Frequently asked questions

The root of a tooth contains a bundle of soft tissue and nerve endings known as dental pulp. If tooth decay penetrates this far, the dental pulp becomes infected and can cause severe toothache – sometimes even a tooth abscess.

The causes of tooth infection are varied – deep decay due to cavities or gum disease, cracked fillings or crowns, and damage as a result of trauma, or even teeth grinding. Whatever the reason, a root canal treatment will prevent the need for tooth extraction and future costly treatments.

Root canal symptoms often come in two waves. When the pulp becomes infected, early signs that you might need endodontic treatment include toothache, sensitive teeth to hot and cold foods, and pain when eating and drinking. When the infected pulp dies, these symptoms may temporarily subside – but don’t be tempted to put off seeing your dentist! When the infection spreads to the root canal, those early symptoms come back – this time accompanied by pain and swelling to the face and gums, and pus around the infected tooth, which will often appear dark in colour. In this scenario, contact Hassocks Dental Surgery immediately for an emergency dentist appointment.

Root canal treatment is carried out under local anaesthetic and is usually a straightforward procedure, rather like getting a filling. Once the tooth is completely numb, the dentist will use a series of tiny instruments to open up the tooth and extract the infected pulp. The remaining space is cleaned and shaped, ready for filling with a rubbery substance called gutta-percha. A temporary filling is usually placed on top – the permanent restoration would be carried out in a separate appointment.

You can carry on as normal once the anaesthetic has worn off, though the full healing period will take around a week – just be careful with what you eat, how you chew and maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine.

The hygienist will carry out a scale and polish – a professional deep clean that removes disease-causing plaque and tartar from under and around the gum line. The hygienist is also qualified to advise you on the latest techniques and products for effective cleaning at home, as well as tips on diet, nutrition and lifestyle issues such as smoking and alcohol intake.

Not usually, though if your gums are very sensitive the hygienist can use anaesthetic gel to alleviate any discomfort.

If you have good oral health, we generally recommend seeing the hygienist twice a year. If you’ve had dental implants or tooth restorations, you may be required to visit more frequently to ensure plaque is being kept under control effectively around your prosthetic restorations.

Plaque and tartar are the key contributors to gum disease and tooth decay. The root cause of gum disease and tooth decay is bad oral hygiene – when you let your regular brushing and flossing slide, a film of bacteria – plaque – builds up around the gum line. Caused by the food that remains on your teeth after eating, plaque eventually hardens to become tartar. Together, they attack the tooth enamel, making gums and teeth vulnerable to disease and decay.

If you’ve ever experienced sore or bleeding gums while flossing or brushing, or you have bad breath, the chances are you have gingivitis – an early stage of gum disease. Gingivitis is easily reversed when you step up your oral hygiene regime – but left untreated, it will lead to periodontitis. At this stage your gums will be inflamed and begin to pull away from the teeth, leaving them open to further infection and decay. It’s a situation that requires urgent dental treatment.

Maintaining a rigorous cleaning programme at home is vital if you want to minimise hygienist appointments. Our hygienist will give you advice and tips not only about how to clean your teeth, but also about diet and general lifestyle.

While regular check-ups with your dentist will flag any areas where plaque is caught between your teeth, your hygienist will be able to clean all those areas that are difficult to reach. They will also be able to show you the best way to clean your teeth and gums, and show you any areas you may be missing, including your tongue, and get you back on track with your oral hygiene. It’s a team effort!

Always check the label on your packaging. The handy Change4Life Food Scanner app lets you scan packaging with your phone for a quick visual rundown of a product’s sugar content.

Timing is everything. Limit your intake of sugary, acidic foods and drinks to mealtimes – these are the times when your protective saliva production is working on overdrive. Snacking on sweet things, however small in quantity, all day is much worse for your teeth, as you are constantly exposing your teeth to sugar and acid attacks.

Almost. There are a few patients for whom whitening may not be advisable, which is why it’s imperative to only have teeth bleaching done by a qualified dental professional.

The dentist is your only option if you want your whitening to work and you want it to be safe. Unlike over-the-counter or online products, professional whitening means the dentist can prescribe the highest-strength bleaching agent for you, yet adjust it if it causes any problems. This means you’ll get the best possible results with the least discomfort.

If you’re interested in whitening your teeth, you will first need to attend a consultation at Hassocks Dental Surgery. Your dentist will carry out a full examination before confirming you’re a good candidate for whitening. If whitening is the right treatment for you, your dentist will take your dental impressions, which will be sent to a lab where your custom-fit bleaching trays will be manufactured. Unlike generic bleaching trays, lab-made trays exactly fit the contours of your gum line, protecting your gums and targeting your teeth more accurately.

Whitening is like setting back the clock on the colour of your teeth – so they will start to darken again with age and to collect stains again, just as they would if you’d never had them whitened. The key to keeping your teeth white as long as possible, whether you have them whitened or not, is avoiding the foods and drinks that stain teeth and maintaining your dental hygiene routine. You can also use your bespoke whitening trays for top-up treatments that you can get from your dentist.

No, the whitening gel only affects natural teeth – so if you are having dental restorations such as crowns and bridges, make sure you talk to your dentist about whitening too. It’s recommended that whitening is carried out first so that restorations can be colour-matched to your newly brightened teeth.

Dentures are the most cost-effective solution to missing teeth and will enable you to eat and speak with confidence.

Dentures are custom made in a dental lab, using your dental impressions to get the exact fit. A trial denture is usually made to check the fit before the final, permanent version is made.

A partial denture fills the gap left behind by one or more missing teeth, and clips to your existing teeth. It can be easily unclipped and removed for cleaning. A full or complete denture is used when all the upper or lower teeth are missing, and fits snugly over your gums. It must be removed daily for cleaning.

Dentures can feel strange to begin with but most patients grow accustomed to them very quickly. As well as getting used to wearing them, you’ll also need to start a strict routine for cleaning them every morning and night; neglected dentures can cause a number of dental problems, from bad breath and oral thrush to gum disease and tooth decay.

Clean them as you would your normal teeth – once in the morning and once at night. The routine requires you to brush them with soapy water only (as toothpaste can be abrasive), soak them with soluble denture-cleaning tablets to remove stains and bacteria, then brush again. If you’re taking your dentures out to sleep, keep them moist to stop them from drying out and changing shape. You’ll need to visit the dentist regularly to make sure your dentures are fitting and functioning correctly.

A dental implant is a high-tech plug that replaces your tooth root. It’s surgically implanted into the jaw using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques, and is made from a super-strong, biocompatible material – usually titanium – to which your jaw bone will eventually bond, a process known as ‘osseointegration’. Once this has happened, a prosthetic tooth can be affixed onto the implant which looks and feels totally natural whilst delivering excellent function.

Implants can only be considered for healthy mouths – so some patients may find that the process of getting implants will first require other dental work, such as bone grafting, gum surgery or orthodontics. Make an appointment at Hassocks Dental Surgery for an initial consultation to assess your suitability for implants.

Implant surgery is normally carried out under local anaesthetic with options for sedation available. There may be some swelling for a few days after the procedure. Your dentist will supply you with a comprehensive aftercare plan.

Absolutely. Dental implants are a long-established treatment, supported by over 30 years of clinical evidence and a 95% success rate or higher. Implants actually help improve the health of your jaw by increasing blood flow to an area that would otherwise atrophy.

Dental implants take a few months in total, from the initial assessment to the fitting of the final crown.

Even if they haven’t got any teeth, we recommend that all children are seen by a dentist before their first birthday, and this can be as simple as bringing them with you during your own check-up. This will not only eliminate any potential risks, but also establishes the dentist as a familiar and fun place to be.

As soon as those milk teeth come through! Even babies can start getting used to the idea of brushing, and the earlier you give them a toothbrush, the more likely they are to comply with oral hygiene in the future. As more teeth come through, brush regularly and then encourage them to attempt their own brushing while you supervise.

From birth to 3 years, use a flat smear of toothpaste with 1000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride in it. After the age of 3, a small pea-sized amount can be used. Children learn good habits from watching what happens in the home, and you can set a good example by brushing and flossing your own teeth twice a day.

Sucking is a natural reflex in a young child and a dummy may be a useful aide to help soothe your baby. The important thing is never to dip the dummy in anything sweet and never use a dummy that has juice in it.

If your child reaches the age of 5 and still sucks their thumb or fingers habitually, it may be time to start gently discouraging them, as this is the age when intensive sucking can cause speech or orthodontic problems. Your dentist should be able to advise you on the best course of action.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that prevents cavities and is highly beneficial to teeth, which is why it’s routinely added to toothpaste. At Hassocks Dental Surgery, we offer children fluoride varnish, a quick and completely painless procedure that is excellent for preventing child tooth decay.

Fissure sealants are often recommended when the permanent molars erupt, and consist of a plastic seal that is smoothed over the tooth surface, preventing food getting stuck in those hard-to-brush areas.