One of the most important aspects of dental care is prevention. The prevention of problems is always far more beneficial than their treatment.

Whilst at home care is essential to maintain a healthy smile, professional care is equally as important. Tooth brushing alone will not remove accumulated tartar or plaque that builds up over time. It must be removed professionally to avoid problems such as decay, gum disease, bad breath and in severe cases tooth loss.

It is for this reason we recommend check-ups every 6 or 12 months depending on your current oral health situation.

Early diagnosis of decay

Decay may or may not cause discomfort and even though it doesn’t hurt, the damage is still continuing. Early tooth decay does not tend to be very noticeable, therefore an X-ray may be required to help detect it. X-rays can also help to detect any infections in the bone and if any bone loss has occurred around the teeth.

Gum Disease

There are two main stages of gum disease; gingivitis, characterised by bleeding and sore gums and periodontitis, characterised by gum recession, tooth movement and the appearance of gaps.

In recent years, research has shown that infections in the mouth can be linked to problems elsewhere in the body.

Periodontal bacteria, a result of severe gum disease can enter the bloodstream, travel to major organs and contribute to health conditions. Research suggests this may:

• Contribute to the development of heart disease
• Increase the risk of a stroke
• Contribute to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer
• Pose a serious threat to people whose health is compromised by diabetes, respiratory diseases, or osteoporosis

While more research is continuing to say definitively that people with periodontal disease are in a higher risk category for developing such conditions, we do know that periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, and all infections are a cause for concern.

Fissure Sealants

Your child’s primary (baby) teeth play an essential part in their oral health and development. They guide the adult teeth into position and are vital for sounding out words as they learn to talk. Although these teeth fall out naturally, premature childhood tooth loss will have a significant impact on their oral and general health.

Adult back teeth are called premolars and molars and have deep grooves called pits and fissures. These grooves can harbour bacteria, resulting in tooth decay. Pit and fissure sealant is a tooth coloured liquid similar in consistency to nail polish, which fill the grooves and sets hard, making the tooth smooth and easier to clean, thereby creating a protective barrier against plaque. The sealant also contains fluoride for added tooth protection.

Application is completely pain free, taking around five minutes per tooth. The ideal time to have sealants applied is immediately following the emergence of the first permanent molars, around age 6 and then following emergence of the permanent adult premolars, between the ages of 11 and 14.

Children’s teeth, teenagers & adults have sealant treatment to help prevent tooth decay in permanent teeth. Sealants cannot be applied to teeth with detectable decay, therefore following a thorough examination we can advise if dental sealants are suitable or if restorative treatment needs to be completed first.

Checkup appointments every 6 months enables the Health First Dental team to monitor your child’s sealed teeth, examine others for signs of decay and check the health of their gums.