Sensitive teeth Redmond Molloy explains what to do

Are Your Teeth Sensitive?

Is a taste of ice cream or a sip of hot coffee sometimes a painful experience for you? Does brushing or flossing make you wince occasionally? If so, you may have a common problem called "sensitive teeth."

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

Cavities and fractured teeth can cause sensitive teeth so first port of call is to let one of our dentists at Redmond Molloy examine your teeth, if we rule these problems out, a simple filling without even needing anesthetic is sometimes all that is required to prevent the problem getting any worse. Worn tooth enamel, a cracked tooth or an exposed tooth root may be the cause.

A layer of enamel, the strongest substance in the body, protects the crowns of healthy teeth. A layer called cementum protects the tooth root under the gum line. Underneath the enamel and the cementum is dentin, a part of the tooth that is less dense than enamel or cementum.

The dentin contains microscopic tubules (small hollow tubes or canals). When the dentin loses its protective covering, the tubules allow heat and cold or acidic or sticky foods to get in at the nerves inside the tooth. This causes hypersensitivity and occasional discomfort. Fortunately, the irritation does not cause permanent damage to the pulp. Dentin may be exposed when gums recede. The result can be hypersensitivity near the gum line.

Proper oral hygiene is the key to preventing gums from receding and causing sensitive-tooth pain. If you brush your teeth incorrectly or even over-brush, gum problems can result. Ask our dentists at Redmond Molloy if you have any questions about your daily oral hygiene routine. 

Treating Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth can be treated. Our dentists at Redmond Molloy may suggest that you try a desensitizing toothpaste, which contains compounds that help block transmission of sensation from the tooth surface to the nerve. Desensitizing toothpaste usually requires several applications before the sensitivity is reduced.

With thanks To Colgate for the image

If the desensitizing toothpaste does not ease your discomfort, your dentist may suggest in-office techniques. A fluoride gel, which strengthens tooth enamel and reduces the transmission of sensations, may be applied to the sensitive areas of the teeth.

If receding gums cause the sensitivity, your dentist may use agents that bond to the tooth root to "seal" the sensitive teeth. The sealer usually is composed of a plastic material such as white filling material.

In cases where hypersensitivity is severe and persistent and cannot be treated by other means, your dentist may recommend  root canal treatment to eliminate the problem.

 

 

 

 

David Keenan works at Redmond Molloy Docklands.

 

 

 

  Dr David Keenan

We are delighted to announce that Dr. David Keenan has decided to join Redmond Molloy Docklands on a full time basis. David Keenan has been practicing in Redmond Molloy for some years on a two days a week basis, but now he welcomes all old and new patients, from early till late, five days a week. Just call 01 678 6070 for an appointment. Everyone at Redmond Molloy truely wishes him well.

  Dr.David Keenan qualified in 2002 and undertook a two year general professional training position in Edinburgh Dental Institute. He worked as a Senior house officer gaining invaluable experience in oral surgery, Restorative (crown and bridge) childrens and special needs dentistry. 
In 2005 he returned to his native Dublin where he took up a position in private general practice.  In 2007 David completed a year long certificate in Cosmetic and Aesthetic dentistry in London . This certificate was awarded by Dr Christopher Orr, a past president of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and world renowned name in Cosmetic Dentistry .
In 2008 Dr.David Keenan completed his MFDS at the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. He is now a full member of RCS Edinburgh.
Dr.David Keenan has also supervised final year students in Dublin dental school. He is intersted in all aspects of general dentistry but has a particular keen interest in Anterior aesthetics incorporating veneers, implants and crown and bridge.
Dr.David Keenan is also a fully certified provider of the Inman Aligner and is qualified practioner in the provision of anti-wrinkle treatments. 

White Fillings - No need to have unsightly black teeth anymore.

White fillings have existed for many decades and have been traditionally only used in front teeth. The use of White fillings was avoided in patients’ back, grinding teeth as in years gone by they were not very hard wearing and those white filiings tended to break down after a few years.  As a result, the much more durable silver (amalgam) filling material was used rather than white fillings for the back teeth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redmond Molloy your Dublin Dentist as a routine places white fillings as the latest generation of white filling materials are much stronger and durable than ever before. They are more clinically challenging to place than the old amalgam material, but there is really no excuse not to use white materials for all fillings nowadays and many dental schools around the world have now stopped teaching dental students how to use amalgam filling material.

White fillings are becoming more popular now as patients like their fillings to look like teeth as opposed to a more noticeable silver or metal look. Another benefit is the fact that they actually bond to the tooth and thus tend to add strength to weakened teeth. This is not the case with amalgam fillings as teeth filled with amalgam can be more likely to break and fracture as it does not bond to the tooth and adds less strength to the tooth. 

 

 

 

CHANGE YOUR OLD BLACK FILLINGS FOR WHITE TODAY

Wisdom teeth Redmond Molloy explains what it is wise to do.

An impacted tooth is a tooth that gets blocked as it is pushing through the gum into your mouth (erupting). Wisdom teeth often are impacted.

Wisdom teeth usually begin to come in between the ages of 17 and 21. Dentists call these teeth third molars. They may become impacted because there's not enough room in your mouth for them. A wisdom tooth also might be trying to come in sideways.

An impacted Wisdom tooth can be painless. You may not even realize it's there. However, when an impacted wisdom tooth tries to come in, the flap of gum on top of it can become infected and swollen. This can hurt. You might even feel pain in nearby teeth, or in the ear, throat or on that side of your face.

An impacted wisdom tooth can lead to an infection called pericoronitis. If untreated, this infection can spread to the throat or into the neck (Ludwig's angina). Severe infections if they are on both sides at the same time require a hospital stay and surgery.

Impacted teeth also can get cavities on themselves or the adjacent tooth. An impacted wisdom tooth can push on the neighboring molar. This can lead to tooth movement, decay or gum disease. It also can change the way your teeth come together. Rarely, impacted teeth can cause cysts or other growths in the jaw.

Symptoms include:

• Swelling of the gum in the back of your mouth
• Sore throat 
• Difficulty opening your jaw
• Bad breath
• A bad taste in the mouth
• Pain when you open your mouth
• Pain when chewing or biting

Pain can occur for several days and then disappear. It can come back weeks or months later.

The picture above shows the various ways that a wisdom tooth can become impacted or stuck in the gum or bone.

Your dentist will examine the area. If necessary, he or she will take X-rays. X-rays can show where your wisdom teeth are and if they are impacted.

There is no way to prevent an impacted wisdom tooth. You can prevent cavities by brushing and flossing.

If the wisdom tooth continues to cause pain, is infected or interferes with nearby teeth, the usual treatment is to take it out.

The vast majority of wisdom teeth  don't need to be removed in a hospital setting for instance the vast majority of upper wisdom teeth are very very easy to remove, for the difficult impacted lower wisdom teeth at Redmond Molloy we have an Oral surgeon Maher, on our team to have these removed. Before removing the wisdom tooth, our dentists or surgeon will discuss the procedure and the type of anesthesia and sedatives that might need to be taken before surgery.When the wisdom tooth is taken out, the symptoms will go away.

 

Follow our dentist's or surgeon's instructions carefully for the best recovery. Complications of surgery are rare, but do occur.

An impacted wisdom tooth may not bother you or affect nearby teeth. In this case, you won't need immediate treatment. However, your dentist probably may recommend that the tooth be taken out to avoid future problems. Many people have all four of their wisdom teeth taken out at once. Sometimes this surgery is done before the teeth have started coming in. This prevents future problems. This usually is done in an oral surgeon's office with sedation and local anesthesia.

 

 

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE YOUR WISDOM TEETH ASSESED 

 

 

 

 

Sugar and teeth what's the Problem????

The reason that the Dentists at Redmond Molloy care about sugar so much is that it is one of the main causes of disease in your Teeth and Gums. 

It is a very simple equation - Bacteria when it combines with sugar produces Acid as a bi-product, and it is this Acid that does pretty much all the damage.

We at Redmond Molloy don't like this to happen, as the acidity when it reaches a ph below 5.5 can start to break down the tooth.

Dentists know that in general teeth can tolerate three acid attacks a day ; breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. This is why we at Redmond Molloy advise patients that if they eat their sweet/sugary things around those meals, the mouth is better able to counteract the acid attack, as there is more saliva produced at meal times and this helps limit the damage caused by the acid.

Redmond Molloy realise that we can't cut sugar totally out of the diet, so this is why we advise avoiding sugary snacks between meals in order to limit damage to your teeth.

How can you simply follow this advice?

The best way is to first analyse the amount of times a day that you expose your teeth to sugar, an easy way to do this is to compile a diet sheet on three non-consecutive days (tues, thurs, Sat) writing down the food that you eat and the times eaten. Then examine, not the amount in total of sugar that you consume but the frequency or amount of times a day that you have sugary foods.

The thing that surprises most patients is the hidden sugars that we are not realizing are damaging our teeth such as sugar in tea or coffee which seems innocuous but are as damaging as jellies or mints.

Redmond Molloy can help you interpret these diet sheets, so don't be afraid to bring these to us if you are concerned. The main message that Redmond Molloy want our patients to leave with are that dentists alone cannot stop tooth decay, the cleaning of your teeth and the reduction in the amount of times a day that you eat sugary foods are the best way to counteract the acid attacks that cause your Dentist to need to place fillings. 

If you are unsure about the health of your teeth, can we suggest you arrange an appointment for a check up.

 

 

  Book a Dental Appointment

 

How to stop bad breath Redmond Molloy gives some tips.

Bad breath, morning breath, breath odor or halitosis are all terms used to describe a noticeably unpleasant odor exhaled on the breath. Halitosis is not a problem by itself, but it can cause concerns in our interpersonal relationships.

We are all familiar with how certain foods such as garlic and onions can affect our breath. This occurs because these foods are absorbed into our bloodstream, where they are transferred to our lungs and exhaled. Fortunately, bad breath caused by the foods we eat is only temporary.

The truth is, most breath odor comes from food particles trapped in our mouths. When food remains in the mouth, it becomes a breeding ground for the bacteria that can cause bad breath. Other causes can include poor oral health, improper cleaning of dentures, periodontal disease as well as smoking & tobacco products. Bad breath can also be sign of an underlying medical condition of the stomach, lungs and bloodstream.

Another little known situation that can contribute to halitosis is dry mouth. When our mouth is dry, saliva production decreases, leaving the mouth’s natural ability to clean itself impaired. Saliva is the mouth’s natural mouthwash, which contains properties that reduces bacteria in the mouth. Alcohol consumption, certain medications, breathing through the mouth instead of the nose or a salivary gland disorder can contribute to having a dry mouth.

Recommendations For reducing bad breath
Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth thoroughly after every meal to remove food particle from the mouth.

When you are brushing your teeth, also brush your tongue. The tongue is covered with thousands of tiny hairs that can trap bacteria.

Have regular check-ups at Redmond Molloy to rule out gum disease and to correct any faulty restorations, overhanging fillings or leaking crowns, all of which can trap food in the mouth.

Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless lozenges to increase the flow of saliva.

If your mouth is dry, drink plenty of water. Try swooshing it around in your mouth for at least twenty seconds to loosen any food particles the bacteria can feed upon.

Avoid breath mints and mouthwashes that contain sugar. Instead of helping, they can make things worse. They only temporarily cover the smell and tend to dry the mouth, creating a more favorable environment for bacteria.

Snacking on vegetables such as raw celery or carrots can keep plaque from forming.

If you are going to an important meeting or on a big date, avoid foods that can cause bad breath, such as onions and garlic.

Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption, which can dry the mouth.

Quit smoking. Tar and nicotine can build up on the surface of the teeth, tongue and cheeks. It can also dry the mouth and inhibit saliva flow.

Chlorophyll is a natural breath freshener and is found in leafy green vegetables like parsley.

A mixture of 50% hydrogen peroxide and 50% water can be swooshed around in the mouth and used as a mouthwash. Hydrogen peroxide can kill many of the bacteria that can cause bad breath.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TO GET YOUR TEETH CLEANED

 

 

 

 

Some of our happy Patients treated here at Redmond Molloy

Case 1: Veneers

 

 

 

 

 

This lady had veeneers on her teeth to broaden and whiten her top teeth.

Case 2: White fillings

 

 

 

 

 

Simple proceedures like restoring teeth with white fillings is sometimes all that is needed to smile with confidence.

Case 3: Crowns / Smile design

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This man had his teeth restored with crowns and had a whitening procedure.

Case 4: Orthodontics 3 Month Braces

 

 

 

 

 

 

This patient had an Inman aligner fitted and the movement of his upper teeth was finished in 16 weeks.His teeth were then whitened. We have completed well over 500 Inman cases here at Redmond Molloy that is more than any one else in the country.

 All the above pictures are work completed at Redmond Molloy with the pictures taken by our Dentists

Our Dentists take great pride in their work and they appear regularly on a range of radio stations and on RTE and TV3. Just click on our BLOG tag above to read their articles directly.

We provide almost every dental treatment available and we are 'OPEN WIDE' in Dublin Docklands, Sutton, Santry and Balbriggan with extended hours across a 6 day week. Call us on 01 678 6070 for an appointment or simply click on the CONTACT link above to book online.

We promise to make you feel differently about going to the Dentist.

 

 

 

Will my teeth move again even though I had braces as a kid?

Get the teeth and Smile you always wanted @Redmond Molloy

Whilst it may be true that all the statistics in the world can't measure the warmth of a smile, there are some things we can do to improve our chances of smiling ‘more warmly'.
 
A warm smile wins you friends, wins you business and makes those around you happy. Who wouldn't want a warm smile.

Of course, not everyone is born with teeth they can be proud of. Celebrities don't have better teeth the just have more dental treatments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 It would be nice to be born with a great wide smile, but all too often there's something in the way – be it discoloured, missing or crooked teeth.

This then affects how warm your smile is – if you're hesitant in smiling, how can it ever get warmer if you hide your smile. Think how much more effort you would put into your smile if you were confident in the state of your teeth.
 
A great smile is thought of as showing off white teeth, which are straight and of a similar length. Think Tom Cruise and Demi Moore as you can see they were not born with the smile you know and love but had some dental treatments along the way to help, you can't quite see Tom's career going the way it did had he not changed his teeth.

 

 

 

 

 

 The good news is that cosmetic dentistry is no longer reserved for celebrities or the rich and famous as today's procedures are accessible, painless, affordable and available for everyone.
 
Drinking too much coffee or alcohol, smoking and the natural ageing process can all make your teeth look yellow and discoloured. Teeth can grow unevenly and often there isn't enough room in the mouth. Crooked and missing teeth can make your smile look less friendly. 

The good news is that we have the power to give you a great smile. Cosmetic dentistry can brighten dull teeth, whiten stained teeth, close gaps between teeth, repair chipped teeth, replace metal fillings, restore missing teeth and straighten crooked teeth.
 
With a smile makeover we can restore the teeth to a more natural, pleasing appearance with a variety of different techniques and procedures to improve the colour, shape and size of the teeth. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White fillings  It is very easy to make a big impact quickly and inexpensively by simply changing the old silver amalgam fillings to new white ones.

Teeth whitening is done using laser or power bleaching. A concentrated peroxide-based gel is applied directly to your teeth and then the gel is activated with a light. The treatment usually takes under an hour.
 
Inman aligner to straighten teeth
If you have teeth that look crowded and crooked and wish you had had braces as a child, we can now use the Inman aligner brace to move the front teeth to give a warmer smile in just 12 weeks. These are proving very popular with our adult patienst who hate the idea of having a mouth full of metal, like their teenage children. These inman aligners are nearly invisible, removable aligners that you have adjusted every two to three weeks for approximately 12 weeks. Each Inman aligner is individually manufactured for your teeth, and your teeth only. As we adjust the aligner, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position.

 
Other treatments
Other procedures which you might need for that ‘great smile' include implants, crowns and veneers. We can will advise you as to the best procedures to suit you.
 
Of course, once you get the perfect smile you need to keep it. This means a good oral health routine. and regular hygiene visits generally twice a year. A good oral hygiene routine is something we should all consider extremely important to maintain great teeth.

Spend three minutes twice a day brushing your teeth. Floss your teeth thoroughly as the saying goes only floss the teeth you want to keep, gently scrape your tongue with the rounded edge of a tongue scraper and rinsing with a mouthwash will all help you maintain your great smile.

 

 

 

 

 

You can change the stained teeth you hate- here's your options.

Teeth can become discolored by stains on the surface or by changes in the tooth material. Dentists divide discoloration into three main categories:

Extrinsic- teeth Stain — This occurs when the outer layer of the tooth (the enamel) is stained. Coffee, wine, cola or other drinks or foods can stain teeth. Smoking also causes extrinsic stains.These are the stains that our dentists remove during a routine cleaning here at Redmond Molloy.

 Intrinsic- teeth Stain — This is when the inner structure of the tooth (the dentin) darkens or gets a yellow tint. You can get this type of discoloration if:

Your teeth had excessive exposure to fluoride during early childhood

Your mother was given tetracycline antibiotics during the second half of pregnancy.

You were given tetracycline antibiotics when you were 8 years old or younger.

You had trauma that affected a tooth when you were a young child. A fall, for example, may cause damage to the developing permanent tooth.

 

Age-related- tooth Stain — This is a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Dentin naturally yellows over time. The enamel that covers the teeth gets thinner with age, which allows the dentin to show through.

No special tests are needed. Our dentists can diagnose tooth discoloration and stains just by looking at the teeth.

Some tooth discoloration can be removed with professional cleaning. An example would be the stains caused by coffee. Many stains are permanent, however. Teeth sometimes can be whitened with a bleaching gel. In some cases, if the discoloration is severe, a crown or veneer may be required to cover it.

Brushing your teeth after every meal will help to prevent some stains. Regular cleanings by a dental hygienist also will help to prevent surface stains.

Intrinsic stains that are caused by damage to a nerve or blood vessel in a tooth sometimes can be prevented. You may need to have root canal treatment to remove the inner part of the tooth (the pulp) before it has a chance to decay and darken. However, teeth that undergo root canal treatment may darken anyway. To prevent intrinsic stains in children, avoid over exposure to fluorides at a young age and always encourage your children not to swallow their toothpaste.

Whitening methods-

Discoloration often can be removed by applying a whitening agent to the enamel of the teeth. The system we use at Redmond Molloy is the Zoom! whitening system. With this method, a light-activated whitening gel is applied to your teeth. It causes the teeth to get significantly whiter in about 30 to 45 minutes. This method is combined with at home tray to enhance the overall whitening process and effect.

It's also possible to remove intrinsic stain by just having home night time whitening preformed. You will use a whitening gel and a specifically made to fit whitening shield, given to you by our dentists. This means that the process can take longer — usually two to four weeks.

 Whitening toothpastes may remove minor stains but are very abrasive and can cause wear to your teeth long term. They aren't very effective in most cases long term.

Inside out side whitening-

If your tooth has darkened after a root canal, bleaching the enamel alone won't help the dark tooth. Our dentists can apply a bleaching material to the inside of the tooth as well as the outside this is knowm as inside / outside whitening.

 

 

 

 Bleaching will not lighten some stains. In this case, your dentist may recommend covering the discolored areas. This also may be useful when the tooth is chipped or badly damaged.

A tooth can be covered with a color-matched composite bonding material. Another option is to get veneers. These are thin ceramic shells that cover the outer surfaces of the teeth.

 

Tooth discoloration is mainly a cosmetic problem. Call Redmond Molloy if you're unhappy with the appearance of your teeth.

 

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE YOUR STAINED TEETH EXAMINED