One of the chief signs of gum disease is the presence of periodontal (“peri” – around; “odont” – tooth) pockets — that is, spaces around the teeth, below the gum line, that have become infected. Pockets provide an ideal environment for bacteria to grow, and may spread infection to the structures that keep teeth anchored…
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Scaling, the process of removing plaque and tartar from teeth, is an important step in the hygienist’s teeth cleaning procedure that comes before polishing. Those of you that have seen our new hygienist, Amanda-jane, may have already noticed she favours the use of ultrasonic teeth cleaning. But why? While manual teeth scaling with a handheld…
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Dental Anxiety Dental anxiety is one of the most common phobias in the world with nearly a third of all adults disliking the dentist and 1 in 10 of us having a phobia so strong that we actually avoid making visits to the dentist. What Causes Dental Phobia and Anxiety? There are many reasons why…
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Recently the practice carried out a patient satisfaction survey. Overall the feedback has been very positive and everyone seems to be very happy with the service they are receiving from the practice. We are so glad about this as we do try hard to meet your expectations! One issue that did come up, however, was…
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We are delighted to announce that Hilton Dental Practice has now been awarded BDA Good Practice membership for the 10th consecutive year. The BDA Good Practice is a framework for continuous improvement. By becoming members, practices demonstrate a visible commitment to quality through good team working, efficient practice systems and an improved patient experience.…
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What is recognised to be good for your body could in fact be bad for your teeth and the cause of serious problems. The act of feeding children “healthy” foods and drinks such as fruit and juices could be having a negative effect on their oral health. Citrus fruits and juices in particular have the…
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Smelly breath can be embarrassing but getting rid of it is usually easy. While we all might have it in the morning after a big night or a few hours after a garlic-heavy meal, about one in four of us is thought to suffer from halitosis (the medical term for bad breath) on a regular…
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Decay is not the only cause of tooth destruction. Increasingly dentists are spending time restoring teeth that have lost their enamel due to erosion (damage from acid), attrition (tooth against tooth, nail biting, etc) and abrasion (e.g. vigorous tooth brushing). The increase in our average life span and the fact more teeth are being retained…
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This month has been Smile Month and as it comes to a close we thought it might be worth looking at just why one of the messages the Oral Health Foundation is trying to get across in its annual campaign is to encourage regular visits to practices, at an interval recommended to you by your…
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This month is Smile month, a campaign run by the Oral Health Foundation to bring to our attention the importance of oral health. This year is the fortieth year of the annual campaign. One of the 3 main messages is to remind you to brush your teeth every night and at least one other time…
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