Treatments for Tooth Wear

Here at Penryn Dental Practice, we have noticed that as more people are retaining their teeth for longer, some are developing excessive tooth wear. As the structure of the tooth is damaged, nerves can be exposed, causing pain and discomfort. Excessive tooth wear can result in a drastic change in the shape of your tooth, for example making it much shorter or even a chunk breaking off of it. This can lead to embarrassment in the appearance of your teeth and even difficulty eating and speaking.

 

What causes tooth wear?

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There are a number of reasons behind the wear on your teeth. Your diet can have a huge impact on your oral health, for example. Do you have a lot of acidic food and drink? Examples include acidic fruits such as orange and grapefruit, and drinks such as flavoured fizzy drinks, coffee and alcohol. This is a leading problem in tooth wear, as it can weaken your enamel and lead to further tooth damage.

You may be a sufferer of a teeth grinding habit where your teeth rub against each other, often in your sleep, causing them to be ground down. If you have a medical condition, this may affect the strength of your teeth, making you more susceptible to tooth wear over time.

 

How can you fix tooth wear?

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If you are experiencing problems with tooth damage due to wear, don’t worry. Our friendly team have experience in recognising tooth wear, and will discuss with you the important prevention techniques to help limit the damage to your teeth. This may include wearing protective splints to help reduce the grinding habit and reduce further damage to your teeth. Our dentists have undergone additional training and have worked with lots of patients in order to rebuild severely worn teeth to maintain chewing function, improve speech and boost their confidence.

Depending on the extent of your tooth wear, we may suggest a dental crown, which is a tooth-shaped ‘cap’ to restore your tooth’s shape, size, strength, and to improve its appearance. You may need a filling – here at Penryn Dental Practice we offer natural coloured fillings that are strong and made to fit the natural shade of your teeth, so are barely noticeable. For more severe damage, we can offer custom-made dental implants, dental bridges and tooth reconstruction using composite material. If you suffer from tooth grinding, we can provide a protective mouth guard to wear at night to help reduce the grinding habit while you sleep.

 

To find out more about how we can help you achieve your perfect smile, get in touch with the team today for an informal discussion.

Want to read more? Visit our general dentistry and advanced dentistry treatment pages for further information.

Guide to Interdental Cleaning

There’s nothing quite like the deep clean feel when you’ve been to the dentist for a hygiene treatment. But how can you keep your mouth healthy between appointments? Brushing alone only reaches up to 60% of the surface of your teeth – typically the front, back and biting surfaces of your teeth that are easily reached by a toothbrush. The remaining 40% are the surfaces between teeth and just below the gumline which can trap bacteria and food debris throughout the day. You can reach these areas with interdental cleaning, which should be a part of your daily oral hygiene routine.

What is interdental cleaning?

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Interdental cleaning is the process of cleaning the areas between your teeth and gums and is an important part of keeping your mouth clean and healthy. Sticky bacteria (otherwise known as plaque) builds up in these hard-to-reach areas and can cause inflammation, leading to more serious problems such as gum disease and tooth decay, which is a leading cause of tooth loss. We advise that you use interdental tools to clean your teeth once a day to remove this bacteria and help reduce the risk of problems further down the line.

 

How do you clean interdentally?

Interdental brushes are small bristle-head tools. You can remove trapped bacteria by pushing the brush between your teeth in a back and forth motion. You can also use floss to reach between the smallest of gaps between your teeth, ensuring your mouth is completely clean and healthy, as well as reducing the risk of bad breath.

 

Choosing the right interdental brush for you

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Interdental brushes come in a range of sizes so you can choose the right one for you. We stock interdental tools at our practice, so take a look next time you’re in for an appointment.

 

You may find you use a selection of sizes as the spaces between your teeth can differ, so try them out first. It should fit tightly between teeth, but not be uncomfortable. You may find that your gums are a little sore after the first few uses, and you may even bleed a little. This should subside after 1-2 weeks of interdental cleaning as your gums become less inflamed. If bleeding continues beyond this point, consult your dentist as this may be a sign of a more serious problem such as Periodontal Disease.

 

 

At Penryn Dental Practice we are committed to a preventive approach to dental health. Speak to us today to find out more about how regular appointments with our experienced dentists and hygienists can help you enjoy a beautiful smile and great oral health.

 

Want to know more? Take a look at our hygiene treatments page for more information on how to maintain your perfect smile.

Our New Treatment Room

We are delighted to announce that our patients can now enjoy a brand new treatment room!

Due to high demand, we have opened a new treatment room to accommodate more patients seeking sparkling teeth and healthy gums from their hygiene treatments. Donal O’Halloran, our Joint Principal Dentist says “We have a lot of people wanting to book in with us for specialist hygiene treatments, so we have decided to open this new treatment room so we can help even more people achieve their perfect smile.”

Our new treatment room will also provide Oral Health Education appointments for all ages and Facial Aesthetics treatments.

What are Oral Health Education appointments?

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Oral Health Education appointments are a fun and informal way to help teach patients about the importance of good oral hygiene. Held by one of our highly trained nurses, you will be shown the tools and techniques to help you maintain a healthy mouth, while enabling you to build a friendly relationship with the team. To book onto one of these sessions, contact the team on 01326 372298 and they will help find a suitable appointment for you.

Sean O’Conaill, Joint Principal dentist here at Penryn Dental Practice said “We aim to make everyone feel as relaxed as possible when they come to see us. By helping our patients have a  better understanding of their oral health in a relaxed and friendly environment, we can help them feel comfortable here, and we can identify and prevent problems that may occur in the future.”

 

What are Facial Aesthetics treatments?

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Facial Aesthetics treatments are now being offered with our in-house specialist, Claire Shaw. It’s an exciting range of non-surgical treatments to help reduce the signs of ageing and enhance natural contours, such as skin care, anti-wrinkle treatments and dermal fillers.

Claire said “We’re delighted to be able to offer Facial Aesthetics treatments to our patients to compliment their dentistry, as we understand that some people are looking for ways to boost their confidence and appearance beyond their smile.”

 

Want to know more? Get in touch with our friendly, experienced team today and find out how you can achieve your perfect smile.

 

Welcome To Our New Website!

We’re proud to launch our new-look website, designed to help you find out more about the Penryn Dental Practice quickly and easily.

For example, you can take a look at our promises to patients, meet the team and learn more about the history of the practice.

When it comes to dental treatments, we’ve divided all the services we offer into 3 clear sections to help you find your way around – General Dentistry, including hygiene treatments and fillings, Advanced Dentistry such as dental implants, and Cosmetic Dentistry to help boost your smile.

We also offer a wonderful range of non-surgical Facial Aesthetics treatments that are great for those looking to improve their confidence with skin that looks healthier, younger and firmer.

Keep an eye on this Latest News section for updates from the practice, advice to support your oral health and important information and developments in dentistry.

If you would like to speak to a member of the team for more details, or are ready to book an appointment, please pop in to the practice or get in touch by phone, email or complete our contact form.