How a dentist can help look after your teeth

Caring for your teeth is an every day job, but there are some problems that even good diet and regular brushing cannot solve.

Dentists are experts that find and treat problems in teeth and gums before they become too serious. With the help of X-rays they can even find unhealthy teeth that look normal from the out side.

An Examination

To spot decay a dentist will use an angled mirror, and will shine a bright light on each tooth. A suction hose will take away any saliva ("a posh word for spit") so that the patient does not need to swallow.

Patients are asked to visit their dentist every 6 months for a check-up so that any early signs of decay are spotted and kept at bay.

X-rays may be taken...

An x-ray shows the root of a tooth inside the gum. Dentists can use the x-ray pictures to check developing teeth in young people and to help correct crooked or uneven teeth at an early stage. This treatment is called orthodontics.

Fillings

When teeth decay, dentists drill out the damaged area. Then they fill the cavity with a material known as amalgam or with a plastic resin which hardens when light shines on the tooth.

Dentists can also repair a broken tooth with an artificial crown, and only where there is no alternative will today's dentist extract (pull out) teeth, replacing them with dentures (artificial teeth).