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Beechwood Dental Practice
8 Beechwood Avenue
Boscombe Manor
Bournemouth
Dorset BH5 1LX
Tel: 01202 397 074
Out of normal hours:
please ring the surgery
for details on how to contact
the emergency on call dentist |
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| Preventive |
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If
you want general information on a condition or treatment,
go to the British
Dental Health Foundation's web site where they have
over 40 online leaflets.
| Mouth Cancer
Screening (click here
for more information) |
Screening for mouth cancer forms
an integral part of your routine examination.
Mouth cancer is a malignant growth which can occur
in any part of the mouth, including the tongue,
lips and throat. Mouth cancers have a higher
proportion of deaths per number of cases than breast
cancer, cervical cancer or skin melanoma. The mortality
rate is just over 50%, despite treatment, with about
1,700 deaths per year in the UK. This is because
of late detection.
Visit your dentist at once if you notice any abnormal
problems or are not sure. Six-monthly dental checkups
allow early detection! Click here
to visit the Mouth Cancer Awareness web site and
forums. |
| Bad Breath
(click here
for more information) |
Bad breath is a very common problem
and there are many different causes. Persistent
bad breath is usually caused by the smelly gases
released by the bacteria that coat your teeth and
gums. However, strong foods like garlic and onions
can add to the problem. Smoking is also one of the
main causes of bad breath, along with certain illnesses
such as nasal and stomach conditions. Bits of food
that get caught between the teeth and on the tongue
will rot and can sometimes cause an unpleasant smell.
So correct and regular brushing is very important
to keep your breath smelling fresh.
The bacteria on our teeth and gums (plaque) also
cause gum disease and dental decay. If you see your
dentist regularly this will not only help prevent
bad breath but will also let the dentist look for
and treat these problems. |
| Early Decay
Detection & X-rays (click here
for more information) |
Decay may or may not cause discomfort;
even though it doesn’t hurt, the tooth is deteriorating.
Using higher magnification and powerful lighting,
it is easier to detect decay at an early stage to
prevent excessive tooth damage. When cavities are
small, they are much easier and less expensive to
treat.
Early tooth decay does not tend to show many physical
signs. Sometimes the tooth looks healthy, but your
dentist will be able to see from an x-ray whether
you have any decay under the enamel, any possible
infections in the roots, or any bone loss around
the tooth. |
| Early Gum Disease
Screening (click here
for more information) |
Screening for gum disease forms an
integral part of your routine examination.
Gum disease describes swelling, soreness or
infection of the tissues supporting the teeth. There
are two main forms of gum disease: gingivitis and
periodontal disease. |
| Hygienist
(click here for more
information) |
| The hygienist’s main role is
to professionally clean the teeth for the patient.
This is usually called scaling and polishing. However,
perhaps their most important role is showing the
patient the best way to keep the teeth free of plaque.
The hygienist will work with your dentist to provide
care tailored to your needs. Visit our Hygienist
section to learn more! |
| Mouth Guards
(click here
for more information) |
A mouth guard is a specially
made, rubber-like cover which fits exactly over
your teeth and gums, cushioning them and protecting
them from damage.
It is important to wear a professionally made mouth guard
whenever you play sport that involves physical contact
or moving objects. This includes: cricket, hockey
and football – which can cause broken and
damaged teeth; and American football, boxing and
rugby – which can all cause broken or dislocated
jaws. A mouth guard will help protect against these
events.
If you take part in any of these contact sports
please ask us about our range of custom made mouth
guards. |
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