Young professional Caroline Baker first visited Illume following a recommendation from a friend when she was looking for a dental practice in Cheltenham to undertake some orthodontic work.

Caroline originally visited during one of our open evenings where she met with Illume’s dentists to discuss the work she wanted to have done and has now been a client of ours for more than four years.

She had not visited a dentist for a quite a while when she first met with dentist Tim Rumney; “I managed to avoid going to a dentist through most of my university years, but my teeth were horrible really. They were wonky and I didn’t like to smile, but I was really reassured when I met Tim and I booked an appointment straight away” said Caroline. 

Caroline says her jaw is ‘the wrong way round’ and before joining Illume she thought the only option to correct her jaw would be to have surgery which was quite a frightening prospect. However, Tim advised that orthodontic treatment using fixed braces followed up with a permanent retainer located behind her teeth would be just as effective as surgery.

The results were so impressive that Caroline received regular comments about how great her teeth looked, but then disaster struck! Caroline takes up the story, “I was out cycling one evening when I went over the handle-bars of my bike and used my face as a brake - my lovely teeth were now a mess!”

She began another course of treatment, this time with Adrian Jones. “Adrian’s great – he explains everything he’s doing as he’s doing it so you don’t feel worried. You know exactly what he’s going to do and why he’s going to do it.

“The amount of time Adrian spent making sure my teeth were perfect was brilliant.  People look at me and they don’t know that I’ve fallen off a bike and broken my teeth, they’ve got no idea - because of the work Adrian did.”

Luckily for Caroline she had already taken out Illume membership before her accident happened. This meant that she was covered by insurance for all of the treatment that she had following the incident. She says, “Insurance was a life-saver – without it I just wouldn’t have been able to afford to fix my teeth to how they were before the accident.”

Hear more from Caroline by watching this short film or follow this link to find out more about Illume’s orthodontic service

A chance remark to an Illume dentist has resulted in a dramatic improvement to young client Esme Buxton’s quality of life. During a routine Healthy Mouth Review, Esme mentioned that she was having a very difficult time with her jaw - to the point where she would wake up in pain most mornings.

Esme takes up her story, “I was advised that this was not normal for someone of my age, I’m in my early twenties, and with my permission, would trial a new method of treatment over the course of a year. I approached the treatment with an open mind and a willingness to put my trust in Illume and the results have been life changing!”

The term ‘Occlusion’ is used to describe the relationship between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws, specifically how they align and function. In some cases occlusion issues can cause a range of symptoms including jaw ache, headaches and even painful shoulders.

These symptoms can also be the result of a condition called ‘Bruxism’ – commonly referred to as ‘teeth grinding’. However, on closer inspection of Esme’s jaw it was found that she was suffering from a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder that could benefit from treatment using an occlusal splint known as an ‘anterior repositioning appliance’.

The TMJ joins the lower jaw to the temporal bone which is part of the cranium (skull) and is cushioned by an articular disc made of fibrocartilagenous tissue. It is a complex joint and is connected by three ligaments which partly determine the movement of the jaw - pain can occur if there is an imbalance between the muscle that is attached to the joint, the ligaments that support the joint or if the disc is damaged.

Altering the position of the jaw can result in significant improvements. The splint that was designed and made for Esme allowed one of the ligaments attached to the TMJ disc to repair and heal by bringing the jaw forward. In doing so, the disc no longer clicks and Esme is now pain free.

Occlusal splints can be used to treat a range of conditions, including Bruxism which could have far reaching consequences for a significant number of people. It is estimated that approximately 8-10% of the population are ‘teeth grinders’, but because the sufferer is usually asleep when the grinding takes place it sometimes only becomes apparent when a partner notices, or the sufferer experiences pain.

Esme continues, “My jaw is never in pain any more, the 'clicking' it used to make when opening and closing has disappeared and even small everyday things like chewing gum are not an ordeal for me anymore.

“I cannot thank everyone at Illume enough for improving my life so dramatically and for being such great people.”

More details about Bruxism can be found by visiting www.bruxism.org.uk If you think you might benefit from this type of treatment please arrange an appointment to discuss your options by calling 01242 522230.

77 year old Cheltenham resident Alex Hamilton has been coming to Illume for more than 35 years and attributes his continued loyalty to the personal service he receives.

As an older gentleman, being able to park easily is a consideration for Alex – Illume’s private carpark means this is never an issue when he attends for regular Healthy Mouth Review appointments.

The friendly greeting he receives on arrival is also important to his continued loyalty to Illume as Alex explains, “From the moment I arrive it’s always ‘Good morning Mr Hamilton’. To be welcomed by name sets the tone for the rest of my visit where I usually see the hygienist as well as my dentist, David.

“During my visits with David I couldn’t have received better attention.”

Keeping fit and healthy is essential to keen-cyclist Alex and this includes the health of his mouth. “One of the most important things to me is the quality of my teeth. I’m proud to have a good set of teeth, thanks in part to the care I receive at Illume.”

A story in the national media last year regarding an unscrupulous dentist in an NHS practice in Nottingham focussed the public’s attention on hygiene standards in dental practices. Our dedicated Sterilisation Room has been designed to reassure clients that hygiene is of the utmost importance to Illume.

Non-clinical Director Alison Rumney comments, “The sterilisation room was a really important aspect of our practice refurbishment - we consciously decided to install a glass wall so that all clients can see inside the room. All instruments are sterilised and procedures followed in accordance with Health Technical Memorandum (HTM)01/05 regulations.

On this subject Alex says, “You might think this is a bit bonkers, but when you go to use the loo it’s absolutely pristine. You might think that’s funny, but to me that gives an illustration of what it’s like when you go through that door into the treatment rooms.”

Hear more from Alex by viewing this short film on our YouTube Channel.