Take action now and stop any further long term damage.
Smoking Cessation
If you smoke or use tobacco products you may be at a greater risk of:
- developing gum disease, receding gums, bone loss
- mouth cancer
- delayed healing
We encourage you to give up to reduce your risk of suffering from the above. We can help you to quit by giving you useful information and advice and/or signposting you to somebody who can help. We will support you through the process.
Mouth Cancer Screening
During your regular examinations, we thoroughly examine your mouth to screen you for oral cancer. We look for:
- Sore spots that are slow to heal
- Red or white patches
- Lumps
- Loose teeth
- Any swelling
It is very important to look for these early signs as late detection of oral cancer caused nearly 2,500 UK deaths in 2014. We recommend you visit us for screening at least once a year but do get in touch if you have any concerns between appointments.
Children
As part of our preventive approach to dental care, we encourage you to bring the very youngest members of your family to see us too. If you bring your children from an early age, we can keep a watchful eye on their teeth. If they have regular dental examinations, we can detect and treat tooth decay before it gets worse. Visiting the practice from a young age will help children get to know us and make them less likely to develop a fear of the dentist.
We can apply a fluoride varnish to strengthen enamel and cover the biting surfaces of the back teeth, to protect them from decay. We can also identify orthodontic problems and, if necessary, refer them to an orthodontist for treatment.
Gum Treatment
At every examination appointment we check your gum health. Chronic periodontitis (gum disease) is a common cause for tooth loss and diagnosing it early can help reduce progression of the disease. Recommended treatment may involve root surface debridement and an emphasis on an oral hygiene routine to encourage stabilisation.
Dental Hygienist
Hygienists use preventative, educational and therapeutic methods to help prevent oral diseases whilst helping patient’s to achieve and maintain oral health. They will work with you to determine the best oral hygiene routine for your individual needs.
- Educating and counselling children and adults on dental health, plaque control, oral hygiene and nutrition.
- Removal of deposits and stains from teeth by scaling and root planning.
- Assisting in the prevention and control of dental caries (decay) and gum disease.
- Help maintain and stabilise their gum disease so as to prolong the life of their teeth.
