Moira Cosmetic Dental Surgery
NHS Dentistry is becoming a thing of the past; the lack of NHS dentists in England makes headline news every few months. Unfortunately Northern Ireland seems to be following course and NHS Dentists are rapidly decreasing. At Moira Cosmetic Dental Surgery we are pleased to say that we are still accepting NHS and Private Patients for general dentistry.
Preventive dentistry is the modern way of reducing the amount of dental treatment necessary to maintain a healthy mouth. It helps you to keep your teeth. The two major causes of tooth loss are decay and gum disease. The better we prevent or deal with these two problems, the more chance people have of keeping your own teeth for life. At Moira Cosmetic Dental Surgery we encourage you to attend regular checkups were we can assess your teeth and gums, and discuss with you any treatment that you may need.
At Moira Cosmetic Dental Surgery we take great care of our patients who are not that confident coming to the dentist. Traditionally the dentist could prove a painful and nasty experience, nowdays however dental techniques have improved so much that bad experiences should be a thing of the past. However, many people still find it difficult to relax at the dentist, especially if they have had a bad experience as a child.
At the moment we are working towards achieving the British Dental Associations 'Good Practice' Award. The BDA says 'Every dental practice wants to do the best for their patients. The Good Practice Scheme helps practices to be aware of the nationally agreed standards of good practice. By meeting the requirements of the scheme, dental practices aim to provide the best care for their patients.'
Early tooth decay does not tend to show many physical signs. Sometimes the tooth looks healthy, but your dentist will be able to see from an x-ray (radiograph) whether you have any decay under the enamel, any possible infections in the roots, or any bone loss around the tooth. X-rays can help us to see in between your teeth or under the edge of your fillings. Finding and treating dental problems at an early stage can save both time and money. Children, x-rays can be used to show where the second teeth are and when they will come through. This also applies to adults when the wisdom teeth start to come through.
At Moira Cosmetic Dental Surgery we have digital x-raying facilities. Digital x-raying is a relatively new form of x-raying that cuts the amount of radiation that you may be exposed to by traditional x-raying by 90%
Preventive dentistry is the modern way of reducing the amount of dental treatment necessary to maintain a healthy mouth. It helps you to keep your teeth. The two major causes of tooth loss are decay and gum disease. The better we prevent or deal with these two problems, the more chance people have of keeping your own teeth for life. At Moira Cosmetic Dental Surgery we could not encourage you enough to attend regular checkups were we can assess your teeth and gums, and discuss with you any treatment that you may need.
The main aim is to help you achieve and maintain an exceptionally healthy mouth, to try and prevent any dental problems returning. In a healthy mouth it is unlikely that decay or gum disease will continue to be a problem. During examinations you will have your teeth thoroughly 'scaled and polished'. We will show you the best methods of brushing and flossing to remove the bacterial 'plaque' which forms constantly on your teeth and gums. Often hard tartar (calculus) which builds up on the teeth and unlike plaque this cannot be treated we will also make sure that all your fillings are in good repair and there are no rough edges to make cleaning difficult.
Also an important part of preventative dentistry which often goes unmentioned is Mouth Cancer screening. Mouth cancer can affect anyone, young or old, male or female. A quarter of cases do not involve risk factors such as smoking or alcohol.
The best way to reduce your risk of contracting the disease is to avoid smoking, using chewing tobacco, or drinking alcohol. People who both smoke and drink heavily severely increase their risks The chances of contracting the disease increases with age - men over 40 are particularly at risk. Many of the symptoms of mouth cancer, such as a white or red patch in the mouth, are hard to detect. Early detection and treatment is the key to surviving the illness, so regular dental checkups are very important. At every check-up we carry out examinations for mouth cancer.
Many people are afraid of the dentist. Often because they are afraid of the pain or many find it claustrophobic. However, nothing should stop people looking after their teeth. This is why many dentists have begun to address this issue and try to understand their patient's fears. Dental techniques have improved so much over the last few years that modern dental treatment can now be completely painless. Despite this, most people still feel a little nervous at the thought of going to the dentist. If you have not been to see a dentist for some time, you will probably find that things have improved a lot since your last visit. The general attitude is likely to be more relaxed, the dental techniques and safety procedures will be much better, and the equipment will be more up to date.
At Moira cosmetic Dental Surgery we specialise in treating Nervous patients. IV sedation/twilight sleep is a very popular option for those who don't enjoy their visit to the dentist. With IV sedation You become drowsy and unaware of any treatment, but you are still able to co-operate with the dentist. Discuss you fears with us and we will try out utmost to make your visit not only stress free but enjoyable.
Dr. Bingham is a member of SAAD which is the 'Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry' which promotes the advancement of knowledge in pain and anxiety control in dentistry.
