General Dentistry

Preventive dentistry

The ideal form of dentistry is preventive. Regular visits to the dentist, as advised by your dental team, along with a good home care regime, are recommended to ensure good oral hygiene is maintained. These regular visits can also detect oral health problems long before the onset of symptoms of serious dental problems, which could require costly treatment.

During a check-up, your dentist will examine the whole mouth, including all of the structures inside and outside (e.g. your jaw joint), and will screen for mouth cancer. In some cases a scale and polish may be carried out. Instruments, tests, clinical expertise and x-rays are used to help detect cavities and other tooth and jaw problems.

After an examination, you and your dentist can discuss the results and plan the best way to deal with any problems.

Practice Philosophy

Our practice philosophy is to provide careful, consistent dental care and assist our patients in reaching lasting dental health. In order to achieve these goals we encourage open communication - discussing every step of your treatment plan - and concentrate on the importance of proper oral hygiene and education.

Regular visits to the dentist and hygienist help to cut down on potential major problems, making prevention the focus of your oral health care. Not only does this mean less invasive intervention, but also keeping the costs down.

Mouth Cancer

There are around 10,800 new cases of mouth cancer diagnosed in the UK each year, according to the Oral Health Foundation, and the number is still rising. Whilst research has shown that mouth cancers are more common amongst people over 40, particularly men, it is also becoming more common in younger people and women. Anyone can be affected by mouth cancer, whether they have their own teeth or not. Smoking and heavy drinking increase the risks.

Mouth cancer can affect the lips, tongue, cheeks and throat. It can appear as a painless mouth ulcer that does not heal normally. Less often, a white or red patch in the mouth may develop into a cancer. It is important to visit your dentist if these areas do not heal within three weeks.

Early detection

Mouth cancer can often be spotted in its early stages by your dentist during a thorough mouth examination. If mouth cancer is recognised early, then the chances of a cure are good.

Your dentist checks for symptoms of mouth cancer in patients during each examination. They will examine a patients head and neck, looking for abnormalities or swelling, and will look carefully inside all areas of the mouth, including the lips and tongue.

If your dentist feels further examination is necessary, they will refer you to a specialist who will see you promptly to give a second opinion. However, not all suspicious areas turn out to be cancerous.