Beechcroft Dental Practice

You may have heard some dental terms used during your visit to the Dentist but do you know what they mean? Do you know what a crown is? What a bridge is? What dental implants are used for? The following is aimed to give you a very brief overview of the most common treatments that are available at the practice.

Also known as “silver” fillings and have been used for many years. These types of filling are durable and hard wearing but are unsuitable for front teeth due to low esthetic value.

If bacteria contained in the mouth is not removed by regular brushing, it will form a coating called plaque which can build up resulting in gum disease and tooth decay.

It is important to select a toothbrush that can reach all the surfaces of your teeth. It is therefore generally better to select one with a smaller rather than a larger head. It may also be wise to purchase a single tufted head brush for use in those “hard to reach” places. Remember to change your toothbrush regularly – at least every three months. Toothbrushes with worn or out of shape bristles will not be effective in removing plaque.

We recommend that you spend at least two minutes cleaning your teeth, twice a day. You should start with the lower jaw and work your way around the teeth using round circular movements. Do remember to clean the back of the molars. Repeat this for the inner side of the teeth and use a straight across movement for the biting surface of the teeth. Try not to brush too hard as this may damage the enamel on the teeth and cause the gums to recede.

If your teeth are sensitive, try using a toothpaste specially manufactured for sensitive teeth which will help in protecting the exposed nerve endings.

Also known as “white” fillings they are made from resin and particles which are mixed together and then bonded in place with a high intensity light. They are naturally white but can be coloured to match surrounding teeth. They are generally not as strong as metal fillings and are used more often on front teeth.

Crowns are used to restore teeth that have been broken or weakened by decay or very large fillings. Crowns may also be used to improve the appearance of a tooth with a discoloured filling, to protect a tooth that has been root filled or may help to keep a bridge or denture firmly in place.

A small metal pin is placed in the jawbone at the site of a missing tooth. The metal pin mimics the root of a tooth and once in place a false tooth can be attached to this pin to give a permanent new tooth. Implants can also be used to help anchor a crown or a bridge.

These are removable artificial teeth in a plastic base that rests directly on the gums. A denture may be complete or partial depending on the number of teeth missing.

When one or more teeth are missing, a bridge is used to span the space that is left. A fixed bridge is attached to natural teeth and cemented in place next to the abutment teeth.

Gum disease is caused by a build up of plaque on the teeth which remains in contact with the gums. If left untreated, this plaque causes a reaction in the gums. In the early stages, this is known as Gingivitis. Most people have some degree of gingivitis and this can be recognised by gums that bleed easily when touched or flossed. If left unchecked, this can lead to more severe disease called Periodontitis and this may cause the teeth to become loose and eventually lost. More people loose teeth to gum disease than to decay.

Also known as endodontics, this treatment is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (known as the pulp) is infected through decay or injury. It is important to carry out root canal treatment as the infection may spread through the root canal system and may lead to an abscess forming or the tooth may need to be extracted if the infection spreads.

A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain made to fit over the front surface of a tooth. This improves the colour, shape and position of the tooth and a precise colour can be chosen to give the correct match to surrounding teeth. Discoloured or stained teeth can be restored using veneers and a chipped tooth can be made to look perfect again. Veneers can also be used to close small gaps between teeth that cannot be corrected with orthodontic work and can bring a tooth back into line with others if it is slightly out of position.