FAQ

What is an Apicectomy?

What are Root Fillings?

Sometimes, damage or decay gets deep into the tooth and can affect the root. If left unchecked, this could mean that the tooth either falls out or has to be removed by your dentist. Root fillings – also known as root canal work – can ensure that you keep your tooth.

Your dentist will take an x-ray of the tooth to check the shape of the root canals and to see whether there is any added infection around the root. After putting you under local anaesthetic, the dentist will go through the top of your tooth into the pulp – the bit right in the middle of your tooth that holds the nerves and blood supply. He or she will then remove the dead bits of the pulp and check for any infection. If the infection has spread beyond the tooth, he or she may have to give you a temporary filling and some antibiotics until it clears up.

After the pulp has been removed, the dentist fills the gap with a rubbery material and puts a normal filling on top.

Source: British Dental Association

Teeth Extractions?

Having a tooth out is the same as having an operation and, because of this, you must look after the area to speed healing and to reduce the risk of infection. Here are some pointers:

• For the first 24 hours, try to avoid eating hot food, don’t smoke, don’t drink any alcohol and try not to disturb any blood clot which might have formed.
• Don’t rinse your mouth for six hours after extraction. After that, rinse gently with warm salty water – half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water is enough.
• Brush your teeth as normal to keep your mouth as clean as possible.
• You may feel some small pieces of bone work their way out of the socket – don’t worry, this is perfectly normal.
• There may be some swelling and a bit of discomfort in the first two to three days. If you need to, take some ordinary painkillers – aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetomol will be fine.
• If you feel pain immediately after the tooth has been removed, it might be where the blood clot has broken down leaving an empty hole in the gum. This is called a ‘dry socket’ and will need to be looked at by your dentist. Simply go back and the dentist will pack the wound to ease your discomfort.

Your dentist may have given you some gauze to place onto the area where the tooth has been removed – if not, a clean cloth handkerchief will do just as well (but not a paper tissue).

• Roll it into a small firm pad large enough to fit over the gap (probably around 1 cm by 3 cm).
• Sit up and gently clear away any blood clots around the gap using the gauze or handkerchief.
• Put a clean pad over the gap (from tongue side to cheek side) and bite down on it firmly for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Take the pad off and check whether the bleeding has stopped. If not, apply a fresh pad and contact your dentist.

Source: British Dental Association

How do I brush my teeth?

Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste not only helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease, it can also prevent bad breath.

It isn’t just about moving some toothpaste around your mouth, though. You need to concentrate on the nooks and crannies to make sure you remove as much plaque and leftover bits of food as possible. Your dentist or hygienist will be able to show you how best to brush your teeth, but here are some tips:

• Put a pea-sized blob of fluoride toothpaste on your toothbrush.
• Using small circular movements, brush your teeth, making sure you don’t miss any.
• Don’t forget the hard-to-reach bits at the back of your mouth and behind the teeth.
• Brush along the gum line as well as the teeth themselves.

Source: British Dental Association

What are Dental Abscesses?

Dental abscesses can be painful but they can be treated relatively easily. A dental abscess is formed when the dental pulp in the middle of the tooth dies and the pulp chamber becomes infected. The build-up of pus can raise the tooth up within the socket, making it feel tender when you bite down.

Tooth abscesses can make your jaw ache and feel tender when you chew. If the abscess bursts, the pain may go, but you should still seek treatment. It’s important that you see your dentist to make sure the problem doesn’t come back. Your dentist will discuss with you the possibilities of placing a root filling in the tooth to prevent this from happening.

Abcesses occur when tooth decay is left untreated and reaches the dental pulp (the inside of the tooth which holds the blood supply and the nerves), which then becomes infected and dies. The bacteria then spread into the root of the tooth to form an abscess. Avoiding treatment or putting it off may be one of the reasons for an abscess starting.

Dental abscesses are fairly easy to diagnose – for example, you may find that pain is worse if you are pressing or chewing on the affected tooth. If the pain is less easy to define, your dentist will tap the teeth to determine which one is tender.  The dentist may use an x-ray as part of the diagnosis, although the early stages of an abscess may not show.

To be able to treat a tooth with an abscess your dentist will first need to deal with the infection. The dentist is likely to drain the abcess, then perform a procedure known as root canal. This involves putting in a root filling to block off the pulp and the nerve canal and will stop the infection. If the infection from the abscess is severe, the dentist may prescribe antibiotics. Because the dentist will have had to drill into the tooth for the root canal treatment, they will then need to restore it with a normal filling or crown.

Source: British Dental Association

What is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay (caries) is a common problem affecting teeth for people of all ages. There are bacteria that live in plaque and make it very sticky. These bacteria feed on sugars that come from food and drink (such as sucrose, glucose and fructose), and produce acids. The acids can damage the tooth’s surface by softening it (dissolving away the minerals in the tooth’s outer surface, which is called enamel). Once all the sugar has been used up, the acid gradually disappears and the tooth’s surface starts to repair itself.Each time something sweet is eaten or drunk, plaque bacteria produce more acids, which attack the tooth’s enamel again and soften it.

So the acidity of plaque (its pH) goes up and down periodically. The pH of plaque drops (becomes more acidic) each time sugar is eaten and plaque bacteria produce acid.
The pH then gradually returns to normal (with the help of saliva) until the next time plaque bacteria feed on sugars.

Source: British Dental Association

What is Mouth Cancer?

Mouth cancer kills more people each year than cervical cancer.  Your dentist is in the best position to spot mouth cancer, which is one of the reasons why it’s so important to have regular check-ups.

Early signs of mouth cancer can be something as simple as a mouth ulcer that won’t go away. If you are over 40 and a heavy smoker or drinker, you are more likely to be at risk, so you need to be especially watchful for changes in your mouth.

If you have a mouth ulcer that lasts for more than two weeks, or a red or white patch in your mouth, or you notice a swelling or growth that doesn’t go down after a couple of weeks, go and see your dentist. It may be nothing, but that simple check-up could just save your life. You won’t be wasting your dentist’s time if you’re worried about an ulcer or a sore patch in your mouth. Remember, half of those diagnosed with mouth cancer die from the disease because it wasn’t caught early enough.

Your dentist will look at your face and neck and feel under your jaw and down your neck. They will also have a good look around your mouth, including under your tongue, to check for any of the warning signs.

You can reduce your risk of mouth cancer quite simply. If you stop smoking, cut down on your alcohol intake and make sure you eat a healthy diet with at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day, you can dramatically reduce the risks.

Source: British Dental Association

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is caused by plaque, just like tooth decay. If the plaque isn’t removed with brushing, flossing or a mouthrinse, it can get under the gum line and attack the gums, making them red and puffy. You may also notice some bleeding when you brush your teeth.

If left, the gum disease can cause serious problems. The gum may start to come away from the tooth, creating ‘pockets’ around it where even more plaque can gather. Over time, the plaque will begin eating away at the bone that supports the tooth, which may mean you have to have that tooth removed.

Gum disease is very common in the UK, with most adults suffering some form of it, but it is very simple to prevent. Here are some top tips:

• Brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you pay special attention to the gum line too.
• Visit your dentist regularly. They will be able to spot gum disease early on and give you advice on how best to brush your teeth and the best way to floss.
• Stop smoking. It makes gum disease even worse.

Source: British Dental Association

What is Orthodontics?

Having crooked teeth or large gaps between your teeth can cause problems. Food and bacteria could get stuck between the teeth which could cause decay. Similarly, if your teeth stick out, this could cause problems with mouth ulcers and decay, or with speech. Your dentist might suggest that you have your teeth straightened through orthodontics – by wearing a brace.

The majority of orthodontics are carried out on teenagers, but increasing numbers of adults are opting for orthodontics too. Your dentist will probably refer you to a specialist – an orthodontist – who will take examine and probably x-ray your teeth to see how best to straighten them.

Source: British Dental Association

What is Teeth Whitening?

Everyday life takes its toll on our teeth. Drinking too much tea or coffee, smoking or even eating strongly coloured foods can stain and discolour them. There are toothpastes available that will help remove these stains, but they can’t change the actual colour of the tooth underneath.

The colour of your teeth is determined by your DNA, just like the colour of your hair or your eyes. As we get older, the dentine – the soft, pulpy substance below the enamel that protects the nerves and the blood supply to the tooth – changes colour, becoming more yellow. This is something which a stain-removing toothpaste alone cannot help.

Dentists can, though. By applying a bleaching agent to the teeth, they can whiten the teeth, giving you a sparkly white smile. This procedure is simple, harmless and practically painless.

It is important, though, to do it under your dentist’s supervision. Don’t be tempted to buy kits over the counter or on the Internet. Not only are they not made to fit your mouth exactly, it may be that teeth whitening isn’t suitable for you, especially if you have gum disease or crowns.

Source: British Dental Association

What are dental veneers?

Veneers are used to improve the appearance of front teeth. Your cosmetic dentists at FHDC in Leeds will advice you of the different options. Often this involves taking an impression which is sent to a dental technician who turns that impression into a model on which they make a veneer. The cosmetic dentist then sticks the veneer on the tooth with special adhesive materials.

What are dental crowns?

Crowns sometimes called caps are like a thimble that fits over the remains of a tooth that may be damaged beyond simply placing a filling or to improve the look of a tooth or after a tooth has had root canal treatment. A crown can be either made of a gold coloured material or a tooth coloured material. Your cosmetic dentist at FHDC in Leeds can advise you as to which type of crown will be best for your tooth, don’t be afraid to ask to see examples.