Very early tooth decay can often go unnoticed. Sometimes signs and symptoms of dental decay don’t present themselves immediately and often people will overlook any signs as the tooth decay progresses.
So here are our top 4 early indicators for you to look out for:
1) Discolouration- white, grey or black spots. These could all indicate that tooth decay may be present.
2) Sensitivity- sensitivity to hot, cold and/or sweet things could all be an indicator of tooth decay. If you notice that there is one particular tooth or area that is sensitive and you don’t generally suffer from sensitive teeth, then this could be an indicator of tooth decay.
3) Bad Breath. The bacteria present in tooth decay can cause bad breath. If there is a hole (cavity) in the tooth then the smell could also be coming from food that is being trapped and is rotting.
4) Toothache or tenderness. This is usually the point that someone calls to book an appoinmrnt. Often people will wait until they experience toothache before realising that they have dental decay.
By far the most simple and effective way of detecting early tooth decay is by visiting your dentist. The equipment used by our Leicester dentists will often detect tooth decay before any of the above signals appear and the tooth decay worsens.
If your concerned you may have tooth decay then give us a call or email for advice…
Dr Niket Patel and the Smile Essential Dental team are delighted to have been awarded Dental Phobia certification for another year. This year celebrates Dr Niket Patel having been Dental Phobia Certified for five years.
Why should you choose a dental phobia certified dentist? Because it means that they have dedicated treatments and services especially to help nervous patients who fear coming to the dental practice. It also means that we have had to put forward written testimonials from our patients that we have helped overcome their dental phobia.
At Smile Essential Dental Practice in Leicester, we have helped hundreds of patients with varying levels of dental phobia. Every person who comes through our door is unique and so is their fear of visiting a dentist. That’s why our first step is always a friendly open and honest chat. We listen to your fears and any specific reasons that make you feel nervous about your dental appointment. We have heard so many different fears including – the dental chair, a bad experience in the past, the school dentist, fear of injections, feelings of helplessness, the sound of metal, the feel of cotton wool and even the fish on the TV.
We have also invested in The Wand which is a digital method of delivering anaesthetic which prevents the pain associated with traditional injections. It ensures anaesthesia is delivered in a pain-free manner.
Find out more about visiting our dental practice as a nervous patient…