Our hygienist will clean your teeth and gums to a professional standard, as well as offer advice on your daily oral hygiene routine. A thorough cleaning of teeth can reduce plaque and stains and polish up your tooth enamel. The reduction of plaque can counter problems such as bad breath and gum disease. For general advice on dental health, our hygienist is your first port of call.

Screening for gum disease forms an integral part of your routine examination. ‘Gum disease’ describes swelling, soreness or infection of the tissues supporting the teeth. There are two main forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontal disease.

Decay may or may not cause discomfort; but even though it might not hurt, the tooth is deteriorating. Using higher magnification and powerful lighting, it is easier to detect decay at an early stage to prevent excessive tooth damage. When cavities are small, they are much easier and less expensive to treat.

Early tooth decay does not tend to show many physical signs. Sometimes, the tooth looks healthy, but your dentist will be able to see from an x-ray whether you have any decay under the enamel, any possible infection in the roots, or any bone loss around the tooth.

Bad breath is a very common problem and there are many different causes. Persistent bad breath is usually caused by gases released by bacteria coating your teeth and gums. However, strong foods like garlic and onions can add to the problem. Smoking is also a main cause of bad breath, along with certain illnesses such as nasal and stomach conditions. Particles of food can get caught between the teeth and on the tongue and will rot, sometimes causing an unpleasant smell. Therefore, correct and regular brushing is very important to keep your breath smelling fresh.

The bacteria on our teeth and gums (plaque) also cause gum disease and dental decay. If you see your dentist regularly, this will not only help prevent bad breath but will also let the dentist spot and treat these problems.

Mouth cancer is a malignant growth that can occur in any part of the mouth, including the tongue, lips and throat. Mouth cancers have a higher proportion of deaths per number of cases than breast cancer, cervical cancer or skin melanoma. The mortality rate is just over 50%, despite treatment, with about 1700 deaths per year in the UK. This is largely because of late detection. Visit your dentist at once if you notice any abnormal problems or are not sure. Six-monthly dental checkups greatly assist in early detection!

A mouthguard is a specially made, rubber-like cover which fits exactly over your teeth and gums, cushioning them and protecting them from damage.

It is important to wear a professionally made mouthguard whenever you play any sport that involves physical contact or moving objects. These sports include: cricket, hockey and football, which can cause broken and damaged teeth, and also American football, boxing and rugby, all of which can cause broken or dislocated jaws. A mouthguard will help protect against these events.

If you take part in any of these contact sports or similar activities, please ask us about our range of custom made mouthguards.

A veneer can make a chipped tooth look intact again. The porcelain veneer covers the whole of the front of the tooth with a thicker section replacing the broken part.

Bonding: sometimes, instead of a porcelain veneer, a natural colour ‘composite’ material is used. A natural coloured filling material can be used for minor repairs to front teeth like chipped or broken tooth corners.

Crowns

Crowns, or caps for teeth are custom-made for each patient and fitted onto a tooth, covering its entire surface. They are made of variety of different materials, for example porcelain and ceramic.

Crowns can reinforce weak or cracked teeth and also change the look of teeth that are awkwardly shaped or discoloured. Crowns are also used for teeth with large fillings, where a tooth has been subject to a fracture, or after a root canal treatment.

A crown could be used for a number of other reasons, for instance:

• You may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth
• You may have had a root filling which will need a crown to protect it
• The crown may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.

Other than having a dental implant, there are two main ways to replace missing teeth. The first is with a removable false tooth or teeth – a partial denture. The second is with a fixed bridge

Bridges

Missing teeth can cause problems in biting, chewing and even speaking. Not least, a missing tooth does not do a great deal for your appearance! Bridges are artificial teeth held together at both ends by crowns. They are a quick solution to filling the gaps left by missing natural teeth. Each bridge is customised for the patient, ensuring a comfortable and long lasting fit.

A bridge is usually used where there are fewer teeth to replace, or when the missing teeth are only on one side of the mouth. Bridges are usually made of a precious metal base. If the bridge will be visible, porcelain is bonded to the base. Sometimes, other non-precious metals are used in the base to reduce cost.

You should replace missing teeth for a number of reasons, appearance being just one reason. Another is that the gap left by a missing tooth can mean greater strain is put on the teeth at either side. A gap can also mean that your ‘bite’ is affected, because the teeth next to the space can lean into the gap, altering the way the upper and lower teeth bite together. This can lead to food getting packed into the gap, which causes both decay and gum disease.

This can then lead to food getting packed into the gap, which causes both decay and gum disease.

Implants are a more robust treatment for missing teeth and, depending on your circumstances, our specialists can advise you on whether you should consider this option.
Our implantology section tells you more.