Wednesday 15 July 2015

Dr Tariq Drabu – Filling Options

Dr Tariq Drabu is a leading dentist and specialist oral surgeon in the United Kingdom. He owns the successful Langley Dental Practice in Manchester where they offer both NHS and private dental treatments, which enables them to provide their patients with a choice of dental fillings options.
Dental fillings helps patients retain their natural teeth. In the event of a cavity, where the tooth is being affected by bacteria, decay can be removed and replaced with a filling. The filling eliminates any sensitivity and helps protect the delicate internal dentine and pulp of the tooth, which if affected can lead to serious pain.

Fillings are often carried out quickly and effectively. The dentist uses a local anaesthetic to numb the tooth and any decay is removed using a series of drills. Once all the affected area of the tooth is removed, the filling is put in place. Fillings are strong and durable, enabling the patient to get on with their life without unwelcome pain.

Dr Tariq Drabu advised that the type of fillings available depend on whether you are visiting the dentist privately or on the NHS (National Health Service). On the NHS only amalgam fillings are available. These are the silver fillings that everyone knows. The benefit to these fillings is that they are self-sealing, they are long lasting and they are ideal for patients who have a high decay rate.

On private, patients can also choose white or bonded fillings. These are beneficial because they are white in color, which makes them hidden from sight, even in back teeth. Further these are ideal for anyone who suffers from metal allergies.

In most instances white fillings will be used on the back teeth. The filling size is taken into consideration to identify if this can be used. Remember that your teeth are put through tremendous force on a daily basis with eating. Anyone who also suffer from bruxism (tooth grinding) may not be a candidate for white fillings, as they are not as strong and durable as the amalgam fillings, which contain mercury.

The process is the same for whichever filling you have. Dr Tariq Drabu will discuss the procedure with you, examine your mouth and advise you of the options available. You can choose whether to go ahead with the amalgam filling, if you are using the NHS system, or you can opt for the white filling, if you want to pay in a little extra and go on private.

The benefits to the white or bonded fillings is that they can be used immediately, they are white in color and are often used on smaller holes. They are barely noticeable once in place, which is what makes them such a popular choice.


Dr Tariq Drabu also mentioned that he has found his patients that choose white fillings have an improved oral appearance, which can boost confidence levels. Patients with silver fillings are often aware that they are there, especially when they open their mouth or smile.

The process for a filling involves removing any decay from the tooth using drills and then filling the area with a hard and strong filling mixture. The mixture is made in the surgery, while you are in the dental chair, usually by the dental nurse. This is put in place and it dries within minutes. Usually you cannot eat or drink anything for an hour, giving the filling time to cure.

There are instances, according to Dr Tariq Drabu, where you will have a temporary filling and go back to the dentist in a few weeks to have the permanent filling placed. This is often used when there may be an underlying problem, such as an infection which has to clear up first.

Saturday 4 July 2015

Do Your Gums Bleed When Brushing?



There are a number of reasons why your gums bleed when you brush your teeth. Whether you notice a small amount of blood in the foam of the toothpaste in the basin or you see some blood on your toothbrush, it should not be ignored. There are a number of reasons why your gums may be bleeding, all of which should be followed up with a visit to your dentist.

Gum Disease

One of the first signs of gingivitis isbleeding gums when brushing. Gingivitis is a mild gum disease which causes inflammation of the gums, this can lead to sensitivity and discomfort. Ignoring this sign can also result in periodontal disease and eventually tooth loss.

Smoking

Your gums may be bleeding if you smoke. Smoking of tobacco can increase your chances of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a severe gum disease which affects the structure of the tooth and can result in tooth loss if ignored. Periodontal disease doesn’t only cause bleeding gums, it can affect your overall health moving forward.

Diet  
                                                                                
What you eat has a significant impact on your oral health. You want to enjoy a well-balanced and healthy diet, eliminating sugars and acidic foods from your diet at all times. If you follow a poor diet, your body may be lacking proteins and calcium, both of which can lead to bleeding gums.

Hormones

Women are at higher risk of bleeding gums than men. Women go through numerous hormonal changes each and every month. If you have bleeding gums you may be experiencing menstruation or you may be pregnant. Pregnancy can result in bleeding gums. A visit to the dentist if you are pregnant is essential to ensure that you don’t have a gum disease which could affect your unborn child.

Poor Oral Hygiene

If you don’t follow a strict oral health routine at home then chances are that you are experiencing bleeding gums for this very reason. You need to brush your teeth for two minutes twice daily. You also need to floss on a daily basis and twice daily if you have been diagnosed with a gum disease.

Medications

Some medications may increase the risk of bleeding gums. If you are on a new medication and you notice your gums bleeding when you brush then ensure you advise your dentist soonest. Anticonvulsants are known for causing bleeding gums in patients around the world.


Wednesday 1 July 2015

Benefits of a Professional Teeth Clean






Thousands of people that visit their dentist each year will be referred to the oral hygienist for a professional clean. You may wonder why you are being sent to the hygienist when you brush your teeth twice daily, you use dental floss and you are careful about your sugar intake.

There are a host of benefits associated with professional teeth cleaning and even those with the best oral hygiene habits will visit the hygienist to help keep their teeth clean and healthy moving forward.

The first benefit to professional cleaning is that it helps prevent cavities. Even with an excellent oral health routine at home you are going to find yourself with tartar building up. Tartar is a hard and sticky substance which results from plaque which isn’t effectively removed. This can happen to everyone even if you brush vigorously twice daily. Tartar enables unwelcome bacteria to stick to it and then eat away at the hard enamel, causing cavities which can result in sensitivity, pain and dental treatment.

The next benefit you will find when choosing to attend an oral cleaning is that your risk of tooth loss is dramatically reduced. Everyone wants to hold onto their natural teeth for as long as possible, this means that you need to make every possible effort to keep them clean, healthy and strong for as long as possible. Tooth loss can occur at any age, often as a result of periodontal disease.

Dr Tariq Drabu, a leading UK dentist and specialist oral surgeon advises that periodontal disease is a severe gum disease which eats away at the structure of the tooth. If ignored it can result in tooth loss. A professional tooth cleaning can reduce the risk of periodontal disease, thereby reducing the risk of tooth loss moving forward.

Oral hygienists providing you with a professional teeth clean can help you brighten your smile. With squeaky clean teeth, your smile is instantly brightened. You will find that your teeth feel cleaner and in turn, you feel more confident.

With tooth decay, plaque and tartar build up you can experience bad breath. Many people with gum disease struggle with bad breath, which is very unwelcome and can leave you very self-conscious when speaking to others. A professional teeth clean can help freshen your breath, make you feel better about yourself, while ensuring that your teeth and gums are clean and healthy.

What many people don’t realise, according to Dr Tariq Drabu, is there is a direct link between oral health and overall health. When you have a professional teeth cleaning you are also boosting your overall health now and moving forward. The teeth cleaning can help remove dangerous bacteria, help fight gum disease and reduce the risk of cavities, all in all it can play an instrumental role in your overall health in the future.

The biggest benefit to professional teeth cleaning is that it can help you save money now and in the future. If you ignore your oral health and you find yourself in significant pain, maybe your gums are bleeding or your teeth feel lose, you can find yourself paying out a fair amount of money to rectify the situation. Prevention is better than curewhen it comes to your oral health. Paying for a professional oral cleaning can be so beneficial, especially when looking at the savings you can enjoy moving forward.


Dr Tariq Drabu also mentioned another preventative measure to take when it comes to your oral health is to attend routine dental appointments. This is an opportunity for your dentist to identify any potential problems and treat them quickly to reduce further damage in the future.