General Dentistry at SW1 Dental Studio & Implant Clinic
We want to get to know you and treat you as an individual, and the initial examination is the first step. During this visit, we listen to you to let us know exactly how we can help and care for your oral well-being. This is of utmost importance as it is only after we have listened to your concerns that we can conduct an examination that is based around your specific needs.
At SW1 Dental Studio & Implant Clinic we fundamentally believe in prevention and recommend our patients to have dental examinations every 6, 8 or 12 months depending on their clinical need. These examinations are crucial in the early detection and treatment of all sorts of oral and dental problems. They provide us with an excellent opportunity to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your teeth.
Studies show that mouth cancer is on the increase and that early detection dramatically improves the chances of recovery. This is why we look for any early signs of mouth cancer at every examination.
Your initial examination is tailored to your requirements but in most cases is likely to include:
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A clinical examination
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The taking of x-rays and intraoral photos as needed
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Screening for oral cancers
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A periodontal health evaluation (check your gums)
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An examination of your teeth and soft tissues
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An assessment of your jaw muscle function.
At the end of your examination, if we have made any recommendations, you will be provided with a detailed treatment plan with any costs associated.
We strive to help you keep your own natural teeth while tooth extraction will only ever be the last resort in the maintenance of your oral health.
Below are some of the diseases and conditions you should look out for and the general dentistry treatments we provide to return you to the very best of dental health should they arise.
Gum Disease
Gum disease occurs when bacteria are left to enter and infect the gum tissue, usually due to improper oral hygiene.
Smoking, poor diet and drinking can also exacerbate gum disease. Therefore it is of vital importance to look out for the signs of gum disease if you fall into any of these categories.
Symptoms include:
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Bleeding gums: bleeding gums can occur when switching to a new toothbrush or when you first implement flossing into your oral health routine. However, if bleeding occurs more than once a week and the amount of blood increases each time you brush, you may have the start of gum disease and you should go to your dentist immediately for treatment.
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Bad breath: gum disease often starts without any feeling of pain, which makes it difficult to detect. However, if you have continual bad breath this could be a definite sign of gum disease.
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Loose teeth and gum pockets: when gum disease is in its early stage it is known as gingivitis, but if left untreated it might develop into periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is more difficult to treat, with the usual symptoms including loose, wobbly teeth and pockets of skin opening up around the teeth. If periodontal disease is allowed to progress tooth loss and gum deterioration is often the final stage.
Treatment for gum disease
If you are suffering from any of the symptoms above it is in your best interests to visit us right away. To bring it under control you will need:
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Deep Cleaning: a dental hygienist will thoroughly clean every part of your mouth and teeth, removing all bacteria and plaque build-up
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Periodontal Cleaning: if the problem has developed into periodontal disease a more intensive cleaning will be necessary. This will remove any hardened tartar and plaque from your gumline to stop the spread of the infection. Local anesthetic is most often used and antimicrobial treatment or Laser maybe also be recommended.
Once under control you will be given a tailored oral health regime to follow, which should ensure that the problem doesn't return.
Tooth decay
Tooth decay is most often caused by a combination of sugary food and neglected oral hygiene.
After eating a sugary snack or drinking a can of soda you may feel a slight gritty feeling across your teeth. This occurs when bacteria feeds on the sugar on your teeth and forms a film of plaque. This plaque, if left unchecked, eats away first at the enamel of your teeth, then the dentin and finally the dental pulp inside. Once this has occurred the tooth will become infected, which is often incredibly painful.
Symptoms include:
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Holes in the teeth: this is the most common indication of tooth decay and occurs when the bacteria eats away at the enamel of your tooth. Holes often develop between teeth where they cant be seen so X-rays maybe needed to detect them.
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Toothache: Once the decay has passed the enamel and entered the tooth, pulp pain is usually the norm and will become hard to ignore.
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Broken teeth: This occurs when the decay has been left untreated and the tooth has been literally eaten away by the bacteria.
Treatments include:
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Fillings: if your decay is in the very early stages, when only the outer enamel and some dentin is damaged, your dentist can clean the area and then seal it up with a dental filling.
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Root canal treatment: if the decay has progressed into the dental pulp your dentist may have to perform root canal treatment, which involves removing all the infected pulp from inside your tooth and putting a protective crown over the top of your tooth.
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Broken tooth: Finally if your tooth has reached a heavily broken stage it will most likely have to be removed to prevent the spread of infection to your other teeth. However, once it has been removed there are a number of options to replace your tooth, including dentures, bridges and dental implants.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Cases of oral cancer have greatly increased in the last few years, with causes including drinking and smoking. Oral or mouth cancer is incredibly curable if caught in the early stages, with over 90% of victims cured if treated early. However, this rate drops to 50% if left untreated. Therefore it is of vital importance to visit the dentist if you have the following symptoms:
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Bleeding from your mouth.
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Pain or difficulty swallowing.
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White and red patches on the lips or in the mouth.
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Blisters or ulcers that reappear and do not heal.
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Persistent earaches.
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Change in tooth/jaw alignment.