Dentures Wearing dentures is no longer the ordeal it once was.  Modern techniques mean that dentures fit much better than they used to, and look more realistic too. They are ideally suited to people with a number of missing teeth. A full or complete denture replaces all your teeth (top and bottom). A partial denture fills spaces left by missing teeth. At David Smyth Dental in Cookstown, we offer a wide choice of dentures, enabling you to choose those best suited to your mouth and,of course, your budget.

Children’s teeth. A child’s teeth usually start coming through about the age of six months. Lower front teeth normally first, followed by upper front teeth.  Back teeth emerge at about the age of 12-14 months.  Over the next year the rest of the baby teeth come through and fill the spaces.These are approximate times, and there can be up to 12 months variation! Teething may be accompanied by a slight temperature.There may be dribbling, irritability and lack of sleep.  The baby often appreciates something cool to chew on to relieve inflamed gums.  If in discomfort, a pain relieving medicine such as Calpol may be given. When should I bring my child to the dentist? Ideally, when they start getting teeth. The child will be presented with a non-threatening environment and become accustomed to the dental chair. What about brushing? Nothing beats good tooth brushing in preventing tooth decay, even when only a few teeth are present.  Giving your child a toothbrush helps to teach a lifetime habit.  Use a toothbrush and toothpaste suitable for the age of your child.  They will have fun brushing, and teeth do not get too much fluoride. Does diet matter? Everyone is aware that decay in adult teeth can be avoided by good diet, low amounts of refined sugar in the diet and good tooth brushing.  A prime cause of severe tooth decay is leaving your child with a bottle with milk or juice in bed at night. Prevention of decay in baby teeth is important to avoid pain from dental abscesses and cavities. Also if baby teeth are lost too early, this can lead to lack of space in the mouth for adult teeth and may commit the child to an otherwise unnecessary course of orthodontic treatment. If you use this advice as a guide and bring your child to the dentist as soon as teeth appear you will be taking important steps in helping your child have a healthy mouth and a smile for life!

Worn teeth wearing down your confidence? Often worn teeth are an aesthetic problem, but in extreme cases they can give you headaches, earache and even neck pain.  There are three types of accelerated tooth structure loss. Attrition. If you grind or clench your teeth a lot, you may well suffer with worn teeth.  Attrition is where you have tooth to tooth wear on the biting edges. Abrasion. If you take oral health seriously, you may over brush or be too hard when you brush.  This is generally affects sides and necks of your teeth.  This may get progressively worse leading to destruction of the enamel and causing sensitivity. Erosion. Enamel and dentine are effectively dissolved through acidic erosion.  This might be due to a poor diet, fizzy drinks or excessive consumption of acidic fruit.  Some medical conditions can also contribute. Getting the right treatment. There are many treatments available for worn teeth and treatment is dependent on your needs.  Clenching or grinding of teeth are often linked to a poor bite, stress, previous tooth loss or irregular teeth.We can provide you with treatments such as composite bonding, veneers or crowns-all of which will help to restore your smile to its original glory.

Dentures Wearing dentures is no longer the ordeal it once was.  Modern techniques mean that dentures fit much better than they used to, and look more realistic too. They are ideally suited to people with a number of missing teeth. A full or complete denture replaces all your teeth (top and bottom). A partial denture fills spaces left by missing teeth. At David Smyth Dental in Cookstown, we offer a wide choice of dentures, enabling you to choose those best suited to your mouth and,of course, your budget.