Last Updated 5 years Ago
Family friendly dental treatments for all of your needs
What Is General Dentistry?
General dentistry is the term used to cover all aspects of general dental care that is required on a regular basis to achieve dental health.
Preventative dentistry
At the forefront of a general dentists arsenal is preventative treatments and advice. This includes regular dental check ups (including diagnostic x-rays) to check the health of your teeth/mouth/gums, and also regular visits to see the dental hygienist. Hygienists are a type of dental professional that will give your teeth a deep clean (scale & polish) to fight the build up of bacteria/plaque/tartar and help to show you how to efficiently brush your teeth and use dental floss/interdental brushes. Good oral hygiene is paramount to keeping your natural teeth for longer and for also combating gum disease from developing.
We are also able to spot the common signs often linked with bruxism (and TMD) which appears as tooth wear. This can help us to identify the parafunctional activity of clenching/grinding your teeth, that may lead to a variety of symptoms such as: headaches, jaw ache, facial pain, neck ache, ear ache etc. Overtime, if left untreated with excessive grinding, you can cause significant damage to your teeth which will then require extensive restorative work.
Restorative dentistry
When we find problems in your mouth, the next step will be to treat the problem to prevent any further issues from occurring (e.g. tooth decay etc). One of the most common restorations used are white fillings (or amalgam fillings). This is when we would clear the decay out of the affected tooth and then fill the hole with your chosen filling material. In more moderate cases where a filling will not be suitable (if the surface area is too big), then another restoration may be more suitable, such as inlays and onlays or dental crowns.
As dental problems further progress, then more severe treatments may be required to achieve dental health. Root canals are used when a tooth has suffered from severe tooth decay that has entered the pulp of the tooth (center). Root canals (endodontics) will remove the afflicted nerve (pulp) from the tooth and clear out all of the decay/infection. We then do a root filling to plug up the hole and to stop further bacteria from entering the tooth and causing more complications. If all else fails and the tooth is not savable, we will have to extract the tooth as a last resort.
Missing teeth can cause a lot of problems, not just on the aesthetical side, but also in terms of functionality. We are able to replace missing teeth using a number of different options and will always discuss these with you prior to any form of treatment. The gold standard way to replace teeth is with dental implants. These are titanium/ceramic pegs that are placed at bone level in your jaw and will act as the new roots for your new teeth. Depending on what teeth you have missing, either a crown, bridgework or dentures will be fixed on top of the implants. Our sister practice are able to offer implants as an option and we can facilitate that treatment for you. The other more conventional methods of replacing teeth is from:
Overall dental health and health in general
There has been evidence to suggest that our dental health and overall health are closely connected. Untreated dental conditions can have an adverse effect on your overall health (gum disease and cardiovascular disease). Our dentists are also trained to spot the signs or oral cancer and to make the necessary referrals to secondary care to ensure you are seen quickly by the appropriate health care professionals.
What Is Dental Health?
Dental health or oral health is all about keeping your mouth, teeth and gums clean and free from disease. It is important that at home you practice a healthy oral health regime to protect your natural teeth for as long as possible.
As dental healthcare professionals, our roles are not only there to carry out treatments on your teeth, mouth and gums, but also to educate you and your children in best practices for oral hygiene maintenance while you are at home.
We always recommend to:
- Brush your teeth twice a day
- Floss at least a minimum of once a day, but recommended to floss after every time you brush (we will be happy to show you good technique)
- Use mouth wash (please ask us for advice on which one to use)
- Replace brush heads frequently
On all of the above our healthcare professionals are happy to advise and don’t want you to be scared to ask – we are here to help.
When Should You See The Dentist?
The guidelines recommend visiting the dentist at least every 6 months for preventative dentistry (check ups/oral health advice etc) or sooner for any concerns you may have with your oral health. Preventative dentistry is a term you may be hearing a lot more recently, and this is because it is becoming more of an intrinsic part of keeping your teeth/mouth/gums healthy for longer, as often the signs of dental complications can be hard to detect without a dental professional having a look.
These are guidelines and every patient needs will vary from each other. You may be advised to visit on a more regular basis and this will be dependent on your oral health.
If you are thinking about having one of the cosmetic treatments and would like more information, please do not hesitate to book in with one of the dentists to discuss what options would be suitable to achieve your smile goals.
Accepting New NHS Dental Patients
We are currently accepting new NHS patients and our team will be more than happy to assist you in your dental journey.
Please do not hesitate to call us on 01384 394 007 or fill out our enquiry form below:
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