Gum disease
- Gum disease is a very common condition where the gums become swollen, sore or infected.
- Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth.
- Plaque is a sticky substance that contains bacteria.
- If you don’t remove plaque from your teeth by brushing them, it builds up and irritates your gums. This can lead to redness with bleeding, swelling and soreness.
- Mild cases of gum disease can usually be treated by maintaining a good level of oral hygiene. This includes brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly. You should also make sure you attend regular dental check-ups.
- In most cases, your dentist or dental hygienist will be able to give your teeth a thorough clean and remove any hardened plaque (tartar). They’ll also be able to show you how to clean your teeth effectively to help prevent plaque building up in the future.
- If you have severe gum disease, you may need further medical and dental treatment which may involve a deeper and more thorough clean. Your dentist or hygienist will advise accordingly and may need to refer you to a specialist called a periodontist.
Fillings
- When the decayed part of your tooth has been removed a space is created. A filling is then used to repair this space.
- Different types of filling materials are available broadly devided into amalgam fillings (made from a mixture of metals) and white fillings.
Crowns
- A Crown is ‘cap’ that is made to cover and protect your real tooth when it is decayed, broken, damaged or just to improve the appearance.
- Crowns are made of different materials which include metal, porcelain and metal or metal free materials
- To prepare your tooth for a crown the dentist cut your tooth down to a peg like shape to make space for the crown to be fitted.
- The crown is then made in a Dental Laboratory and whilst its being made you will be fitted with a temporary crown on the same day until your crown is ready for fitting.
Root canal treatment
- Root canal treatment is used to treat an infection that has spread to the centre of a tooth where the blood and nerve supply of the tooth are located.
- The treatment can take several visits and after the root canal treatment a filling or crown is required to protect the tooth.
- The alternative to root canal treatment is to take the tooth out.