Replacing missing teeth after tooth decay with our dentist in Clapham
Good dental hygiene and visiting our dentist in Clapham is very important if you want to maintain your teeth for the whole of your life. Missing teeth can have a huge impact on all aspects of your life and can cause great distress, embarrassment and discomfort. If you wish to avoid the many consequences of missing teeth, then you need to speak to our dentist in Clapham and find out about looking after your teeth more effectively.
Good dental hygiene
You need to maintain excellent dental hygiene throughout your lifetime, making sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day, using a good fluoride toothpaste, and a suitable toothbrush. Flossing at least once during 24 hours using suitable floss, maintaining a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle, avoiding food, drink and substances that can affect your dental health, are also important. You need to visit your dentist, at least once every six months, you also need to see the hygienist every six months and more often if necessary, to make sure that your teeth are clean and healthy and that there are no signs of tooth decay or gum disease, which are the two main causes of missing teeth.
Tooth decay
Tooth decay occurs when bacteria in the plaque or biofilm on your teeth secrete acids which attack the enamel or the outer layer of the teeth. This can cause a small hole in the tooth, known as a cavity. Over time, this hole reaches the inner layer of the teeth known as the dentine. The dentine is not as strong as the enamel, which means that the hole progresses quickly in the dentine and eventually it reaches the dental pulp. The dental pulp is the inner layer of the teeth. It contains nerves, blood vessels, specialised cells and connective tissues, which provide nutrients for the tooth and keeps the tooth alive. If tooth decay is not treated and it reaches the pulp, it can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms, including significant pain, infection, and even tooth loss.
Replacing missing teeth with our dentist
If you have been affected by tooth loss as a result of tooth decay, then you need to speak to our dentist and find out about replacing the missing tooth as soon as possible. One missing tooth can cause many more missing teeth. Our dentist in Clapham will make sure that your mouth is clean and healthy and your missing tooth will be replaced with a permanent dental implant. This is a replacement root for your missing tooth. It is surgically inserted into the jaw and over a period of time becomes a permanent fixture in your mouth. The process itself can take several months, but once in place the implant will last for the rest of your life. The number of implants that you need depend on the number of teeth that you are replacing as well as your unique dental health and requirements. Speak to our dentist Martin Wanendya today and let us put together an individually tailored treatment plan for you and help restore the appearance and function of your smile and prevent further tooth loss in the future.