As well as doing all the work that a dental hygienist does, a dental therapist can also carry out some dental procedures that patients are more used to a dentist doing.
A dental therapist can do fillings, extract ‘baby’ teeth, place preformed crowns on baby teeth and do treatments using all the materials a dentist would use. As long as an adult tooth does not need treatment to the nerve of the tooth, a dental therapist can fill or restore any part of the tooth that needs treatment.
They are able to see patients for emergency appointments (if patients have no pain), offering a temporary solution or permanent fixture where possible to lost fillings, broken teeth or lost crowns, this will be decided in your appointment.
Generally, the lower your risk of dental problems, the longer you can wait before your next check-up. So people with good oral health will probably need to attend only once every 12 months, but those with more problems will need check-ups more often.
Your dentist should s
uggest when you should have your next check-up based on how good your oral health is. If you have problems with your teeth between check-ups, contact your dental surgery to make an appointment.
It is recommended that patients book their next check-up at the reception desk when leaving the practice as there is a 9-12 month wait for check-up appointments.
Find out more NHS information and fees here
There are a number of things you can try to help with teeth grinding including:
