At Highfield dental we are constantly evolving to provide our patients with the best possible service we can offer. So we have made a few changes over the last few months to make your experience here the best we can.

Firstly we have introduced online booking for dental appointments, this can be done through our website, or if we send your dental reminder, this will give you a unique link for you to book in at a time that suits you, along with a gentle email reminder of your appointment a few days before with a dedicated patient portal link to complete your medical history’s and forms all in the comfort of your own home.

As you come in to the practice for your appointments, you will notice that one of our changes is our reception desk has relocated, we have now made way for a brand new surgery on the ground floor for Mr Patel, along with a ramp from the road to provide an easier access into the practice.

You will also see a few new happy faces around the practice and on reception, as sadly one of our long term staff members has now retired and they are now currently enjoying a well deserved rest.

This comes as a great loss to the practice and I am sure to our patients as well, but don’t worry we’ve got this covered, we are currently training our new reception team to continue to give you the best possible service you have always been accustomed to.

We are so lucky to have such lovely patients, and we are so appreciative of the kindness, support and patience from you all during our changes.

By Clare N.

Hello Everyone!
We have so far looked out what causes gum disease, the risk factors, what gum treatment involves
and the benefits of having gum treatment.

In this blog we would be looking at what to expect after you have had gum treatment (periodontal
treatment) carried out.

The following may occur following gum treatment:
1) The gums are likely to bleed more initially but not to worry.
Keep cleaning the teeth effectively and this would improve2) As the gum become healthier, they shrink and spaces may appear between the teeth known as ‘black triangles’.
The teeth may also appear longer.
3) As the gums shrink the teeth become more sensitive hot, cold or sweet things.
Usually this gets better in a few weeks but you may need to use a sensitivity toothpaste or have
other treatments to help with this.
4) Ongoing maintenance of the gums is required with regular checks up and hygiene visits every
three months.

Please feel free to contact your dentist for more information.

In the next blog I would be exploring the consequences of not having gum treatment.

Thanks for stopping by!

Martina

Hello there!

Many thanks for stopping by at our practice blog.

We have been looking closely at gum disease in the previous blogs and we do hope you have found the information useful.

My last post was on what the treatment of gum disease involves.

However today we will be looking the benefits of having gum treatment.

Gum treatment makes for healthy gums all round.

The benefits are summarised as follows:

1. Greater confidence from having a fresher mouth.

2. The gums stop bleeding and are no longer sore when you brush them.

3. It helps eliminate bad breadth.

4. Teeth become less wobbly.

5. Less discomfort when you eat.

6. The ultimate goal is to keep the teeth as long as possible.

It is worth bearing in mind that the success of the gum treatment depends significantly on how well you clean your teeth and on how your gums respond.

Brushing the teeth thoroughly twice a day, cleaning effectively between the teeth and paying regular dental visits are good habits to adopt for life.

Do hope you have found this post useful.

In the next post we will be examining the results of having no treatment.

Martina

Tooth grinding and clenching habits often occur durring sleep, habits such as chewing finger nails or chewing ends of a pen/pencil.

Acid erosion- This can be excessive amounts of acidity in your diet- fruit based beverages, fizzy drinks, alcohol consumption or from stomach acids as a result of health issues.

Abraction – is tooth wear visible on the sides of teeth near the gum line, seen as a notch or v shaped edge worn from the surface. Often caused by a combination of grinding, erosion and aggressive hard brushing techniques.

Tooth wear – weakens the structional integrity of the tooth, this results in the risk of tooth fracture, sensitivity and tooth decay.

Regular dental checkups will identify areas ofweaknesses, the rates of wear and carries. We can then formulate a treatment plan to restore and protect worn areas and advise on preventing further tooth wear.

Hello Everyone!
I do hope you have found our posts on gum disease helpful?

We have so far looked at ‘how you can tell if your gums are healthy’, as well as, ‘who can get gum disease’.

Am sure you might have been asking ‘so how then can gum disease be treated?’

Well, we finally get to answer that question in today’s blog. How exciting!

What Does Gum Treatment Involve?

The aim of treatment is to reduce bacteria around the teeth and prevent the disease from getting worse.

Generally, though, treatment cannot replace the support your teeth have already lost. The treatment of gum disease is a combination of a significant amount of home care in
addition to some treatment offered by your dentist and hygienist.

Treatment are as follows:
1) Being taught the best methods to clean the teeth and gums to remove plaque. Gum treatment will only work if you clean the teeth at least twice a day to an extremely
high standard.
2) You need to clean daily between the teeth twice daily with interdental brushes or floss if the gaps between the teeth are too tight for interdental brushes.
3) You should use a small headed toothbrush preferably an electric toothbrush which your dentist can recommend to you.
4) Arrange visits with your dentist or hygienist to remove the tartar above gum level.
5) Bacteria below gum level will need to be removed by the dentist or hygienist via a deep clean (periodontal treatment). You can ask for an injection to numb the gums to make the procedure more comfortable for you.
6) Mouthwashes can help with a mild form of the disease but unfortunately it can mask a more severe form of the disease.
The most effective way to control the disease is via mechanical removal of plaque.

Martina

Dental decay is the most common non-infectious disease in the world.

It is the most common reason for hospital admissions in 5 to 9 year old. It can affect general health, can cause pain and infection.

However it is largely preventable.

Sugar is one of the major causes of tooth decay. Limiting both the frequency and amount of sugar we have in our diets can help with prevention. We have to eat healthily, avoid fizzy acidic drinks and limit free sugars in our diet to maintain good oral and overall health.

Free sugars are any sugars that are added to food or drinks either by manufacturers or ourselves. It also includes sugars that are already present in honey or syrup and fruit juices.

Please ask your dentist for further information, diet analysis and diet advice customised to your needs.

Rifat

Hi there!

It is me again and I must quickly add- still quite enthusiastic about gums!

I really appreciate you stopping by at our practice blog.

In my last post I focused primarily on how we can identify any red flags that may point to the presence of gum disease.

In this blog we are looking at ‘who can get gum disease.’

We had established in the previous post that gum disease is caused primarily by bacteria in plaque and if not removed properly through effective brushing and interdental cleaning it will lead to gum disease.

However, there are some risk factors associated with gum disease.

Most people can get a mild form of gum disease known as gingivitis, but some people are more susceptible to more aggressive forms of the disease.

Severe gum disease especially if it occurs at a young age can run in families.

There are a few factors that put people at a higher risk of developing gum disease.

They include:

• Diabetes especially if poorly controlled
• Smoking (possibly including e-cigarettes)
• Poor diet lacking in Minerals and vitamins.
• Stress
• Obesity
• Certain medications

If any of the above applies to you, please book an appointment, and speak to one of our dentists so that you can be given the appropriate advice.

In my next post I will delve into more details about the link between some medical conditions and some medications on gum disease.

Thanks again for stopping by!

Sincerely,

Martina

Hi there!

Thank you so much for stopping by at our practice blog today.

My name is Martina and I am one of the dentists at the practice.

I am super excited to be posting something that is especially important today- gum disease!

So a quick question- how are your gums doing?

Just before you answer that question let us look at some facts about gum disease:

• Did you know that gum disease despite being widespread can be prevented and treated if detected early enough?
• Did you also know that gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is caused by bacteria that collects around the gum as plaque?

The plaque needs to be removed by brushing and cleaning the teeth twice a day.

If the teeth are not cleaned properly the gums start coming away from the tooth forming pockets that allow the plaque to go down the gum line.

Over time the bone support around the teeth is destroyed, the gums shrink and eventually the teeth become wobbly and fall out.

So back to my previous question, how are your gums doing?

There are some particularly useful ways to tell how your gums are doing:

1) Do they bleed?

2) Are they red or swollen?

3) Do you sometimes notice a bad breath?

4) Are there spaces beginning to appear between your teeth?

5) Are your teeth becoming loose or moving position in the mouth?

6) Are your gums receding?

7) Are you starting to get sensitivity to hot and cold things?

The above may be pointers or red flags that may indicate gum disease.

If you are noticing any of these then you need to call and make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

We will be more than happy to discuss, examine you and offer some advice on management.

In my next blog I will be talking about who can get gum disease.

Thanks again for stopping by!

Sincerely,

Martina

Please click on the link below for information on the importance of oral hygiene and maintaining healthy gums.

This link provides information on how gum health can reduce Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes risk.

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Everyone wants to have a celebrity smile and whitening your teeth is a great way to achieve this.

Tooth whitening should always be carried out by a trained dental professional, here at Highfield Dental all our dentists are happy to advise you and carry out tooth whitening to help you achieve that sparkling smile safely and effectively.

If you are concerned about tooth whitening sensitivity our dentists will happily advise you on how to manage this when you have your initial consultation.

 

So, If you’re not happy with the colour of your teeth or you have a special occasion and you want to wow your friends and family then why not contact our friendly reception team, on 01689 823786 to discuss and book a consultation to achieve that dream smile.