Tooth decay is the process by which the enamel and dentine are eroded away by bacteria and plaque acid that accumulates in the mouth. Tooth decay can be very painful and can eventually lead to infection and tooth loss. However, tooth decay is completely preventable by the adequate and regular brushing and flossing of teeth.
Plaque is a filmy substance that is rich in bacteria and other debris, which clings to the teeth. The decaying bacteria and foodstuff release acid which erodes the enamel of the teeth causing dental cavities, or caries as they are otherwise known. If left unchecked, these cavities continue to grow until they penetrate to the centre of the tooth and begin to erode the pulp. The nerve endings are also located in the centre of the tooth and this is why patients experience toothache. Once the infection has taken hold in the tooth the body may begin to produce an excess of white blood cells to fight it. These pus deposits build up and painful tooth abscesses can form.
If decay reaches the point where it has infected the centre of the tooth the dentist will have to carry out a procedure called a root canal treatment in order to save it. This involves drilling a hole into the middle of the tooth and removing the infected mater and the nerve endings. The cavity will then need to be filled with medicine to prevent further infection before being covered with composite-resin dental filling and finally a crown.
Cavities can also be filled before they reach the centre of the tooth. Fillings used to be made form a silver amalgam substance, but controversy due to potentially poisonous mercury vapour and a more aesthetic appearance has seen a widespread change to tooth coloured composite resin fillings.
One sure fire way of preventing dental cavities in the first instance is to brush and floss correctly everyday. Maintaining a high standard of oral hygiene prevents the build up of plaque and stops tooth decay before it starts. It is also important to keep up six-monthly appointments with a Leeds dentist who will be able to spot the first signs of tooth decay, and repair any existing damage.
The stigma that has been attached to wearing dentures over the years is gradually disappearing. As they become better manufactured and more lifelike, many denture wearers now go through life without anybody ever knowing they are wearing them.
In the past, to build up an accurate 3D impression of a patient’s mouth, a dentist would have to take several time-consuming and uncomfortable dental moulds, as well as more conventional x-rays. These x-rays would need to be processed in the traditional way, which would also take a few more days. All of this added to treatment time and the number of appointments required by the patient.
It is a fact of life that as we get older, just as our hair turns grey, our teeth also begin to lose their natural colour. Just like greying, this affects some people more than others, but all of us will suffer from gradually discolouring teeth in our lives. The introduction of teeth whitening has been able to halt this process and even reverse it. No longer prohibitively expensive, teeth whitening is now offered by most dentists as a cheap and easy cosmetic procedure, and can now even be carried out in the comfort of your own home. The home Enlighten tooth whitening system is one of the first to genuinely and safely provide whiter teeth.
For patients who need braces, the prospect of wearing uncomfortable and ugly metal braces for up to two years can be a daunting one. Luckily, advances in dental technology in the last twenty years have meant that here are now other options available to them.
For patients who require teeth straightening, the prospect of wearing unseemly and uncomfortable braces for the best part of two years can be a daunting one. Thankfully, with the advances in dental technology that have occurred over the last twenty years, patients now have alternatives to the old fashioned fixed metal braces.
Patients who have badly discoloured , unevenly spaced or worn down teeth can now have the aesthetic appearance of their teeth restored by the application of veneers. Veneers are thin ceramic shells that are placed over the top of existing teeth to alter the cosmetic appearance.
Wearing dentures can be embarrassing and many patients are constantly anxious that their dentures are going to fall out at inopportune moments. Dentures should be secured by suction alone, but because the gums are constantly changing, the suction is often lost causing the dentures to feel loose. Many patients use dental adhesive gel or strips to secure their dentures. This can often be very messy and prevent patients from eating and drinking certain things they want.
