and botox treatment which she hopes to continue in the future.
Sharon is a member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery of the Royal College of Surgeons of England,the America College of Prosthodontists and the Academy of Osseointegration.
In her spare time she enjoys keeping fit,music,cinema,cooking and speaking foreign languages of which she speaks French and Spanish.Sharon enjoys people and her aim is always to make dentistry as pleasant as possible for patients!
Hygienists
Marta
Marta Tomaszczyk graduated from Poland Dental School in 2000.
She moved to UK in 2003 and began working in dental practice in London. She is a member of British Dental Hygienist Association. Since qualifying as a dental hygienist Marta has continued to update her knowledge and skills within the profession by attending regular courses in UK.
Sorcha
Sorcha grew up in Cork, Ireland and graduated from the Eastman dental institute as a dental hygienist in 1995. She worked in both a general and specialist perio practice in London before joining Crescent Lodge 2006.
Sorcha keeps up to date with regular courses in al aspects of dental hygiene, particularly treatment of gum problems. In her spare time sorcha enjoys eating out, running and spending time with friends.
Kasia
Kasia grew up in Mikolow, Poland and graduated from Medical School with Dental Hygienist specialisation in 2000. After her graduation she worked in one of the best local practices for more than 5 years and another two in her hometown. She moved to the UK in 2005 and she spet her first year working in a dental surgery in Norwich. In 2006 she moved to London and joined Crescent Lodge.
Since qualifying as a dental hygienist she continues upgrading her profesional skills and practical knowledge by completing regular courses in the UK and Poland.
When not working,
Kasia enjoys: travelling, swimming and cooking.
María
María was born in Spain and graduated from I.E.S. Ramon y Cajal in Murcia in 2000. She then worked in Spain for three years before coming to England in 2004 and joined the practice in 2005.
Maria is a member of the British Society of Dental Hygiene and Therapy. Since qualifying as a dental hygienist she continues upgrading her professional skills and practical knowledge by completing regular courses in the UK and Spain.
In her spare time Maria is a freelance photographer and photojournalist, she makes Roman mosaics and enjoys arts, travelling, swimming, cooking and socialising.
Nick Hodgetts
Nick grew up in Staffordshire and graduated from Kings College, London with distinction. With both his parents being dental professionals, he has always had a keen interest in dentistry. Working in practices in central and south London, Nick joined crescent lodge in 2004, where he prides himself on his rapport with the patients and his informed approach to preventative dentistry
Management
Kay Kelly Practice Manager
Kay was born in London and joined the Crescent Lodge Dental Practice as a part time DSA in 1978, having previously worked at 3 dental practices as a DSA, Receptionist and Practice Manager before leaving to get married and start a family. After having four children she returned to full time employment at the Practice in 1991 as DSA and Receptionist before taking on the role of Practice Manager in 1997.
After leaving school with 9 GCEs, Kay has continued her education with a 1 year course in Childcare, a 2 year course in Counselling Skills and 1 a year Practice Manager course. She also attends regular relevant seminars in order to remain up to date with the ever changing policies, protocols and regulations necessary to run an innovative, forward thinking practice.
Kay now lives in Surrey and enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, travel, reading and keeping fit.
Magdalena Mazur Assistant Practice Manager
Magdalena grew up in Poland and graduated from University of Rzeszow, faculties of Economics and Agriculture in 2001. She had worked in 2 dental practices as DSA, before joining Crescent Lodge in November 2005.
She has completed implant and oral surgery nurse courses. She also attended to various managerial courses. Magdalena currently is continuing her education in the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
She now lives in London, enjoys in her spare time sports, travelling and reading.
Joy Holman-Butt DSA - Finance Coordinator
Joy was brought up in London and worked at 2 dental practices before joining Crescent Lodge in May 1975 as a full time DSA and later Receptionist then Practice Manager. She continued to work part time after marrying and having two children, doing a combination of Reception, Payroll, Accounts and Admin., before taking on the role of Finance Coordinator in May 2004. She has attended various admin courses during her time at the practice and continues to do so.
Joy now lives in Surrey and enjoys spending time with her family, holidays abroad, swimming, dancing and keeping fit. She also has an interest in interior design and enjoys meeting people and having an interesting and varied job as part of an enthusiastic innovative team.
Dental Nurses
Hannah
Training at the Birmingham Dental Hospital for 2 years, Hannah achieved NVQ Level 3 in Dental Nursing and National Hospital exam. After working as a nurse for the School of Dental Hygiene and Therapy, Hannah wanted to experience working in the practice environment to further her knowledge and skills.
Hannah was offered a position at Crescent Lodge and so moved down to London in April 2007. She began her time here working as a part of the receptionist team. This involved Hannah learning and adapting to Practice environment. She spent 7 months doing this and then was offered the position as Dr. Swift’s permanent nurse in Nov 2007. Hannah has a great interest in Cosmetic Dentistry and enjoying working as a Nurse with Dr. Swift.
In her spare time , Hannah enjoys socialising with friends and family, swimming and keeping up with the latest fashion.
Aga
Agnieszka came from Poland in 2001 and worked in two dental practices before joining the team at Crescent Lodge in 2006. She has taken a course in implants and enjoys working with Dr Nilsson.
In her spare time Aga enjoys walking, swimming, snowboarding and travelling.
Anna
Anna grew up in Poland and graduated from Zywiec medical college as a general nurse. She then worked in Poland as a dental nurse before coming to England. After working in 2 dental practices, Anna joined the team at crescent lodge in February 2008. In her spare time she enjoys music, dancing and cooking.
Justyna
After finishing her biology degree in 2004, Justyna worked for in a dental practice in Poland, focusing mainly on oral surgery. In 2007 she moved to London and joined the team at Crescent Lodge. She has courses booked for later this year in sedation to further advance her career. Further planned courses are implant nursing and oral surgery. In her spare time justyna likes to read, visit the cinema and go climbing.
Receptionists
Justyna
Justyna came to London 4 years ago where she completed her nvq 3 and became a qualified dental surgery assistant. At present Justyna is working as a receptionist at the practice and enjoys the company of her fellow team members. In her spare time she enjoys reading, travel and keeping fit.
Lenka
Lenka joined the practice 3 years ago as a dental nurse and now works as senior receptionist. Lenka was promoted after winning the team member of the year in 2006 at the dentistry awards. She is currently studying at kings college for a degree in marketing and enjoys keeing fit at the gym, reading and travel.
Magda
Magda grew up in Poland and trained as a midwife at Limanowa College before moving to London in 1996. She worked in 2 practices before joining Crescent Lodge in May 2008.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with her family.
Practice Policy
Our London SW4 dentists and dental team follow a strict practice policy. Ask your SW4 dentist today!
Recycling Update!
Crescent Lodge Dental Practice recycled 840 kg of paper and 5 kg of plastic, saving 8 trees and 3,500 kw of energy since we started recycling last year!
1. Our SW4 London dental practice aims to provide dental care of a consistent quality, for all patients. We have management systems to help us and which define each dental practice member's responsibilities when looking after you.
2. In proposing treatment we will take account of your own wishes. We will explain options, where appropriate, and costs, so that you can make an informed choice. We will always explain what we are doing.
3. We will do all we can to look after your general health. We will ask you about your general health, and about any medicines being taken. This helps us to treat you safely. We keep all information about you confidential.
4. Contamination control is also essential to the safety of our patients. Every practice member receives training in practice systems for contamination control.
5. We screen all patients for mouth cancer at routine checkups. We ask patients about tobacco and alcohol use because they increase your oral cancer risk.
6. Practice working methods are reviewed regularly at meetings of all staff. We encourage all staff to make suggestions for improving the care we give patients.
Dental Practice Policy
7. All dentists in our London dental practice take part in continuing professional education, meeting the General Dental Council's requirements. We aim to keep up-to-date with current thinking on all aspects of general dentistry, including preventive care which reduces your need for treatment.
8. All staff joining the practice are given training in practice-wide procedures. Once a year, there is an individual review of training needs for everyone in our SW4 dental practice.
9. All members of our Clapham dental practice know of the need to ensure that dentists are working safely. In the unlikely event that a dentist in this practice becomes unfit to practice, we have systems to ensure that concerns are investigated and, if necessary, acted upon.
10. As a family practice we take our concerns regarding the environment and the future impact on our children very seriously. In addition to our commitment to saving resources ie electricity,water and gas we are proud to be members of a recycling scheme started by friends of the earth. We have already had trees planted inner city in our name and plan to add to this at a rate of 2 a week. For further information on this scheme please visit
FAQs
Our Clapham dental practice offers a wide range of dental treatments. Ask your Clapham dentist today!
Crescent Lodge Dental Practice
Principal - Dr John Swift
Associates - Dr Lars Franke, Dr Per Nilsson, Dr Fabrizio Rapisarda and Dr Dino Birkenstock
Hygienists - Sorcha O'Conaill, Nick Hodgetts, Maria Corbalan and Sorrel Jeffery
Practice Manager - Kay Kelly
Assistant Manager - Magda Mazur
Finance Co-ordinator - Joy Holman-Butt
Visit the Our Team page for our Clapham dentists' profiles.Why do I need to visit the dentist?
Decay may or may not cause discomfort; even though it doesn’t hurt, the tooth is deteriorating. Using higher magnification and powerful lighting & radiographs; gum disease can be diagnosed, treated and kept at bay. Also, mouth cancer can often be spotted during its early stages by your dentist.
Click here to learn about our preventive treatments which include early detection of decay and gum disease, mouth cancer screening and fitting mouth guards for sports.
Your Clapham dentist in SW4 London can also provide restorative and cosmetic dental treatments to improve your smile.
I need directions, where is your dental practice?
The Crescent Lodge Dental Practice can be found in Clapham Common, London, SW4. Look at our map.
Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 8:00pm
Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am - 1:00pm
What are your opening times?
How do I make an appointment?
Simply call us on (020) 7622 5333 during our opening hours, as shown above.
Dental FAQs
How do I cancel an appointment?
24 hours notice is required to cancel an appointment. Failed appointments are charged at the rate of £30.00 per half hour.
Emergency dental services
Out of hours, please call 020 8299 5509.
What treatments do you provide?
Our preventive treatments include early detection of gum disease, decay, tooth wear and mouth cancer as well as creating mouth guards for sport. Our periodontal treatments includes scale & polish, root planing, gum surgery and bone augmentation. Our restorative treatments include fillings, crown & bridge work, veneers, root-canal treatment. Our teeth-replacement services include dentures (metal or plastic), bridges and dental implants. Our cosmetic treatments include stain removal, tooth whitening, white fillings, veneers, and orthodontic referrals.
Do you offer sedation for anxious and phobic patients?
Yes, intravenous sedation and relative anaesthesia [gas] is available on request.
Do you have a dental hygienist?
Yes, our team of dental hygienists are available daily:
9am to 8pm from Monday to Thursday
9am to 5pm on Friday
9am to 1pm on Saturday
Is your equipment sterilized?
Our south west London dental practice has modern equipment and conforms with British Dental Association, Faculty of General Dental Practitioner (Royal College of Surgeons) and Health and Safety Executive guidelines. Read our dental practice policy.
How do I pay?
As this south west London dental practice does not send accounts, please pay for your treatment as you receive it. We accept Bankers Card with cheques and also take Visa, Access and Mastercard.
We can also arrange payment plans.
Dentists FAQs
Is there car parking space?
Parking is convenient and spaces are mostly available around Clapham Common, SW4. However, there is no onsite parking.
Do you recommend any dental websites for patient information?
Online leaflets: If you want general information on a condition or treatment, go to the British Dental Health Foundation's web site where they have over 40 online leaflets.
Online Resource: Want to find out about dental treatment? Want to know how to look after your teeth better? Visit the new BDA Smile web site.
3D Education: Learn about dental anatomy, conditions, treatments and good oral health with the BDA's cutting edge 3D Educational web site.
Treatments
Dental and Facial Treatments
At our dental practice, our dentists provide stunning cosmetic dental treatments including teeth whitening (home whitening and 1-hour power whitening), porcelain veneers, white fillings, gum contouring and teeth reshaping as well as clear orthodontics using "invisible" braces to create the perfect smile makeover.
To restore your smile by replacing missing, decayed or broken teeth, we use crowns, bridges, dentures and dental implants. Using the latest technology in dentistry we are able to offer the highest quality of care with a wide option of treatments.
Our preventive dental treatments include fissure sealants for children, scale and polish, bad breath, gum disease, decay detection and mouth cancer screening services.
We also have expertise and special interests in oral surgery for extractions, root canal therapy for infections and sedation is available for nervous patients.Our facial rejuvation experts remove wrinkles, frowns and lines on the face to make you look and feel younger.
Cosmetic Dentistry
• Teeth Whitening
Brighten your teeth by several shades with our 1 hour In-Office power whitening and home whitening maintenance kits.
• Porcelain Veneers
Improve your smile by lengthening and reshaping teeth and closing gaps between teeth. Ask about a complete smile makeover!
• White Fillings
Remove unsightly silver metal fillings and replace them with tooth coloured fillings for a whiter smile.
• Gum Contouring and Teeth Reshaping
Reshape your gums and teeth to lengthen or shorten the appearance of teeth and improve your smile line.
• Clear Orthodontics
Straighten your teeth with "invisible braces".
Teeth Whitening
Teeth are stained by the foods and drinks we consume. Smoking further stains teeth and the natural bright, white shade becomes darkened. As we get older our teeth naturally darken regardlessly.
Teeth whitening is a successful and simple method of lightening the colour of your teeth. The degree of whiteness achieved will vary from patient to patient and with the type of bleaching process chosen.
Office ZOOM! Teeth Whitening
Your teeth can be lightened immediately using this technique which is conducted in the practice. Watch ZOOM! presentation...
Tooth Whitening
Our ZOOM 1-hour power whitening can whiten teeth by up to several shades, brightening your teeth dramatically to its natural shade. Your lips and gums are covered and a gel is applied to your teeth.
A special light is positioned over your teeth to activate the gel, which gently penetrates your teeth, breaking up stains and discolouration. Whiter, brighter teeth in less than an hour!
Home Whitening
A custom made mouth tray is created. A whitening gel is placed in the tray which you then wear whist asleep or for short periods during the day.
Results are normally seen over 2 weeks.
Porcelain Veneers
If your front teeth are stained, chipped, or malaligned, veneers will give you a good life-like appearance with minimum tooth adjustment.
A veneer is a facing on the front of your teeth usually your top teeth, it is just like a false finger nail.
Veneers are made out of porcelain and are used mainly for aesthetic reasons.
Veneers make teeth look natural and healthy, and because they are very thin and are held in place by a special strong bond (rather like super-glue) very little preparation of the tooth is needed.
Veneers
Porcelain veneers can improve the colour, shape and position of teeth.
A precise shade of porcelain can be chosen to give the right colour to improve a single discoloured or stained tooth or to lighten front teeth (usually the upper ones) generally.
Veneers can also be used to close small gaps, when orthodontics (braces) are not suitable.
If one tooth is slightly out of position, a veneer can sometimes be fitted to bring it into line with the others.
White Fillings
If the decay is not too serious, our cosmetic dentist will remove all the decay and restore the tooth with a white (tooth coloured) filling.
We can safely replace silver amalgam fillings with white tooth coloured fillings.
Dental decay happens when the enamel and dentine of a tooth become softened by acid attack, producing a cavity (hole).
More about decay detection in our Preventive Dentistry section.
Gum Contouring and Teeth Reshaping
Lengthen the appearance of your teeth by reshaping your gums.
Shorten, smoothen or level your teeth to improve your smile line.
Clear Orthodontic "Invisible Braces"
Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten teeth using a series of custom-made, nearly undetectable aligners. Invisalign® also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start, so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.
Invisalign can help you get the great smile you've always wanted.
Invisalign can help you get the great smile you've always wanted because it's... Invisible, so no one can tell you're straightening your teeth. So now you can smile more during treatment as well as after.
Removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are no problem.
Comfortable, because it has no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in your doctor's office getting adjustments.
Invisible Braces
How Does Invisalign® Work?
» You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
» As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move - little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the final position your orthodontist or dentist has prescribed.
» You'll visit your orthodontist or dentist about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.
» Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
Visit the Invisalign website to learn more.
Restorative Dentistry
• Broken Teeth
Restore broken and chipped teeth after accidents
• Crowns & Bridges
Replace a few missing teeth with a natural looking caps
• Dentures
Replace many missing teeth with support to your cheeks and lips
• Flexible Dentures
Flexible partial dentures are the comfortable, beautiful, and affordable choice.
Broken Teeth
A veneer can make a chipped tooth look intact again. The porcelain covers the whole of the front of the tooth with a thicker section replacing the broken part.
Bonding: sometimes instead of a porcelain veneer, a natural colour ‘composite’ material is used instead of porcelain.
A natural-coloured filling material can be used for minor repairs to front teeth like chipped or broken tooth corners.
Crowns
A crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape of a natural tooth.
A crown is sometimes known as a ‘cap’. Crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth that have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling.
A crown could be used for a number of other reasons, for instance:
• you may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth
• you may have had a root filling which will need a crown to protect it
• it may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.
Our bridges and crowns are created by Knight Dental Design, Specialists in aesthetic dental technology. Knight Dental Design are the only dental laboratory to have won both of the UK dental industries annual awards for excellence. To learn more about Knight Dental Design, click here.
Bridges
Besides having dental implants, there are two main ways to replace missing teeth. The first is with a removable false tooth or teeth – a partial denture. The second is with a fixed bridge.
A bridge is usually used where there are fewer teeth to replace, or when the missing teeth are only on one side of the mouth. Bridges are usually made of a precious metal base.
If the bridge will show, porcelain is then bonded to the base. Sometimes, there are other non-precious metals used in the base to reduce the cost.
Our bridges and crowns are created by Knight Dental Design, Specialists in aesthetic dental technology. Knight Dental Design are the only dental laboratory to have won both of the UK dental industries annual awards for excellence. To learn more about Knight Dental Design, click here.
Dental Bridges
You should replace missing teeth for a number of reasons. Your appearance is one reason. Another is that the gap left by a missing tooth can mean greater strain is put on the teeth at either side.
A gap can also mean your ‘bite’ is affected, because the teeth next to the space can lean into the gap and alter the way the upper and lower teeth bite together. This can then lead to food getting packed into the gap, which causes both decay and gum disease.
Dentures
Replacing lost or missing teeth has substantial benefits for your health and appearance.
A complete or full denture replaces the natural teeth and provides support for cheeks and lips.
Without this support, sagging facial muscles can make a person appear older and reduce their ability to eat and speak.
A denture is an appliance which is worn to replace lost or missing teeth to enable you to enjoy a healthy diet and smile with confidence. A complete or full denture is one that replaces all of the natural teeth in either the upper or lower jaws. A partial denture fills in the spaces created by lost or missing teeth and is attached to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments.
The base of a denture is called a plate and can be made of either acrylic (plastic) or metal. The teeth are normally made of acrylic and can be made to match your natural teeth. This is especially important in the case of partial dentures.
Flexible Dentures
Nobody has to know that you're missing teeth
Flexible partial dentures are the comfortable, beautiful, and affordable choice. It was long thought that removable partial dentures had to be rigid to be effective. The innovation of the Valplast® Flexible Partial allows the restoration to adapt to the constant movement and flexibility in your mouth.
• Comfortable
• Non-Invasive
• Affordable
• Virtually Invisible
Visit the Valplast website.
This is the underlying thinking behind Valplast's innovative flexible, removable partial denture. The flexibility, combined with strength and light weight, provides total comfort and great looks!
Dental Implants
Dental implants offer a permanent solution for your missing teeth. A dental implant is essentially a substitute for a natural root and commonly it is screw or cylinder shaped.
Each implant is placed into a socket carefully drilled at the precise location of the intended tooth. Often the implant can be placed at the same time as removal of the tooth all on the same day.
If an implant has a screw-thread on its outer surface it can be screwed into position and if it does not, it is usually tapped into place. The main aim during installation of any implant is to achieve immediate close contact with the surrounding bone. This creates an initial stability, which over time is steadily enhanced by further growth of bone into microscopic roughnesses on the implant surface.
In order to support replacement teeth, dental implants normally have some form of internal screw thread or post space that allows a variety of components to be fitted. Once fitted, these components provide the foundation for long-term support of crowns, bridges or dentures. Click here for illustrated information.
A dental implant is the most pleasingly aesthetic solution for replacing the missing tooth. An all-ceramic dental crown or dental bridge, secured to a dental implant, provides a complete and beautiful solution for improving your smile. Read patients testimonials on Nobel’s website.
Association of Dental Implantology
The ADI aims to provide the public with an improved understanding of the benefits of implantology, and Members with the benefits of continuous skills development, safeguarding standards.
Preventive Dentistry
• Children
Fluoride applications and fissure sealants for protection against decay
• Dental Hygiene
Scale & polishing teeth and teaching you how to keep them clean
• Bad Breath - Discover Fresh Breath
Improve your social life with fresh breath
• Periodontal Therapy
Treatment of swelling, soreness or infection of the gum tissues
• Decay Detection
Detect early decay and prevent unnecessary discomfort
• Mouth Cancer Screening
Smoking, drinking and unhealthy diets increases risks of mouth cancer. Early detection increases chances of survival.
Children
We aim to prevent dental disease rather than treat it at a later date.
Fluoride applications and fissure sealants (tooth coloured sealants) are applied to biting surfaces of children's teeth to prevent decay.
What are sealants?
Sealants are a safe and painless way or protecting your children’s teeth from decay. A sealant is a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.
What is involved?
The process is usually quick and straightforward taking only a few minutes per tooth. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned, prepared with a special solution, and dried. The liquid sealant is then applied and allowed to set hard – usually by shining an ultraviolet light onto it.
How long do they last?
Sealants usually last for many years, but your dentist will want to check them regularly to make sure that the seal is still intact. They can wear over time, and sometimes the dentist needs to add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath them.
How do they work?
The sealant forms a smooth, protective barrier, by covering all the little grooves and dips in the surface of the tooth. Dental decay easily starts in these grooves.
When should this be done?
Sealants are often applied as soon as the permanent teeth start to come through. This is usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11 and 14 years of age.
Dental HygieneDental hygiene treatment includes professionally cleaning the teeth for the patient. This is usually called scaling and polishing. However, perhaps our most important role is showing the patient the best way to keep the teeth free of plaque.
The dentist also plays an important role in treating gum disease.
Bad Breath - Discover fresh breath!
Bad breath (also known as halitosis) is a very common problem. It is said to affect nearly 50% of the adult population. There are many different causes. Whether in the form of occasional 'morning breath', which nearly every otherwise healthy adult encounters, or rarer more serious problems, ranging from metabolic disorders to chest tumors.
In up to 90% of the cases the cause for bad breath lies in the mouth. It generally arises as a result of the bacterial decomposition of food particles, cells, blood and some chemical components of saliva. These bacteria are supposed to be there, because they assist humans in digestion. As proteins and other chemicals in these materials are broken down into simpler components, smelly gases are produced. Especially so called volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) resulting from the bacterial decomposition are responsible for the bad odours
.In addition, bad breath can be caused by the following:
• Poor dental hygiene — infrequent or improper brushing and flossing can leave food particles to rot inside the mouth
• Local infections in the mouth —gum disease
• Respiratory tract infections — throat infections, sinus infections, lung infections
• External agents — garlic, onions, coffee, cigarette smoking, chewing tobacco
• Dry mouth (xerostomia) — this can be caused by salivary gland problems, medications or by "mouth breathing"
• Systemic illnesses — diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, lung disease, sinus disease, reflux disease and others
• Psychiatric illness — Some people may perceive that they have bad breath, but it is not noticed by oral health care professionals or others. This is referred to as "pseudohalitosis” Bad
Breath - Discover fresh breath!
How to test for bad breath
Since noses become accustomed to background odors, it ignores the smell of our own bad breath. This means it is quite possible for a person to have bad breath, yet not be aware of it. If you think you might have bad breath, there is a simple test that you can do. Simply lick the inside of your wrist and sniff – if the smell is bad, you can be pretty sure that your breath is too. This is a simple but also inaccurate method of testing your breath. More accurately tests can detect the smelly molecules themselves and additionally quantify them.
Treatment
As there are many different causes for bad breath there are as many different possibilities to treat bead breath. Usually mouthwashes are often ineffective, they just cover the smell and contain certain substances that can even make the situation worse. That is why the cause of the bad breath needs to be found out at first. This might also involve diagnostic tests to make sure no Systemic conditions are involved.
Once the cause of the bad breath is found a therapy for the individual needs can be set up. That can involve improvement of the oral hygiene such as special mouthwashes hygiene sessions and tongue scraping, removal of all possible retreats for the bacteria, clearing of possible infections, elimination of external agents that cause bad breath.
Our bead breath clinic
Especially the volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) resulting from the bacterial decomposition is responsible for the odours which halitosis patients (or the people around them) experience. In our bad breath clinic we perform a test that detects those smelly molecules and helps to target the individual needs of our patients. A tailored treatment plan is then set up that targets the causes according to the findings in each individual case. And the situation is reviewed after some time.
Gum Disease
SURGICAL PERIODONTAL TREATMENT
Long-standing gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. There are a number of types of periodontal disease and they all affect the tissues supporting the teeth. As the disease gets worse the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, making the teeth loose. If this is not treated, the teeth may eventually fall out.
CONSULTATION
Initial consultation, including detailed history, clinical and radiographic examination, photographs, diagnosis, treatment plan and report to dentist and patient with estimate of treatment costs.
NON-SURGICAL PERIODONTAL TREATMENT
Instruction in appropriate oral hygiene techniques and reinforcement at subsequent visits, supra- and subgingival debridement (i.e. cleaning above and below the gum line) under local anaesthesia as required for patient comfort. The adjunctive use of antimicrobials may be indicated in selected cases.
The aim of this initial phase of therapy is to control the infection and arrest progression of the disease. Compliance in terms of optimal self-performed plaque control is essential for a favourable outcome.
REASSESSMENT
Re-examination of the periodontal tissues to assess the outcome of the initial course of therapy and determine appropriate subsequent treatment steps.
Periodontal Disease Therapy
In cases that are not too severe and/or have responded well to the non-surgical therapy, maintenance may be all that is required. In more severe cases and depending on the outcome of the non-surgical treatment, surgery may be indicated.
SURGICAL PERIODONTAL TREATMENT
Periodontal surgical therapy may be indicated in deep sites in order to achieve thorough subgingival debridement. This is the corrective phase of therapy, where pocket elimination surgery is often indicated to prevent disease recurrence, and disease-induced anatomical defects can be corrected to facilitate improved plaque control. In selected cases, regenerative surgery will restore part of the tissues that have been lost in the disease process.
PERIODONTAL PLASTIC SURGERY
Periodontal plastic surgery refers to soft and hard tissue procedures aiming to prevent or correct anatomic, developmental, traumatic or disease induced defects of the gingiva, alveolar mucosa or bone, e.g. root coverage, gingival augmentation, correction of mucosal defects at implants, socket preservation, crown lengthening, fraenectomy, augmentation of the edentulous ridge.
SUPPORTIVE PERIODONTAL THERAPY (MAINTENANCE)
Oral hygiene reinforcement and full-mouth debridement at regular 3-6 month intervals, depending on the severity of the disease and standard of self-performed plaque control, are imperative measures in order to maintain the periodontal tissues in a healthy state. Local delivery of antimicrobials may be indicated in selected cases.
Decay Detection
Decay may or may not cause discomfort; even though it doesn’t hurt, the tooth is deteriorating.
Using higher magnification and powerful lighting, it is easier to detect decay at an early stage to prevent excessive tooth damage. When cavities are small, they are much easier and less expensive to treat.
Early tooth decay does not tend to show many physical signs. Sometimes the tooth looks healthy, but your dentist will be able to see from an x-ray whether you have any decay under the enamel, any possible infections in the roots, or any bone loss around the tooth.
Mouth Cancer
Mouth cancer is a malignant growth which can occur in any part of the mouth, including the tongue, lips and throat. Mouth cancers have a higher proportion of deaths per number of cases than breast cancer, cervical cancer or skin melanoma. The mortality rate is just over 50%, despite treatment, with about 1,700 deaths per year in the UK. This is because of late detection. Visit your dentist at once if you notice any abnormal problems or are not sure. Regular dental checkups allow early detection of abnormalities in the mouth.
Mouth Cancer Foundation
The Mouth Cancer Foundation is a registered charity that raises awareness of mouth cancers and proviedes information and support to patients, carers and health professionals.
Giving Up Smoking
It's not easy... So that's why this web site is here. Giving up smoking requires preparation, determination, and support. This site is here to help you with each of these. If you're thinking about giving up, have a look-in.
General Dentistry
• Oral Surgery
Minor extractions for teeth in pain or widsom teeth
• Root Canal Treatment
Treatment for infected blood or nerve supply of teeth
• Sedation for the Nervous
Relaxation for anxious and dental phobic patients
• Occlusion and Occlusal Problems
Treatment is to minimise stress on the teeth, their supporting tissues; the muscles and jaw joint.
Oral Surgery (Extractions)
Oral surgery can be provided with sedation for nervous patients.
Wisdom Teeth
Sometimes there may not be room in your mouth for your wisdom teeth and, as they start to come through, they push against the teeth already there or may start to come through at an angle. When this happens, you might feel some pain or discomfort, so the best thing to do is to visit your dentist.
The dentist will probably take an x-ray of your mouth to see how - or if - your wisdom teeth are coming through. From this, they will be able to make a judgement on whether or not to take them out, and how easy or difficult it might be. Extractions can also be done under sedation.
Extractions
Having a tooth out is the same as having an operation and, because of this, you must look after the area to speed healing and to reduce the risk of infection. Here are some pointers:
• For the first 24 hours, try to avoid eating hot food, don't smoke, don't drink any alcohol and try not to disturb any blood clot which might have formed.
• Don't rinse your mouth for six hours after extraction. After that, rinse gently with warm salty water - half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water is enough.
• Brush your teeth as normal to keep your mouth as clean as possible.
• You may feel some small pieces of bone work their way out of the socket - don't worry, this is perfectly normal.
Oral Surgery
• There may be some swelling and a bit of discomfort in the first two to three days. If you need to, take some ordinary painkillers - aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetomol will be fine.
• If you feel pain immediately after the tooth has been removed, it might be where the blood clot has broken down leaving an empty hole in the gum. This is called a 'dry socket' and will need to be looked at by your dentist. Simply go back and the dentist will pack the wound to ease your discomfort.
Your dentist may have given you some gauze to place onto the area where the tooth has been removed - if not, a clean cloth handkerchief will do just as well (but not a paper tissue).
• Roll it into a small firm pad large enough to fit over the gap (probably around 1cm by 3cm).
• Sit up and gently clear away any blood clots around the gap using the gauze or hanky.
• Put a clean pad over the gap (from tongue side to cheek side) and bite down on it firmly for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Take the pad off and check whether the bleeding has stopped. If not, apply a fresh pad and contact your dentist.
Root Canal Therapy
What is root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (known as the pulp) is infected through decay or injury.
Why is root canal treatment needed?
If the pulp becomes infected, the infection may spread through the root canal system of the tooth.
This may eventually lead to an abscess. If root canal treatment (RCT) is not carried out, the infection will spread and the tooth may need to be taken out.
Does it hurt?
No. A local anaesthetic is used and it should feel no different to having an ordinary filling done.
What does it involve?
The aim of the treatment is to remove all infection from the root canal. The root is then cleaned and filled to prevent any further infection. Root canal treatment is a skilled and time-consuming procedure. Most courses of treatment will involve two or more visits to your dentist.
At the first appointment, the infected pulp is removed. Any abscesses, which may be present, can also be drained at this time. The root canal is then cleaned and shaped ready for the filling. A temporary filling is put in and the tooth is left to settle.
The tooth is checked at a later visit and when all the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled.
Root Canal Treatment
What will my tooth look like after treatment?
In the past, a root filled tooth would often darken after treatment. However, with modern techniques this does not usually happen. If there is any discolouration, there are several treatments available to restore the natural appearance.
What if it happens again?
Root canal treatment is usually very successful. However, if the infection comes back the treatment can be repeated.
What if I don’t have the treatment?
The alternative is to have the tooth out. Once the pulp is destroyed, it can’t heal and it is not recommended to leave an infected tooth in the mouth. Although some people would prefer an extraction, it is usually best to keep as many natural teeth as possible.
Will the tooth be safe after treatment?
Yes. However, it is better to restore the tooth with a crown to provide extra support and strength to the tooth.
Where can this treatment be carried out?
Root canal treatment is a routine dental procedure, which your dentist will be happy to do for you.
What about aftercare?
Root-treated teeth should be treated just the same as any other tooth. Remember to clean your teeth at least once a day, preferably with a fluoride toothpaste. Cut down on sugary snacks, and keep them only to mealtimes if possible. See your dentist for regular check-ups.
Sedation - IV and Relative Anaesthesia [Gas] (N2O)
How do I know if it's for me?
If you exhibit any of the following characteristics, "Sedation Dentistry" may help you:
• Fear Stress and Anxiety about going to the Dentist
• People who desire a beautiful and natural smile and have fear and anxiety associated with dentistry
• Fear of needles
• You are hard to get numb
• Dental Phobia
• A history of bad dental experiences
• Painful or sensitive teeth
• Afraid to go to the Dentist
• You are troubled with a bad gag reflex
• Difficulty controlling movement from conditions such as Cerebral Palsy or Parkinson's disease
• You need complex treatment requiring long dental appointments
• People who have limited time to complete their required treatment and want to accomplish a lot in a single appointment. Treatment requiring multiple visits can often be accomplished in a single visit.
Sedation Dentists- IV and Relative Anaesthesia [Gas] (N2O)
What is nitrous oxide?
Nitrous oxide is a popular anaesthetic agent used by dentists. Its safety has been well-established; it is effective, and the anaesthetic effect wears off quickly so there is no extended recovery time. It can be used for both children and adults.
Nitrous oxide has a very calming, comforting effect, even though the patient remains in control. Some dental experts have called it the "ideal anaesthetic" because it takes effect quickly (in less than 5 minutes) and because there is a very rapid recovery time (about 5 to 10 minutes). Nitrous oxide is mixed with oxygen so that you will have an ample supply of oxygen at the same time.
In addition to the sedative effect of nitrous oxide, it helps control discomfort associated with some procedures. The level of sedation can be easily adjusted for the best possible effect for each individual patient.
The effects of nitrous oxide
Nitrous oxide kills pain and it induces a pleasurable feeling. After 5 minutes or so of breathing in the gas, you should feel a euphoric feeling spread throughout your body. It really kind of feels like a 'happy drunk' feeling. Some people find that there are auditory or visual effects as well. You will feel a bit light headed and often people get 'the giggles' (hence the name laughing gas!). As an interesting aside, nitrous oxide was one of the drugs of choice for young people in the late1700s and early 1800s, when "laughing gas demonstrations" were a popular source of entertainment and enjoyment!
Sedation Dentist- IV and Relative Anaesthesia [Gas] (N2O)
Depending on the concentration and length of administration of laughing gas, four levels of sedation can be experienced (after an initial feeling of light-headedness):
1. a tingling sensation, especially in the arms and legs, or a feeling of vibration, quickly followed by
2. warm sensations, and
3. a feeling of well-being, euphoria and/or floating ("drift"). During heavier sedation, hearing may dissolve into a constant, electronic-like throbbing.
4. At a deeper level of sedation again, sleepiness, difficulty to keep one's eyes open or speak ("dream") can occur.
During relative anaesthesia, you should be maintained within the first three stages. If you've had bad experiences with laughing gas in the past, it is highly likely that these were due to improper administration and too high a concentration of N2O.
It's been observed that N2O depresses almost all forms of sensation - especially hearing, touch and pain, and that it seems to disinhibit some emotional centres in the brain. The ability to concentrate or perform intelligent acts is only minimally affected, as is memory.
How is it administered?
The equipment used for delivering "happy gas" is quite simple. It consists of a supply of compressed gases and an apparatus which delivers the gases to the patient. By turning some knobs and flipping on/off switches, the administrator can produce the desired mix of N2O-O2 in the desired quantities. Flowmeters and pressure gauges allow the administrator to keep an eye on the flow of gases.
The desired N2O-O2 mix is fed through a tube to which a nasal hood or cannula is attached. This hood is put over your nose. All you have to do now is breathe normally through your nose - bingo!
Dentists Sedation - IV and Relative Anaesthesia [Gas] (N2O)
In modern machines there is a sort of "double mask" where the outside mask is connected to a vacuum machine to suck away the waste gas - you wouldn't want your dentist to get a face full of N2O... The white inside mask, which is placed over your nose, comes in lots of yummy scents - vanilla, strawberry, and mint!
The twin tubes running to the mask are for "gas in" and "gas out". The "gas out" line is attached to the vacuum machine, while the "gas in" line is attached to the RA (short for relative analgesia) machine. The inner mask is attached to the "line in", you breathe out through a one-way valve in the inner mask, and the exhaust gas is collected inside the outer grey mask (pictured to your right) and sucked into the vacuum machine.
What are the advantages?
• Happy gas works very rapidly - it reaches the brain within 20 seconds, and relaxation and pain-killing properties develop after 2 or 3 minutes.
• The depth of sedation can be altered from moment to moment, allowing the person who administers the gas to increase or decrease the depth of sedation. Other sedation techniques don't allow for this. For example, with IV sedation, it's easy to deepen the level of sedation, but difficult to lessen it. Whereas with gas, the effects are almost instant.
• Other sedation techniques have a fixed duration of action (because the effects of pills or intravenous drugs last for a specific time span), whereas gas can be given for the exact time span it's needed for. It can also be switched off when not needed and then switched on again (though to avoid a roller-coaster effect, you shouldn't do this too abruptly).
• There's no "hangover" effect - the gas is eliminated from the body within 3 to 5 minutes after the gas supply is stopped.
Dentist Sedation - IV and Relative Anaesthesia [Gas] (N2O)
• With nitrous oxide, it's easy to give incremental doses until the desired action is obtained (this is called "titration"). So the administrator has virtually absolute control over the action of the drug, preventing the possibility of accidental overdoses. While giving incremental doses is possible with IV sedation, it's not possible with oral sedation (as a result, oral sedation can be a bit of a hit-and-miss affair).
• Unlike IV sedation, no injection is required. In cases of very severe needle phobia, getting laughing gas first can help you feel relaxed enough to allow the needle required for IV sedation to be inserted in your arm or hand. The very deep state of sedation achievable through IV sedation may then allow you to accept local anaesthetic.
• Inhalation sedation is very safe. It has very few side effects and the drugs used have no ill effects on the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain.
• For certain procedures, especially those involving soft tissues (e. g. deep cleaning), inhalation sedation may be used instead of local anaesthesia. N2O acts as a painkiller; however, its pain-relieving effects vary a lot from person to person and can't be relied upon. So if you're determined to give the needle a miss, you and your dentist will have to try and see what happens...
• Inhalation sedation has been found to be very effective in eliminating or at least minimizing severe gagging.
When should I not use it?
There aren't any major contraindications to RA, except for emphysema and some exotic chest problems. It hasn't been proven to be safe during the first trimester of pregnancy, so you can't use it then. Because you have to breathe it in through your nose, it's not suitable for people who have a cold or some other condition which prevents them from breathing through their nose. M.S. is another contraindication.
You can't be allergic to N2O. It's also safe to use if you suffer from epilepsy, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, or cerebrovascular disease. It is also used quite successfully in many people with respiratory disease - but it depends on the exact nature of the disease, so check with your dentist!
Sedation Dental - IV and Relative Anaesthesia [Gas] (N2O)
Pre- and Post-sedation instructions
The patient should be given both verbal and written instructions, including the instructions that:
1. regular medicines must be taken at the usual times.
2. a light meal may be taken 4 hours before the procedure under conscious sedation.
3. clear fluids or water may be taken in moderation up to 4 hours before sedation
4. he/she must bring a responsible person to escort him/her home and to care for him/her for the rest of the day.
What is IV?
When a drug, usually of the anti-anxiety variety, is administered into the blood system during dental treatment, this is referred to as Intravenous Conscious Sedation (aka "IV sedation").
How is IV sedation administered?
"Intravenous" means that the drug is put into a vein. An extremely thin needle is put into a vein close to the surface of the skin in either the arm or the back of your hand. This needle is wrapped up with a soft plastic tube.
The needle makes the entry into the vein, then is slid out leaving the soft plastic tube in place. The drugs are put in through that tube (which is correctly referred to as an "indwelling catheter", but more commonly known by the tradename of Venflon). The tube stays in place throughout the procedure.
Sedation Dentistry- IV and Relative Anaesthesia [Gas] (N2O)
Throughout the procedure, your pulse and oxygen levels are measured using a "pulse oximeter". This gadget clips onto a finger or an earlobe and measures pulse and oxygen saturation. It gives a useful early warning sign if you're getting dangerously low on oxygen, although if your dentist and the nurses are paying attention they should see it before the machine does). The warning signs are unresponsiveness and slow breathing. Blood pressure before and after the procedure should be checked with a blood pressure measuring machine (a tongue-twister called "sphygmomanometer", which for obvious reasons is referred to as "sphyg").
What does it feel like? Will I be asleep?
A lot of dental offices use terms such as "sleep dentistry" or "twilight sleep" when talking about IV sedation. This is confusing, because it suggests that IV sedation involves being put to sleep. In reality, you remain conscious during IV sedation. You will also be able to understand and respond to requests from your dentist.
However, you may not remember much about what went on because of two factors: firstly, in most people, IV sedation induces a state of deep relaxation and a feeling of not being bothered by what's going on. Secondly, the drugs used for IV sedation can produce either partial or full memory loss (amnesia) for the period of time when the drug first kicks in until it wears off. As a result, time will appear to pass very quickly and you will not recall much, or perhaps even nothing at all, of what happened. So it may, indeed, appear as if you were "asleep" during the procedure
.Is it still necessary to be numbed with local anaesthetic? Will my dentist numb my gums before or after I'm sedated?
The drugs which are usually used for IV sedation are not painkillers (although some pain-killing drugs are occasionally added, see below for a more detailed discussion), but anti-anxiety drugs. While they relax you and make you forget what happens, you will still need to be numbed. You will not remember having the anaesthetic.
Is it safe? Are there any contraindications?
IV sedation is EXTREMELY safe when carried out under the supervision of a specially-trained dentist. Purely statistically speaking, it's even safer than local anaesthetic on its own!
Sedation Dental Dentistry- IV and Relative Anaesthesia [Gas] (N2O)
However, contraindications include pregnancy, known allergy to Diazepam, alcohol intoxication, CNS depression, and some instances of glaucoma. Cautions include psychosis, impaired lung or kidney or liver function, and advanced age. Heart disease is generally not a contraindication.
What are the main advantages of IV sedation?
• IV sedation tends to be the method of choice if you don't want to be aware of the procedure - you "don't want to know". The alternative in the US is oral sedation using Halcion, but oral sedation is not as reliably effective as IV sedation.
• The onset of action is very rapid, and drug dosage and level of sedation can be tailored to meet the individual's needs. This is a huge advantage compared to oral sedation, where the effects can be very unreliable. IV sedation, on the other hand, is both highly effective and higly reliable.
• The maximum level of sedation which can be reached with IV is deeper than with oral or inhalation sedation.
• Amnesia result for the procedure.
• The gag reflex is hugely diminished - people receiving IV sedation rarely experience difficulty with gagging. However, if minimizing a severe gag reflex is the main objective, inhalation sedation is usually tried first. Only if that fails to diminish the gag reflex should IV sedation be used for this purpose.
• Can be ideal for those with a phobia of dental injections.
• Unlike General Anaesthesia or Deep Sedation, conscious IV sedation doesn't really introduce any compromises per se in terms of carrying out the actual procedures, because people are conscious and they can cooperate with instructions, and there is no airway tube involved.
Dentistry Sedation - IV and Relative Anaesthesia [Gas] (N2O)
Are there any disadvantages?
• A very small needle has to be put in the arm or hand ("venipuncture").
• It is possible to experience complications at the site where the needle entered, for example hematoma (a localized swelling filled with blood)
• You need transport home..
After IV Sedation:
1. Have your escort take you home and rest for the remainder of the day.
2. Have an adult stay with you until you're fully alert.
3. Don't perform any strenuous or hazardous activities and don't drive a motor vehicle for the rest of the day.
4. Don't eat a heavy meal immediately. If you're hungry, eat something light, e. g. liquids and toast.
5. If you experience nausea, lie down for a while or drink a glass of coke.
6. Don't drink alcohol or take medications for the rest of the day unless you've contacted your dentist first.
7. Take medications as directed by your dentist.
8. If you have any unusual problems, call your dentist.
Occlusion and Occlusal Problems
Occlusion is the way our teeth meet together and slide across one another
The body has evolved for our bite to work in a certain way
The jaw joint and muscles, along with the teeth are part of this system If a tooth is slightly out of line, then the muscles have to work extra hard - and constantly position the jaw in a bite that is not ideal,; but doesn’t overstretch that tooth
This can start to affect the
1. teeth - wear down, chip, crack, sensitive, wobbly
2. muscles - muscle tension, headaches, neck ache, sinus pain, eye pain, tinnitus
3. jaw joint - pain
It Can be likened to how we adapt if we have a stone in our shoe, rather than walking normally and the stone hurting the sole of our foot; our muscles work differently and we limp. Eventually our muscles would become tired
Treatments
The aim of treatment is to minimise stress on the teeth, their supporting tissues; the muscles and jaw joint
Bite splints
These are a thin plastic bite guard that goes over the lower set of teeth.
It is finely adjusted to give an ideal bite
This helps the jaw muscles to relax
It protects the teeth and helps with headaches that are caused by occlusal problems
Equilibration
Is the fine adjustment of the chewing surfaces of the teeth to meet the specific criteria of an ideal bite
Restorative
If the teeth need more than fine adjustment they may need building into line with a filling or a crown
Orthodontic
If the teeth can’t be adjusted and are out of line dramatically, then the teeth can first be moved into a desired position with certain types of orthodontic braces or invisalign
Facial Rejuvenation
We are pleased to offer professional consultations and treatments with our cosmetic dentist Dr John Swift. Our dentists have an extensive knowledge of facial anatomy and Dr Swift has advanced this with training in Botulinum (Botox) and Hyaluronic acid filler (Hydrafill) therapies.
These treatments will subtley enhance your appearance and produce a more youthful look. During your consultation Dr Swift can answer any questions you may have. There are usually staff members here who have had treatments who will be more than happy to show you and talk to you.
Why do we have wrinkles?
We get wrinkles from repetitive use of our facial muscles. This can be made worse by other factors in our busy lives such as smoking, alcohol, dehydration, fatigue, emotional and hormonal changes, including stress; which make the skin deteriorate.
Non-Surgical Face Lifts
BOTULINUM
What is Botulinum?
Botulinum A is a toxin used in very small amounts to stop the nerve communicating with the muscle. It has been researched and used for more than 20 years and has proven to be safe and effective.
What can be treated?
• Forehead lines
• Frown line
• Some tension headaches
• Crows feet
• Chin dimples
• Down-turned mouth
• Bunny lines on the nose
• Excessive underarm perspiration
How long does the treatment take and how long will it take to work?
The treatment takes 15-30 minutes and you will start to see the effects within 48-72 hours, with maximum effect taking 7-10 days.The treatment will be reviewed after approximately 21 days.
Facial Rejuvenation Treatments
How long does it last for?
The effects will last for about 3 months, but with repetitive use it will take less of the product to achieve a longer lasting effect.
Will I look expressionless?
No. We use so many muscles to give us an expression- so during the treatment we can selectively de-activate the muscles that cause the ageing lines that you are worried about. We can tailor treatments to our requirements.
Is it uncomfortable?
Most people find the treatment totally pain free, some find it mildly uncomfortable during the treatment.
Are there any side effects?
Rarely. There may be some redness immediately afterwards, which goes very rapidly. Bruising can happen at the injection site which can be minimised with a cool pack following treatment. Headaches can occasionally be experienced.
When deactivating some areas a temporary drooping eyelid may be experienced, which will disappear within a week. There is a small risk of scaring at the injection site. We minimise side effects with the techniques we use.
Facial Treatments
HYDRAFILL
What is Hydrafill?
Hydrafill is a biodegradable non-animal hyaluronic acid based implant. It is a transparent viscoelastic gel. It is injected directly into the skin. Hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the skin and so integrates into the skin as if one of its own constituents.
What can be treated?
• Stubborn wrinkles
• Laughter lines
• Lip enhancement
• Smokers lines
• Corners of the mouth
• Some scars
• A certain degree of facial contouring
It therefore replenishes the hyaluronic acid and follows the skins natural cycle of degradation and regeneration. It hydrates the dermis by imprisoning the water molecules and giving back the skin its volume and initial, natural form.
How long does it last for?
The effects of the treatment will last for approximately 6 months.
Non-Surgical Face Lifts Treatments
Will I look unnatural in these areas?
No. We will tailor the treatment to your requirements.
Is it uncomfortable?
No.We will numb the area with local anaesthetic first. Usually none, or only a very little discomfort is felt once the anaesthetic has worn off. A cold pack used after the treatment will reduce any swelling.
Are there any side effects?
This treatment is so safe that a spot test is not even necessary. Immediate side effects include bruising and slight swelling. There have been very rare cases of necroses, abcess and granuloma.
Testimonials
Dear Jonny, what a difference you have made to my life. I have spent many years avoiding the dentist at all costs. Despite the fact that my teeth and gums were telling me I should seek help. I was just too scared by the thought of the pain, the embarrassment of having to share my imperfections, the cost and those dreadful memories of staring up at a hideously scary man dressed in a gleaming white coat prising open my mouth to do battle with my far from brilliant smile. It was easier to pretend that all was fine and deal with the consequences later. Thank goodness I didn’t. Apprehensive is not the word. Tearful is perhaps more appropriate for the way I felt as I stepped into your surgery for the first time. But I can honestly say that your advice, treatment, professionalism and reassurance has transformed how I feel and look. I am so grateful to you and your marvellous team for making my smile so beautiful. You have given me a new found confidence and I cant thank you enough."
I am writing to tell you how please I am with the treatment I am receiving from Maria the Spanish Hygienist. I find her thorough and helpful. She has given me very good advice about looking after my mouth. This has resulted in a marked improvement in my dental health. I have recommended friends and family who are now seeing her too. It has been worth the money.
You have the highest standard of dentistry I have ever known…
Dear Jonny and Marta, thank you for my lovely new smile. I was dreading the whole thing as you know and have been putting it off for years! The difference it has made is amazing - I now like having my photo taken!. Thank you for being brilliant and lovely.
Dear Dr Franke, many thanks for the excellent consultation on Saturday. I was delighted with the care you took in creating a full treatment plan for me with so many different options. I was very happy that a dentist at the crescent lodge dental practice – where I have been a satisfied patient for 14 years – should demonstrate in such a careful manner that he and the practice has their patients best interests at heart. I am always telling my friends and colleagues about crescent lodge and recommending you and your dentists as the very best practitioners I have ever experienced…”
Dear Lars, thank you so much for the wonderful handiwork you did on my front teeth the other day. I think my mouth looks so much better……I wish all dentists were like you. You have a wonderful way with patients and certainly you have made me feel calm and relaxed
Dear Dr Rapisarda, thanks to you and your team for the care, skill and patience over recent months. I very much appreciate all you have done to accommodate me. Your efforts make a real differenceThe advice, service, support and results I have received from Dr Swift and the botox treatments have been brilliant. From the very first consultation 2 years ago, Dr Swift provided clear information and advice and I have always felt relaxed and comfortable throughout the procedures. I have no hesitation in recommending dr swift for the results and his kind, friendly and professional approach
A quick note to say how very impressed I have been with my recent treatment with Dr Franke. I had not been to a dentist for 7 years and needed 2 crowns and some fillings. He explained exactly what needed to be done and planned the work to keep the necessary appointments to a minimum. At all my appointments I felt completely confident in him and was impressed by the care he took, including sending back a crown to be remade when it did not meet his expectations. I will not hesitate to return to him for future dental care.”
Appointments
Crescent Lodge Dental Practice
28 Southside
Clapham Common T: 020 7622 5333
London SW4 9BN F: 020 7720 8782
What are your opening times?
Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 8:00pm
Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 9:00am - 1:00pm
How do I make an appointment?
Simply call us on (020) 7622 5333 during our opening hours, as shown above.
How do I cancel an appointment?
24 hours notice is required to cancel an appointment. Failed appointments are charged at the rate of £30.00 per half hour.
Do you have a dental hygienist?
Yes, our team of dental hygienists are available daily:
9am to 8pm from Monday to Thursday
9am to 5pm on Friday
9am to 1pm on Saturday
How do I pay?
As this south west London dental practice does not send accounts, please pay for your treatment as you receive it. We accept Bankers Card with cheques and also take Visa, Access and Mastercard.
New Patients
Crescent Lodge Dental Practice
28 Southside
Clapham Common T: 020 7622 5333
London SW4 9BN F: 020 7720 8782
New private patients are always welcome.
Call us today on 020 7622 5333 or email us.
Emergencies
Crescent Lodge Dental Practice
28 Southside
Clapham Common T: 020 7622 5333
London SW4 9BN F: 020 7720 8782
Emergency dental services
Out of hours, please call 020 8299 5509.
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