Pillar: Dental

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection — usually at the root tip or in the gum. Untreated, it can spread to the jaw, neck and beyond. This is the one dental condition you should never wait on.

A chipped tooth is one of the most common dental injuries, whether from biting something hard, a knock during sport, or wear from grinding. Many chips can be repaired with composite bonding, and larger ones with a veneer or crown.

Bruxism — habitual teeth grinding, usually at night — wears down enamel, breaks fillings, and contributes to jaw pain, headaches and disrupted sleep. Most patients don’t know they’re doing it until a partner mentions it or a dentist sees the damage.

Bleeding gums are the earliest sign of gum disease — and one of the most ignored. The good news: gingivitis is reversible with a focused hygiene programme. The bad news: ignoring it lets it progress to periodontitis, which damages bone and is much harder to treat.

Wisdom teeth (third molars) erupt between 17 and 25 — and they cause more problems than they solve. Most people don’t have room for them, leading to pain, infection and damage to the second molars in front.

Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults — and most people don’t know they have it until it’s advanced. Early-stage gingivitis is fully reversible. Established periodontitis can be stopped but causes permanent bone loss.

Bad breath (halitosis) almost always has a dental cause — usually gum disease or coating on the back of the tongue. Mouthwash masks it; addressing the cause fixes it.

Feeling nervous about the dentist is very common, and we take it seriously. We will take things at your pace, explain everything before we start, and make sure you feel in control.

Missing teeth can affect how you eat, how you speak and how you feel about your smile. There are several ways to replace them, from dentures and bridges to dental implants.