Should It Stay Or Should It Go?

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

Should It Stay Or Should It Go?

Hello again, I hope that you are well. Well, it was my 20th wedding anniversary the other week. Time really flies. Mrs B has done well putting up with me for that long, she deserves a medal!

Inspiration From The Radio

I was listening to the radio, radio 2 in fact, and they played “should `I stay or should I go“ by the Clash. That was it, my inspiration for writing this month. When is it time to lose a tooth rather than try and save it? There are many factors to making this decision and it’s not just the dentist’s decision in some cases.

Is the tooth painful? Is it a straightforward procedure to save it or is it tricky, very technical and time consuming? It is a useful tooth or redundant so you won’t miss it? Can you see it or not? The decision whether to remove or not is based on these questions but also people have different philosophies, attitudes, wants and needs so not everybody will want the same thing in similar situations. Everyone is an individual so us dental lot need to listen.

All Cracked Up And Decision Made

There is one situation when the decision sorts itself out there and then. This is when there a vertical fracture of the root. This is one of the most common reasons that I place implants, to replace a fractured root that had a post in it.

Teeth with cracks can be saved with a covering like an onlay or crown that wraps around to protect and hold it together but once the crack has gone down the root and under the bone it’s had it.

It’s a bit mad but I’ve seen loads recently. It’s most common with teeth that had a lot done to them but you can see it virgin teeth that have not been touched.

It´s such a shame but this one has had it.

 It could be a hard seed or an olive stone. It tends to be people with a deep, heavy bite. It’s that heart sinking moment when you see one half of the tooth moving and the other half not.

A Couple Of Beauties Here

In situations like these, unfortunately, there is only one thing to do and that’s remove. 

Doing so as early as possible means that there is more chance of a successful replacement especially with an implant.

I’m missing the first Hull City home game as I’m off to Cornwall with the family in the caravan. 

Hope it’s a good start to the season.

Until next time.   Take care and be good.

Up & Down A Mountain- A Hobbit’s Tale

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

Up & Down A Mountain- A Hobbit’s Tale

Wow, what a 2 weeks that was.  Phew!!  I travelled to Morocco with my son, Edward to meet up with fellow Dental Mavericks (Dental Mavericks is a charity that I am a founder member and trustee of).  This was my 7th time going over to get children out of pain and the 2nd time in Asni working with The Eve Branson Foundation. 

As usual there was some bureaucratic and political nonsense to overcome so we lost half a day.  BUT, we cracked on and saw loads of kids.  We saw about 340 children, actively treated 170 to get out of pain.  That’s somewhere in the region of 400 teeth taken out.

Edward looking after a little one

After Teeth Out - Pain Free Dentistry

Then A Mountain To Climb

As a fund raiser we had decided to do a sponsored Mountain climb, as you do.
This turned out to be the hardest thing I have ever done.  We set off in the 40 degrees heat from Imil on a 6 hours steady climb to the Refuge (basecamp at 3000m)

Before The Crack Of Dawn

We went to bed in a mixed dormitory of bunk beds with no space in between so there were approximately 40 people.  Oh, we didn’t sleep. It was awful.  Anyway, up before daylight, head-torch on and crampons on. Yes crampons on!!  There was quite a lot of snow.  It was a long hard slog and after a time the snow disappeared.  I could feel the altitude effects of nausea and headache.

Always Worse Coming Down

I was rubbish coming down.  There was a lot of loose scree and I kept losing my feet.  I landed right on a rock, OUCH!  When we got to the snow again it was softer and slippy, we ended up coming down on our bottoms for good bit as it was safer.  After up and down the summit it was a steady trek down to Imil, it felt never ending.  A 14 hour day all together. Well, the next few days were interesting trying to walk.  Edward was fine as he has youth on his side.

All safe and sound in the end.  I went straight to a 3 day dental implant conference in Glasgow, I was so stiff!! That’s dedication for you. What an anorak!

I said there was quite a bit of snow

Edward and I at the top

Thank You, You’re Great

A massive thank you to all who have sponsored us
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/castleparkdentalcare  if would like to sponsor us or pop in for cuppa.

Until next time.

Take care and be good.

Castle Park - Supporting B1G1

What a birthday. Celebrating 8 wonderful years. 64 million smiles. from B1G1.

Oh, How Things Have Changed

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

 Oh, How Things Have Changed

 

Hello there. I hope that you are well. As I write it is a beautiful sunny morning. It really does make a difference. Well, my last trip to London for a 2-day course on Cone Beam CT Scans and teeth laser scanning went well.

 

I’m off to Leeds next week on a follow up so watch this space. This could be a real game changer and could simplify dental implant treatment.

 

Well, you don’t see this any more

 

Isn’t it strange how things change. Knowing what we know now you wonder how adverts like this could have ever happened. Dentists promoting smoking. A bygone era.

 

Now, not only dentists but doctors saying how one brand is less irritating and better for your throat!

It’s all change now

 

 

These days we obviously understand the health problems associated with smoking and there are much more stringent rules on advertising. I find these two examples almost unbelievable. Today there is a major push in the dental profession to heartily encourage people to stop smoking. In fact it now considered our professional responsibility.

It can be really difficult though. You don’t want to nag or upset anyone, you just want to help.

Hocus Pocus

Many years ago I did three hypnosis courses. No, we didn’t get each other to walk around like chickens or anything daft like that. I did the introductory, the more advanced and the smoking cessation courses. It isn’t Hocus Pocus at all. It can be a really good life skill. I was much better with heights after the second course.

 

What a result! It gave me a good insight and I found the stopping smoking bit really interesting indeed. Going cold turkey and shear will power can work but tends not to have a great success rate so you often need to throw everything at it. I don’t do formal hypnotherapy myself anymore but I do use a few bits and bobs that I picked up that can help relaxation.

Until next time. Wish us luck. Take care and be good.

 

 

Toothaches, Face-aches And Migraines. Fighting Back

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

Toothaches, Face-aches And Migraines

Fighting Back

 
Hello again.  Hope all is well with you.  My training to get fit enough to climb Mount Toubkal in May for Charity is well under way.  2 Back to back spinning classes last night.  Phew, that is a right sweaty affair. 

The Force Is With You While You Sleep 

I do like Star wars.  Last time I banged on a bit about how clenching and grinding teeth can cause toothache, and face ache and contribute to head, neck and shoulder pain.

Well, when you are asleep you can apply up to 20 times more clenching force than when you are awake. Now that is a lot of force!  No wonder muscles can spasm and teeth ache and get sensitive and wear down. 

So What Causes It Then?

We don’t really know.  Some people are just wired up that way to be clenchers/grinders and have done it all their lives.  Others do it from time to time and it is often stress induced.  It can be just having a lot going on, life-changes and difficult times.  Some people don’t recognise being stressed but it can get under your skin and sneak up on you as it may not be just one thing but several little things going on that add up and play on your subconscious.

What Can We Do Then?

There are a few strategies to try from rest regime and massage, hypnotherapy, antidepressants/muscle relaxants, Low Level Laser Therapy to Occlusal splints.  Occlusal what?   These are a non-invasive dentistry type of physiotherapy option that work very well.

Occlusal Splints

We’ve used all types of splints over the years.  Some are like a soft gum shield.  Some are similar but in hard acrylic.  These ones take quite a time to adjust to get right over several visits as the jaw muscles relax and the jaw changes position.  They are a bit bulky and cost quite a bit to make and get right. The Michigan Splint and the Tanner Appliance are examples of this.  They can be a bit of a gob stopper to wear at night.

Michigan Splint

                                                                                          

Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition Tension Suppression System

NTI tss for short, thank goodness. Now this little bit of kit is what we use mainly now as it is small so more comfortable and is done in a single visit so is very cost effective. The name has since been changed to SCI (Sleep Clench Inhibitor). I wonder why?

Anyway the results we get with these are great. 

 

How Come?

Well, when the back teeth meet the clenching muscles can really fire and go for it. When the back teeth are separated and can only clench on the front teeth the muscle activity is reduced by about 65%.  This allows the muscles to relax and stop aching and the back teeth to stop taking a pounding.  People tend to get on better with these as they only cover the front few teeth so they get worn instead of just being put in a drawer!  Once symptoms get better you can leave it out and just wear it at night when you feel you need it.  If tooth wear is a problem or you have a lot of dental restorations to protect then maybe every night is best.

Off to a course on Cone Beam CT Scans and Laser Scanners to take virtual impressions next week.  There’s always something for a dental anorak.

Until next time.  Take care and be good.

 

90% of Our Patients Said Their Treatment Was Pain Free!

Our Patients Say It Best...

Here at Castle Park Dental Care we always strive to offer you the best quality service that we can. This is why we pass out a Practice Review card to each patient that we see, so they can tell us how we are doing.

Below are a selection of some of our favourites...

"Excellent Service"

 

"Fantastic As Always"

 

"Enjoyable Visit"

 

"Chris Was Brilliant"

 

"Great Service"

 

"Lovely Dentist"

 

"Restoring My Confidence"

 

Thank you all for your kind words and feedback.