Posts tagged “dental cavity”

Protect your children’s teeth with dental sealants from Central London dentists

February 25th, 2011

Having a cavity form in one of your teeth can be a painful process which requires a filling. Once a cavity has formed your teeth cannot regrow and it is something that will be with you for the rest of your life. Children can be especially at risk from dental cavities and it is essential that their teeth are protected. The use of dental sealants can help.

A dental sealant is a plastic coating applied to the rear teeth of children. It is a simple and effective barrier against bacteria harming the youthful teeth. By using them, the child’s teeth are protected from bacteria and plaque which can cause them to decay.

Often patients have dental sealant placed at about the age of six when the permanent molars erupt and again at the age of twelve when the second molars erupt. They are affordable and will last several years before they need to be supplemented. The process of applying dental sealant is painful and will not cause children discomfort.

It can sometimes be difficult to get children to brush their teeth properly and with them snacking on sweets in the play ground at school, it is worth while giving their teeth the extra protection afforded by dental sealant. After all, it is better to protect teeth at a young age so that life long problems cannot take hold.

If you are concerned about the state of your child’s teeth, make an appointment with your Central London dentist and ask them for more expert advice about dental sealant and what it can do for your child’s teeth.

London W1 dentist treats painful abscessed tooth

February 17th, 2010

Tooth abscesses are extremely painful and unpleasant things that can be entirely prevented with more effective teeth cleaning. Proper brushing and flossing can usually prevent dental infections that cause abscesses but if it is already too late then it is imperative that you see a dentist as soon as possible, as a burst abscess can cause further health problems.

Abscesses occur when tooth enamel has been eroded by plaque acid. When the dental cavity penetrates to the centre of the tooth, bacteria can get inside and cause an infection that surrounds the dental nerve causing a toothache. The body’s natural response to this is to create more white blood cells to bombard the infection and kill it. These white blood cells mix with the infected matter to form a substance called pus. This builds up in tissue around the tooth either beating the infection or making it larger and larger until it can no longer withstand the pressure and bursts. This can then spread the infection around the mouth and even into the bloodstream causing heart problems and other complications.

Abscesses can be treated by dentists who can also offer relief from the pain that they can cause, which can often be extreme. Obviously the best cure for an abscess is prevention but dentists can also carry out minor surgery or prescribe antibiotics to defeat the infection.

If tooth abscesses are not treated by a London W1 dentist and left to get worse they can also be responsible for the actual death of the tooth as the infection will eventually kill the dental nerve. This may result in tooth loss and many further associated problems.