“Prevention is better than cure”

The beginnings of the phrase “prevention is better than cure” has been attributed to the Dutch philosopher Desiderius Erasmus as far back as the 1500s. We may not be sure what he was referring to, but the saying certainly is relevant in the world of dentistry today!

Here at Aesthetique Dental Care in Leeds, our approach is to prevent dental issues from occurring, rather than treating them as they appear. Therefore, we recommend you visit us every 6 to 12 months for a check-up appointment, depending on the condition of your teeth and gums.

Check-up Appointments

Routine dental check-ups are essential to maintain healthy teeth and gums. If you are worried about your oral health in any way, don’t delay, make an appointment with us today, and we will look after you.

At your check-up appointment, we will check for signs of decay and examine you for indications of gum disease. We assess your oral hygiene, and you can discuss your dental hygiene routine at home. We also check your jaw joints for any issues and check for any pointers of oral cancer.

Sometimes, we may need to take x-rays to check your teeth and bone levels in your jaw. If you do need any treatment following your check-up, we will advise you first, give you a printout with all the details discussed, and you will have the costs clearly explained.

Hygienist Appointments

Another preventative treatment is a regular hygiene appointment. Plaque builds up on your teeth, even with the most fastidious good hygiene practices at home. That’s why it’s so important to visit your dental hygienist regularly. They can give you a professional deep clean, known as a scale & polish. They also provide you with advice and top tips for maintaining great oral health from the comfort of your own home.

Your hygienist can spot any issues with your teeth and gums, such as the beginning of gum disease. It’s vital to spot issues early as if left untreated, gum irritation can lead to long-term issues including bone recession and tooth loss.

After your hygienist appointment, your teeth feel smooth and look brighter, as some stains are removed. Your breath will be fresher, and you should walk away with that ‘clean mouth feeling.’ You can book your hygienist appointment online here.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is the main cause of tooth loss among adults, and it’s estimated that approximately three-quarters of Brits suffer from gum disease in some form. There are different stages of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease.

Stages of (periodontal) gum disease

First signs – your teeth will appear healthy in the primary stages of gum disease and your gums will seem normal. However, you may suffer from bleeding when you brush, floss, or eat hard foods such as apples.

Gingivitis – Your gums may become swollen along the tooth line. They may look particularly red and swollen, feel tender to touch and bleed more often.

Early Periodontitis – in this stage, your gums recede and pull away from your teeth, which leaves small pockets. Food debris collects in the pockets alongside the bacteria, and problems begin to occur.

Moderate Periodontitis – You may suffer from more bleeding of the gums and start to experience pain as the bacteria attacks the bone and blood stream. Your teeth may begin to feel loose as you start losing bone support. The infection may also cause an inflammatory response in the rest of your body.

Advanced Periodontitis – the tissue that connects your gums and teeth becomes swollen and puffy and starts to deteriorate. You might have severe pain while chewing and eating. You may notice a bad taste in your mouth and develop bad breath. You can start to lose your teeth.

Main symptoms of gum disease: –

• Bleeding gums when you brush your teeth, floss, or eat hard foods such as apples
• Swollen red or sore gums
• Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

Please make an appointment if you have any of these symptoms, as we can help you. The faster you get on top of gum disease, the better. It can lead to teeth becoming loose and falling out in the final stages, resulting in pain and costly dental bills to rectify the situation.

Fissure Sealants

Alongside regular check-ups and hygienist visits, there are other preventative procedures available at our private dentist in Leeds. Fissures are narrow pits and grooves found on the teeth, particularly the back molars. Because they are extremely narrow, they can be difficult to reach while cleaning. It means every time you eat or drink, bacteria can enter these fissures and stay there. This process gradually makes the fissures wider and can eventually result in tooth decay.

Tooth fissures are common in teenagers and children and can cause cavities, especially in the back teeth. To prevent these cavities, fissure sealants can be applied to the teeth, as long as there are no fillings already present and the surface is good. The fissure sealants are a clear, plastic-type material applied to the surface of the teeth, which ultimately prevents bacteria from entering the fissures.

If you would like to prevent any future dental issues from arising, please make an appointment with our friendly team today at 0113 245 8066.

Even if you haven’t visited a dentist in a while, we will not pass judgement and would be happy to put you at ease and care for your oral health moving forward.