Dental Blog David Madruga Gonzalez -

Anxiety Relief and Pain Management: Pillars of Patient Comfort

A dental procedure is something that may scare even the bravest of patients. After all, when a surgery is so near a person’s face and in a sensitive area, it is bound to raise anxiety. There is no area of medical or surgical practice is this truer than in dentistry. In fact, this is what terrifies people to regularly see their dentist.

dental fear This is why at the office of David Madruga, we dedicate a special effort to making patients comfortable. We know that the prospect of injections to the gums and tooth removal is scary. Furthermore, it is not just about calming them; they should also know that whatever anaesthetic the dentist use, they would be fine after the surgery.

Anxiety Alleviation

Do not underestimate how dangerous anxiety is during a dental procedure. You yourself could think that it will be fine, and then you go under the knife. We do not risk the success of the operation; before the surgery, we invite our patients for consultations. Dr Madruga will thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and the surrounding structures.

If necessary, he will take photographs and radiographs to be exhaustive. We will ensure that your concern is accurate and give you peace of mind before the surgery to stay calm.

Pain Management

There are patients who are not as anxious as the others are. Yet, when it comes to pain, they are relentless in asking if they will feel anything. The promise of pain is enough to turn them around, putting more importance to pre-surgery procedure.

Unless your dentist is a magician, there should be a process as to how they assure patients. We follow the same steps we preach, you can be sure of that.

Can Humans Grow More Than Two Sets of Teeth

Scientists and dentists alike have marvelled at the ability of some animals – mainly sharks –to regrow individual teeth as soon as they lose one. Humans, along with every other mammal, lost that ability and only retained two sets of teeth. But, what if researchers found a way to turn back the evolutionary clock and gave us back that ability?

No More Permanent Teeth

dental health Scientists are currently studying the embryonic development of the cichlid, a small fish found in Lake Malawi, which can also regrow its teeth. Unlike shark embryos, these fish are easier to cultivate and observe in a controlled laboratory setting.

Several researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and King’s College in London published their latest findings in the early edition of the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences.

The study is being conducted with another work attempting to record the dental differentiation in mice. Current results show that the process responsible for growing new teeth may remain active longer than previously thought. If confirmed, it could mean that the capability of growing teeth can be reactivated in human adults.

Tooth Loss Dangers

According to statistics, nearly 60% of the working population have lost one or two teeth once they reach the age of 60. If these patients do not receive the dental attention that they need, they can suffer through painful health issues and nutritional problems that can shorten their lives. These are the kinds of situations that can be avoided if humans can grow back teeth.

Some researchers caution that growing teeth, however, would not be enough as scientists will still need to learn how the pertinent nerves and blood vessels grow into the teeth. But, the first step still remains determining how far into adulthood the plasticity of teeth and taste bud cells extend.

If these kinds of studies continue getting support humans growing more teeth may not stay in the realm of science fiction for long. If you want to keep learning about the latest developments in the dental world, or want to see the status of your own dental health set an appointment with us today. We love talking to our patients about our craft, and want to share our knowledge with as many people as possible.

For Long-Term Whiter Teeth, Just Leave It to the Professionals

The food and drinks you consume leave their traces on the surfaces of your teeth. Even the occasional smoke leaves your pearly whites less than white with just a whiff.

People not satisfied with their current look sometimes turn to do-it-yourself teeth whitening. While there is no problem with doing it yourself, it does not guarantee prolonged results. If you wish to enjoy whiter teeth longer, best to book an appointment with a professional.

The Need-to-Knows of In-House Whitening

Proper bleaching easily remedies yellowing teeth; greying and brownish teeth, however, are more challenging. If your front teeth have tooth-coloured fillings or bonding, bleaching is not an option. To achieve a brighter smile, a professional’s help comes in handy.

For a more attractive smile, consult a dentist first to know which whitening procedure is the most effective in your case.

Why Depend on Professionals

Professional in-office whitening (also known as chair side bleaching) is one of the most popular options for people who seek whiter teeth. Some patients prefer home-use whitening systems (e.g. whitening toothpaste, whitening trays or gel strips) for convenience and to save money.

In-house whitening, however, offers more long-term benefits. Unlike home whitening procedures, leaving it to the professionals guarantees controlled, safe and monitored whitening. No need to worry about getting it wrong; a dental practice will oversee and perform the process.

What to Expect During the Procedure

If your teeth are suitable for the procedure, your dentist will schedule you for an appointment. Each session at your dental practice usually lasts for thirty minutes to an hour. The procedure involves the application of a protective gel to your gums, which protects the mouth’s soft tissues from the whitening agent.

After applying the bleaching agent, the dentist uses a laser to enhance the product’s effect. For stubborn surface stains, dentists use bleaching materials such as hydrogen peroxide.

Professional whitening procedures do wonders for yellowing teeth. Rather than settle for DIYs, leave the procedure with the professionals. Here at David Maruga, we make sure you leave our practice with healthier and whiter teeth. Get in touch with us now and learn more about our treatments.

Gum Contouring: A Solution to Gummy Smile

You probably have something in your smile that makes you uncomfortable to flash it. Yet, you have clean, straight teeth and a breath devoid of halitosis. Maybe, it is your gum that is bothering you. If it is more than present every time you flash your whites, then you have a viable reason to be shy about it. It is not something that would hinder your overall happiness, but it does prevent you from expressing joy at times.

A gummy smile is not so bad, but it hinders some people. Maybe, that includes you. If you feel conscious about your more-than-fleshy smile, then fret not, because there is something you can do about it. Gum contouring is that solution.

The Good, and Nothing But

The first thing you will notice with your less prominent gums is that your teeth would seem bigger. It does not seem much, but a less obvious problem is a one less thing to worry about. This is about your smile, and anything not normal about your teeth will gain you unwanted attention.

Furthermore, ridding another dental problem benefits your entire oral health. Now, wouldn’t it be better if you can brush your teeth and floss without having to worry about bleeding? And now that you can smile more, there will be an increase in your confidence. More than anything, maybe that will help you become a more open person.

An Acquired Problem

Uneven gums stem from many things, many of which are artificial. If you smoke, chew tobacco or even brush too hard, you may be wearing your gums and decreasing the state of your dental health. Poor dental health is not something you should worry about later in your life, believe us.

Here at David Madruga Implants, we can do the gum contouring as well as implants. We look forward to meeting you and discussing your needs.

Preparing for Your First Sedation Procedure

We understand that many patients delay getting a dental treatment because of fear and anxiety. Some patients may find it difficult to give them some assurance that things will be just fine. For this group of patients, we can ease the stress with our sedation procedures.

If you are thinking of undergoing a sedation procedure, it is important that you take note of the following reminders.

Do Not Eat Before the Surgery

This is the first thing to put on your list. If you forget this piece of advice, we will have to reschedule the procedure. If you are supposed to take any medication, drink a small amount of water necessary to swallow it.

You cannot eat or drink anything eight hours prior to the procedure. Fasting is necessary to reduce the risk of inhaling stomach contents into your lungs. When your body is under anaesthesia, all the functions are relaxed, which means your gag reflex will also be put to rest.

Do Not Smoke or Drink Before the Surgery

Smoking and drinking can negatively affect the procedure, so we recommend that you keep yourself from consuming any alcoholic drink 24 hours prior to the procedure. Likewise, restrain yourself from holding that cigarette at least 12 hours before the surgery.

Bring Someone With You

We highly recommend that you bring someone with you to the clinic. The procedure may render you lightheaded afterwards, and it will be safer if someone is going to help you walk or drive you home.

What to Expect from the Procedure

Managing certain expectations is part of the preparation. After we administer the anaesthesia in a specific area, you will then start to lose feeling there. We will only start the procedure once we are 100% sure you are not feeling anything.

The sedation procedure will calm and relax your entire body. You may even feel sleepy in case the amount of anaesthetic is increased. Your breathing may be affected as your lungs are at rest. But do not worry. Your supply of oxygen will be monitored, and we may even provide you with additional oxygen.

These are only some of the things you need to keep in mind before the procedure. For more information, we encourage you to get in touch with our patient services department.

The Secret to the Ancient Romans’ Perfect Teeth

New research recently revealed the ancient Romans had better teeth than people do today. Although dental care during that time time was rudimentary at best, they had what researchers defined as “perfect teeth”. But how?

perfect teeth The research team brought together an expert team of Italian radiologists, archaeologists, orthodontists and anthropologists. They used CAT scans to examine the remains of 30 Romans killed in Pompeii during AD 79.

It took the team months of research until they found a startling discovery that the Romans’ teeth were in excellent condition, even better than our teeth today. It’s no longer news that Brits have bad teeth. The good news is, we are exerting an effort and committing to measures to change this.

As one of the leading dental practices in the region, we want to learn all that we can from this ancient civilization and how they took care of their teeth. Although we have new technologies and better equipment, it seems the Ancient Romans knew more than we do.

It’s All in the Diet

The results were consulted with dental experts and according to them, the inhabitants of Pompeii had very little sugar and instead ate a lot of fruit and vegetables. Essentially, it all came down to their eating habits, which dentists now say is so much better than how we eat today.

Despite the absence of toothbrushes and toothpastes during their time, their diet was balanced, healthy and free of refined sugar. This meant they didn’t suffer from cavities and had little cause for other types of dental problems. Their diet, then, is what we know now as the Mediterranean diet.

Diet truly plays a role in your oral health. We personally recommend staying away or at least minimising the intake of food items high in sugar. Instead, eat organic fruits and vegetables, grass fed meats and dairy, and great sources of calcium like spinach, kale, shrimp and almonds.

These will ensure you supply your body with vital nutrients that protect your teeth. It is also important to commit to a healthy oral regimen. Consult with David Madruga today to know more how you can take better care of your teeth and transform your smile.

Why Your Dentist Could Prioritise Osseointegration Rather Than the Completion of Your Teeth

Let’s face it, you want the dental implants so you can have a beautiful smile. Do not be ashamed, as many of our patients had the same procedure for the same reason. After all, dental implants are both cosmetically and medically sound. It does its job as a tooth replacement, while preventing oral disorders, such as alveolar osteitis, teeth misalignment and more.

dental implants Yet, your dentist could advise to prioritise infusing the titanium implant before attaching the actual tooth replacement. Bear with us here, because dentists want to get such a procedure perfect. You will get your tooth, that is a guarantee, but it could be longer than you think.

How Long?

It depends on how long your teeth take to its new titanium implant. Some people take a few weeks before the bone infuses with the metal, some take months. Your dental health could also influence the longevity. A poor oral wellbeing will likely take longer to integrate the titanium, so if you are getting implants, make sure you have healthy bones.

Nonetheless, whatever the dentists prescribe, they can provide assistance through guided bone regeneration and bone grafting. If you really want your teeth as soon as possible, get this one. It may cost a little extra, but it is one of the most effective ways of ensuring a fully normal jawbone.

Ups and Down of Waiting

Obviously, you have to make do with an incomplete set of teeth. It even becomes annoying when you have to wait for a tooth replacement that is right there in the front. You want to get what you paid for, and you will, but when advised to wait, you have to wait. It is for your own good anyway, as the dentist want to get it right.

The upsides are several, up to and including ensuring that you do not have to return to the dentist. Unless you chew on metal or do something constantly that endangers the implant, it is safe in there.

If you have always dreamed about a pretty smile, give us a chance to do it for you. At the office of David Madruga, we ensure excellence on the treatments we provide.

Visit us at davidmadrugaimplants.co.uk for more information.

Dental Restorations: Dentures vs. Full Mouth Implants

The repercussions of missing teeth can go beyond your personal appearance. You may not feel comfortable when speaking or eating, and you might even be conscious when smiling or laughing in public. The spaces in your mouth where teeth are missing are not just embarrassing, but they also hinder you from enjoying a healthy diet.

dental restorations The consequences of missing teeth worsen, however, if you have lost all of them. The problem extends beyond having a toothless jaw; facial collapse is likely to happen, as the entire jaw shrinks and thins. The loss of bone will also lead to exposure of vital structures such as nerves.

Fortunately, dentures and dental implants can help. Both can replace all your missing teeth and help you eat comfortably and smile and speak with confidence again. These teeth replacement options, however, differ in comfort and reliability.

The Problem with Dentures

While dentures can replace all lost teeth, they need to be removed and cleaned to avoid infections or diseases. There is always the risk of dentures slipping or falling out, and eventually cracking and breaking. Ill-fitting dentures can be uncomfortable; they may also cause chewing and speaking difficulties.

Like the Real Thing

Dental implants can solve these issues, as they look and function like natural teeth. They are also more comfortable and stable than dentures, helping you retain a natural biting and chewing capacity. As the implants will replace some of the tooth roots, they can preserve your bone better. This is not possible with conventional dentures because the bone that surrounds the tooth root will begin to deteriorate.

The Edge of Implants

The best thing about implants is that they integrate with your jawbone, which helps keep the bone intact and healthy. They are also more appealing and easier to clean and maintain. The loss of bone associated with conventional dentures, however, may lead to recession of jawbones. The dentures will also make it difficult for you to eat certain foods.

If you want a replacement solution that looks and feels like a natural part of your mouth, consider dental implants. With an artificial tooth root, you don’t need to remove to clean it or worry that it might slip when you talk or laugh. The jawbone fuses with the implant to offer a secure and stable platform for the tooth. Browse through our website today and find out how we can help you smile and speak with confidence again.

Advanced Technology

The technological advances in the many disciplines of dentistry have been huge in recent years. Our principal dentist, Dr David Madruga Gonzalez, and his team, actively remain at the forefront of these advances in both technology and techniques. Dr Madruga has extensive training in advanced surgical and aesthetic techniques, undertaking training all over the world to keep abreast of the latest developments.

advance technology He has a special interest in minimally invasive procedures, which are better and less traumatic for you as a patient, and enables us to help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted in a safe and predictable manner. Dr Madruga is one of the UK’s leading dental implant surgeons.

To help him deliver the ideal treatment for every patient, Dr Madruga and his team work with the very latest in dental technology.

Among the equipment we use routinely in the dental implant process are:

3D scanning and printers

Used in combination with photography to create bespoke dental restorations and the abutments that attach your restorations to your dental implants. This is known as CAD/CAM technology.

CT scans

CT scans help in the precision placement of dental implants. The images produced give a high level of detail and enable your dentist to accurately plot the placement of your implants, checking bone density and also avoiding any nerves or other vital structures, to increase the chances of your implant treatment’s success. You don’t have to fear being put inside a large machine; instead, the camera moves around you as you sit in a chair, producing detailed 3D images that are then uploaded to a computer.

Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF)

PRGF is an advanced biotechnological therapy that makes use of the patient’s own blood to encourage healing and tissue regrowth after procedures such as tooth extraction. It can also help patients who are in need of dental implants but have suffered bone loss – without the need for a bone graft.

Nervous Patients

Are you afraid of the dentist? If so, you are not alone. Fear is the primary reason that adults in the UK give for putting off seeking dental treatment. At our practice we fully understand and empathise with those who are scared of the dentist, but believe that we can help you overcome your fears to get the treatment you need and the smile you deserve.

nervous patients For nervous and phobic patients, we offer the option of treatment under conscious sedation. Conscious sedation means that you will be awake but largely unaware of treatment. You will still be able to cooperate with your dentist, but will not remember much about treatment when it’s over.

Dr Madruga leads a highly-experienced team in the field of conscious sedation. He welcomes referrals from other dentists who believe that sedation would help their patients. Dr Madruga has helped to establish several conscious sedation referral clinics across the country.

Patients give many reasons for dental anxiety or phobia. You may have had a negative experience in the past, may be afraid of being out of control, or may have a specific trigger such as the sight of a needle, the smell of a dental surgery or the sound of a drill. Conscious sedation can enable you to get the treatment you need without the anxiety, whatever the cause of your fear.

There are many reasons behind fear of the dentist or dental treatment, including a bad experience in the past; fear of the sights, sounds or smells of the surgery; fear of needles; and general fear with a non-specific cause. The good news is that conscious sedation can help with all of these fears, meaning you can get the treatment you need without the stress.

Conscious sedation may be delivered in the form of tablets (oral sedation) or directly into the bloodstream (intravenous or IV sedation). It is a safe, tried and tested method that is delivered by qualified, experienced practitioners.

You will need to bring a friend or family member along to your appointment if you have treatment under conscious sedation so they can drive you home and stay with you for the rest of the day. You must not drive (it is now illegal to drive under the influence of sedative drugs), operate machinery or cook until the next day, and should avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours. We will provide you with full, detailed instructions about what to do and what not to do before and after sedation when you book your appointment – please follow these instructions carefully, and ask us if you have any questions.