What Can You Remember From This Year’s Dental Blogs?

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What Can You Remember From This Year’s Dental Blogs?

A quick end-of-year ‘refresher’ quiz for our Bedford dental patients.

Over the last year, we have written many blogs covering different topics relating to oral health care. Some of these were related to everyday issues such as tooth decay and gingivitis, whilst others related to less well known and common problems such as peri-implantitis. We hope that our patients have enjoyed reading our regular blogs and have learned something useful from them.

We are always happy to write a blog on any dental subject that you would like us to, so please let us know if there is anything you would like us to cover in the new year ahead.

As this year is now drawing to a close, we thought that it would be fun to use our last blog of 2018 to see how much you can remember. Unfortunately there are no prizes, other than a reminder of ways that you can look after your teeth better, or improve the way that they look. We wish you all good luck with the quiz, and, of course, a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all patients of The Dental Centre Bedford.

Your quiz:

  1. If a tooth is knocked out, it can sometimes be saved if you see a dentist straight away. What is the best way to preserve the tooth until that time?
  2. What specific role does an endodontist have, and what is the treatment most commonly performed by them?
  3. Name three of the five possible causes of enamel erosion which we discussed in a blog back in March?
  4. Name a key reason why it may not always be possible to place a dental implant straight away
  5. What is the difference between plaque and tartar? (clue – both are related to gum disease)
  6. Name two serious oral health issues which are significantly more likely if you smoke, or use tobacco products
  7. Unlike many other dental practices, where they have to be sent to a dental laboratory, we are able to produce crowns and bridges at our own practice while you wait. Name the technology that is used to achieve this.
  8. Patients seeking smoother skin are able to take advantage of the treatments that we offer, including Botox and Dermal Fillers. Which of these two is specifically used to plump up thinning lips?
  9. What is an ideal food to eat at the end of a meal to rebalance the acidic environment of your mouth?
  10. How often should you see your dentist?

Answers

  1. Ideally, you should put a tooth in your own saliva but milk is a reasonable substitute if this is not possible for any reason.
  2. An endodontist focuses on problems that occur inside of the tooth, in the root canals. As you may have guessed, the treatment most frequently carried out by them is a root canal procedure.
  3. The five causes mentioned are excessive brushing, acidic drinks, sipping drinks (i.e. continual flow over the teeth rather than drinking in quantities each time), teeth grinding (bruxism) and side effects of some medications.
  4. There are two possible reasons for this. Firstly, a mouth needs to be healthy before an implant is placed, therefore any problems such as gum disease will need to be treated first. Secondly, where tooth loss has occurred, the bone in that area of the jaw is reabsorbed by the body. Where insufficient bone is present, a bone graft may be needed prior to an implant placement in order for it to be successful.
  5. Plaque is the sticky white substance that we often find in our mouths in the morning. It is a collection of bacteria that can be removed with brushing and flossing. Tartar is a hardened form of this which collects on the teeth and gum line and can only be removed using a scale and polish procedure.
  6. Gum disease and oral cancers. Both of these have been shown, time and again, to be more likely if you smoke or use tobacco products such as snuff or chewing tobacco.
  7. The answer is Cerec or, to use the full name, Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, or CEramic REConstruction
  8. Dermal fillers are used to plump up thinning lips, replacing collagen which reduces in quantity as we become older
  9. Cheese is one of the best ways to do this, and may be why, traditionally, meals have often finished with the presentation of a cheese board
  10. An easy one to finish with. The answer is twice a year for most patients. Some, such as those with diabetes, may need to see one of our Bedford dental team more often. Always make sure to follow the advice of your dentist. We are taking appointments now for the new year and you can call our Bedford dental clinic on 01234 819868 to book yours.

How did you do?