Author: Farnham Road Dental Practice

Why root canal therapy is nothing to be scared of

“Root canal therapy” is one of those phrases that can strike fear into the heart of even the bravest patient when their dentist says it is necessary. However, the treatment is nothing to be scared of and is essential to save an infected tooth. Without it, your tooth could have to be extracted.

root-canal-therapyPerhaps a bad past experience has made your nervous about root canal therapy, or perhaps someone has told you an exaggerated horror story. At our Guildford dental practice we use the latest dental techniques and equipment that enables us to offer pain-free root canal therapy that can be completed in a single appointment (as opposed to the traditional two).

Ironically enough, if you don’t have root canal therapy, more serious and uncomfortable conditions such as painful dental abscesses can arise if the infection spreads.

Why your dentist will prescribe root canal therapy

Root canal therapy is necessary when the pulp or nerve at the centre of a tooth becomes infected. This can happen through dental decay or through accident or injury, and tooth ache is one of the most common symptoms. This infection can spread into the root canal system of your tooth, which may be fairly simple in a front tooth or fairly complex in a back tooth. The purpose of root canal therapy is to remove all traces of infection before sealing the tooth.

This is a skilled and complex procedure that requires a 1.5 hour appointment to ensure we have time to complete the whole procedure in one session. Dentist Dr Paul Cunningham is highly experienced in the delicate art of root canal therapy and enjoys providing the treatment, especially as many patients are surprised that it is entirely pain-free.

Under local anaesthetic Dr Cunningham will access the root canal system of the infected tooth and will carefully clean it with the latest rotary-ended equipment. He will fill the tooth with white or tooth-coloured filling material, and in many cases will cap the tooth with a crown to give it additional strength.

How dental implants can boost more than just your smile

Dental implants are an increasingly popular way for patients who have lost one or more of their natural teeth to regain confidence in their smile. Having gaps in your mouth from missing teeth can be a major source of social embarrassment and can cause you to hide your smile away in public. However, there are also other health implications that mean you should seriously consider replacing your missing teeth.

dental-implantsWhen teeth are lost, any remaining teeth may shift position as they move into any gaps. This can cause them to become crooked and more difficult to clean, which in turn can increase the chances of plaque build-up, gum disease and tooth decay.

Losing your teeth can also impact on your ability to enjoy a healthy diet. You may find yourself limited to a soft food diet if you have lost several teeth, and even one missing tooth increases the amount of strain put on your remaining teeth.

Why dental implants?

Dental implants are the only permanent way to replace your natural teeth. They are small titanium screws that your dentist carefully places in precise locations in your jaw bone. There they integrate with the bone, providing firm support for new teeth in the form of dentures, crowns or bridges, and also stimulating bone growth and the development of tiny blood vessels around the titanium.

This helps to stop the common side-effect of bone loss that often happens when teeth are lost, and which can cause a sagging appearance around the jowls.

Once your implants are in place a healing period is required, typically about three months. After this your dentist will check that the implants have integrated sufficiently with your jaw bone and will then attach your new teeth.

The implants and attached restorations look and act much like natural teeth. You will find your confidence in your smile restored and will be able to enjoy a full, healthy, balanced diet once more, which is better for your general health. With proper care and regular visits to the dentist, your implants could last you for the rest of your life.

Teeth whitening: What you should know

It’s no surprise that the popularity of teeth whitening treatment continues to grow. As cosmetic dentistry become more accessible to an increasing number of people, bright, white teeth are no longer the preserve of celebrities and film stars. Teeth whitening treatment from a dentist is one of the fastest ways to boost your smile, and is perfect for a mini smile makeover before a special occasion.

teeth whiteningAt The Guildford Dentist we use the Enlighten home teeth whitening system, which involves the use of custom-made teeth whitening trays and special dental bleaching gel, designed to remove stains such as those caused by food, drink, and smoking from the teeth safely and gently. We welcome new patients for a teeth whitening consultation.

Why you need a dentist

If you are considering whitening your teeth, the key thing to remember is that this treatment should only be carried out by a dentist (or a dental hygienist on a dentist’s prescription). There are several reasons for this.

First, as with any cosmetic dental procedure, teeth whitening should only be carried out on a healthy mouth, to avoid the risk of sensitivity during treatment. Your dentist will ensure that you are in good oral health before prescribing whitening treatment. If you do have any health problems, such as gum disease or tooth decay, your dentist is perfectly positioned to treat these issues. Just remember to leave enough time before your special occasion for all treatment to be completed.

Secondly, it’s important to remember that while Enlighten, and other whitening products used by dentists, have been subjected to rigorous testing and have been proven both safe and effective, products available from other outlets are unlikely to have been tested to the same degree.

There are many products, both online and on the internet, that claim to whiten teeth, but they may fail to deliver, and in some cases can even cause damage to your teeth and gums. Products used by dentists are completely safe, as well as very effective. When it comes to your smile, you want to know you can trust your provider.

Teeth whitening to boost your smile

Teeth whitening is a very popular cosmetic dental treatment, and it’s not difficult to see why. Most of us would like a brighter, whiter smile, and teeth whitening treatment carried out by a dentist is an excellent way to achieve this.

teeth-whiteningAt The Guildford Dentist we only use the Enlighten teeth whitening system. This world-renowned product is an excellent way to remove stains and discolouration from your teeth, and is the only whitening system that guarantees a B1 shade of whiteness at the end of treatment – the lightest shade available in the UK.

Whitening treatment becomes necessary because our teeth are easily stained in everyday life. Even if you have good dental hygiene, drinks such as tea and coffee, habits such as smoking, and some medicines and mouthwashes can cause the teeth to become stained. When carried out by a dental professional, teeth whitening offers a safe, reliable and predictable way to remove these everyday stains, giving you a brighter, whiter smile in as little as two weeks.

We use Enlighten home whitening products at our Guildford clinic. This involves using custom-made whitening trays and special dental bleaching gel, which has been specifically designed to reduce the chances of developing temporary tooth sensitivity during treatment.

Although this is a home whitening system, you will still need to come into the practice for a consultation with a dentist prior to starting treatment. They will assess the type of staining on your teeth to check that this is the best option, and will also ensure that you are in good dental health – whitening should only be carried out on healthy teeth. Your dentist will then take impressions for your whitening trays to be made up.

All you need to do is place a small amount of whitening gel in the trays and wear them either overnight or for short periods during the day for approximately two weeks. The result will be beautifully bright, white teeth.