Preventive dentistry is the modern way of reducing the amount of dental treatment needed to maintain a healthy mouth and help you keep your teeth.

The two major causes of tooth loss are decay and gum disease.  The better we deal with these problems the more chance people have of keeping their teeth for life.

There are many types of preventive treatment such as:

•  Hygiene treatment to stabilise gum problems, the  hygienist will show you the best methods of brushing and flossing to remove the bacterial ‘plaque’ which forms constantly on your teeth and gums. When you eat or drink something sugary, the plaque turns the sugar into acid, which will cause tooth decay
• Dental cleaning advice to maintain healthy gums, plaque will also cause gum inflammation if it is not regularly and thoroughly removed. The hard tartar (calculus) which builds up on the teeth also starts off as plaque.
• Diet advice to prevent tooth decay
• Pit and fissure sealants to prevent decay to back teeth, the biting surfaces of teeth can be protected by the application of ‘sealants’. These make the tooth surface smoother and easier to clean, stopping decay starting in the difficult to clean areas.
• Crowns on heavily restored or root filled back teeth to stop them from crumbling or breaking
• Fluoride treatments for patients susceptible to tooth decay
• Your dentist will also ensure all your fillings are in good repair and there are no rough edges to make cleaning difficult.

 We have many publications available from the British Dental Health Foundation including:

•     Dental Implants
•     Dental Care for Mother and Baby
•     Tooth whitening
•     My fear of the Dentist
•     Helpful tips to keep your gums healthy
•     Children’s Teeth
•     Preventive Care and Oral Hygiene
•     And many more.

Any of these can be posted to you on request.