Preventative Dentistry
Routine dental appointments are essential to maintain good oral health and a happy smile. A standard dental check-up is carried out by an experienced, qualified dentist and is the best way to spot any problems with your mouth before they become serious. Both adults and children require routine dental appointments on a regular basis because preventative dentistry is the key to keeping your mouth healthy.
Check Up
Routine dental appointments are usually carried out every six months, but the number of times you need to attend these appointments varies from patient to patient. Some patients may require more frequent visits, while others may need to come into the practice less often – your dentist will advise you on how often you need a regular check-up.
What happens at a routine dental check-up?
If it is your first appointment at the practice, your dentist will take a full dental and medical history.
They will also:
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Thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and mouth.
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Take X-rays if necessary.
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Discuss any dental problems you may have had since your last visit
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Discuss general health and dietary issues that can affect your teeth and gums – such as alcohol consumption or smoking.
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Discuss your teeth-cleaning habits, such as brushing technique, and recommend any improvements such as interdental brushes or flossing as required.
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Explain any further treatment you may need, such as fillings, root canal treatment or hygienist appointments.
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Provide you with a full treatment plan.
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Answer any questions you may have regarding your treatment and what options are available.
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If you require no other treatment, your dentist will let you know when you should come for your next routine check-up.
LIFE BENEFITS
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Maintain good oral health
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Spot any problems early
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In many cases, prevent problems before they start
Hygiene Appointment
The primary role of a hygienist is to assist people in the promotion, achievement and maintenance of good oral health. They are supervised by and work closely with a dentist. A dental hygienist trains for two years to achieve their professional qualification.
Their role includes:
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Providing dietary and oral hygiene advice to all people and all ages, in the dental surgery and in various community environments (eg playgroups, youth groups and residential homes) in order to prevent dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal (gum) disease
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Giving smoking cessation advice and support
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Providing fissure sealants to children to protect their teeth from dental caries
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Treating periodontal disease by providing scaling and polishing ie cleaning above and below the gums to remove tartar (calculus) which has built up around the teeth, and polish off any surface stains.
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Giving injections to enable a pain-free experience when undertaking periodontal treatment
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Replacing a filling if this is dislodged during treatment
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Taking X-rays (radiographs).
A regular appointment with a dental hygienist may last for 20-45 minutes. A dental hygienist will initially check medical histories to ensure that any treatment they undertake will not cause health problems.
They may dye the plaque on the teeth to highlight any areas missed when using a toothbrush and floss and will offer appropriate oral hygiene advice to supplement a patient's daily oral hygiene regime. A hygienist will measure the gaps between gums and teeth with a rounded probe to explore whether any periodontal disease is present and will undertake any treatment necessary to prevent the disease from progressing. The gum condition will be monitored by the hygienist to ensure regular oral maintenance. They will also encourage regular 3-6 monthly scaling and polishing to ensure the routine maintenance of healthy gums.
Sensitive Teeth
Do you feel a shooting pain in your teeth when eating or drinking something hot? Does the thought of biting into an ice cream or a cold, hard apple make you wince? Sensitive teeth can be a burden for many people and can be caused by a variety of factors. It is always important to seek advice from a dental professional so that the source of the problem can be identified and treated. There are several causes of sensitivity:
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Temporary pain can be experienced after tooth whitening procedures and is treated with over the counter painkillers.
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Dental erosion, or the loss of tooth enamel, can also cause sensitivity. Enamel is the hard outer coating of a tooth that protects the sensitive dentine underneath. If enamel is worn away or eroded, this dentine is exposed which can lead to pain and sensitivity, which can be worsened with extreme temperatures.
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Erosion can be caused by your diet (frequent consumption of high sugar or high acid food or drink), tooth brushing habits (brushing too hard), tooth grinding, certain medical conditions and eating disorders.
For top tips on protecting your enamel and for effective treatment of tooth sensitivity, come to the practice for a check-up and we will create an individualised care plan for you.
LIFE BENEFITS
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Being able to consume hot and cold drinks and food.
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Pain-free mouth.
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Reduced risk of further tooth wear.
Children's Dentistry
Fluoride varnish is applied to teeth by your dentist to help prevent decay. It is painted on to the surface of the teeth and contains high levels of fluoride, which strengthen the tooth's enamel and help to make it more resistant to decay.
Fluoride varnish can be used on both baby and adult teeth and needs to be applied every six months. At our practice we recommend children from the age of three years upwards should have treatment with fluoride varnish to help keep their teeth strong and healthy. Most parents find that it is most convenient to have children treated with fluoride varnish at their six-monthly dental check-ups.
Treatment with fluoride varnish can sometimes cause temporary discolouration of the teeth. This will not last for long, but you should not brush your child's teeth until the next day to give the varnish time to work.
Before treatment starts, your dentist will carry out a thorough assessment of the inside and outside of your child's mouth to check they are suitable for treatment. If your child has a cold or flu, you may be asked to bring them back to receive treatment when they are better. If they have severe decay and the pulp of the tooth is exposed, this may have to be treated first.
Here's how it works:
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Your child's dentist will give your child safety goggles and a bib, and tell them what they are going to do.
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They will carefully examine the inside and outside of your child's mouth to check for any abnormalities, illnesses or decay that may men treatment should be postponed.
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The dentist will then carefully paint the varnish on to your child's teeth, starting at the back and working forward.
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Your child should not eat or drink for at least 30 minutes after application, and should not brush their teeth until the next day.
LIFE BENEFITS
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Strengthens tooth enamel, helping to prevent decay and thus fillings or tooth loss.
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Works on both adult and baby teeth.
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Helps give your child positive early experiences of visiting the dentist, and helps them learn good oral healthcare.