Let’s face it, a large proportion of us have had fillings. With our heads tilted back we hear the dentist’s drill as they prepare to administer a procedure which should, in the long-term, help prevent pain and the decaying of the tooth. We might wince, and perhaps kick ourselves for not taking better care of our teeth, but in the long run we know it’s for the best.

Have you ever stopped to think about what fillings are; the important function they perform to assist our oral hygiene? Did you know fillings have been an integral part of dentistry for the past century? Well, hopefully we can provide a little more information about fillings.

Learn More About Fillings

So, to start with, just what is a filling? Well, in a nutshell, fillings are used to treat cavities in the teeth caused by decay or to repair broken, cracked or chipped teeth. Different materials can be used to perform this procedure, including dental composites and metallic alloys such as gold. They can be white, they can be blue and they can even be shiny! The choice will be up to you and your dentist, depending on what is practical, as well as what the patient might prefer for their appearance.

Let’s go back to before the filling is administered and consider why the dentist may advice you to have a filling in the first place. Now, there are a number of reasons why you might need a filling. Perhaps your teeth have become worn and damaged due to constant grinding. Decay may have occurred over time because you haven’t taken proper care of your teeth by not brushing enough and eating too much of the wrong kinds of food. There might be another reason – maybe you have chipped your tooth in an accident. If the cavity is there it will need repairing – so don’t let the damage build up, get advice and help from your dentist as soon as possible.

Now let’s look at the procedure of putting in place a filling.

Administering A Filling

The most common type of filling is a direct filling, which uses a dental amalgam. To start with the area being treated will be numbed with a local anaesthetic and then the dentist will go to work with either a drill, laser or air abrasion tool to get rid of the decay. After the decay is not more the dentist will then clear bacteria from the cavity and then apply the chosen filling. Finally, the filling is cleaned and polished – and you should be free to go!

However, at times there may be some complexities which need to be addressed. For example, if the decay is close to the root then a special liner might be placed to protect the nerve. In cases where the patient has opted for a tooth-coloured filling then extra work may be required as layers of filling are applied and a light used to harden each layer along the way.

What Next?

Well, it goes without saying that you should have regular check-ups with your dentist to keep an eye on your teeth and specifically your filling. In the short-term you might experience some sensitivity in the area where the filling has been carried out. If this continues over a longer period of time it might be a symptom of something more serious and in that case root canal treatment may be required.

Picture yourself sat on an airplane, heading towards another country. The chances are that the people sat around you are either off on an enticing holiday on the continent or perhaps leaving for a business trip abroad. But have you heard of people travelling away for the sake of their teeth? Well, more and more people are choosing to travel away for dental care. Care to learn more? Then let’s take a trip to find out about dental tourism.

Travelling Away

Let’s start from the beginning – what is dental tourism? OK, well it’s the process of a patient seeking dental treatment away from their local healthcare systems. It might involve a person hopping on a plane from Britain to Poland or maybe the shorter distance involved in a patient going from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland.

As part of what is widely known as medical tourism, people might seek to choose to access dental treatment away from home. Today, agencies even offer people the chance to combine their trip for dental treatment with a holiday as part of a package.

Why Do People Take Off?

There are a number of reasons why people may choose to go abroad for dental care. However, the primary factor is cost. Often people will make the choice to go to a country where the price of dental treatment is significantly more favourable than in their own country. In the process they might save thousands of pounds.

Of course, there are other reasons – including a patient seeking the best possible quality of treatment or perhaps choosing somewhere close to family and friends. Another significant issue might be where the patient can access the dental treatment they either need or desire locally. If they are unable to, they might choose to take off.

What Issues Should I Be Aware Of?

While the pricing of dental care abroad may be enticing, it’s important to be aware of any risk factors and consider all the possibilities.

The chief concern, which has been issued by the British Dental Foundation, is that patients may not be getting the right quality of dental care as they blindly pursue the cheap price that might be put on offer. Some patients have returned from trips abroad for dental work to find they still have the problem that existed, while in some cases the problem has been exacerbated. Plus, being on pain while ‘on holiday’ is not such a nice thing either!

So, be sure to check the qualifications of the dentist carrying out the procedure, as well the credentials of the dental studio. Seek advice if you are unsure – it’s crucial that you’re armed with the correct facts before making a decision, rather than rushing in to one you regret.

Let’s face it – a large proportion of us do not relish going to see the dentist. Apparently one in four people fear going to a dental surgery. Perhaps concerns stem from the fact our mouths are literally in the hands of a dentist; someone we must have confidence in and trust. The thought of injections, possibly pain and mouthwash can cause alarm bells to ring.

Whatever it is, for some people the fear of going to the dentist can be a serious issue which can become advanced. Dental phobia, as it’s known, is a severe fear of visiting the dentist. It can cause people to suffer and to avoid properly taking care of their oral health, which is clearly not a good thing.

Fortunately help is at hand and there are several ways the problem can be addressed. Rather than stay in silence, patients are encouraged to seek help – with a calm, patient and understanding dentist key to tackling the phobia.

More about dental phobia

The fear of going to the dentist can escalate from a minor grumble to a terrifying ordeal. When it reaches this stage, this is what is known as dental phobia. This often originates from a bad experience the patient has had in the past and can lead to that person becoming deeply distressed just by seeing an advert with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Severe distress, often in the form of panic attacks, can also be brought on just by the thought of visiting a dental surgery.

What can be done about the problem?

If you have a fear of going to the dentists, it’s vital you address the problem. Simply ignoring it will be bad for your oral health and it will not solve the fear. Get to the root of the issue!

The NHS recommends finding a dentist who can help you deal with the phobia. At the surgery the dentist will be able to take a history to find out where the fear stems from. From there, they can offer advice about what can be done to tackle the problem. It always helps to have a dentist who is sympathetic and patient, listening to what you have to say and making you feel at ease.

A good idea, which can be discussed with the dentist, is to set manageable targets. Simple tasks set each week, to help overcome the fear of dental surgeries, can help the patient make progress and boost their confidence as they fulfil their targets.

Your dentist may seek to desensitise you to particular treatments, breaking down barriers in order to get you accustomed to the environment which may have triggered the phobia in the first place.

Another option is sedation, which will normally only be used whether it is the only way of ensuring the patient with a phobia gets the proper dental treatment they require.

Whatever happens, never forget that help is at hand. The main thing a patient should do is seek to address the problem as soon as possible, rather than sit in silence and suffer.

The temporamandibular joint, or TMJ as it’s more commonly known, connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone of the skulls, which is before the ear. People have two TMJs – one on each side of the jaw and they include muscles, nerves, blood vessels and bones. Movements of the jaw, such as eating food, are co-ordinated by the TMJ.

If there is a problem with this area then flexibility will be affected. Pain may also be experienced when speaking, yawning or eating, and for some even when the jaw is relaxed. For some intense pain may be felt, often irregular, but constant for some and able to last many years.

Symptoms of TMJ disorder

A disorder of the TMJ is likely to be very noticeable as it could lead to pain during things we take for granted every day, such as talking, eating and yawning.

There are a number of symptoms to look out for with TMJ disorder, the most common being pain. These include:

• Intense discomfort in the jaw, face, as well as possibly the neck and shoulders.
• Swelling to the face or mouth.
• A clicking noise when you move the jaw joint.
• Problems swallowing.
• Muscle spasms may arise.
• Ear pain, including a ringing in the ears, is another symptom.
• Queasiness, headache or light-headedness.

TMJ Diagnosis – “The clench test”

To test the intensity of the pain the dentist may administer “the clench test”. What is? Well, the patient will be asked to bite down and if there’s pain in the teeth or jaw it’s likely to be TMJ disorder, as suspected.

The dentist will generate moulds of the bite to assess the disorder fully, with factors such as uneven teeth a potential source of the disorder.

Treatment of TMJ disorder

If you are diagnosed with TMJ it’s unlikely you will need surgery. Instead, there are a number of ways to correct the problem.

The most widely used option is occlusal equilibration. This involves the restructuring of the teeth surfaces used in biting to rectify the disorder. Dentists may decide to give you a mouth guard to guard the teeth – in particular from grinding when you’re asleep.

If surgery is required, in extreme cases, the procedure involves two needles being put into the TMJ – one to clean out the joint with the other to collect the exiting fluid.

First aid treatment can also be used to provide short-term pain relief from the symptoms of TMJ disorder. Many of these measures are matters of common sense. For example, avoid excessively using the jaw, try anti-inflammatory drugs and avoid foods which require heavy chewing. Other recommended temporary methods include applying hot or chilly packs to the face to provide relief from the pain. Wearing a gum shield at night is another sensible option worthy trying.

However, in all cases it’s strongly advisable to see a dentist as soon as possible for diagnosis, advice and action.

We all remember being told to brush our teeth at least twice a day as children – but how many of us continue to stick to that wise advice? In a busy age when many us wake up and scramble out the door to get to work or school, keeping our teeth clean may not be at the top of the agenda.

But did you know that by failing to take care of your teeth you could be building up a whole host of dental problems, both in the short-term and long-term. It goes without saying that oral hygiene is something we should all take seriously.

Tooth ache is not a pleasant experience, as many of you can testify to. So let’s start with the thorny subject of plaque.

Plaque – The cause of dental problems

So what is plaque then? Well, plaque is a sticky film which can be found on the teeth and gums and too much of it is, of course, not a good thing because the bacteria in it release acid that decays tooth enamel. This, in turn, leads to tooth decay. Ouch!

However, you can help yourself. By ensuring you carry out daily brushing and flossing this can prevent the hardened plaque, which is known as tartar, from forming on the teeth.

Plaque can also cause irritation to the gums so as well as brushing regular, ensure you enjoy a balanced diet. That means avoiding reaching for the biscuit jar too often!

Don’t forget the tongue!

You might be too focused on your teeth to realise the importance of cleaning your tongue too. The tongue harbours a coating of bacteria, along with dead cells, which can create bad breath so it’s a good idea to brush your tongue.

Many toothbrushes today are customised with special tongue-cleaning features so the process shouldn’t be too hard. So don’t forget the tongue!

What else can I do?

Be aware that if you smoke this will not do your mouth any favours. It can cause stains to your teeth, bad breath and cause infections. Be warned!

It also goes without saying that eating sugary and fizzy foods will also cause a build up of plaque in your mouth. Simply watch what you eat and it’s not a bad idea to brush after meals.

Another good idea is to invest in some good mouthwash. When used in conjunction with regularly brushing your teeth then you will be doing yourself a big favour. Don’t forget flossing either – this helps reach the parts of your teeth brushing or mouthwash can’t reach.

However, above all there is no substitute for a good dentist. So make sure you have regular check ups for an expert to assess your levels of oral hygiene at least every six months.

So ensure you keep a recommended brushing and flossing routine, get to your dentists for checks up and above all, look after your teeth. A sensible approach now will pay dividends in the long run!