Early Intervention Dentistry And Why It Matters

Why oral health problems should always be treated as soon as possible

Despite the number of modern solutions we have available at our Canterbury clinic which can restore a tooth that has been badly damaged through decay or an accident; Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic are firm believers in preventative oral care.

In the unfortunate cases where this does not prevent problems from arising, early treatment intervention is available to minimise damage caused to the tooth.

One of the reasons that we ask our patients to maintain six monthly check ups with us is so that we can detect any early signs of tooth decay or similar problems. Usually, at this stage, the tooth will be restorable with a relatively straightforward treatment, often a filling. Failing to maintain these regular dental check ups can mean that problems will become much more advanced by the time that you start to notice any symptoms which alert you to a potential problem. By this time, more invasive treatment may well be needed to save the tooth.

Whilst tooth decay is a common problem that can creep up on us without it being noticed, at least early on, it isn’t the only problem. Let us take a look at issues that can arise and the potential outcome should you not have your oral health checked on a regular basis.

Tooth decay

As stated earlier, this is probably the most common dental problem. It starts when bacteria manage to access the layer beneath the enamel tooth surface. Eventually, we can’t fail to become aware of it as we are likely to have a painful toothache, but with regular check ups there is no need for it to reach this stage.

Early intervention for a small cavity is likely to mean it can be filled with our teeth coloured fillings, restoring the tooth and maintaining its appearance. The larger the cavity becomes, the more difficult this might be and it may result in you needing a crown attached to the tooth. As the bacteria progresses, you could even end up with an infection in the root canals leaving you needing a root canal procedure to save the tooth.

Gum disease

Gum disease is often underestimated in the impact it can have on your oral health. Most people have seen the adverts where blood is detected following brushing of the teeth. This is just a symptom though and whilst unpleasant in itself, it doesn’t emphasise how serious gum disease can be. Whilst relatively mild in its earlier stages, it can soon lead to periodontitis which also affects the bone which holds the tooth root in place. As this starts to degrade, it is less capable of holding the tooth securely in position. The end result is that you may end up with wobbly teeth or even suffer from tooth loss. There is also some significant evidence that advanced gum disease especially, can have a negative impact on your general health.

As well as looking after your teeth and gums well at home, you should also have them cleaned by a dental hygienist every six months to ensure optimum oral health and to help prevent gum disease.

Chipped and cracked teeth

It can happen to any of us. It doesn’t matter how healthy our teeth are (although strong enamel helps to prevent it), a bite into the wrong thing or a fall or collision could result in our teeth becoming chipped or cracked. Whilst it is possible that this could be superficial damage that is of little concern, you should always have this checked as soon as possible. Please don’t simply leave this until your next check up appointment as if you have damaged the enamel, there is every likelihood that bacteria will soon enter and the tooth will start to decay.

Any damage such as this should be checked promptly and you should call our Canterbury clinic for an emergency dental appointment. We will always try to see you as soon as we can in these cases though we always endeavour to see the most serious first. Make sure that you explain to the receptionist the nature of the problem when you book an appointment with us.

Early intervention doesn’t just mean keeping your regular check up appointments. Anything unusual that you notice with your teeth or gums should be investigated and not allowed to deteriorate. If you are in any doubt at all about something that doesn’t feel right or if you have had an accident that impacted your teeth, make sure to play it safe and book an appointment to see one of our dentists as soon as you possibly can.

Both routine and emergency appointments can be made at Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic  by calling us on 01227 463529.