February 9th, 2010
One of the most serious oral conditions that can occur is oral cancer. The survival rate for oral cancer if diagnosed early is quite high but it can be fatal in cases where it is not spotted soon enough and allowed to develop. The dentist plays a crucial part in spotting the first signs and symptoms of oral cancer, which include small white and red patches on the soft tissue that don’t go away naturally.
Oral cancer is twice as likely to affect men than women and certain other factors such as smoking and drinking can also increase the chances of contracting the disease. However, despite certain factors making oral cancer more likely it must be remembered that nearly a quarter of all cases affect people with none of the high risk factors.
Amongst the other symptoms of oral cancer are small swellings like little bumps or rusty spots on the inside of the mouth. Any unexplained bleeding in the mouth or sudden weight loss could also be signs of oral cancer so they are always worth having examined at a City of Leeds dentist. Any difficulty experienced when eating or drinking due to pain or soreness can also be indicative of the early signs of oral cancer.
To prevent oral cancer, try and eat a healthy and balanced diet and avoid dangerous substances like alcohol and tobacco. Examine your mouth once a month both in a mirror and with your finger to feel for any bumps or patches. And always remember to see your dentist at least once every six months.
Tags: bleeding in the mouth, oral cancers, small swellings, sudden weight loss
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February 8th, 2010
Tooth decay and gum disease are still a major problem in the UK thanks to poor diet and insufficient standards of oral hygiene. While many people do not see their dental health as all that important, decay and disease can have significant consequences for your overall health.
Gum disease has been strongly linked to heart diseases. Infections which start in the gum tissue infiltrate the blood stream and are transported to the areas around the heart. This can cause blockages in the arteries, which can cause serious cardiac problems including heart attacks. Gum disease can also be very painful and if allowed to progress can need treatment ranging from antibiotics, tissue removal and even hospitalisation.
Tooth decay, which like gum disease is caused by plaque releasing acid, can also be incredibly painful and nasty. Decay can lead to infection which destroys the very sensitive dental nerve and cause painful abscesses. Theses abscesses can burst releasing infected material into the mouth where it can damage other teeth and enter the bloodstream causing further complications.
Both tooth decay and gum disease can be prevented by more effective cleaning and being aware of what you are eating. Effective brushing and flossing, combined with regular trips to a Central Leeds dentist can help to keep your teeth and gums clean, healthy and free from disease.
Tags: gum disease, heart disease, painful abscesses, plaque, tooth decay
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February 7th, 2010
Teeth grinding, otherwise known as bruxism, on an occasional basis will cause no damage to your teeth. But continual or repeated teeth grinding may start to become a serious problem as it can erode the enamel, cause structural damage to teeth and cause painful jaw complaints. Excessive teeth grinding becomes even more of a serious problem if it occurs during sleep. This is because the patient will have no control over their actions and you can imagine the rate of erosion if someone spends several hours a night grinding their teeth.
For years, many doctors thought that unconscious teeth grinding was caused by stress or anxiety but dentists have recently discovered that a more likely cause is the physical position of the teeth, although the problem can be made worse by stress. A misaligned bite caused by physical trauma or missing teeth can cause discomfort and irritation to the jaw muscles which respond by moving, causing a grinding of the teeth. Because the grinding happens at night some patients may not be aware that they are doing it. One way to tell is if you constantly suffer with a dull headache or a sore jaw. A City of Leeds dentist will be able to confirm if you are suffering from teeth grinding by examining your teeth.
Once you have been diagnosed, the next step to preventing any further damage caused by grinding is to have a dentist fit a mouth guard to cushion the teeth during sleep. This will prevent any further damage during sleep while the dentist plans more in depth treatment to eliminate the cause of the problem. This may involve adjusting teeth or even fitting a dental replacement such as a dental bridge or partial denture.
Tags: bruxism, painful jaw, teeth grinding
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February 6th, 2010
Dental crowns, veneers and ceramic inlays are some of the most useful tools available in modern dentistry which offer the best level of treatment. Crowns and veneers are designed to protect damaged or discoloured teeth from further damage and at the same time restore their cosmetic appearance. Ceramic inlays are used to fill large dental cavities unsuitable for dental bonding. All three create a further barrier to decay and infection while making the teeth feel stronger and preventing pain.
In the past, these protective tools have been made from an amalgam of metal and ceramic but due to increased demand for aesthetic perfection more and more are being made solely from enamel. This process was not an easy one and often involved lengthy manufacturing times of up to two weeks. But new technology is slashing production times and providing perfectly fitting porcelain products in as little as six minutes.
The new technology is called Cerec but is also commonly known as chair-side restoration. The process utilises the latest digital technology and three-dimensional projections to create a perfect image of the teeth without the need for dental moulds or conventional x-rays. The images are available immediately and can be used to instruct a computer-guided machine to mill the replicated crown or veneer from a single piece of porcelain. Patients are therefore able to see exactly what their new tooth will look like before it has been fitted. This new technology is relatively new but is set to revolutionise the world of dental treatment in the future. Ask a City of Leeds dentist about Cerec at your next appointment and discover for yourself the amazing possibilities of this new technology.
Tags: cerec, dental crowns, discoloured teeth, veneers
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February 6th, 2010
Waterlase is a pioneering new dental technology that uses laser energy and a spray of water to perform a whole range of dental procedures on the teeth and gums, with a much greater degree of comfort. Lasers have been used for a number of years in dentistry because of the advantages they have over the more old fashioned equipment. Lasers not only limit the potential for infection but also increase recovery time because they cauterise the surgical wounds as they are taking place. This reduces blood loss and enables the tissue to heal much quicker.
Watrelase has been used since 1998 in the US where it was first designed and has successfully made many dental treatments a great deal more efficient and comfortable. The technology is now being more widely used in the UK and making treatments like cavity fillings and gum contouring more pleasant for patients.
Waterlase can even be used to replace the role of the dreaded dentist drill in a number of surgeries. The drill works by using a combination of heat, vibration and pressure which can sound and feel unpleasant. Waterlase lasers remove the need for heat and pressure and use a fine spray of water to limit the heat making the whole process less intrusive and less frightening. It also significantly reduces the occurrences of numbness after treatment that can be caused by using other equipment. Lasers also offer an incredible level of accuracy for dentists during treatment meaning that no unnecessary damage is caused. City of Leeds dentists are now using Waterlase products to carry out many procedures. Ask them at your next appointment about the benefits of the Waterlase system.
Tags: cavity fillings, gum contouring, lasers, waterlase
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February 4th, 2010
Sleep apnea is a condition that affects breathing during sleep. Often confused with snoring which is the sound of breathing during sleep, apnea is the actual cessation or interruption of breathing which often causes a choking, snore-like sound. Because apnea happens during sleep, many people who have the condition are unaware, unless they have been told by a loved one or friend about their problem.
There are two types of sleep apnea caused by different things. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when the palate at the back of the throat collapses blocking the airway. This will usually right itself but can be the cause of interrupted sleep and the underlying cause of stress and lack of concentration. It can be treated at a City of Leeds dentist with the application of an oral device that will keep the airways open during sleep.
The other form of apnea is not so easily treated. Known as central sleep apnea, it occurs when the brain omits to send a message to the lungs to continue breathing. This happens in the respiratory area of the brain and the exact causes are unknown. What is certain however is how serious this can be. Repeated episodes during the night can place an enormous strain on the heart and lungs and has even been known to cause heart failure during the night. Treatment can be complex and involve the use of supplementary oxygen and medication.
A City of Leeds can help diagnose your sleep apnea of you are having trouble sleeping or think you may be affected. They can treat most forms of obstructive apnea but can also refer you should be suffering from the less common central Apnea.
Tags: oral device, sleep apnea, snore-like sound
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February 3rd, 2010
As parents, we always want the best for our children and that includes them having clean and healthy teeth and a beautiful smile. Unfortunately, dental hygiene is very rarely at the top of the list of priorities of most children. They can often be very reluctant to clean teeth or even go to the dentist and sometimes our choices as parents can affect our children’s teeth.
Central Leeds dentists have some expert advice for parents about how to keep their children’s teeth as healthy as possible. Firstly, it is never a good idea to force children to clean their teeth as this may only make the resent the activity. Try explaining how important it is and even making it fun. If this proves difficult, try rewarding your children for cleaning their teeth properly. This will encourage good behaviour not just now but for the rest of their lives. The more they understand the importance of keeping their teeth clean in their developing years, the better their teeth will be as they grow.
Regular trips to the dentist are also crucial for keeping your children’s smile looking healthy. Although not nearly as bad as they used to be, dentist’s surgeries can still be quite intimidating places for young children so it is important that you explain what is going to happen and make sure they are completely comfortable. This again can encourage good long-term dental health.
Try and keep a close eye on your children’s teeth. Avoid letting them eat too many sweets or sugary food or drink. This can rapidly accelerate tooth decay in developing teeth and lead to a whole series of future dental problems. By following these few simple rules you can help to give your children’s teeth the best chance of staying clean and healthy for life.
Tags: healthy teeth, tooth decay
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February 2nd, 2010
One of the main problems patients have experienced with dental replacements over the years is that they never quite look or feel like real teeth. Dental bridges and partial dentures serve a purpose in restoring to some degree the appearance of missing teeth and enable the patient to eat slightly easier, whilst protecting the position of the remaining teeth. But they never quite feel natural. This is mostly because they only replace the part of the tooth visible above the gum. A real tooth has a root that is anchored deep into the bone and gum tissue of the face. This is what makes a tooth sturdy and gives it its strength.
One dental replacement however, replaces the whole tooth including the root and offers an incredibly lifelike replacement. Dental implants are small metal screws, usually titanium, which are anchored into the jawbone itself to act as a base. The surgery is quite straight forward and once complete will require several weeks rest in order to allow the implants and bone to fuse together. Once this has happened the implant has essentially become part of the bone and plays exactly the same role as the missing root.
Onto the implant is attached a post and finally a porcelain crown which is designed to look exactly the same size, shape and colour as the lost tooth. Because there is not need to attach anything else to the tooth once it is screwed to the post from underneath it will look incredibly lifelike. Dental implants from City of Leeds dentists last a lifetime and do not need replacing like many other dental substitutes.
Tags: dental bridges, dental implants, gum tissue, jaw bone
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February 2nd, 2010
Second only to brushing, flossing is the most important way of keeping your teeth clean and healthy and helping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Dentists recommend that patients floss at least once a day to help remove plaque, the main cause of decay and infection, and to remove trapped food particles which are responsible for over 90 per cent of cases of bad breath.
Flossing is important because it reaches parts of the teeth and gums that cannot be cleaned by the bristles of a toothbrush. Brushing removes plaque from the front and back surfaces of the teeth and from the gums, but in the narrow areas between the teeth and parts of the tooth just below the gum line, flossing is required to keep these areas clean. It is often the most difficult areas to clean that are the location of tooth decay, as bacteria and plaque can build up there unchecked.
Proper flossing technique involves using about 40 cm of floss wound tight around one finger from each hand and made taught using the thumbs. Placing the floss between the teeth you then use a forward and backward motion moving the floss up and down the gap, cleaning the surface of the teeth and removing any matter trapped there. Slight rotation of the floss at the bottom of the tooth will help to clean the small pockets located under the gums where tooth enamel is still at risk. City of Leeds dentists can demonstrate the most effective way to floss at your next check up appointment to help you keep your teeth as healthy as possible.
Tags: bad breath, daily flossing, plaque, toothbrush
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January 31st, 2010
Imagine a brace that could straighten your teeth in a matter of weeks rather than months or even years. Now imagine that it was completely removable and involved no fixed wires or metal brackets and was very discreet with only one small bar visible across the teeth. Sounds too good to be true? Well think again because you have just imagined the Inman aligner and fortunately for you someone has had the idea to actually make it.
The Inman aligner has been making headlines all over the world and not just in the dentistry world. This amazing new brace can make significant improvements in the alignment of your teeth in only six weeks and average treatment time lasts in total under six months. The aligner is also completely removable meaning it can be taken out for cleaning your teeth and eating. For younger patients it can also be taken out for important social events.
The aligner works by using the power of a coiled spring situated on the tongue side of the teeth to push out the lateral teeth. This allows room for the other teeth to be pulled into position and straightened against the bar along the front of the teeth. It is the perfect straightening tool for small alignment issues but may not be suitable for rotated teeth.
The Inman aligner costs roughly the same as most other orthodontic treatments yet comes with incredible treatment speed. For patients who have been reluctant to have metal braces in the past, an Inman aligner from a Leeds dentist could be the perfect solution.
Tags: Inman Aligner, straight teeth
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