Gum Treatments

The area of dentistry that deals with gum disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and dental implant insertion is known as periodontics, also known as gum treatments. Your best dentist for gum treatments in Dublin.

How does gum disease occur?

The accumulation of germs in plaque, a sticky, colourless film that frequently forms on your teeth, is what gives rise to gum disease. This build up can be removed by regular brushing, flossing and hygienist treatment, which will stop gum disease from worsening. If plaque is permitted to accumulate, it will irritate the gums, causing them to swell and bleed. It’s called gingivitis. Excellent at-home care and hygienist care can effectively cure and reverse gingivitis.

Periodontitis risk increases if gingivitis is not treated and plaque accumulation continues. When bacteria levels rise to this level, the fibres around the tooth are harmed, leading to pockets and ultimately bone loss.

How do I maintain my new smile?

It is crucial that you keep up a good standard of oral hygiene both during and after treatment.

This is possible by:

Consistent brushing: three times daily is advised

Routinely using fluoride-free alcohol-free mouthwash

Routinely using interdental brushes

Consume lots of fruit and keep to a low-sugar diet; stay away from sticky candies, cookies, gum, fizzy beverages, etc.

Having regular dental check-ups

Your improved teeth and improved beauty will result from your new smile. Please take good care of your new smile because neglect can result in discoloration, rotting, gum issues, and a host of other issues.

Oral Hygiene

The foundation of optimal oral health is good oral hygiene. Dental decay, gum disease, and bad breath can all be avoided by maintaining a clean mouth. Excellent at-home care is required to do this. Additionally, routine visits to our dental hygienists will guarantee that difficult-to-reach regions of the mouth, like below the gum line or around dental implants, are thoroughly cleaned.

General Advice for oral health

All patients can achieve their ideal level of dental health. Cleaning the teeth with a toothbrush, which removes around 80% of their surface, is the first step in at-home maintenance. The second phase involves cleaning in between the teeth with floss or Tepe brushes, which target that difficult-to-reach 20%. The third step entails continuing to live a healthy lifestyle, which includes giving up smoking, consuming less alcohol, eating well, and controlling stress. The final step is professional care, which includes routine trips to the dentist and hygienist.

Brushing Tips

We advise brushing your teeth at least twice a day, in the morning and at night, and if feasible, just after lunch. It should take you about two minutes to finish if you are brushing properly. Make sure you utilise the proper brushing technique and reach all of the surfaces of your teeth by checking yourself in the mirror.

On your toothbrush, dab a pea-sized dollop of fluoride toothpaste.
Start by brushing the outside of the teeth. Where the gums and teeth meet, place the brush at a 45-degree angle. The brush’s bristles will cover the tooth in half and the gums in the other half. Apply a few short, delicate strokes backwards and forwards with the brush.
When brushing, apply some light pressure
Unless we tell you otherwise, use a soft tufted toothbrush.
Following the same instructions, clean the inside of the teeth once you have completed cleaning the outside surfaces of all your teeth.

Spit out toothpaste after finishing. Avoid rinsing your mouth because doing so will lessen the toothpaste’s medicinal effects.

At least once every three months, you should replace your toothbrush.

Professional Care

Dental plaque and tartar can be reduced by regularly brushing and flossing your teeth, but a professional cleaning will be able to remove the tartar build-up in places that your toothbrush and floss have missed.

We have one piece of advice. To guarantee that your teeth and gums stay healthy and feel fantastic for the rest of your life, schedule routine visits with your dentist and hygienist.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sedation Dentistry feel like?

You will remain conscious and able to talk during your dental sedation in Smile Hub Dental Clinic. You will be able to understand and respond to our dental team. Intravenous sedation induces a state of deep relaxiation and you will be very comfortable throughout your dental treatment. The drugs used for sedation can cause partial or complete memory loss for the period of time that the drug is working until it wears off. You will feel that time passes quickly and you will not recall much about your dental treatment. You may in fact feel that you were ‘asleep’ during the procedure even though you weren’t.

Call us in Smile Hub Dental Clinic in North Dublin today or Book Online Now to arrange your nervous dental patient conscious sedation consultation.

Is local anaesthetic still needed?

Yes the drugs used for intravenous sedation are anti-anxiety drugs that relax you but you will still need to be numbed for your treatment. However, you will not be numbed until the intravenous sedation has taken effect. If you have a phobia of needles you will be really relaxed before the local anaesthetic injection is administered.

How is Sedation administered?

Intravenous sedation is administered into your vein. A thin needle is placed in your vein close to the skin in your arm or in the back of the hand. During the procedure your blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels will be closely monitored. A typical sedation appointment ususally lasts 90 minutes.

What drug is used for my sedation dentistry?

At Smile Hub Dental Clinic in Bayside Medical Centre we use a benzodiazepine called midazolam.

Is sedation safe?

Yes, at Smile Hub Dental Clinic all of our sedation dentists have undergone an 18 month postgraduate Diploma in Conscious Sedation.

Contraindications to having sedation with dental treatment:

Sleep apnoea
Known allergy to benzodiazepine
Alcohol intoxication
Impaired renal or liver function
Pregnancy and breast feeding

Advantages of Conscious Sedation

Conscious sedation makes dental treatment relaxing and comfortable for patients with moderate to severe dental anxiety. The onset of action is rapid and the level of sedation can be tailored to the patient’s individual needs. A deeper level of sedation can be achieved with intravenous sedation compared to inhalation sedation.
Conscious sedation makes traumatic surgical procedures relaxing and comfortable for the patient. Benzodiazepines produce amnesia.
Patient’s with gag and swallow reflexes can have their dental treatment undertaken in comfort
Conscious sedation relieves stress for patients with mild medical conditions such as hypertension and asthma whose conditions can be aggravated by the stress of dental treatment
Conscious sedation makes dental treatment more comfortable for patients with mild intellectual and physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy

The following after care dental sedation advice is given by your dentist inSmile Hub Dental Clinic:

Have your escort take you home in private transport so that you can rest for the remainder of the day. You must be looked after by a responsible adult for 24 hours
Do not drive for 24 hours or operate any machinery or domestic appliances
Do not perform strenuous or hazardous activities such as mowing the lawn for 24 hours
Eat light meals for the remainder of the day
Do not drink alcohol, return to work, make important decisions or sign any legal documents for 24 hours
Take any medications that you have been prescribed at their usual times

What are the advantages of Conscious Sedation during dental treatment?

At Smile Hub Dental Clinic we educate our nervous patients on the following benefits of having conscious sedation with their dental treatment:

Conscious sedation makes dental treatment relaxing and comfortable for patients with moderate to severe dental anxiety. The onset of action is rapid and the level of sedation can be tailored to the patient’s individual needs. A deeper level of sedation can be achieved with intravenous sedation compared to inhalation sedation.
Conscious sedation makes traumatic surgical procedures relaxing and comfortable for the patient. Benzodiazepines produce amnesia.
Patient’s with gag and swallow reflexes can have their dental treatment undertaken in comfort
Conscious sedation relieves stress for patients with mild medical conditions such as hypertension and asthma whose conditions can be aggravated by the stress of dental treatment
Conscious sedation makes dental treatment more comfortable for patients with mild intellectual and physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy

What happens after I have sedation for my dental treatment in Smile Hub Dental Clinic?

Your dentist in Smile Hub Dental Clinic will go through what to expect before, during and after your dental treatment with sedation.

Have your escort take you home in private transport so that you can rest for the remainder of the day. You must be looked after by a responsible adult for 24 hours
Do not drive for 24 hours or operate any machinery or domestic appliances
Do not perform strenous or hazardous activities such as mowing the lawn for 24 hours
Eat light meals for the remainder of the day
Do not drink alcohol, return to work, make important decisions or sign any legal documents for 24 hours
Take any medications that you have been prescribed at their usual times