Plagued By Troublesome Teeth?

Helping our Canterbury patients get back on track with their dental care.

Every journey starts somewhere. It is an old and well known saying and it can also be applied to dental care. Even if we haven’t done so ourselves, we all probably know at least one person who either rarely goes to the dentist or who used to go regularly but then missed an appointment, maybe through illness, and simply hasn’t been again. This does happen, and when it does, we can soon get into the mindset that ‘if it doesn’t hurt, it’s OK’. This is rarely a sustainable approach and anyone who doesn’t see a dentist enough, is likely to have problems down the line.

We’d like to dedicate this blog then, to patients of Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic who have perhaps ‘dropped off the wagon’, and take a look at what we can do to help you.

Check up

Your first step, of course, should be to get in touch with us. You can do this either by calling us on 01227 463529 or by using the form on our website (on the contact page). Once you have done this, we can book you in for a full check up to see what, if any, treatments might be needed. Let us take a look at some of the possible treatments that you might need if indeed,  any are required.

Restorations

One of the most likely restorative dental treatments you might need to have is a filling. These are very common, and, with even good quality cleaning, bacteria and food can get trapped in the tiniest of places. If you have been brushing well and flossing though, you may only require small fillings. These can be provided in a tooth coloured material, rendering them almost invisible.

Fillings can also be used on deeper cavities, but where there is significant decay or breakage, we may recommend that you have crowns instead as these will provide you with extra strength.

Finally, a treatment often classed as ‘cosmetic’ can also sometimes be used to restore teeth that have suffered from enamel erosion, possibly causing your teeth to feel sensitive. One of the best ways to treat this is to fit dental veneers to replace the damaged enamel surface. We will discuss any treatment options with you, if needed, once we have carried out a full check up, possibly including x-rays so that we can also see what is happening beneath the gum line.

Replacing missing teeth

If you have been absent from dental care for some time, it may be that you have lost a tooth or two. Equally, we might recommend that a current tooth that is badly decayed or damaged is extracted and a replacement provided.

There are three main options available for this. Dentures are the most common option and offer a reasonable solution. Some people do find them uncomfortable or that they move around in the mouth somewhat though. A bridge provides more strength and stability but does require teeth either side of the gap to be prepared. In our opinion, dental implants provide the best solution, replacing the root of the tooth as well as the crown. This gives an excellent level of strength and security. We are happy to discuss the ‘pros and cons’ of each teeth replacement method in more detail should you need to replace any that have been lost.

Dental hygienist

Having now restored or replaced any missing teeth, the next thing we recommend is that you see the dental hygienist. They will give your gums a thorough clean using a ‘scale and polish’ procedure. They may also discuss your oral health habits and what you can do to improve them. A six monthly visit is usually recommended to help prevent gum disease which can even lead to tooth loss if not treated early enough.

Smile improvements

You might be happy with your new healthy mouth, and that is a great achievement in itself. You might also like to take the opportunity to give your smile a bit of a special treat too. We provide a lot of cosmetic treatments at our Canterbury dental clinic including the popular teeth whitening treatment. Others include veneers (for cosmetic purposes this time), orthodontics and cosmetic bonding. Talk to us if there is a specific area you would like improvements in.

Nervous dental patient?

Finally, we know that some patients stop going to see their dentist as they are very anxious about any treatment they might need to receive. We understand this and, if this applies to you, don’t just avoid the dentist but give us a call to discuss this and see how we can help you receive treatment in a calm and relaxed manner. For more information on any of these issues or to book a check up (or other) appointment with us, please call Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic on 01227 463529.