Dental Advice Line - by Senova

Keep smiling Watford!

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

Q: I saw Jordan have her teeth veneered. I would like to have my old veneers replaced. I work in the public sector and do not want to be without my teeth. What can be done?

Initially you need to work out what you don't like about your old veneers, be it the colour, shape, length etc. Then a mock up of the final design of the teeth can be made in wax so that, when your old veneers are removed, this mock up can be transferred in a plastic-like “provisional” material onto your prepared teeth and temporarily glued into place. This will give you a chance to preview how your new veneers will look before they are actually made. The “provisionals” can be easily modified if changes are required to ensure you are happy with what will be achieved. You will most likely be in these “provisionals” for one to three weeks before the new ones are permanently glued into place.

For more information about veneers, check out FAQs published by the British Dental Health Foundation.

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Q: I had oral cancer some years ago and this really alerted me to watching any changes in my mouth. I hear that there is a piece of equipment now that can detect this? Can you offer this?

The equipment you are talking about is called the VELSCOPE which we do have at the practice and is a great invention originating from Canada. It works using a blue light which causes any pre-cancerous and cancerous cells to fluoresce, so that when we look at it through a specially designed filter, the area appears dark. Previously we had to rely on our eyesight and hence would only see things once they had erupted through the tissues and appeared as a long standing ulcer. Using the Velscope we can detect any tumour well before this has happened and arrange an appropriate referral much, much sooner.

Watch a video about the VELSCOPE

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Q: I have a sharp pain on biting and this is causing me great discomfort. I notice the gum bleeds on brushing. I also see that my gum is red and somewhat swollen. Have I got an abscess? What can I do?

There are a number of reasons for having a sharp pain on biting. The tooth could indeed be abscessed but there could be a fracture through it, so that every time you bite on this fractured portion it presses on the gum and hurts it. This could explain why your gum is red and swollen. If there is a fracture, the fractured portion needs to be removed and the remainder of the tooth assessed to see if it can be saved with a crown (and possibly a root canal treatment if the nerve of the tooth is also exposed).

If the tooth cannot be saved then it will need to be removed.

If the tooth has a conventional tooth abscess then a root canal treatment with a crown may well sort out your problem. So, it's best to make an appointment to see your dentist ASAP so that the problem can be diagnosed and a plan of action discussed.

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

You'll find Senova Dental Studios at:

10 Beechen Grove
Watford, Herts WD17 2AD
T: 01923 233600
F: 01923 440041
E: dentists@senovadental.com
W: www.senovadental.com

This article was created on Thursday, 30th April 2009.

This is the 37th issue of Flea Magazine in Watford. The on-line version of the articles below includes additional content that we couldn't fit into the printed version.

View the printed version in pdf format. Get Adobe reader

Read previous editions from our archive,

Inside Watford Flea 207

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