When teeth are damaged either by decay or accident, the pain is caused by the exposure of the sensitive dental nerve located at the centre of the tooth. In a normal functioning tooth the nerve is protected by a layer of pulp and dentine and then finally covered with a layer of hard protective enamel. When a tooth suffers form decay this enamel is broken down exposing the softer central parts of the tooth and dental nerve to infection and extremes of hot and cold. This can lead to painful toothache and even tooth loss.

Holes in the enamel therefore need to be filled with a protective substance to replace the enamel. These are commonly known as fillings but in certain circumstances, a filling is not enough to protect the tooth from further damage and more extensive protection is needed. In this case dentists uses what is called a crown to offer a greater degree of protection to the tooth. A crown covers the whole of the tooth exposed above the gum and can be made form metal, porcelain or a combination of the two, although most patients today prefer porcelain because of the aesthetic qualities it offers.

Crowns are also used for teeth that have been cracked and damaged by injury to the face. Cracked or broken teeth can be very painful and if they cannot be repaired with dental bonding then they too will require a crown from a Billericay dentist to prevent further pain.

The crown is manufactured to closely resemble the shape pf the existing tooth before being cemented over the top to act as a protective barrier. It may be necessary to remove some existing enamel to allow the crown to fit comfortably over the top. A dental crown can last longer than fifteen years if properly cared for. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford.

It is common today that a visit to the dentist may also involve an appointment with the dental hygienist. A hygienist’s role is to professionally clean the teeth for a patient using techniques known as scaling and polishing. This specifically involves removing plaque build up and solidified plaque known as tartar which cannot be removed by brushing.

A dental hygienist works in tandem with the dentist by offering advice and cleaning demonstrations on the best way to prevent plaque build up and dental decay at home. They can also develop individually tailored cleaning plans for each patient reducing the risk of future dental concerns.

More and more dental surgeries are using dental hygienists and noticing the overall improvement for patient’s teeth. Professionally qualified, a hygienist will often be able to spend longer with you than a dentist and it is often possible to book their services by the hour. Also, because they don’t have the same caseload as the dentist they can offer a more focused treatment session.

Dental hygienists have recently been approved and trained to take x-rays which enables them to diagnose problems and suggest possible treatments. They are also fully trained to apply fluoride treatments and offer smoking cessation advice. They can also offer smokers the best advice on how to effectively clean teeth to prevent tobacco staining.

Dental hygienists are a relatively new adition to the dental health canon but they are a very valuable one. As well as reducing waiting times for all patients, they are an invaluable weapon in the war against dental decay and gum disease. At your next visit to a dentist enquire about making an appointment with the dental hygienist and you could leave the surgery with a thoroughly cleaned and healthy set of teeth. Call 01245 268 494 for a free consultation at Advance Dental Clinic in Chelmsford.