insideKENT Magazine Issue 29 - August 2014 | Page 85

HEALTH+WELLNESS a winning smile DR. CHARLIE ATTARIANI SPEAKS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTATIVE DENTISTRY, AND HOW ORAL HYGIENE FORMS THE BASIS FOR A HEALTHY AND CONFIDENT SMILE. I commonly see a bad approach to teeth and oral hygiene. Ignoring unhealthy teeth will make the situation much worse and can cause unnecessary pain and aggravation in the future; not mentioning the difference healthy teeth makes to the face and overall confidence. My passion is to combine preventative dentistry with cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics, forming a harmonious fusion with these elements to achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. ramifications, but also the aesthetic. I believe that it is counter-intuitive to focus only on the aesthetic side, when it is the teeth that are the cause of the problem. As such I endeavour to look for a long term solution rather than a short term fix, and often find that the answer is to first focus on improving the general dental health of a person, and then look to cosmetic treatments at a later stage. Maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene is simple, and it is as much your responsibility as it is your dentist’s. Brush twice a day, whilst remembering the spaces between your teeth are as important as the teeth themselves. If you miss these spaces you are missing around 40 per cent of your teeth, and neglecting them can cause bad breath, a bad taste and an accumulation of bacteria leading to serious problems in the future. An interdental brush for the spaces between the back of your teeth, and floss for the front is ideal for avoiding these problems. The importance of oral hygiene is a point repeated by dental professionals everywhere, and for good reason. A healthy mouth has been well documented to play an important role in one’s overall wellbeing. The mouth mirrors the health of the body – if the mouth is healthy, chances are that the rest of the body is in good health as well. Dental disease can interfere with eating, speaking, normal daily activities and self-esteem. It is an important factor in social situations, and an unhealthy mouth can impinge on confidence and affect both work and personal relationships. Nothing will replace your original teeth, so it is vital that you maintain them. The long term effects of unhealthy teeth are not only the health It is important to visit your dentist often. Go to your dentist every six months for a check-up and an oral health screen. This is an opportune time to be assessed for early signs of dental issues. Early intervention is always advised to prevent more intensive treatments in the future. Cracks in fillings, unhealthy gums, tooth wear and disease can often be corrected with minimal treatment if detected early enough. You can be certain that ignoring these problems will entail complicated and costly procedures to rectify them. It is important to consider that healthy teeth and good oral hygiene can often deliver the same results as facial cosmetics. The priority is always that clients are, and look healthy. Correction of dental problems can give a more aesthetic appearance, but sometimes dental treatments are not enough to give the appearance that one may be interested in. It may be that a combination of cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics is also necessary. 85 When addressing aesthetics the whole face must be considered, not just the teeth. That is why I am passionate about delivering every option available to provide a long term solution to both dental health and facial aesthetics. This ranges from simple advice to complex smile makeovers and facial muscle relaxants. There may come a time in a person’s life where for whatever reason they would like to increase their confidence, and boost their ego through cosmetic dental treatments. My philosophy is to give that person the results they are looking for, using a method that promotes preventative dentistry as its foundation. We all only have one set of teeth, and despite the many alternatives it is so important that they are well kept. Be it for health reasons, confidence or beauty, small adjustments can make the world of difference. “Everyone will notice, but no one will know.” Dr. Charlie Attariani Medical Doctor of Dentistry 4 Elwick Road Ashford TN23 1PF 01233 624913 [email protected] www.egocosmetics.co.uk /egocosmetics.uk @egocosmetics_uk