Having sensitive teeth can be very uncomfortable and can stop you from enjoying your favourite foods and drinks. It is unfortunately one of the most common dental complaints among dental patients. Some people have sensitivity all the time and some people get it once and then never again, usually from something cold.
So, what causes sensitive teeth?
Erosion of the enamel. Tooth erosion is a common causative factor of sensitive teeth. The acids in the foods and drinks we consume gradually wear away our enamel eventually exposing the underlying dentine. The dentine is different to the hard enamel and is made up of many tiny tubules which lead straight to the living pulp inside.
Attrition of the enamel. Attrition is a type of wear caused by tooth to tooth contact. In other words, tooth grinding which is also known as bruxism. When you grind your teeth, small fragments of tooth wear away, eventually exposing the dentine underneath. Attrition is also physiological and is part of the normal ageing process, we often see signs of wear in patients who are over the age of 60.
Abrasion of the enamel. Abrasion is another type of tooth surface loss, caused by mechanical actions such as tooth brushing. If you brush your teeth too hard – particularly in a scrubbing action, you can wear away the enamel which exposes the dentine.
Gum recession. Gum recession is one of the most common causes of sensitivity. If plaque is left on the gums, they will recede and expose the softer root surface of the tooth. Another cause for gum recession is aggressive tooth brushing which wears away the thin layers of gum. This exposed root surface is not covered with enamel so will result in sensitivity with cold foods and drinks.
Leaking fillings/crowns. If you have fillings and crowns that have been there for a long time, their margins can become compromised resulting in leakage. Fluids leak down the sides and can cause sensitivity and decay.
Tooth decay. The sugars in the foods and drinks you consume, and the acids in plaque, can result in tooth decay. Tooth decay is the destruction of the tooth by a process called demineralisation. Once a small cavity is formed, it is more difficult to clean and will slowly get bigger and deeper resulting in sensitivity.
If you are suffering from tooth sensitivity, you will be pleased to know there are things we can do to help. From rebuilding lost tooth surfaces and replacing old fillings and crowns, to applying fluoride varnish, there are plenty of solutions to help you manage the pain.
If you need to book an appointment, please call us on 01844 343381 or visit our dental practice in Princes Risborough, Bucks. We are within easy reach from High Wycombe, Thame, Aylesbury and the surrounding areas.
A Quick and Easy Way to Improve the Look of your Teeth
Although the most important thing is that your teeth are healthy and functional, many people are also interested in how to improve the look of them. Teeth that look good will make you feel happier and improve your confidence.
The quickest and easiest way to do this is to have your teeth whitened. You might not know this, but teeth pick up stains and become discoloured from the foods and drinks we consume. Many people think that this can’t be changed, and it is just the way they are, but this is not true! Whitening your teeth can make you look years younger and give your teeth a clean, fresh look.
Tooth whitening is a very safe and easy treatment to have, and it does not damage your teeth. After a quick set of impressions, we can start to make your whitening moulds which you will collect the following week and take home along with your whitening gel. Each night you will apply the gel to the moulds and go to sleep with them in, then remove and rinse out in the morning. This will gradually whiten your teeth over the next 5-7 days (you are in control and can stop when you are happy).
The advantage with take home whitening is that you will always have the moulds and can use them every 3-6 months for one night to keep them looking white.
If you are interested in whitening your teeth or in any other cosmetic dentistry, please call to book a free cosmetic consultation on 01844 343381 or visit our dental practice in Bucks. We are located on the High Street in Princes Risborough and easily accessible from High Wycombe, Thame, Aylesbury and the surrounding areas.
The following are some lovely reviews left by our patients on Google. To read them all just type Bank House Dental Centre into Google and have a browse!
“Just a quick note to say I am very happy with the three implants Sanjay fitted and would not hesitate to recommend your practice to anyone wishing to have implants. The whole process was painless including the extractions beforehand. I felt very much at ease with Sanjay and had no worries at any stage of the treatment. Thank you for making it such a pleasant experience.”
“Sanjay and his team have provided a first class service since I joined his practice 10 years ago. As a patient with an inherited dental disease, he has monitored, managed, recommended and implemented treatment to improve my smile. I recently took the plunge and had upper & lower implants which have dramatically changed my appearance and lifestyle. I can’t praise him highly enough.”
“As an extremely nervous patient I dreaded any dental work.
I visited Bank House and was made to feel so relaxed that I agreed to proceed with many implants that were desperately needed. Having experienced years of missing teeth, I can now smile confidentially after Sanjay’s excellent work.
As a nervous patient I cannot recommend bank house highly enough.”
“I am so happy with the results of my recent cosmetic treatment by Sanjay and his team. All of the staff are really friendly, the appointment times were perfect to fit around my busy life and I had nothing but confidence in the advice I was offered throughout the process. I would not hesitate to recommend this practice to anyone looking for cosmetic dentistry.”
“Sanjay and his team have been caring for my teeth for several years now and always give the highest level of professional and friendly service, I can highly recommend this practice.”
Visit our dental practice in Princes Risborough, Bucks to see how we can make a difference to you.
Many adults currently have a degree of gum disease and many more will experience it at least once in their lives.
Gum disease is caused by plaque which forms in everybody’s mouths every day. If you don’t remove it all when you brush, the bacteria in the plaque will build up and start to irritate the gums and cause them to be inflamed. It is this inflammation that causes bleeding when you brush your teeth and is the first sign of gingivitis.
Gingivitis is reversible and will clear up if you have a visit to the hygienist and brush the area more thoroughly. If gingivitis is left untreated, the condition will progress into periodontitis which is an irreversible gum condition that eventually leads to tooth loss.
If you notice that your gums bleed when you brush, are sore and inflamed, or if you have bad breath then you probably have gum disease. It is important to visit the dentist, so they can advise the best course of treatment for gum disease to avoid the condition getting any worse.
To book an appointment, please call us on 01844 343381 or visit our dental practice in Bucks. We see patients from Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Thame and the surrounding areas.
Are you tired of being unhappy with your teeth?
We have so many new patients coming to see us who are unhappy with the way their teeth look. When you are unhappy with your teeth it can affect your confidence, the way you smile and the way you come across to other people. Without realising it, you can start to cover your mouth when you talk, subtly moving your lips to hide your teeth and sometimes avoiding social situations all together.
Luckily, we can help and there are so many things we can offer, depending on the problem of the individual.
- Whitening discoloured teeth. We offer safe and effective tooth whitening to help lift off years of staining and discolouration to transform the look of the teeth. Tooth whitening is one of the quickest and simplest ways to improve the look of the teeth but can also make you look years younger.
- Straightening crooked teeth. Fixed “train track” braces are not the only option anymore! Orthodontics has moved on so much in recent years meaning that you can have discreet and removable braces that can align the teeth in a few months. Not only do straight teeth look better, they are also easier to clean, which helps to keep them healthy.
- Replacing missing teeth. There are many options available to you when it comes to replacing missing teeth. Dentures, bridges and implants are all available with implants being the most popular option.
- Replacing old fillings and crowns. Over the years, silver fillings can become mottled and grey and gums can recede revealing dark margins around crowns. These can look unsightly but can be replaced for white fillings and new crowns depending on suitability.
- Red looking gums. If your gums are red and inflamed, or if you notice plaque and tartar around your teeth, it is likely that they need a thorough clean. When we talk about cleaning in this way, it is not something you can achieve at home as there aren’t any products that can help you once they get to this stage
If you are unhappy with the way your teeth look because of one of the reasons above, or any other reason, then call us to book an appointment on 01844 343381 or visit our dental practice in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire. We are within easy access from Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Thame and the surrounding areas.
Life gets so busy sometimes that it can pass by in a flash, our daily responsibilities take over and important things like health appointments end up taking a back seat. Unfortunately for some people this can mean that they wake up one day with a problem or pain.
How do you know you need to see the dentist?
- If it has been longer than 6 months since your last check up appointment. We advise that you have a check up every 6 months to help keep your teeth healthy.
- Sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth can be caused by a few different factors from receding gums to tooth decay. We advise you get this checked before the problem gets worse.
- Bleeding gums. Bleeding gums is a sign of gingivitis. If this is left to progress, it can lead to areas of gum disease which can eventually lead to tooth loss.
- Bad breath. This can be caused by several different things; bacteria in the mouth, diet, acid reflux, dry mouth, medication and gum disease. Until the cause is addressed, the problem will hang around.
- Broken teeth and lost fillings. Sometimes we can break a tooth or lose a filling and after the initial shock has passed, it can be forgotten about if it hasn’t caused pain. Just because there isn’t any pain, it doesn’t mean you should leave it. Decay can spread silently and if it gets too far then the tooth might not be saved.
If you would like to book an appointment, please give us a call on 01844 343381 or visit our dental practice in Bucks. We are located on the High Street in Princes Risborough and see patients from Aylesbury, Thame and the surrounding areas.
If you are missing a tooth (or many teeth) or have a tooth that needs to be extracted, you may find yourself wondering how that tooth can be replaced. The good news is that there are a few options for replacing missing teeth.
- Dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth because they are a permanent solution that looks and feels natural. Another positive to an implant is that they do not damage other teeth and can in fact help to protect the other teeth from breaking as they help take some of the pressure. Most people are suitable for implants, but an assessment would need to be made to ensure there is enough bone. We offer a free dental implant consultation. To find out more about implants, please see our dental implant page or read our dental implant blog post.
- A bridge is a way to fill a gap created by a missing tooth, but it involves drilling the teeth either side of the gap so that they can hold the false tooth in the middle. The positive is that it is fixed into position, but it does have an average life span of 7-15 years. Once this span is over, you may find that the supporting teeth are too weak for another bridge.
- A denture is a removable appliance meaning they are sometimes uncomfortable to wear and difficult to eat with. Sometimes they are the only option due to finances or bone loss, so with modern techniques we can try and keep them as small and sturdy as possible. Most people still need to use some form of fixative to help hold them in place.
If you have a missing tooth or teeth and would like to replace them, please contact us on 01844 343381 for a free dental consultation to discuss these options.
Our dental practice in Princes Risborough is located on the High Street and is easily accessible from Thame, Aylesbury, High Wycombe and the surrounding areas.
In the last few years tooth whitening has become more popular which has unfortunately resulted in unregulated suppliers producing illegal products.
These products can contain as much as 300 times the legal amount of bleaching agent which results in damaging the teeth and gums and causes them to become extremely painful. In some cases, this pain never goes away as it results in 3rd degree burns which have life long effects on the mouth.
Even though it is illegal, it is becoming more and more common to see beauticians offering substandard whitening. Not only do they use unsafe products, they do not have the training to know if the teeth are healthy enough to have whitening treatments in the first place. The truth of the matter is, you should never purchase tooth whitening from anybody other than a GDC registered dental professional.
Whitening with a dental professional has the following benefits:
- We check the health of your teeth and gums before proceeding to ensure whitening is a safe option.
- The whitening gel is prescription only and has been tested for quality and safety.
- The whitening trays fit perfectly and will not irritate the gums.
- We provide you with the correct advice and aftercare.
- We are fully regulated.
We offer a free consultation to anyone interested in tooth whitening. If you would like to book an appointment, please call us on 01844343381 or visit our dental practice in Princes Risborough. We also see patients from Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Thame and the surrounding areas.
Did you know that we offer free consultations? If you are considering cosmetic improvements (such as tooth whitening or veneers), orthodontic treatment or implants, we offer you a free appointment to discuss what we can do.
Your free consultation is the best way to get to know us, find out about what treatments we can offer you, and for us to answer any questions you may have. We will be able to give you an idea of suitability and advise you on the best way to improve your smile safely.
If you have any questions, or if you would like to book an appointment then please call us on 01844 343381. We see patients from Princes Risborough, High Wycombe, Thame, Aylesbury and the surrounding areas.
The winter may be behind us, but bacteria and viruses don’t give up that easily! The average adult gets two to three cold in a year and they can happen all year round. But how do they affect our teeth?
- Blocked nose. When we have a blocked nose, it can affect our teeth in more than one way. Mouth breathing can dry out the mouth which reduces the saliva. Saliva helps to wash away bacteria and harmful acids so a lack of it increases the risk of tooth decay. Secondly when you can’t breathe through your nose, toothbrushing becomes harder to do, meaning you don’t spend long enough time doing it.
- If you suffer from sinusitis, the increased sinus pressure can cause toothache-like symptoms which can be painful.
- When you become unwell, you can often get dehydrated which again reduces the amount of saliva in the mouth. It is important to ensure you are getting enough fluid into your body by drinking plenty of water.
- When we have a blocked nose, a cough or a sore throat, we often reach for syrupy medication. These syrups and pastilles contain lots of sugar which is very bad for your teeth. Try and find sugar free versions and drink plenty of water to help control the acids in the mouth.
If you have neglected your teeth after a cold or flu, or if you are having any other problems with your teeth it is important to book an appointment. Contact us on 01844 343381 to book an appointment or visit our dental practice in Princes Risborough.