As a dental practice we have been very busy preparing for the re-launch of the practice following the UK Government’s announcement that dental practices are to re-open from the start of June 2020.  Please see attached a patient information leaflet we have put together to keep our patients informed of the changes we have put in place.

Please be aware at this time we will be providing a limited face to face dental service for patients with urgent dental needs / genuine dental emergencies (phase 1).  In the near future we will look to begin to provide routine dental care e.g. examinations (phase 2), and following on from this we will start to provide routine dental treatments .g. fillings, scaling, dentures, crowns and bridges (phase 3).

If you are in any doubt, have any questions or you are experiencing and pain contact the practice by phone: 01695 627 617 or by email on: hello@straphaelsdental.co.uk

Patient Information Leaflet June 2020

What is orthodontic treatment?

Orthodontics (referred to a having braces) is generally the treatment to improve the appearance and alignment of teeth relating to a range of conditions including crowding and protruding teeth.  Orthodontics aims to also correct issues with how the teeth bite together.

What is an orthodontist?

Orthodontists are qualified dentists who have completed additional training and examinations with a view to specialising in orthodontics.  A specialist in orthodontist will have completed an additional 3 years of full time postgraduate training following on from an initial 5 years studying dentistry.  Only these dentists are eligible to register with the General Dental Council as a specialist in the field of orthodontics.

Our practice principle and orthodontist Mrs Puthri Raphy has completed 3 years postgraduate training working on the orthodontic clinic at Liverpool Dental Hospital and is registered as a specialist in orthodontics.

How do I see an orthodontist?

Normally your dentist will refer you to an orthodontist should you qualify for free NHS orthodontic dental treatment (according to age and national clinical criteria) and you would attend a consultation.  Following your consultation you will be added to a waiting list to start NHS orthodontic treatment.

If you are considering “braces” and if you don’t qualify for free NHS orthodontic treatment or don’t wish to wait for NHS orthodontic treatment to start at St Raphael’s Dental Practice we are able to offer orthodontic treatment provided by our orthodontist Puthri on a private basis offering a range of various treatment options including fixed, removable and clear braces.  We offer treatment for children right up to adults with a range of flexible repayment options and appointment times.

When does orthodontic treatment start?

Orthodontic usually starts once most of a child’s permanent teeth have come through, however this can vary from person to person but more common during secondary school.

What should I be aware of before the start of orthodontic treatment? 

Patients looking to undergo orthodontic treatment must demonstrate a commitment and a good standard of oral hygiene including adequate home care of teeth and gums as orthodontic appliances can increase the risk of dental decay as fixed appliances require more careful cleaning and extra brushing time.  Patients must also be prepared to avoid sugary drinks and hard foods.  Your orthodontist will give you tips and advice on how to look after your mouth whilst undergoing orthodontic treatment.

Does orthodontic treatment hurt?

It is normally to experience a degree of discomfort and you may notice some tenderness and aching as the teeth start to move, however in most cases this discomfort will wear off in a matter of days.  Speak to your orthodontist about how to manage any discomfort.

If you are considering “braces” and if you don’t qualify for free NHS orthodontic treatment or don’t wish to wait for NHS orthodontic treatment contact our treatment coordinator who can provide you with more information or to arrange an initial orthodontic consultation / assessment with our orthodontist either call 01695 627 617 or email ortho@straphaelsdental.co.uk  

St Raphaels Dental Practice in Upholland near Wigan, Ormskirk & Skelmersdale is proud to announce that we have recently launched our new Halo Oral Health plans allowing our patients to spread the cost of seeing the dental hygienist over the year by paying monthly Direct Debits.

To find out more follow the link below to download our oral health plan brochure and to find out more about periodontal disease:  St Raphaels Dental Practice gum health

If you are concerned about gum disease or you already visit our dental hygienist and would like to know more about how our oral health care plans can benefit you, please call us on 01695 627 617 or email us at hello@straphaelsdental.co.uk

What are facial aesthetics treatments?

The natural ageing process, lifestyle and the environment contribute to unwanted facial lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tones.

Facial aesthetics is the term we use to describe the range of non-surgical treatments our practice offers to temporarily soften expression lines and define certain facial features and contours, facial aesthetics are known and described in many forms e.g. Botox, fillers, anti-wrinkle injections etc.

What does facial aesthetics consist of?

At St Raphael’s Dental Practice we are able to offer a range of treatment options that have proven to be both safe and effective, this includes injections to temporarily soften the appearance of frown lines and crow’s feet.

Other options include dermal fillers designed to increase the volume and improve the appearance of the skin, fillers can be used to temporally improve the definition of certain facial features including lips, cheek and chin.

The most important aspect for patients when considering facial ascetics treatment is ensuring the practitioner is both suitably qualified and experienced.  Consider also using practitioner who works from a clean and safe environment who provide a reputable service e.g. a health care establishment.

At St Raphael’s Dental Practice we have worked hard to build up a reputation of being a caring patient focused practice providing dental care and facial aesthetics in a safe and clean environment.

Our facial aesthetics practitioner Dr Jasmine Tirani has worked in dentistry and provided facial aesthetics for many years and prides herself on giving confidence back to her patients.

What should I expect at the first appointment?

During your consultation you will be asked to complete a medical history questionnaire.  Dr Jasmine will then discuss with you your concerns, conduct an assessment of your skin and discuss your skin care regime and past experiences with facial aesthetic treatment.

Dr Jasmine will then discuss her findings with you and suggest the most suitable treatment options and associated costs.  These details will be confirmed in a written treatment plan provided via post following the consultation.

What should I expect at the treatment appointment?

Following the consultation Dr Jasmine will have provided a treatment plan outlining the treatment options and associates costs.  During the actual treatment appointment Dr Jasmine will go through your medical history again, then confirm you are still happy to proceed.

Dr Jasmine may provide a small amount of topical and/or injectable local anaesthetic to make the treatment more comfortable.  The treatment may take between 30 minutes to an hour.

Once the treatment has been completed at the end of the session Dr Jasmine will discuss advice on what to do and things to avoid immediately after the appointment.  Dr Jasmine may schedule a follow up appointment to review the progress of your treatment.

Are there any risks?

When having facial aesthetic treatment during the consultation Dr Jasmine will discuss in detail the risks associated with the proposed treatment, this may include swelling, bruising, infection and allergic reactions.  It is normal to experience slight tenderness and swelling for up to 24 hours and we recommend you avoid alcohol, coffee and sunlight within this time.

If you are considering facial aesthetic treatment and would like to know more or book a consultation with Dr Jasmine, please call us on 01695 627 617 or email us at hello@straphaelsdental.co.uk click HERE to download our before and after book. 

Caring for the dental health of your newborn infant and young children, things you can do and things you should avoid tooth decay.

NHS oral health care survey in England

Public Health England conducted a national dental health survey in 2015.  The survey was conducted on 5 year old children living in England.

The survey highlighted 25% of 5 year old children had experienced tooth decay, with an average of 3 or 4 teeth being affected and the majority untreated.

The North West of England saw the rate of tooth decay in children at 13% higher than in the South East of England.  The highest rate of tooth decay recorded was found in Blackburn and Darwen where 56% of children aged 5 have tooth decay.

The sixth most common child hospital procedure and the most common reason for hospital admission of children between 5 to 9 years old was tooth extraction.

Child dental health facts

• Each child missed on average 3 days of school due to dental problems
• 38% of children had sleepless nights due to dental pain
• 26% of children who had teeth extracted missed days at school
• The average cost to the NHS for each child seen in hospital for tooth extraction was £836.00
• The total cost a year to the NHS for tooth extractions of children under 5 was £7.8m

Advice for dental health for infants

• Breast milk is the only food or drink babies need for around the first 6 months of their life. First formula milk is the only suitable alternative to breast milk
• Bottle-fed babies should be introduced to drinking from a free-flow cup from the age of 6 months and bottle feeding should be discouraged from 12 months old
• Only breast or formula milk or cooled, boiled water should be given in bottles
• Only milk or water should be drunk between meals and adding sugar to foods or drinks should be avoided   

Advice for dental health for young children

• Reduce the quantity and frequency of foods and drinks that contain sugar, only give sweet foods and dried fruit at mealtimes
• Squashes sweetened with sugar, fizzy drinks, soft drinks and juice drinks have no place in a child’s daily diet
• Limit the amount of fruit juice and smoothies your child drinks to a maximum of 150 ml (1 portion) in total per day and drink it with meals to reduce the risk of tooth decay
• Always ask for sugar-free medicines

Remember to visit the dentist on a regular basis, every 6 months or sooner if advised by a dentist.  Infants straight after birth or within the first 6 months should be registered with a dentist.

If you would like to know more contact St Raphael’s Dental Practice on 01695 627 617.

You can find out more about healthy eating and diet:

Download the healthy eating app

Why Do My Teeth Hurt?

Six common dental problems that cause tooth pain.

The main causes of tooth pain or tooth sensitivity have the potential to be dangerous, so it is always worth it to play it safe and get your teeth looked at early on. If hot or cold foods are causing you discomfort then you may be suffering from the common dental problem broadly referred to as tooth sensitivity.

Pain is usually included as a sensitivity issue and can be linked to a number of illnesses. Sensitivity in your teeth can happen for a lot of different reasons, six of the most common dental problems (that can cause sensitivity) include:

• Tooth Decay (cavities)
• Fractured Teeth
• Worn Fillings
• Gum Disease 
• Worn Tooth Enamel
• Exposed or Damaged Nerves/ exposed roots

A lot of these problems sound scary but thanks to dental science and technology sensitive teeth can be treated. Being able to identify a problem in its early stages makes treatment easier.

Sensitive Teeth

Your dentist may recommend desensitising toothpaste if the damage is not too severe or other treatment options are available as well, which your dentist will be able to recommend based on the cause of your sensitivity.

If you do suspect that your teeth are hurting due to one of the problems mentioned above then visit your dentist straight away.

Good Oral Hygiene

Proper oral hygiene is always the key to preventing sensitive-tooth pain. Regular visits to your dentist can help you avoid a lot of dental health issues and your dentist will be more than happy to answer any questions and queries.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms ot pain or would like to seek further professional advice, please call us on 01695 627 617 or email us at hello@straphaelsdental.co.uk for the best advice.

3 Top Tips on How to Care for Your Dental Filling!

A filling is usually done after a root canal but can be done for other reasons. There are a few different types of fillings, the most common being composite white filling and amalgam. The composite white filling will resemble your other teeth whereas the amalgam is a silvery metallic colour. Each has their own benefits but let’s not get into all that just yet. So you’re probably here because you have had a filling done recently.

Fillings need to be cared for in the first hours and sometimes, the first few days to ensure that they stay where they are and so that you can be as comfortable and pain-free as possible.

• Anaesthesia’s numbing effect can last a good few hours and because your poor mouth has lost all sense of feeling it is important to be as careful as you can. A lot of common accidents involve, a) accidentally burning the mouth; by drinking a beverage that was too hot only to realise later that you’ve scalded your tongue and mouth and b) accidentally biting the tongue or lips and cutting them open as a result. So taking extra precautions in the first few hours is important.

• Although most fillings allow you to eat as soon as they are done, it is always best to wait at least a few hours and avoid hard foods. Eating while still numb can lead to accidental biting and there is a slim chance of the filling coming loose. As it will still be fairly fresh the area around your filling will still be sore and sensitive and eating may irritate or harm that area.

• Once your filling has settled in and the anaesthesia has worn off, it is important to maintain an oral health regime. Brushing, flossing and generally eating healthy is key to keeping your filling and your mouth fresh and in good health.

Visiting your dentist regularly is also a key step because it will ensure that there are no problems with your fillings and if there is, it will be detected and dealt with fast and efficiently!

If you are having any problems with your current dental fillings or are in pain, please give us a call on 01695 627 617 to speak to our Treatment Advisor, Mel, who will be happy to help.

Here at St Raphael’s Dental Practice in Upholland, Skelmersdale, as dentists we care about our community and when we heard about how Skelmersdale Food Initiative was running 12-week sessions to help the local community to make the right choices, we knew we had to be a part of this movement. The 12-week initiative can be found here http://www.scfi.org.uk/ and is supported by Active West Lancs who are also striving to improve the lifestyles of the local people.

The 12-week initiative

The 12-week initiative can be found here http://www.scfi.org.uk/ and is supported by Active West Lancs who are also striving to improve the lifestyles of the local people.

As dental professionals, we possess knowledge from extensive research on how sugar can not only have an effect on your teeth, but also your health. Sugar has addictive capabilities which are similar to that of Cocaine! This is a shocking fact.

Refined Sugar

Refined sugar is placed in quite a lot of your daily food intake. It is hidden so well in food, even your
spaghetti bolognese sauce contains refined sugar! Recently the government has made it a requirement for

Recently the government has made it a requirement for food manufacturers to highlight by a colour coding system the amount of food the product contains and how much of your daily requirement it meets. Some researchers say this information is not accurate either.

Educating the Community

Our lovely dentist, Sarah, went to one of the Skelmersdale Food Initiatives to help educate the group members on how sugar affects your overall health, how sugar affects your teeth and which foods that claim to be healthy actually contains tonnes of sugar.

Why Do My Teeth Get Stained & Discoloured?

There are many reasons why your teeth could become discoloured, and tackling the problem at its source could help you to prevent further problems in the future. Many people also choose to reverse the discolouration on their teeth using teeth whitening treatments or airflow procedures, which can leave your teeth brighter and whiter than ever.

Causes of Discolouration

There are many factors that can cause discolouration on the teeth, but the main issues include:

• Smoking – Smoking cigarettes is a common cause of yellow teeth, and can transform teeth quickly if you smoke frequently.
• Food and drink – dark food and drink can cause staining over long periods of time. Coffee, cola and wine are some of the most common causes.
• Ageing – As you age, the dentin in your teeth will naturally yellow, and thinning enamel allows this to show through.
• Injuries – Chipping or knocking your tooth can lead to discolouration, particularly if the pulp is damaged.

Should I Get My Teeth Whitened?

Teeth whitening is a very popular treatment, but sadly many people are opting for cheap but dangerous whitening procedures performed by untrained professionals. The resulting scepticism can be daunting, but by choosing to have your teeth whitened with your dentist you could gain all the benefits of whiter teeth without the high risk.

Teeth whitening provides a number of benefits, but for many, the decision to undergo the procedure is fuelled by a lack of confidence. With whiter, brighter teeth, you could feel like you finally have a smile to be proud of, helping you to progress in work, socialise more and even feel more confident on dates.

What is Airflow Treatment?

Airflow teeth whitening is a specific type of whitening treatment that uses a spray of air, polishing powder and a jet stream of water to rapidly remove any surface stains from your teeth. Non-invasive, the treatment provides gentle stain removal without damaging your teeth and provides noticeably whiter teeth in minutes. Airflow treatment is quick and easy, and can simply be requested ahead of your next check up or hygienist visit.

To discuss in detail about how you can get teeth whitening, please call your personal treatment advisor on 01695 627 617 or fill out the Contact Us form.

Every November the dental community in the UK come together to raise awareness of an important issue in oral health which is Oral Cancer also known as mouth cancer. Mouth cancer has been on the rise alongside the consumption of alcohol, smoking, oral sex (human papilloma virus), diet and chewing tobacco.

To help raise awareness of Mouth Cancer, The Oral Health Foundation, a dental charity, has set up Mouth Cancer Action Month where dental professionals get together to officially raise awareness and whats better then actually providing free oral cancer screenings to everyone!

That’s we exactly did! St Raphael’s Dental Practice and The Concourse Shopping Centre in Skelmersdale, got together to provide free oral cancer screenings to the public and their staff on the 19th November. Our dentist Dr Monika Anand, Practice Manager David Noone and our Business Development Manager Hassan Mushaid, set up a small clinic in a retail outlet provided by The Concourse Shopping Centre and spent the full day giving the people of Skelmersdale all clears.

Although on the day, we did discover and referred 2 people to the hospital as there was some warning signs present. For these people it was a surprise but better to be safe and get a clearer diagnosis at the hospital. You can see how important it is to raise the awareness of Mouth Cancer!

We also gave away free dental goodie bags to every person that recieved an oral cancer screening which included 2 min tooth brushing timers, chewing gums, toothbrushes, toothpastes and much more.

Dr Monika Anand said “The oral cancer clinic turned out to be a huge success. People were delighted that they could have this type of services in a popular shopping complex as some of them have been waiting to see a dentist for many years. It really does remind you why we become dentists, to help people. I would look forward to providing this type of service again next year”

As part of providing excellent dental care, we provide oral cancer screenings as part of our dental examinations at every appointment for all our clients.

Some of the risk factors that contribute to the risk of getting mouth cancer include;

• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Oral sex (HPV)
• Chewing tobacco
• Passive smoking
• Diet

You can learn more about the risks associated with oral cancer please visit Mouth Cancer Website where they also have a guide at detecting the symptoms too.

If you believe you may be suffering with any of the signs and symptoms of oral cancer then please do give us a call on 01695 627617 or email us using the online contact form.