General

Having a tooth out is the same as having an operation and, because of this, you must look after the area to speed healing and to reduce the risk of infection.:

Here are some pointers:

For the first 24 hours, try to avoid eating hot food, don’t smoke, don’t drink any alcohol and try not to disturb any blood clot which might have formed. Don’t rinse your mouth for six hours after extraction. After that, rinse gently with warm salty water – half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water is enough.Brush your teeth as normal to keep your mouth as clean as possible.You may feel some small pieces of bone work their way out of the socket – don’t worry, this is perfectly normal.

What if swelling and discomfort occur?

There may be some swelling and a bit of discomfort in the first two to three days. If you need to, take some ordinary painkillers – ibuprofen or paracetamol will be fine. If you feel pain immediately after the tooth has been removed, it might be where the blood clot has broken down leaving an empty hole in the gum. This is called a ‘dry socket’ and will need to be looked at by your dentist. Simply go back and the dentist will pack the wound to ease your discomfort.

What if there is excessive bleeding from the extraction site?

If you experience any excessive bleeding from the extraction site after leaving the practice, your dentist may have given you some gauze to place onto the area where the tooth has been removed – if not, a clean cloth handkerchief will do just as well (but not a paper tissue). Roll it into a small firm pad large enough to fit over the gap (probably around 1cm by 3cm). Sit up and gently clear away any blood clots around the gap using the gauze or hankerchief. Put a clean pad over the gap (from tongue side to cheek side) and bite down on it firmly for 10 to 15 minutes.Take the pad off and check whether the bleeding has stopped. If not, apply a fresh pad and contact your dentist.

A filling replaces part of a tooth that has been lost because of decay or accidental damage.

There are two types of fillings; Silver (amalgam) fillings and white fillings. Fillings stick to teeth so they can be used to repair teeth, which are chipped, broken or decayed.

One Visit.

Your filling will be done in one visit, although composite fillings may take a few minutes longer than other filling materials. You’ll receive local anesthesia to keep you completely comfortable during the treatment. Your dentist will remove the decayed areas from your tooth and then the area must be kept completely dry or “isolated”.

After an adhesive is carefully applied to the inside of the open cavity, several thin layers of composite are applied and cured with a special light. You may notice some sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures for the first few days or a week, but this is not unusual. If sensitivity lasts longer please give us a call

The following oral health care activities usually take place at the typical dental check-up visit:

A physical barrier

A fissure sealant is a thin plastic coating applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of healthy, decay-free teeth. Sealants create a physical barrier that literally “seals out” the food and bacteria that cause tooth decay,

Root canal treatments are for diseased or injured teeth designed to remove the source of infection or discomfort and allow you to keep your natural teeth.:

What does a root canal procedure involve?

If your tooth requires a root canal, the first thing your dentist will do is properly numb the area, so you will experience little or no discomfort during the procedure. When you are comfortable, your dentist will open the tooth and access the pulp chamber (the area inside the tooth where the living tissue is) and remove all of the tissue, along with any bacteria and decay. Finally, the chamber will be filled with permanent filling material and cement, and the tooth will be sealed with a temporary material.

• Severe toothache
• An abscess (or pimple) on the gums
• Sensitivity to hot and cold
• Swelling and/or tenderness