A filling replaces part of a tooth that has been lost because of decay or through accidental damage.

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease is a set of inflammatory conditions affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth. Your dentist will work with you to develop a care plan.

What is it? Teeth are held in the jaws by their roots. Front teeth normally have one root, but teeth further back have more. At the core of each tooth is a soft mass of tissue called the pulp. In a healthy tooth, the pulp contains living fibres, cells, nerves and a blood supply, extending into the root(s) through the root canal(s). Decay or injury can destroy the living pulp. Because dead pulp lacks a blood supply, it is more prone to infection, leading to an abscess and toothache. Root canal treatment (also known as root filling or endodontics) means removing damaged or dead pulp and filling the space left. The remaining tooth can then be repaired.

A tooth which is very decayed or damaged, or loose because of gum disease, may have to be extracted (taken out of your mouth). Wisdom teeth sometimes have to be extracted if they have come through at an awkward angle and are causing problems (such as decay in adjacent teeth or, being difficult to clean, and causing infections). Teeth are sometimes taken out from children’s mouths to help other teeth which are crowded to grow straight, (usually on the advice of an orthodontist).

A crown is a type of cap that completely covers a real tooth. It's usually made from metal, porcelain fused to metal, or ceramic and is fixed in your mouth.

Crowns can be fitted where a tooth has broken, decayed or been damaged, or just to make a tooth look better.

To fit a crown, the old tooth will need to be drilled down so it's like a small peg the crown will be fixed on to.

It can take some time for the lab to prepare a new crown, so you will not have the crown fitted on the same day.

A bridge is a fixed replacement for a missing tooth or teeth. It's made by taking an impression of the surrounding teeth, which will eventually support the bridge.

A bridge is usually created from precious metal and porcelain and will be fixed in your mouth (unlike dentures, which can be removed).

As part of your checkup, your Dentist will carry out a cancer screening.

Dentures (artificial teeth) are synthetic replacements for missing natural teeth. Some dentures replace a few missing teeth (partial dentures). Others replace all the teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues (complete dentures). Dentures may help prevent problems with eating and speech. If you need complete dentures, they may also improve the appearance of your smile and give you confidence. The best type for you depends on your oral health status and lifestyle.