Dental Health Check-Up
How often should I go to the dentist for a check-up?The standard recommendation is to visit twice a year for check-ups and cleanings. This frequency level works well for most people. Although patients with implants, crowns and some people with gum disease, a genetic predisposition for plaque build-up or cavities, or a weakened immune system might need to visit the dentist more frequently for optimal care.
Keep in mind that certain life events, particularly those that cause stress or illness, might cause changes in the mouth or the development of an infection, and might make more frequent visits to the dentist necessary. At the other extreme, people who have taken great care of their teeth and gums, and have gone years without any problems whatsoever might choose to lengthen the time between visits. Ask us what visitation schedule works best for your state of dental health.
The three reasons that most strongly support the twice-yearly visitation schedule are:
- To allow your dentist to check for problems that you might not see or feel.
- To allow your dentist to find early signs of decay (Decay doesn’t become visible or cause pain until it reaches more advanced stages.)
- To treat any other oral health problems found (Generally, the earlier a problem is found, the more manageable it is.)
Missing Teeth
Do You Have Missing Teeth?Are you fed up with dentures?
Do you struggle to eat steak or bite into apples?
Do you want your own teeth back?
Do you struggle to eat steak or bite into apples?
Do you want your own teeth back?
People lose teeth all the time, either from trauma, tooth decay, gum disease or old age, whatever the reason Dental Implants are the closest thing to getting your own teeth back.
Migraine & Headache Prevention (TMJ) Disorder
What is TMJ?“TMJ” is an acronym for temporomandibular joint, that is to say, the jaw joint. The temporomandibular joints are the joints in front of the ears attaching the lower jaw to the skull. They are essential to daily jaw functions such as opening and closing your mouth, chewing and speaking.
What are TMJ Disorders?
TMJ disorders refer to conditions, manifested by pain in the area of the jaw and jaw muscles and limitations in the ability of the jaw to operate normally while speaking, eating, and swallowing.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health states that 10.8 million people in the USA suffer from TMJ problems. 90% of those seeking treatment for TMJ are women during theirchildbearing years.
What causes TMJ Disorders?
Medical research has not yet defined all the causes of the various TMJ disorders. Some patients report having TMJ symptoms following trauma, dental treatment, traffic accidents, trauma, or following the adoption of habits such as clenching or grinding the teeth. Arthritis in other parts of the body is sometimes linked to TMJ pain.
What are the symptoms of TMJ Disorder?
TMJ patients report the following symptoms:
- Frequent headaches
- Uncomfortable bite
- Neck/shoulder/back pain
- Facial swelling
- Pain of the face
- Pain of the jaw joint and/or the ear
- Jaw locking when jaw open or closed
- Restricted ability or complete inability to open the mouth without pain
How should one treat TMJ Disorders?
At present, there are more than 50 treatments in use ranging from very conservative, reversible therapies to more aggressive, invasive approaches.
Please call us on 0844 357 9196 for a consultation to help you decide which therapy would be best suited for you.
Bleeding Gums
Do Your Gums Bleed?Does your breath cause you embarrassment?
Are your gums receeding?
Are you becoming long in the teeth?
Have you got black spaces between your teeth?
You may not realize that persistent sore, swollen, red, or bleeding gums as well as tooth pain or sensitivity and bad breath are warning signs of periodontal disease (gum disease) - a serious infection that, left untreated, may lead to tooth loss as well as heart attack, stroke, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and premature/underweight babies.
Here's what you can do to protect your health:
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 you 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.
