Last week we had eight new patients including a whole family, join our practice and membership scheme.

So don’t be left behind, its £20.00 per referral, just think of that wonderful retail shopping day you could have on us.

Debi Godbeer

In addiction, bad breath can be caused by following:
- Poor dental hygiene
- Infection in the mouth
- Respiratory tract infections
- External source – garlic ,onions, coffee, cigarette smoking
- Dry mouth / xerostomia
- Illnesses – diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, and others

To keep your breath fresh you must get rid of any gum disease, and keep your mouth clean and fresh. If you do have bad breath, try keeping a diary of all the foods you eat and list any medicines you are taking. Take this diary to Miss. Andrews and she may be able to suggest ways to solve the problem. Things to do:

- Brush your teeth and gums twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Don’t forget to brush your tongue as well.
- Cut down on sugary snacks and drinks
- Visit your dentist at least twice a year
- Floss your teeth regularly
- Use mouthwash- some contain antibacterial agents that could bacteria that make your breath smell unpleasant
- Chew sugar-free gum – it stimulates saliva and stops your mouth drying out.

If you have any questions about this or any other subject, please do not hesitate and contact our friendly surgery!

Miroslava Herkelova

Audrey Reason

Zoom! In-office tooth whitening is a way of lightening your teeth using hydrogen peroxide gel and an ultraviolet lamp. Together these produce a whitening of the teeth in very little time.

The shade of my teeth was taken, before my mouth was careful prepared. I was given a plastic retractor to help keep my mouth open, this also helped in the securing of gauzes. These were placed to cover the soft tissues, so they wouldn’t be exposed to the gel or light. The gel was then applied to my teeth and then the ultraviolet light exposed for up to three, 15 minute sessions.

I found that the whole procedure was very relaxing, and very comfortable, and the results were just amazing!

9th December 2009
Deborah Godbeer.

If gingivitis is not treated, the inflammation will work its way down towards the foundations of the tooth causing a ‘periodontal pocket’. Gum disease can break down the support /bone/ structures of the teeth, so that eventually, they will become loose. The good news is that if gum disease is caught in time, its progression can be halted and improved upon, and that is the key.

If you have gum disease or gum pocketing, the gum pockets around the teeth will have deepened, thereby allowing tartar deposits to form under the gum line. Root planing is the process of cleaning the root surfaces and removing any infected tooth structure.

In our surgery the deep scaling is broken down into quadrants of work per appointment. Does it hurt? People always ask. No, it is just a bit uncomfortable. You can be numb for the procedure. We will inject some anesthetic, or we can use the ORAQIX which is a special non-injection device that delivers topical anesthetic gently in to the gum pockets.

So do not hesitate and book your appointment.

Recommendations from the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry are, to place dental sealants on the first permanent molars at around six years of age and the second permanent molars which come in around twelve years of age. Does it hurt? Our little ones often ask us. No, it does not. We like to say it is like painting fingernails, you basically paint it on the tooth. It’s much harder than you think as these teeth are in the back of the mouth and children do not like to keep their mouths open for a very long time. Most of the effort is keeping the area dry. There are not any precautions which need to be taken after, because when the dental sealant is placed we light cure it so child can eat and drink straightaway. The whole treatment takes only couple of minutes. 

Miroslava Herkelova

Miss Andrews examined the patient and checked all the rest of the teeth. She suggested that the patient will really benefit from a new cobalt-chrome set of dentures. ‘What fantastic news’ – patient said. A cobalt-denture is a denture with a metal frame, which means, that it is not as thick as acrylic this means it can be made smaller so patient can taste the food better. Cobalt-chrome partial dentures tend to be more comfortable, stronger and last longer. In many situations they also reduce bone loss enormously.

The patient was very excited and wanted to start his treatment straight away. We took the impressions and sent them to our fantastic technicians. They made the special trays, for another impression to be carried out. After we sent the special trays with impressions back to the laboratory, in just two weeks the denture, in wax was ready for the patient to try. The fit was perfect and the teeth looked so natural. The patient was over the moon and could not wait for his finished dentures to arrive. Just one week later the final product was ready for the patient. He tried them in and you could really see how happy he was with the result. He loved them.

We had another satisfied customer, which makes us proud and happy to work at Village Dental Care for Miss Andrews.

Miroslava Herkelova
26/11/09

All new patients are given a copy of a suggestion of treatment plan, at the end of their initial examination. This will show the treatment required and the approximate dental cost.

We also encourage our patients to join our Village Membership scheme. This in its self helps spread the cost of treatment and rewards our patients with a massive discount on the cost of private treatment.

The personal medical finance is very easily set up. Our patients are given an application form to complete. This is then faxed over to our finance department, stating the amount to be borrowed. The amount borrowed is usually payable over 12 or 18 months, depending on the treatment required. Patients are then, instantly informed whether they have been approved or not.

So you needn’t hesitate anymore, pick up the telephone or e-mail Village Dental Care and arrange that first examination appointment.

That beautiful smile is within easy reach of you, and your pocket.

3rd December 2009
Deborah Godbeer.

I suggested to her that there could be many different reasons for this, and the ideal solution would be for her to come along to village Dental Care, where Miss Andrews could carry out a full examination of her mouth and identify the cause. She wasn’t too keen to do this, so I tried to explain to her some of the causes of bad breath.

I began telling her there maybe areas between her teeth that are tricky for her to keep clean. These areas could then trap food and if left would cause an unpleasant taste, gum disease and smell in her mouth, however, some strong foods can also add to this problem. If this was the case then regular check-up appointments, where the dentist could clean the difficult areas would be advised, along with detailed brushing and flossing instructions.

Another cause could be lack of salvia in the mouth. This could be brought on because the patient is taking certain medicines. The bad smell is caused by bacteria that build up due to the dry mouth. Smoking and decayed teeth are other causes of bad breath. Nine times out of ten the bad breath is caused by a dental problem.

On hearing this, the patient decided to make an appointment to see Miss Andrews. She could see that there obviously was a lot to investigate, and this was the best place to start.

She is due to attend Village Dental Care next week; therefore I will keep you updated on her progress.

25th November 2009
Deborah Godbeer.

- Previous negative experience
- Embarrassment about your oral health and the condition of your teeth and gums
- You may have a fear of injections or dental instruments being placed in your mouth
- or it may simply, be a fear of the unknown

In my blog, I want to ensure you that there is nothing to be scared of. Miss Andrews is a very kind and understanding person, and if you feel anxious in any point during your examination, or any treatment, we will stop and wait till you ready to continue.

So remember - We cater for cowards

Miroslava Herkelova