Dental Decay

Decay occurs for several reasons:

• Decay occurs when a tooth becomes compromised as a result of contact with acids. Acids are the byproduct of bacteria in your mouth breaking down the sugar in your food. With this in mind, the more foods you eat containing high levels of sugar, the more prone you will be to acid attacks in your mouth and, consequently, decay.
• A poor oral hygiene routine can lead to and exacerbate tooth decay by weakening your tooth enamel.
• Overlapping fillings and other restorative work such as bridges, dentures and crowns can result in food particles lingering and blocking your toothbrush and floss’s route to the area.

It is possible to reverse tooth decay before cavities (holes in your teeth) begin to appear. Unfortunately, many people in the UK miss their check-ups, and therefore, the early signs of decay go unnoticed before a dentist has the chance to carry out treatment to curb the decay prior to a cavity developing.

Here at Hanwell Dental Centre, we will always encourage and incentivise our patients never to miss their check-ups. Our dentists are personable and friendly professionals who will communicate the importance of preventative dentistry without ever passing judgment on patients for missing appointments or for having a lapse in their oral health. We are here to get you smiling again.

There are still options to save your tooth if decay is severe. We may be able to rescue your tooth with root canal treatment if decay has caused an infection within your tooth.

Our dentists will explore every avenue open to them when assessing how to preserve the natural structure that makes up your tooth.