Gap year yes, gaps in your teeth, no

There are times when a gap is a good thing. A gap year before starting at university can give you a chance to travel and explore the world. A gap caused by the loss of a tooth or teeth however can affect your oral health, cause problems with eating and even affect your confidence.

dental-implants-edinburghIn the past there were limited solutions to this problem. You could live with the gap, or you could opt for dentures or a bridge. Over the past decade, another option has become more widely available. Dental implants are now widely regarded by most dentists as an effective long-term solution to missing teeth. Here at our clinic in Edinburgh, dental implants are giving more of our patients something to smile about.

More about dental implants in Edinburgh

Dental implants consist of 3 parts. The first is the titanium screw that is placed into the jawbone. The second part is the abutment, which connects the screw to the third and final part – a replacement tooth, teeth or denture. Once fixed in place, dental implants provide a secure and reliable way to address a variety of tooth loss scenarios.

Dental implants offer you a number of benefits. One of the most important is that the implants help conserve the structure of the jawbone. The natural process of biting and chewing prevents the bone from shrinking back. This degeneration of the jawbone is why dentures become loose over time.

Dental implants have an additional benefit, they help to prevent the sunken and aged look that occurs when the muscles of your face are no longer supported by the teeth and jawbone.

Are dental implants always the best solution?

As long as you are in good general health and have sufficient jawbone left at the site of the missing teeth, implants are an excellent solution to tooth loss. In some circumstances dental implants may not be a suitable treatment for you. So to find out if dental implants are right for you, come to Polwarth Dental Clinic and talk to our Edinburgh dental implants team. We offer an initial consultation where your needs can be discussed in a relaxed and informal way, before a tailored treatment plan is created.

Looking for an emergency dentist in Edinburgh?

There are times when unexpected things happen and dental emergencies are no exception. It always seems to be the way that dental emergencies happen at night, or when you are away from home and unable to see your own dentist. We are pleased to say that if you are looking for an emergency dentist in Edinburgh, Polwarth Dental Clinic are able to offer this service to patients and those who aren’t registered with us.

emergency-dentist-in-edinburghIf you are in pain or have damaged a tooth we will always endeavour to see you on the same day during normal practice opening hours. In most cases we can treat you when we see you; if your case is more complicated it may be that we can only offer pain relief as a temporary measure.

Emergency dental care 365 days a year

We offer an out of hours service for all our registered patients every day of the year.Simply call the practice and listen to the recorded message for instructions on how to contact our out of hours dentist. There is a fixed fee for this service of £135.

If you are not registered with us as a patient and you need an emergency dentist in Edinburgh you will need to contact the NHS 24 help line on 111.

Dental emergency – what to do if a tooth is knocked out?

If an adult tooth is knocked out, it can sometimes be successfully re-implanted as long as you act fast and take the following steps:

  • Make sure that you only hold the tooth area and avoid touching the root;
  • Clean the tooth and root off if it’s dirty by licking it or rinsing it in milk. NEVER use water to do this;
  • If possible push the tooth back into place, this applies to adult teeth only;
  • Place a clean handkerchief over the tooth and bite gently to keep the tooth in place;
  • Contact a dentist for advice immediately.

If you are unable to re-insert the tooth into the socket place it inside your cheek. If this is not possible place the tooth in a container with some milk. Don’t use water!

Restoring your smile with dental implants in Edinburgh

Depending on your age, losing a tooth can either be a sign that you’re growing up, or a sign that you’re growing older. There are many reasons why we lose teeth, but as an adult a missing tooth or teeth can affect us in a number of ways. Firstly you may find it more difficult to eat certain foods. A missing tooth may make you feel self-conscious and reluctant to smile or speak to people you don’t know well.

dental-implants-in-edinburghUntil relatively recently the only way that your dentist could restore your smile was by giving you a bridge or dentures. Unfortunately, as many of us know to our cost, bridges and dentures can sometimes let you down. Things have changed and now dental implants can be used to give you back a smile that you can be proud of.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are made from a carefully engineered titanium screw which is inserted into the bone of the jaw. Titanium is very strong and is unique because living tissue can bond with it. This means that the implant becomes firmly fixed in the jawbone and provides a strong and stable support for an individual crown, a bridge or even a full set of dentures.

Here at our practice in Edinburgh, dental implants have been used to help many of our patients to look and feel good about the appearance of their teeth. Compared to bridges and dentures, dental implants can play an important role in maintaining the overall health of your jaw. This is because they help to stimulate the jawbone due to the effect of biting and chewing. This stimulation is the natural process that keeps our teeth strong and healthy.

Find out more about dental implants in Edinburgh

Dental implants are now a well established method for restoring both the appearance and more importantly, the function of your teeth. Dental implants are suitable for any adult in good general health. A consultation with our implant dentist will ensure that this treatment is the most suitable one for you. Once the implants have been placed and fully integrated, they will last for many years.

What is a dental emergency?

The first thing any dental patient needs to know is what exactly constitutes a dental emergency. You don’t want to head out to your emergency dentist in the middle of the night if it is something that could wait until morning.

At Polwarth Dental Clinic emergency dentist in Edinburgh, we agree that there are several dental injuries and issues that require immediate and expert attention. These can occur at any time of the day or night and require a dentist as soon as possible.

emergency-dentistI’ve lost a filling

A lost filling may not be a dental emergency and many people can wait for a day or so until having it replaced. The real problem can come if food or other debris becomes trapped in the hole. This means you should get the filing replaced sooner rather than later.

Your dentist at the clinic will arrange to see you quickly and fit a temporary filling to cover the cavity. You can then arrange another appointment for a permanent filling.

Toothache

Many of us suffer from toothache now and then. It can turn out to be a small problem that can get resolved during one of our regular dental check-ups. There are also times when toothache can appear suddenly and can be very painful. This is when a call to an emergency dentist in Edinburgh can be the only choice.

This is sometimes the case when we do not visit our dentist regularly enough, allowing the cavities to rot right through to the pulp of your tooth. In serious situations, an abscess can develop if decay is left untreated. An abscess will certainly cause extreme pain and require immediate treatment by your emergency dentist in Edinburgh.

Accidents

When a tooth is knocked out in an accident, there is a chance of saving the tooth if you act quickly, with a trip to your emergency dentist in Edinburgh. Ideally you should try and do this within an hour of the accident. If you want to keep your tooth, you will need to pick it up and take it with you to your dentist. At Polwarth Dental Clinic, our dentists recommend keeping the tooth in a glass of milk.

Fix those wobbly dentures for good with dental implants in Edinburgh

If you have had enough of your dentures having a life of their own in your mouth, then now might be the time to consider having denture stabilisation treatment with dental implants.

At Polwarth Dental Clinic in Edinburgh, dental implants are an increasingly popular way to solve the problems caused by loose-fitting dentures, so that you can once again enjoy eating without fear of losing your teeth, or your speech not being so clear.

dental-implants-edinburghDental implants stabilise dentures by giving them a secure base rooted in the jawbone, just like natural teeth have. However, with denture stabilisation, you do not need to have every single tooth root and crown replaced. Instead, in Edinburgh, dental implants, usually four of them, are strategically placed within the lower jawbone.

You can have the implants inserted under local anaesthetic, and, if you have a nervous patient, you can also have sedation. The dentist opens up the gum and drills a hole for each implant. They will start off with a small drill and increase its circumference to widen the hole without cracking the surrounding bone.

Once the hole is made, the implant is inserted and a temporary cap placed over it to protect it. You go away for several weeks while the titanium implant fuses with new bone growth in your jaw.

When you come back, we re-open your gum and insert an abutment into each implant. Then we attach a bar across the implants. This gives the base onto which your dentures will sit. Tiny but strong magnets in your dentures will keep them securely attached to the bar running between your implants.

As you can see it is all very simple, but you need to be aware that this process can take up to a year. The most important prerequisite for treatment is a strong, healthy jawbone. And if yours has lost size and density, which happens when we lose our teeth, then you may need to undergo some preparatory bone work, such as a bone graft to build up your jawbone and make it strong enough to receive the implants.

When you come to us for an initial consultation, we will make a thorough examination of your jawbone to see if it needs rebuilding before we begin implant treatment. We will also be able to discuss in detail any other concerns you may have, as well as talk you through the process more thoroughly.

Help! I need an emergency dentist in Edinburgh!

At Polwarth Dental Clinic in Edinburgh, we take your dental emergencies as seriously as you do, which is why we guarantee to see you on the same day that you call for an emergency appointment. Call us on 0131 229 8143 when you need an emergency dentist in Edinburgh, and we will make you an appointment for as soon as possible.

Not only that, but we also guarantee to charge you no more than £70 for your emergency appointment, and to make sure that when it is over, you leave us free from pain.

emergency-dentist-in-edinburghWhat injuries mean I need to see an emergency dentist in Edinburgh?

You definitely need to see an emergency dentist if you have had an accident, perhaps working around the house or playing sports, or maybe even in your daily work, that has caused a chipped or broken tooth, or, has loosened or entirely knocked out one or more teeth.

Our emergency dentist in Edinburgh will also see you on the same day if you are suffering from toothache or trauma, or if you have developed an abscess, or facial swelling.

I have lost a tooth. What do I do?

First of all, it is very important to bring your tooth along with you when you come to the emergency dentist in Edinburgh. This is because there is a very good chance that we can replace that lost tooth. The sooner you come to see the emergency dentist, the higher the chance of us being able to put that lost tooth back into your mouth. Wrap it up carefully, making sure you do not touch the roots, and bring it along to your appointment.

What happens when I get you?

Firstly, our emergency dentist will thoroughly examine the injured or infected area. We may need to do x-rays to determine the extent of the damage or infection to your teeth and jaw. Of course, if you are in pain, we will also use a local anaesthetic to numb the area. We will also sterilise it, so that the risk of infection is reduced. Then, depending on the case, the emergency dentist will restore the damaged or lost teeth.

Keep your artificial teeth secret

When is a tooth not a tooth? When it’s a dental implant. In Edinburgh, more and more people are discovering that artificial teeth no longer need to be something the whole world knows about.

dental-implants-in-edinburghThis can be especially important if you lost your teeth to accident or injury rather than old age. You may have been just a teenager when this happened, and have been struggling with removable false teeth ever since.

In Edinburgh, dental implants replace the battle of the falsies, with once again being able to enjoy life to the fullest with teeth that behave like your natural ones do. This can be a huge boon if your false teeth have been letting you down by obscuring the clarity of your speech, or stopping you eating whatever you like, or, the biggest tragedy of all, losing a hot date when they find out that kissing you involves kissing your bridge too.

In Edinburgh, dental implants are making such a huge difference to people’s lives because, unlike traditional false teeth, implants become one with your jawbone. At Polwarth Dental Clinic, we insert them in a minor surgical procedure into special channels that we drill into your jaw. Over the next two to four months, the titanium of the implants interacts with the bone tissue, causing it to regrow and fuse with the rough surface of the implants, and thus holding them in place just as if they were natural teeth. This process is known as osseointegration. While it is taking place, you can continue to wear your own false teeth, although you will have to stick to a restricted diet.

After the healing is completed, you can come back to us at Polwarth Dental Clinic for the rest of your dental Implants in Edinburgh. We now add an internal screw, called an abutment, to the implant. To this we attach your new artificial crowns, which will have been specially made for you from hard-wearing porcelain colour-matched to your own teeth, and sized and shaped so that they blend in perfectly with the teeth nature gave you.

If you take care of your new dental implants Edinburgh, they should last you a lifetime; implants have a 98% success rate.

Emergency dentistry

Whether it is a bout of toothache that is only getting worse, a cracked tooth through which the nerves are being pained every time you have a drink or even an abscess, your emergency dentist in Edinburgh here at Polwarth Dental Clinic can help you.

emergency-dentistryDon’t leave it to chance

Your teeth require the best care possible and if something goes wrong with them, it can be the wrong decision to wait it out. What can start out as a simple annoyance, such as toothache, can soon develop into something much worse that cannot be ignored. By acting straight away you can help to prevent those dental costs from building up. Your emergency dentist in Edinburgh should be your first port of call to overcoming any severe teeth based ailments you may have.

What do I do in an emergency?

If you have incurred a sudden injury to your teeth or mouth area, then the likelihood is that you will be very worried about what could happen next. If a tooth has chipped off or been knocked out, put it in a glass of milk, try to reattach it or hold it in place until you get to the surgery. But you do need to get to a dentist as soon as possible.

This is where your emergency dentist in Edinburgh can help. There is no point trying emergency dentistry at your own at home, as this may lead to further complications and can even make your dental emergency worse. By making an appointment with your emergency dentist in Edinburgh, here at Polwarth Dental Clinic, you can ensure that your tooth pain is treated and better with the minimum of fuss.

Quick, affordable treatment

If you need an emergency dentist in Edinburgh we will try to see you on the day you ring us. We will do our upmost to make sure no patient leaves our practice in pain. We also promise this emergency appointment will not cost more than £70.

What doesn’t count as a dental emergency?

A chipped tooth, dental crown, dental veneer or filling would not normally be considered an emergency, so in this instance, please make a regular appointment to see your dentist at Polwarth Dental Clinic to have this problem remedied.

Benefits of dental implants

There is a huge array of benefits to dental implants in Edinburgh. Firstly, they are the next best thing to our natural teeth, with a fit and function very similar to healthy teeth. Some other tooth replacement options can lead to weakening of the bone, as well as trouble with eating and speaking.

dental-implants-in-edinburghAnother benefit is the sheer life span dental implants in Edinburgh can provide. With proper care and attention from our implant dentists and good care from you, they can last you a lifetime. This is different to the traditional methods of tooth-supported dental bridges, only having an expectancy of between five to ten years.

Dental implants also allow you to keep your teeth in your mouth, not in a jar by your bedside table at night. They are fused directly into the bone, so there is no fear of slippage. You can floss and brush without fear of clicking or shifting the teeth.

Dr Willie Jack

Dr Jack is the primary dental implant dentist here at Polwarth Dental Clinic in Edinburgh. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1983. In 1985 he established an NHS practice in Wales. Dr Jack has worked privately since 1990, so that he can offer the very best dental care, individual to you. His commitment to providing effective, high quality care for his patients has led him to undertake a rigorous programme of postgraduate training, with focus on cosmetic and implant dentistry.

Dr Jack has placed, restored and maintained over 3,500 implants, with a current implant success rate of over 98%. During the past 20 years, Dr Jack has worked with many of the mainstream implant systems, meaning his knowledge of dental implants procedures and processes is varied.

Dr Jack will bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to your dental implants in Edinburgh. His priority is to listen to you. He will find out what you want from your dental health and appearance, so that he can plan the treatment that best suits you. Dr Jack will make sure you achieve your ideal, healthy smile at Polwarth Dental Clinic.

Our promises to you when you call the emergency dentist in Edinburgh

Whether you are suffering from unbearable pain caused by an infected or abscessed tooth, or you have just lost a tooth in an accident, you need to know that your emergency dentist in Edinburgh is available.

emergency-dentist-in-edinburghThat’s why at Polwarth Dental Clinic we promise not to let you down when you need us the most. No matter what time of day it is, we guarantee that we will see you before the surgery closes for business on that day, and when you come in to see you, we will do our utmost to make sure that you leave us pain-free.

At Polwarth Dental Clinic, our emergency dentists, Dr Willie MacEachen and Dr Willie Black, use the latest equipment and techniques. Even if you have never been to the clinic before, they will listen to your personal needs so that they can give you the best care to suit you.

No matter what your emergency is, Drs MacEachen and Black will be able to help. Both are skilled and highly experienced dentists used to dealing with a wide range of problems, from broken and knocked out teeth, to infections, abscesses and toothaches.

If your appointment with the emergency dentist in Edinburgh is because you have had one or more teeth knocked out, you need to bring the teeth with you. Please wrap them up carefully, or put them in your mouth and hold them gently there, because there is a very good chance that our dentists will be able to put them back into their sockets if they arrive with little or no damage.

When you arrive to see the emergency dentist in Edinburgh, you can expect your injuries will be thoroughly examined, and this examination may include dental x-rays to determine the extent of the damage to your teeth and jaw. If you are in pain, the area will be numbed with a local anaesthetic. The emergency dentist will also sterilise the area to reduce the risk of infection. Then, depending on the case, they will restore the damaged or lost teeth.

At Polwarth Dental Clinic, we guarantee that your emergency dental appointment will get you pain-free for a maximum cost of £70. Put the number in your mobile: 0131 229 8143.