How does it feel?
When our principal dentist Peter Saner was a child, he was afraid of the dentist and often wonders how he ended up working as one himself! Therefore, as a team we strive to make you feel calm and relaxed throughout your whole experience with us here at Abbots Lodge. We ensure that you will feel as comfortable as possible throughout the duration of your appointment and we will listen to your individual needs.
I haven’t been for a very long time. Does it matter?
We certainly won’t tell you off! If you haven’t been to see a dentist for a while it is quite likely that there will be some work to do. On the other hand, it may not mean that at all. The only way to really know is by coming in for a consultation and we can talk through what your needs are-If any. One thing is for certain and that is that it is best not to put it off any longer.
I’ve got missing teeth which I don’t like. What can I do to fix this?
There are many options available to you and this is something we do on a daily basis. Ranging from a simple acrylic denture, fixed bridges or even implants. We can talk through these options with advice and then you can choose what is the best option for you.
The colour of my teeth bothers me. Can they be whiter?
This is a common question, many people nowadays want to have their teeth whitened, in fact it is one of the most popular types of treatment in dentistry today. Whitening your teeth can be done either in the surgery or using trays made for you for you to whiten the teeth at home in your own time. Whitening your teeth is not suitable for everyone but it is often possible and you need to consider what you want to achieve. You’ll need an appointment with your dentist first to discuss this to see if you would be suitable or not.
My gums or teeth are bleeding when I brush, is this okay or will I lose my teeth?
If you notice blood when you brush it means that the gums are inflamed. Healthy gums don’t bleed and are a very light pale pink shade. Angry inflamed gums tend to be darker in colour and may even be a dark red. The best at home treatment for this is to brush them thoroughly and not avoid the area that is bleeding but instead really get stuck into that area paying a special attention to it. Saltwater mouthwashes are also a really great way to help encourage healing. It may be just that the gum that is bleeding because it has been aggravated by something or you may have some problems within the support structure of the teeth. This is known as periodontal (gum) disease. In this case, the best thing to do to find out the extent of this problem you will need to see a professional to have your mouth checked. There are different treatments available to help maintain this, we can help you with this.
I’m a smoker, how does his affect my mouth?
The smoke itself has an effect on the soft tissues because nicotine restricts the blood flow to the gums which then mask the symptoms of gum disease. So, you may not notice bleeding gums for instance. That said, it’s a great reason to stop smoking, it will give you an opportunity to get your mouth healthy again. A healthy mouth = a healthy you.
I have just stopped smoking but now my mouth feels worse. Why?
It is very likely that your mouth has started healing. The smoke often hides the damage by stopping the gums from bleeding. So by stopping, the mouth starts to restore and are now showing what has been masked whilst being a smoker.