Posts Tagged ‘tooth loss’

Avoiding pain, abscess and disease at Central Leeds dentist

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Without the necessary dental care our teeth may be at risk from a number of dental problems. This ranges from mild tooth decay and gum disease to the more serious tooth abscess and even tooth loss. The one thing common to all these forms of dental problem is the pain that accompanies them. Even a mild gum disease could be responsible for causing irritation and pain and the more serious the problem, the more likely it is to cause significant pain.

There are, fortunately, several very easy ways to avoid these unpleasant dental conditions. Firstly, with a good standard of oral hygiene at home you can reduce the risk of suffering from one or more of these nasty dental conditions. This is because brushing and flossing, as well as other dental hygiene methods, remove plaque and bacteria, which are the main causes of almost all dental problems. The more plaque and bacteria you are able to remove with effective teeth and gum cleaning, the less it is able to negatively affect your mouth.

A Central Leeds dentist will be able to instruct you in how to properly clean your teeth and advise you on which are the most suitable products to use for your teeth. This handily brings us on to the next most important way of avoiding tooth pain and gum disease; the dental check up. It is easy to be complacent about our teeth at times, especially if there is nothing noticeably wrong with them. But this could be a very dangerous attitude to adopt. Dental problems can start slowly but escalate very rapidly. For example, minor decay could be causing little of not concern but if it suddenly becomes a dental abscess the pain will increase dramatically. This problem could be averted altogether by receiving timely treatment for even mild complaints, and this is why a regular check up is so important.

Protect damaged teeth with dental crown from Central London dentist

Saturday, March 27th, 2010

Teeth can be damaged in many ways. Chips, cracks and breaks can occur as the result of sporting injury, motor vehicle accidents or from any other kind of head trauma. Broken teeth can be very painful and also expose the sensitive inside parts of the tooth to the risk of infection and disease. Teeth can also be damaged by dental decay and enamel erosion. This again leaves them vulnerable to attack from disease, which could eventually lead to tooth loss. When teeth are damaged in this way it is necessary to protect them from further injury and also to restore the cosmetic appearance.

One of the oldest and most effective ways of protecting teeth is to fit a dental crown over the top. A dental crown is a ceramic or metal and ceramic cap that is designed to fit over the damaged tooth, covering all parts of the tooth above the gum line to act as a barrier to further damage. A Central London dentist will first need to remove some of the existing enamel so that the crown can fit comfortably over the top. The crown, which will have been made in laboratory conditions to be the same size and shape as the original tooth, will then be cemented over the top using composite bonding.

Crowns are made from metal and ceramic as these are very versatile and strong materials. Ceramics such as porcelain also have a very similar appearance to tooth enamel, giving an improved aesthetic appearance. Once firmly in place the crown will perform all the functions of the original tooth.

Crowns are also used after certain dental surgeries and treatments to add a dimension of protection to the teeth. If dental decay has causes significant damage that a filling is not sufficient to protect the tooth, then a crown may be used to offer greater protection. Crowns are also used after root canal treatments to prevent further infection

Cleaner teeth with scaling and polishing from City of Leeds dentist

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

There is no feeling quite as clean as that of just having had your teeth cleaned by a dentist or dental hygienist. No mater how thoroughly you brush and floss at home you can never get that ‘straight from the dentist’ clean feeling. Dentists and hygienists use techniques known as scaling and polishing to clean teeth as thoroughly as possible, which while sometimes a little unpleasant, are very necessary to keep teeth healthy.

Scaling involves the careful use of the ominous looking little scaling hook to remove hardened plaque, commonly called tartar from the teeth. Plaque itself can be removed at home by brushing and flossing, but in hard to reach places it can often become hard. It is necessary to remove plaque and tartar as they cause inflammation of the gums and dental decay, both of which can cause nasty infections and ultimately tooth loss. Tartar is very difficult to remove and needs the skilful use of scaling by the dentist to scrape from the surface of the tooth.

Polishing is the process of thoroughly cleaning the surface of the teeth usually using an electric polisher. This smoothes the surface of the enamel, removing plaque and minor stains. This makes the teeth feel very clean and smooth and makes it difficult for plaque to cling to the surface of the teeth. City of Leeds dentists offer scaling and polishing as part of a regular dental check up pr hygiene appointment to help keep teeth as clean and healthy as possible. They are two of the simplest yet most effective ways to keep teeth free form the damage caused by plaque and tartar.

City of Leeds dentist spots and treats first signs of periodontal disease

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Periodontal disease, often commonly referred to as gum disease, is seen in two degrees of severity. Milder gum disease is called gingivitis and involves a mild inflammation of the gum tissue. It is estimated that three quarters of all adults in the UK will experience some gingivitis at some point. It is usually easily remedied by improved oral hygiene and some treatment from a dentist. The other more serious form of gum disease is called periodontitis and requires much more substantial treatment. It usually stems from a failure to address or treat the milder form of the disease and can cause significant dental problems such as infections and tooth loss. In fact, periodontitis is responsible for more tooth loss in the UK than tooth decay.

Gum disease is caused, like tooth decay, by plaque. This is a sticky substance that forms in the mouth and coats the teeth and gums. Consisting of food debris and bacteria, plaque releases acid that gradually erodes enamel and destroys gum tissue. Proper brushing and flossing can usually remove most plaque keeping the teeth and gums safe but if this is lacking the plaque begins to harden becoming tartar which is much more difficult to remove.

It is important that you make regular visits to the dentist every six months who can examine teeth for the symptoms of gum disease. Catching periodontitis early gives the patient a much better chance of successful treatment and avoiding any of the more unpleasant treatments for serious disease such as tissue removal and even extractions.
Gum disease has also recently been linked to heart disease which means there is now more reason than ever to have your gums checked by a City of Leeds dentist.

Prevent gum disease at Leeds dentist

Friday, January 1st, 2010

Gum disease happens when the gum tissue in the mouth becomes infected due to the presence of bacterial acid found in plaque. Plaque is allowed to build up on the teeth and gums when oral hygiene is insufficient. Initially this causes gums to become red and irritable and possibly bleed when being cleaned, but mores serious gum disease can lead to tooth loss, hospitalisation and even tissue removal during surgery.

Luckily, gum disease can be easily prevented with more effective cleaning methods. Brushing your teeth at a forty-five degree angle to the surface allows the bristles to clean the gums simultaneously. Although you must remember not to brush too hard and always use a suitable brush. A Leeds dentist can offer advice about appropriate products at your next check up.

It is also important to remember to floss, as this cleans the areas just below the gum line of the teeth where it is hard to reach with a conventional brush. This will also help to keep gum tissue clean and healthy. Although cleaning can help, most people will suffer with some mild gingivitis at some point in their life so it is always necessary to visit your dentist regularly. The key to successful prevention is to have your gums examined thoroughly by a professional every six months. This will help to keep your gums, teeth and whole mouth healthy and clean and could save you a lot of pain and discomfort in the future.

Change your life with dentures from Central Leeds dentist

Monday, November 30th, 2009

Tooth loss occurs for a number of reasons ranging from dental trauma to old age. Whatever the cause, loosing teeth can be a very embarrassing experience that can seriously affect your self-confidence and self-esteem. Missing teeth can also make eating very difficult and can cause long-lasting damage to the gums.

Hollows left by one or several missing teeth can be breeding grounds for bacteria because they are difficult to clean with conventional brushes and can cause damage to existing teeth. Several missing teeth can also cause irreversible damage to facial tissue. Because teeth act as rigid supports for muscles, if they are missing, the facial tissue starts to sag giving a sunken and unhealthy appearance.

One option for patients with missing teeth is dentures or partial dentures. Partial dentures are used when only several teeth are missing to prevent movement and support facial tissue. Whole arc dentures are used when there are no teeth left in the dental arc. They are generally fabricated from acrylic resins with porcelain artificial teeth.

Dentures should be held in place by suction alone but this is often not possible due to gum erosion. Many patients are anxious about dentures falling out and resort to dental adhesives and strips. These can prevent patients from eating certain foods and can be very messy. More and more patients are now opting for mini implants which can be used to secure the dentures with snap on and off clips. These provide the extra level of security many denture wearers need without the fuss and mess and can make a big different to the patients life.

Dentures need to be looked after just like real teeth and should be cleaned with a brush twice a day. Dentures are also taken out at night and cleaned in water. It is also important to take good care of your gums when wearing dentures as they can often become inflamed or eroded. Visiting a dentist every six months is strongly advised.

If you are suffering from multiple tooth loss and would to regain the use and appearance of a healthy set of teeth, make an appointment to see a Central Leeds dentist and ask about the benefits of dentures.