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The truth about tooth whitening

tooth-whitening    tooth-whitening-3

What is tooth whitening?

Tooth whitening is a procedure performed by Dentists to improve the colour of your teeth. It involves a tooth whitening gel either Carbamide Peroxide or Hydrogen Peroxide that you place into some custom made trays that you wear over night to lighten your teeth. The active whitening ingredient (Carbamide or Hydrogen Peroxide) penetrates your enamel to get to the discoloured molecules and over a period of 4-5 days you will notice a huge difference in the colour of your teeth. It is the perfect way to finish off your smile after orthodontic treatment!

Frequently asked questions

1. My hairdresser does tooth whitening in her salon is it ok to go there?

The answer is no. Only registered Dentists, Dental Therapists, Dental Hygienists and Clinical Dental Technicians working to the prescription of a dentist can perform tooth whitening.  The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTC) state that they will not insure any individual to perform tooth whitening. First of all they will not have insurance and secondly they will not have the correct equipment and training.

2. Is it illegal for beauticians to offer tooth whitening?

Yes. The High Court case of GDC Jamous confirmed that tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry and can only be legally performed by a dentist or a dental therapist, dental hygienist or a clinical dental technician working to the prescription of a dentist.

3. Can I book my son in for tooth whitening treatment for his 16th birthday?

No. Under the Cosmetic Products (Safety) regulations 2012 every patient must be over the age of 18 weather they are accompanied by an adult or not.

4. I want my teeth really white! I’ve seen some high percentage tooth whitening gels online will they be ok to use?

No. Firstly as stated before, only registered Dentists, Dental Therapists, Dental Hygienists and Clinical Dental Technicians working to the prescription of a dentist can perform tooth whitening. Regulations allow the maximum use of 6% Hydrogen Peroxide present or released. 10% of Carbamide Peroxide would release a maximum of 3.6% Hydrogen Peroxide therefore 16% Carbamide Peroxide is used in Dental Practices as the maximum Hydrogen Peroxide it will release is under 6%.

For more information on tooth whitening and what St Michaels Orthodontics have to offer –  https://www.stmichaelsorthodontics.co.uk/tooth-whitening/



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World Radiography Day

Radiographers worldwide can celebrate the discovery of x-radiation by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895. World radiography day is celebrated on the 8Th of November every year, its 24 hours in the year that is dedicated to celebrating the work done by all radiographers round the world. It is a chance to increase public awareness of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy.

The international day of radiography 2012 marked the 117th anniversary of Wilhelm’s discovery of x-rays. Many events took place all over the world to celebrate this day. In the UK, the Royal College of Radiologists organised a free public lecture by Dr. Phil O’Connor. Dr O’Conner served as head of musculoskeletal imaging at the London Olympics in 2012.

The European Society of Radiography has published two booklets dedicated to this important day. ‘The story of radiology’ which is all about the history of radiology and ‘Making cancer visible’.

The international society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists would like to encourage all radiographers over the world to celebrate this great discovery. So get celebrating!

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Some Healthy Treats may be Harmful!

Healthy treats may not be what they claim to be.

Healthy Treats

Written by Dentistry Today

Many treats that profess to be healthy options to consider instead of sweets or chocolate may, in fact, contain excessive amount of sugar or high acidity levels. Some studies even show that raisins or cereal bars and drinks like smoothies or fruit juices can be as damaging to teeth as soda.

There are cases all the time of children who end up with some type of tooth decay even though the child’s parents took measures to prevent such a thing from happening.

The problems often stem from enamel damage caused by the food or drinks that prove to be unexpectedly high in sugar or acidity.

This information shows that water may generally be the best beverage for children to drink, even instead of something like apple juice. The problems will likely be exacerbated if the child doesn’t visit the dentist on a regular basis.

The key for parents is to inspect drinks and beverages for hidden sugars or acidity levels by doing the proper research, such as reading the labels for these foods and beverages.

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One in four Brits unhappy with their smile

Great article by the British Dental Health Foundation

British Dental Health Foundation

Smile and the world smiles with you as the saying goes, but for more than a quarter of Brits who are unhappy with their smiles this may not be the case.

New research by the British Dental Health Foundation and Invisalign shows that for more than a quarter (27 per cent) of us who are unhappy with our smiles, it has a detrimental effect on confidence and relationships.

Three quarters of people said their confidence would improve if they had a smile, and almost half (44 per cent) reveal that being unhappy with their smile keeps their confidence low. Perhaps surprisingly one in ten say it has affected their relationships.

Almost three in four (70 per cent) say they are so unhappy with their smile, they never smile in photos, and rather surprisingly it’s the guys more so than the girls who can’t stand to see a photo of themselves with their teeth on show.

What’s more, one in three men (34 per cent) say they retouch every selfie compared with only one in eight (13 per cent) of females.

Dr Carter said: “Improving our smile is something that can be done at any age and with the emotional and proven health benefits of having a healthy smile clear, it’s never too late to do something about yours.

“It can be the first thing you notice about a person, and it certainly creates a good first impression. That is why getting the basics right can go a long way.

“Brushing for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste, cutting down on how often you eat and drink sugary foods and drinks and visiting your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend, will help develop good oral health. Other habits such as chewing sugar-free gum after meals and using interdental brushes can also improve your oral health.”

Jamie Morley, UK & Ireland General Manager at Invisalign, added: “Working with over 2.5 million people worldwide to transform their smiles, Invisalign is dedicated to improving oral health. There is a wealth of evidence that non-invasive treatments are becoming more popular as people seek to improve their smiles and their oral health.”

Want to improve your smile? We can
help https://www.stmichaelsorthodontics.co.uk/

Article published on http://www.dentalhealth.org/news/details/798

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