107
Hempstead Road Watford Herts WD17
3HE T 01923 231861
HYGIENIST (click here for more information)
Visits to the hygienist are not just about having your teeth cleaned!
Hygiene Therapy is mainly related to periodontal disease, or "gum disease" and, once this disease gets started, professional help is normally required to prevent its progress, as gum disease is still the most common reason for tooth loss in adults.
Hygiene therapy is fundamental to any care provided by your dentist, whether it is crowns, bridges, implants, fillings, orthodontics or cosmetic dentistry.
Reliance on a hygienist to clean your teeth for you, rather than the toothbrush, floss or other interdental cleaning products rarely brings success alone. It's very much a partnership with your hygienist and the work you both do will result in healthy and hopefully disease-free gums.
EARLY GUM DISEASE SCREENING (click here for more information)
Screening for gum disease forms an integral
part of your routine examination. Gum disease describes swelling, soreness or infection
of the tissues supporting the teeth. There are two main
forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontal disease.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease describes swelling, soreness or infection of the tissues supporting the teeth. There are two main forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontal disease.
What is gingivitis?
Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums. This is when the gums around the teeth become very red and swollen. Often the swollen gums bleed when they are brushed during cleaning.
What is periodontal disease?
Long-standing gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. There are a number of types of periodontal disease and they all affect the tissues supporting the teeth.
As the disease gets worse the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, making the teeth loose. If this is not treated, the teeth may eventually fall out.
What is the cause of gum disease? All gum disease is caused by plaque. Plaque is a film of bacteria which forms on the surface of the teeth and gums every day. Many of the bacteria in plaque are completely harmless, but there are some that have been shown to be the main cause of gum disease. To prevent and treat gum disease, you need to make sure you remove all the plaque from your teeth every day. This is done by brushing and flossing.
What happens if gum disease is not treated? Unfortunately, gum disease progresses painlessly on the whole so that you do notice the damage it is doing. However, the bacteria are sometimes more active and this makes your gums sore. This can lead to gum abscesses, and pus may ooze from around the teeth. Over a number of years, the bone supporting the teeth can be lost. If the disease is left untreated for a long time, treatment can become more difficult.
How do I know if I have gum disease? The first sign is blood on the toothbrush or in the rinsing water when you clean your teeth. Your gums may also bleed when you are eating, leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Your breath may also become unpleasant.
MOUTH CANCER SCREENING
Mouth cancer is a malignant growth which
can occur in any part of the mouth, including the tongue,
lips and throat.Mouth cancers have a higher proportion
of deaths per number of cases than breast cancer, cervical
cancer or skin melanoma. The mortality rate is just over
50%, despite treatment, with about 1,700 deaths per year
in the UK. This is because of late detection. Visit your
dentist at once if you notice any abnormal problems or
are not sure. Six-monthly dental checkups allow early
detection!
Mouth
Cancer Foundation
The Mouth Cancer Foundation is a registered charity that raises awareness of mouth cancers and proviedes information and support to patients, carers and health professionals.
Giving
Up Smoking
It's not easy... So that's why this web site is here.
Giving up smoking requires preparation, determination,
and support. This site is here to help you with each of
these. If you're thinking about giving up, have a look-in.
BAD BREATH (click here for more information)
Bad breath is a very common problem and
there are many different causes. Persistent bad breath
is usually caused by the smelly gases released by the
bacteria that coat your teeth and gums. However, strong
foods like garlic and onions can add to the problem. Smoking
is also one of the main causes of bad breath, along with
certain illnesses such as nasal and stomach conditions.
Bits of food that get caught between the teeth and on
the tongue will rot and can sometimes cause an unpleasant
smell. So correct and regular brushing is very important
to keep your breath smelling fresh.
The bacteria on our teeth and gums (plaque) also cause
gum disease and dental decay. If you see your dentist
regularly this will not only help prevent bad breath but
will also let the dentist look for and treat these problems.
EARLY DECAY DETECTION AND X-RAYS (click here for more information)
Decay may or may not cause discomfort;
even though it doesn’t hurt, the tooth is deteriorating.
Using higher magnification and powerful lighting, it is
easier to detect decay at an early stage to prevent excessive
tooth damage. When cavities are small, they are much easier
and less expensive to treat.
Early tooth decay does not tend to show many physical
signs. Sometimes the tooth looks healthy, but your dentist
will be able to see from an x-ray whether you have any
decay under the enamel, any possible infections in the
roots, or any bone loss around the tooth.
MOUTH GUARDS (click here for more information)
A mouthguard is a specially
made, rubber-like cover which fits exactly over your teeth
and gums, cushioning them and protecting them from damage.
It is important to wear a professionally made mouthguard
whenever you play sport that involves physical contact
or moving objects. This includes: cricket, hockey and
football – which can cause broken and damaged teeth;
and American football, boxing and rugby – which
can all cause broken or dislocated jaws. A mouthguard
will help protect against these events.
If you take part in any of these contact sports please
ask us about our range of custom made mouth guards.
Online Leaflets Want general information on a condition
or treatment? Visit the British
Dental Health Foundation where they have over
40 online leaflets.
Online Resource Want to find out about dental treatment?
Want to know how to look after your teeth better?
Visit the new BDA
Smile web site.
3D Education Want to learn about dental anatomy, conditions,
treatments and good oral health? Visit the BDA's
cutting edge 3D Educational web site.
