Dr Jim Holden is a partner at Harold’s Cross medical centre. He first attended Portobello Dental Clinic in 2011, hoping that we could offer him a more positive dental experience than he had had in the past!
He talks here about his treatment.
Dr Jim Holden GP discusses his treatment at Portobello Dental
2nd February, 2012Truly unbelievable and life changing result!
2nd February, 2012
Patient: Male aged 40 +
Treatment: Inman Aligner worn for 4 months
Cost: € 1700
Treatment done by Dr Helen Walsh
No re-touching of photographs has been done.
Don’t just take my word for it – ask Whoopi!
28th January, 2012Whoopi talks about her experience of being treated for gum disease. Our advice – where possible prevention is better than cure!
Diabetes and Your Oral Health
25th January, 2012If you have diabetes, make sure you take care of your mouth. People with diabetes are at a higher risk for mouth infections, especially periodontal (gum) disease. Periodontal disease can damage the gum and bone that hold your teeth in place and may lead to painful chewing problems. Some people with serious gum disease lose their teeth. Periodontal disease may also make it hard to control your blood glucose (blood sugar).
Other problems diabetes can cause are dry mouth and a fungal infection called thrush. Dry mouth happens when you do not have enough saliva—the fluid that keeps your mouth wet. Diabetes may also cause the glucose level in your saliva to increase. Together, these problems may lead to thrush, which causes painful white patches in your mouth.
You can keep your teeth and gums healthy by controlling your blood glucose, brushing and flossing every day, and visiting a dentist regularly. If your diabetes is not under control, you are more likely to develop oral health problems.
Take steps to keep your mouth healthy. Call your dentist when you notice a problem.
If you have diabetes, follow these steps:
- Control your blood glucose
- Brush and floss every day
- Visit your dentist regularly. Be sure to tell your dentist that you have diabetes
- Tell your dentist if your dentures (false teeth) do not fit right, or if your gums are sore
- Quit smoking. Smoking makes gum disease worse. Your physician or dentist can help you quit
Take time to check your mouth regularly for any problems. Sometimes people notice that their gums bleed when they brush and floss. Others notice dryness, soreness, white patches, or a bad taste in the mouth. All of these are reasons to visit your dentist.
Remember, good blood glucose control can help prevent oral health problems.
High blood glucose can cause teeth and gum problems.
How do I know if I have damage to my teeth and gums?
If you have one or more of these problems, you may have teeth and gum damage from diabetes:
- red, sore, swollen gums
- bleeding gums
- gums pulling away from your teeth so your teeth look long
- loose or sensitive teeth
- bad breath
- a bite that feels different
- dentures-false teeth-that do not fit well
How can I keep my teeth and gums healthy?
Keep your blood glucose as close to normal as possible
Use dental floss at least once a day. Flossing helps prevent the build-up of plaque on your teeth. Plaque can harden and grow under your gums and cause problems. Using a sawing motion, gently bring the floss between the teeth, scraping from bottom to top several times
Brush your teeth after each meal and snack. Use a soft toothbrush. Turn the bristles against the gum line and brush gently. Use small, circular motions. Brush the front, back, and top of each tooth
What If I wear False teeth?
If you wear false teeth, keep them clean
Call your dentist right away if you have problems with your teeth and gums
Call your dentist if you have red, sore, or bleeding gums; gums that are pulling away from your teeth; a sore tooth that could be infected; or soreness from your dentures
Get your teeth cleaned and your gums checked by your dentist twice a year
If your dentist tells you about a problem, take care of it right away
Be sure your dentist knows that you have diabetes
If you smoke, talk with your doctor about ways to quit smoking
I just can’t smile enough!!!
13th January, 2012Feb 2011
Sept 2011
Patient: Alison aged 50+ years had been troubled by her smile for many years, and now can’t stop smiling!!!
Treatment: 6 month smiles from Feb 2011 to Sept 2011
Cost: € 2600
Dentist: Dr Helen Walsh
No re-touching of photographs has been done
Snap on Smile…
8th January, 2012What is it? Put simply it’s an affordable, quick and easy way to totally transform your smile. A Snap-On Smile is thin and strong with the look of natural teeth. You can eat and drink with your Snap-On Smile. It’s easy to care for and can be a temporary or permanent cosmetic solution. It’s available for upper and lower teeth.
Snap-On Smile’s unique formula of high tech dental resin make it very thin yet extremely strong. It fits right over your own teeth to give you a beautiful, natural looking smile—even if you have stains, chips, gaps or missing teeth.
And for many people, Snap-On Smile can be life changing. It gives back the confidence to smile. Thousands of people worldwide have already experienced the unique benefits of Snap-On Smile.
Snap-On Smile is for just about everyone! It is an affordable and life-changing solution for people of all ages. Getting your new smile simply requires two short, easy visits with none of the treatments you’d associate with traditional dentistry, just a smile design consultation, two impressions, and your new smile is ready!
It is an excellent choice for:
• Gaps, crooked, stained or missing teeth
• Those who are not candidates for bridges or implants
• Anyone who would like a Hollywood smile without the expense of complex dental procedures
• Anyone who has an old-fashioned removable partial denture and wants a beautiful, more comfortable alternative
• As a test drive for more permanent porcelain veneers in the future
It’s easy, it’s painless and you can start today
1. You pick the style and shade of your new smile
2. We take an impression of your teeth
3. You come back in about three weeks for a final fitting and you wear your Snap-On Smile home
How long will my Snap-On Smile last?
Snap-On Smile comes with a 12 month limited warranty against manufacturing defects. With proper care, your Snap-On Smile can last from 3 to 5 years. Just follow our cleaning instructions and you’ll enjoy millions of smiles with Snap-On Smile 
How much does it cost?
Prices vary depending on complexity of each case, but expect to pay approximately €1,200 to transform all of the upper teeth, or €2,000 for both upper and lower teeth. Please call us on 01 4542022 for more information or to arrange a no obligation consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists
Broken front tooth repaired in 60 minutes
5th January, 2012This 25 year old patient broke his front tooth playing football; he was naturally upset and at first glance, it looks pretty bad. In the past, we would have needed a crown to repair it
In the past, we would have needed a crown to repair it, but with modern cosmetic bonding materials, we can add directly to the broken tooth and craft the material to the exact shape and colour of the original. This was done in a single appointment, on the same day as the injury occurred. 
These photographs are untouched
Treatment : Cosmetic Bonding upper right central incisor
Cost : €275
Treatment time: 60 minutes
Cosmetic Dentist: Dr Nicholas Beirne
If you would like any more information about this, or if you have any other dental health concerns, please feel free to contact us for free advice and help on 01 4542022, or by email at info@portobellodental.com; our Dublin dentist would be happy to help!
Add 6 years to your life…
18th December, 2011Tip for the day: if you floss, you could add up to 6 years to your life!
In fact, flossing (or using interdental brushes) does two things: it helps to prevent gum disease, as well as improving your cardiac health.
When you clean between the teeth, you help prevent your gums from becoming inflamed (that’s a good thing). If, on the other hand, you leave plaque behind on your teeth you are essentially allowing a chronic bacterial infection to form. This harms your arteries through two mechanisms:
(i) the bugs find their way in to your arteries and where they have little bacteria parties & multiply, hardening the arteries,
and (ii) your body mounts an immune response to the bacteria in your mouth, causing inflammation (which in turn can cause your arteries to narrow). This makes it hard for your heart to do its job and can lead to heart disease.
So, keep flossing, you’ll live longer and be able to enjoy your food along the way!
If you would like any more information about this, or if you have any other dental health concerns, please feel free to contact us for free advice and help on 01 4542022, or by email at info@portobellodental.com; our Dublin dentist would be happy to help!
Open wide………..
14th December, 2011Mouth props.
Patients either love them or hate them. The muscles of the mouth have evolved to crush our ancestors’ foragings (berries, wooly mammoth pie etc), but are hopeless at keeping open for long periods. A mouth-prop gives patients something to rest against during treatment, and most people find that it makes long appointments much more comfortable.
Critically, mouth props also represent an excellent opportunity for the dentist to pontificate at length on any number of subjects, without fear of contradiction. The more outrageous the statement, the better.
Some of my favorites include:
- “Wouldn’t Biffo have made a great president all the same?”
- “For hygiene reasons all our instruments are disposable; recycling is overrated anyway”
or “Bono is a tax avoider and should be sent to prison.”
If you have any other suggestions for subjects, or statements that we can add to our repertoire, please suggest!
If you would like any more information about your dental health, or if you would like to improve your smile, please contact us for free advice and help on 01 4542022, or by email at info@portobellodental.com; our Dublin dentist would be happy to help!
It’s official: a great smile makes for a better life!
12th December, 2011A recent survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that people believe that an attractive smile makes a positive difference in how a person is perceived.
- 92% of adults agreed that a beautiful smile is an important social asset
- 88% say they remember a person with an exceptionally attractive smile
- 85% say that an unattractive smile makes someone less appealing to others
- 75% say that an unattractive smile can negatively influence a person’s career
Many people have things they don’t like about their smile. Sometimes people won’t show their teeth in pictures and even keep their hands over their mouth when speaking. Yet many of these problems can be easily corrected by cosmetic dentistry. So take heart if you have been feeling embarrassed about your smile, the solution may be simple and easy!
If you would like any more information about your smile, or if you have any other dental health concerns, please feel free to contact us for free advice and help on 01 4542022, or by email at info@portobellodental.com; our Dublin dentist would be happy to help!