General Dentistry
At Oakmount Dental Care we want to help all of our patients keep their gums healthy and their teeth for life. Preventative care plays a large part in this (please visit our Prevention page) and all of our dentists and hygienists offer first class care and advice.
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We also want to make sure that you look forward to your visit to Oakmount Dental Care and all of our team including our excellent reception and nursing staff will do everything in their power to make your visit comfortable and relaxing.
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We recommend that our patients visit us once every six months so that we can ably monitor your oral health and prevent any problems arising. Preventing problems can mean less cost on dental care - something that we're sure you'll welcome!
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Why not call us on 02380 263026 or Contact Us and see what modern dentistry can do for you?
Check-Ups
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Routine dental appointments are essential to maintain good oral health and a happy smile. A standard dental check-up is carried out by an experienced, qualified dentist and is the best way to spot any problems with your mouth before they become serious. Both adults and children require routine dental appointments on a regular basis because preventative dentistry is the key to keeping your mouth healthy.
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Routine dental appointments are usually carried out every six months, but the number of times you need to attend these appointments varies from patient to patient. Some patients may require more frequent visits, while others may need to come into the practice less often – your dentist will advise you on how often you need a regular check-up.
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What happens at a routine dental check-up?
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If it is your first appointment at the practice, your dentist will take a full dental and medical history. They will also:
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Thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and mouth.
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Take X-rays if necessary.
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Discuss any dental problems you may have had since your last visit
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Discuss general health and dietary issues that can affect your teeth and gums – such as alcohol consumption or smoking.
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Discuss your teeth-cleaning habits, such as brushing technique, and recommend any improvements such as interdental brushes or flossing as required.
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Explain any further treatment you may need, such as fillings, root canal treatment or hygienist appointments.
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Provide you with a full treatment plan.
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Answer any questions you may have regarding your treatment and what options are available.
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If you require no other treatment, your dentist will let you know when you should come for your next routine check-up.
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Life benefits
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Maintain good oral health
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Spot any problems early
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In many cases, prevent problems before they start
Root Canal Therapy
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Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) is needed when the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected through tooth decay or damaged by an injury to your mouth. This infection may spread through the root canal system and could eventually lead to an abscess, causing a great deal of discomfort. If root canal treatment is not carried out, the tooth may need to be taken out.
Root canal therapy involves the following:
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First, local anaesthetic will be administered to ensure no discomfort is felt during treatment.
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The tooth will be prepared with a drill, allowing access to the root canal system.
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The root canal system will be thoroughly cleaned out to remove all infection and pulp.
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The root canal system is then filled and sealed temporarily with a crown.
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The tooth is checked at a later visit and when all the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled.
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Root canal treatment is a skilled and time-consuming procedure and most courses of treatment will involve two or more visits.
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Life benefits
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Preservation of remaining healthy tooth structure.
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Prevention of infection spreading any further.
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Restoration of tooth to its natural look and feel.
Dental Emergencies
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If you have chipped or broken a tooth as a result of an accident or injury, it is very important that you see a dentist as soon as possible. The same goes for one or more knocked out teeth. The sooner you are seen by a dental professional the better the chances that the teeth could be re-implanted, depending on the severity of your injury.
Here are some of the steps an emergency dental appointment will cover:
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A thorough examination of the injured area will be undertaken. This may include dental x-rays to determine the extent of the damage.
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Depending on the severity of the pain, the area will be numbed with local anaesthetic.
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The injured area will be sterilised to reduce the risk of infection.
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The damaged teeth will be restored temporarily or permanently, depending on the case.
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In severe cases the affected tooth may require extraction and implant treatment will be discussed.
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If you require emergency dental treatment, you should ask to see a dentist as soon as possible. At our practice we offer appointments for all dental emergencies from toothache to lost or broken crowns, chipped teeth and fillings to abscesses, trauma, avulsed teeth and facial swelling. We can take care of your injuries to ensure you heal quicker and more effectively, ensuring that you avoid additional dental problems and complications in the future.
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Life benefits
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Preservation of remaining tooth structure.
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Reduced risk of infection.
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Improved long-term oral health overall.
Dentures
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If you have a few or all of your teeth missing, one solution is to have a denture.
Here is how it works:
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A denture is made from hard-wearing material that mimics the look of teeth and gums to give your mouth a natural appearance.
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After impressions are taken, a denture is designed in a dental laboratory.
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Dentures are made to fit snugly on your gums and you will be able to remove them for cleaning.
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When you wear a denture for the first time it may take some getting used to when speaking or eating and chewing. It is important that you take extra care when conducting your hygiene regime so that you can avoid bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. The hygienist will be able to show you how to best take care of your denture and gums and will tell you about specialised brushes you can use to do this.
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Life Benefits:
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A solution to replacing several missing teeth.
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Designed to give you a natural-looking smile.
Bridges
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If you require a more extensive restoration than a crown or have more than one tooth that needs to be repaired, a good solution is a bridge.
Here is how they work:
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Bridges are usually made of a precious metal base, which gives them a solid structure and makes them hard-wearing. If you need a bridge in your smile line, porcelain is usually added to the base to make it look more like real teeth.
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A bridge helps to strengthen the prepared teeth and makes chewing and eating easier because they are fixed and can’t come out.
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Some bridges can also be fixed to your jaw with dental implants, if you have several teeth next to each other that are missing.
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Once you have a bridge fitted, you will have to take extra care during your daily hygiene regime to ensure it stays plaque free and does not cause bad breath.
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Life Benefits:
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A sturdy way to restore several teeth in a row.
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Beautiful, natural-looking restoration.
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Restores the ability to chew and eat as before.