Keep Smiling Watford!

Each month David and Jay from Watford’s Senova Dental Studios answer your questions about all things tooth-related.

I’ve read a lot in magazines about Smile Makeovers and how much confidence they can give people, but I’m not sure whether it would be right for me, or whether I could afford it even if I wanted it. Can you tell me what to look for? (Debbie, Kings Langley)

The most important aspect of any dental treatment is a thorough examination and discussion of all the available options. You can then choose the level of treatment or the extent of the smile makeover you feel is appropriate for you. This could range from just whitening to a new smile with porcelain laminate veneers or even braces. The changes really can be life changing! The costs should also be discussed but you should be aware that there are many finance options now available to help spread the costs over a period of time from 1 to 3 years. Always ask to see similar cases that the dentist has undertaken and even if you can speak with patients who have had similar treatment.

I’ve had toothache for several weeks now that I’ve controlled with painkillers, because I’m terrified of going to the dentist. Are there any other alternatives? (Robert, Watford)

Unfortunately the simple answer is no! Not all dentists are the same however, and things have progressed to make the experience painless and less traumatic. There are many options from just a lot of pampering care and attention through to full sedation. The first stage is to find a sympathetic dentist to find out what the problem is and then how best to move forward to deal with this problem.

The media has been full of articles about mouth cancer recently, saying that your dentist is the best person to see for a check-up. What are the symptoms and what can I do to protect myself? (Jess, Watford)

At a dental examination, most if not all dentists will screen the soft tissues of the mouth for any signs of oral cancer. The symptoms can be very varied and range from red or white patches through to ulcers of longer than 2 week duration that show no sign of healing. We use a new piece of fluorescent imaging equipment called the velscope that can make this detection process a lot more accurate and even detect oral cancer before it is visible to the naked eye. Risk factors for oral cancer include alcohol and tobacco consumption, men over the age of 50,and beetle nut chewing. There is also an increase in oral cancer among younger woman that may be associated with exposure to the Human Papilloma virus (HPV). Some clinics will also offer an Oral cancer screening as a standalone service

For more information or to make an appointment visit www.senovadental.com, call 01923 233600 or email book@senovadental.com.

This article was created on Monday, 29th September 2008.

This is the 33rd issue of Flea Magazine in Watford. The on-line version of the articles includes additional content that we couldn't fit into the printed version. You can see the individual articles and additional material by selecting from the titles below.

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Inside Watford Flea 203

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