The extremes of sensitive teeth.

Common sense says that if you bury your teeth into an ice cream and leave them there for some time, you might expect to experience some level of discomfort caused by sensitivity. The level of this will depend, to a certain extent, on the health and thickness of the enamel on your teeth, amongst other things.

Most patients of the Clocktower Dental Clinic, of course, will rarely do such extreme things and tooth sensitivity will not be an issue in their day-to-day lives.

Unfortunately for some, this is not always the case as dentin hypersensitivity is far from uncommon, causing discomfort and distress to those who suffer from it.

What is dentin hypersensitivity?

Better known to most patients as ‘tooth sensitivity’, it is a condition which causes discomfort when the teeth are exposed to either hot or cold temperatures, as well as exposure to acidic food and drinks. Breathing in very cold air will also often have the same effect.

The discomfort caused by sensitive teeth can be quite severe and cause the patient to wince with pain when it happens. It can be very unpleasant and may also restrict choice when it comes to certain food and drinks.

What causes it?

Read more ›

Epsom dentist, Ravdeep Dhami, looks at the facts behind this recent rise.

We have discussed oral cancers before on our blogs, and explained that  this is something that we check for during your six monthly examinations. Our role here, because we routinely closely examine the oral cavity, is to observe if there are any unusual signs that should be further examined by a doctor.

These symptoms can vary but include red or sore patches, unexplained bumps or lesions and tongue pain, amongst others. In effect, your six monthly dental check at the Clock Tower Dental Clinic in Epsom means not only that your teeth and gums are more likely to remain healthy, but that any potential signs of oral cancers will be spotted early on, helping you to receive any necessary treatment as soon as possible, should it be needed.

On the rise

As with many illnesses, there can be a tendency to dismiss them as things that happen to other people. Unfortunately, sometimes we are those ‘other people’, and, with a new report out recently that indicates that oral cancers are on the rise, we shouldn’t be too blase about this serious issue.

In fact, the report not only says that oral cancers are on the rise but that there has been a sharp increase, which is especially worrying. There are now 8,300 people each year diagnosed with mouth cancer, nearly a 50% increase from ten years ago (and 135% from 20 years ago). With just over 2,700 people dying from this disease last year, and many more suffering life changing problems because of it, it is time that patients take this seriously.

Lack of awareness

Read more ›

Dr. Andrew Murphy advises what to look for when registering with a new dental practice.

From time to time, some of us will need to find a new dental practice. This may be because you have moved into the Epsom area for the first time, or you may simply feel that you wish to change to a practice offering a wider range of treatments. There are other potential reasons too, but these are two of the most common.

Especially if you are new to the area and don’t really know anyone to recommend a dentist to you, you will probably rely on online reviews as a starting point. This isn’t a bad place to start, although it is always worth remembering that there may be ‘fake reviews’ amongst the genuine ones. In the end, a lot will come down to how you feel when you visit the practice to register. When you do so, there are a few questions that are always worth asking before you commit to registering.

Ask about the dentists working there

You will, quite naturally, want to feel comfortable with your new dentist. After all, they will be coming into very close contact with you during your examinations and any treatment you receive. Do check out the ‘team’ page on their website, where you should find a lot of information. Don’t be afraid though, to ask more questions about the dentist you are registering with, if you need more information about them.

How well established is the practice?

Although a brand new dental practice may have all of the latest equipment and brand new facilities, it will likely not have built up a reputation yet. Although the dentists there should be fully qualified and registered with the General Dental Council, there may be less efficient organisation with appointment booking systems, for example. If you are unsure, you may wish to consider joining a long established practice such as our own Clock Tower Dental Clinic which has been owned and run by the same team for the past 20 years and has well established and trusted systems in place.

Ask for evidence

Understandably, all practices will encourage you to register with them and will promote their own services, but you should always ask them for evidence to back this up. There are reliable external checks on all practices by external bodies.

Range of treatments

Read more ›

Looking after teeth and gums during the ‘independence’ years.

Keeping our teeth and gums in good health can be an ongoing challenge for most of us, but when the teenage years arrive and hormones start to change our behaviour, adequate oral health care can be difficult to maintain. This can be a worrying time for parents, not only about their children’s general behaviour, but also how well they are looking after themselves.

Providing that you have brought your children up to be diligent about cleaning their teeth, and supervised them during their earlier years, they will hopefully be well equipped to continue to look after their teeth. The rise of ‘selfies’ may also encourage some to maintain a nice smile so that they can present the best photos of themselves to others. The teenage years do throw up some specific challenges though.

Independence

The teenage years are often rebellious years to some degree. This is natural and in many ways essential for their personal growth. It does mean though, that parents start to lose control over some aspects of their life, including their teeth cleaning regimen. Appointments at our Epsom dental clinic, which should be every six months, may be cancelled or skipped altogether because they have ‘better things to do’. As adults, we know the consequences of these actions and obviously want our children to avoid the pitfalls of neglecting their teeth and gums.

Whilst all teenagers will be different, gentle encouragement should still be maintained to help them have a healthy mouth both during their teenage years and onwards into adult life.

Bad habits

Read more ›