Here are a few Frequently Asked Questions. If you have a question we’d be delighted to try to help.
You can contact us by email, or better still, make an appointment!
Q“How often should I have a check-Up?”
A“Dental Check-Up” is actually a five point inspection of the health of your mouth. The dentist will review your medical history (sometimes important), examine your teeth, examine your gums (this may involve taking some x-ray pictures), and examine the other oral structures (the early diagnosis of lumps and bumps in the mouth can be life-saving: don’t worry, this is extremely rare). Finally it is an opportunity for you to discuss with your dentist any areas of concern.
Traditionally a “Dental Check-Up” has been advised at six monthly intervals. However for some patients your dentist may advise more frequent attendance (eg every 3 months), or alternatively less frequent checks (say 12—18 months).
Whatever you do, don’t leave long gaps between visits! Frequently tooth and gum problems only cause pain and discomfort late on: early diagnosis and intervention means easier, quicker, and cheaper treatment.
Q“My gums bleed when I brush my teeth. Is this normal?”
ANo this is definitely not normal. It is a sign that you have gum disease. In it’s simplest form, gum disease can be easily rectified by adequate cleaning of the teeth. Our hygienist can not only show you the areas that you are missing when brushing your teeth, but will help to get you started by giving your teeth a good thorough professional clean.
More advanced gum disease leads to loose uncomfortable teeth, bad breath, and eventually pain and tooth loss. Fortunately modern dental treatment can arrest or slow down the process.
If you have bleeding gums, make an appointment to see your dentist. Don’t ignore this sign of potentially damaging dental disease.
Q“I’ve got some unsightly marks on my front teeth. What can I do?”
AThere are many solutions to this problem, depending on the cause. Possible steps could include bleaching, abrading, replacing stained fillings, veneering, or crowning the affected teeth. Your dentist will advise you what is the best treatment to take. You might be surprised how easy it is to have a great looking smile!
Q“I wear a denture to replace some missing teeth: surely there must be something better nowadays?”
AYou’re absolutely correct. Dental technology has moved at a ferocious pace in the past few years, and there are many techniques that can be used to improve the lot of denture-wearers, particularly if only a few teeth are missing. Methods to consider are precision-attachment dentures, bridges, or implants.
If you would like to know what’s possible for your individual case, then call to make an appointment for a consultation, and discuss the options.
“Fantastic! But what is an implant?”
An implant is a cylindrical or tapered metal insert, made from titanium, which replaces the root of a tooth. Once placed into the jaw, the bone grows into the surface of the implant and fixes it rigidly into place. Once fixed the implant (maybe more than one may be necessary) can be used to support either a crown or a bridge, or a denture, and thus replace either a single, or a whole series of missing teeth.
In our practice we are have an experienced implant team, Carl Manhem and James Mehta. If you would like to discuss the options, then please make an appointment.
Both are members of the Association of Dental Implantology (UK). Their website has some useful information for patients.
Below are how the implants work and how natural they look.
