Cheltenham based dental practice, Illume, has reported a 30% increase in adults receiving orthodontic treatment over the past 12 months.

According to Illume’s research, factors such as marriage, divorce, reunions and career development represent the top four triggers for this increase in demand. There is also a percentage of clients who either received orthodontic treatment in their teens but did not continue with the aftercare and clients who neglected the opportunity altogether due to fear of braces, and both groups now regret this in later life. 

Music teacher Craig Morgan had always worried about his crooked front teeth but thought it was too late to have anything done about them until he went to Illume and discovered how easy it would be for him to get the perfect smile he had always wanted.

He said: “The options were explained to me and the braces I chose were not very visible at all and it certainly didn’t hurt. After the orthodontic treatment was finished I whitened my teeth as well.

“I am genuinely pleased with the results and it has given me extra confidence especially when teaching and I am now happy to smile.

“I would not hesitate to recommend orthodontic treatment to my friends and family,” he added.

Both Illume’s clinicians, Tim and Simon, are able to straighten your teeth and between them use a variety of techniques such as Simply Smile (which uses discreet tooth coloured brackets and wires)and Inman aligner™

If you are unhappy with your teeth and would like to benefit from the extra confidence that an attractive smile can bring please ask Illume for a free consultation to discuss the possibilities and options open to you by calling 01242 522230.

To find out more about Craig’s experiences please view this short film on our YouTube channel.

Cheltenham based dental practice, Illume, has reported a 30% increase in adults receiving orthodontic treatment over the past 12 months.

According to Illume’s research, factors such as marriage, divorce, reunions and career development represent the top four triggers for this increase in demand. There is also a percentage of clients who either received orthodontic treatment in their teens but did not continue with the aftercare and clients who neglected the opportunity altogether due to fear of braces, and both groups now regret this in later life. 

One of Illume’s nurses, Alice Titcomb, aged 27, first received orthodontic treatment when she was a teenager, but over ten years later noticed that her teeth were moving and were not as straight as they had been following her initial treatment.

As a result, Alice became increasingly self-conscious, wanted to provide a positive image for our clients and knew from working at Illume that she was not too old for orthodontic treatment.

She explains, ‘’After an initial consultation with Tim I realised that I am able to have this treatment and that modern day braces are hardly visible compared with the ones I wore as a child. I finished my treatment very recently and as so many clients have commented on how good my teeth look, my confidence has really increased.  I can easily maintain the results of my treatment by wearing retainers when I go to bed every night, and just wish I had known that years ago!” 

Practice Owner and Clinical Director of Illume, Tim Rumney, commented: “When adults think of orthodontics, the majority recall conspicuous Ugly Betty style braces, that they believe are painful and unattractive.’’

‘’Clients see people in the media with straight white teeth and that coupled with life changes such as marriage or a promotion at work are encouraging an increasing number of adults to find out more about orthodontic treatment, and when they realise that modern day braces can be practically invisible they are  happy to go ahead with treatment,” he added.

Based in Queens Road, Cheltenham, Illume is one of the town’s longest standing private dental practices, which combines over 150 years of clinical experience through its dedicated team of dentists and hygienists.

For more details on orthodontics at Illume please visit its dedicated web page here, or call the practice directly on 01242 522230 to make an appointment. 

Our pictures show, top to bottom, Alice before treatment showing poor incisor alignment, Alice with the SimplySMile brace system in place (tooth coloured and discreet), Alice's lowers complete and with neat hidden bonded retainer in place, and, bottom, the final result showing straightened upper and lower incisors.

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.

Long-standing Cheltenham resident, Myrna Daniels, has been coming to Illume for more than 25 years and now sees Tim for regular Healthy Mouth Reviews.

For Myrna, our dental expertise is a given, but it’s the compassion she receives from our professional team which is one of the things she most values and the main reason behind her continued loyalty.

Myrna says, “It’s very important to have your teeth done well, but for me it’s also very important to have a rapport with my dentist and I have that with Tim.”

Illume believes that taking the time to get to know clients is absolutely vital in developing an understanding of their specific needs and a valued element of the ‘Illume difference’.

Our dental team prides itself on working in partnership with clients to discuss options before any treatments take place. This commitment to offering a quality personal service permeates through all aspects of the practice, as Myrna explains “From the minute you walk through that door you feel that you’re among friends and they care about you.

“It’s me in that chair and he cares about what’s going on in MY mouth.”

Hear more from Myrna by watching this short film.