Do you visit the dentist regularly enough? At Danny de Villiers Dentist in Weybridge we welcome new patients of all ages for general dental check-ups and preventative dental care. From young children whose first teeth are starting to appear to older people who wear full dentures, you are never too young or old to benefit from quality dental care.
The general advice may be to visit your dentist for a check-up every six months, but some people need to come in more frequently. We may ask to see you more often at our Weybridge clinic if:

• You have a lowered immune system (for example, through a medical condition or after chemotherapy), which can increase your chances of dental infection.
• You have a genetic predisposition to easily developing plaque or tooth cavities.
• You are pregnant – pregnancy hormones can affect your dental health, for example through pregnancy gingivitis or enamel erosion caused by morning sickness.
• You have a condition such as gum disease that needs regular treatment and/or monitoring.

It is best to follow the advice of your dentist and come in for a check-up at our Weybridge clinic as often as they tell you to.
At our Weybridge dental clinic, we use early detection techniques to spot symptoms of tooth decay and gum disease before you have noticed anything’s amiss. X-rays are used to check the state of the inside of your teeth, to make sure they are really as healthy as they look, as well as to check the condition of existing restorations such as fillings or crowns.
Tooth decay and gum disease both lead to tooth loss, which can have serious implications for your diet. Gum disease has also been linked to a wide range of general health conditions, so is best avoided or spotted early.
Your Weybridge dentist will check for early warning signs of mouth cancer as part of your standard dental check-up. This form of cancer has a high ratio of deaths to cases diagnosed, because it is often spotted at a late stage. Should your dentist spot anything untoward they will refer you immediately to a hospital consultant. Early detection vastly increases your chances of a full recovery.

At Danny de Villiers Dentist in Weybridge, we are passionate about preventative dentistry. We aim to stop problems before they start, and treat them promptly and permanently if we discover any intervention is needed. We welcome new patients of all ages for general dental treatments.
Most people need to visit the dentist for general check-ups every six to 12 months. Some people need to visit more frequently, and you should always follow your dentist’s advice. Conditions such as gum disease may require monitoring and ongoing treatment, which will necessitate more regular visits to the dental practice.
When you come to our Weybridge practice for a check-up, your dentist will take a detailed dental and medical history, and will conduct a thorough clinical examination. This includes a standard mouth cancer check – studies have shown that cases of mouth cancer are on the increase, and as with any form of cancer, early detection and prompt intervention are pivotal in maximising your chances of making a full recovery.
If your dentist does spot anything suspicious, they will refer you to a hospital consultant for further investigation. Any other treatment that is required will be included in your treatment plan.
Looking after your gums is just as important as looking after your teeth. Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in the UK, and again early intervention is important. We also offer hygiene appointments at our Weybridge clinic; the dental hygienist has a vital role in the fight against gum disease, and can provide you with bespoke home care advice as well as professionally cleaning your teeth.
We use lasers for many procedures at our Weybridge dental practice, ensuring that you will enjoy a pain-free treatment journey.

Gum disease is the inflammation of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth. It is most commonly a result of poor dental hygiene. It’s a serious disease and, in worst cases, can even lead to loss of teeth.
Many habits and factors could lead to gum disease, including plaque, smoking, and some forms of medication. But did you know there is such a thing as genetic susceptibility? Did you know you can actually inherit gum disease?
The Genetic Pool
According to scientific research, there is indeed a hereditary factor in the development of gum problems. Up to 30% of the population may have genetic susceptibility to periodontal disease, which means they are genetically predisposed toward certain gum problems.
Genetic tests can now be used to determine susceptibility and early intervention can help make sure a person’s oral health is in check, along with other extra measures. This does not mean, however, that those who do not have this genetic misfortune should be complacent about their oral hygiene.
Extra Measures
If you notice frequent bleeding and swelling in your gums, speak with Danny de Villiers Dentist, your local dentist here in Weybridge, immediately. We will help you find out if you are genetically predisposed and we will recommend and even implement the necessary extra measures.
It’s also important you make sure you are well-informed about your family history of gum problems so we can work together and pay attention to the risks you may be exposed to. Moreover, as your children grow up, it’s vital you teach them proper oral health care.
While genes play a proven factor in the likelihood of gum disease, it’s more often caused by plaque build-up. When not removed, plaque begins to harden and becomes tartar, which causes gum inflammation and irritation. This is known as gingivitis, the mildest form of periodontal disease.
This could lead to further inflammation that can cause loss of tissue, bone and teeth. Prevent this from happening to your own gums by maintaining proper oral health care and getting regular dental check-ups. Get in touch with us and set an appointment for more information about gum care.

The recession of the gum is one condition that has direct effects on your dental health. Most people have no idea that their gums are already receding, as it happens gradually.
This condition happens to everyone, even those who brush and floss and gargle religiously. It comes with serious repercussions, some of which affect the function and appearance of your teeth. For one, your teeth may get loose and gaps between them become more visible.  As the gums wear away, the teeth may appear awkwardly long. This condition also exposes the root of the tooth, which results in sensitivity.
Gum recession happens due to a number of reasons. Here are some of them:
Gum Diseases
Periodontal diseases make your gum sensitive and vulnerable to infection and inflammation. Infections cause the gum to recede. In some cases, these diseases cause the detachment of the gum from the tooth.
Problematic Bite
Crooked teeth and misaligned bites induce the receding of the gums. This happens because the distribution of the jaw and teeth’s mechanical forces is uneven. The application of too much force on the gums and other parts of the teeth pushes and wears away the gums.
Aggressive Brushing
Brushing too much creates mechanical forces that may scrape the gums, which then leads to eventual recession. The rate of recession also depends on the bristles of the brush. Hard bristles are more likely to change the surface of the gums.
Genetics
Genetics also plays a role in the health of your gums. If your parents, grandparents, or anyone in the family has experienced gum recession in the past, then you are likely to develop the same condition.
Other causes of gum recession can be considered secondary. Examples include smoking, which causes periodontal diseases, problematic orthodontic treatment and physical trauma, which cause unnecessary mechanical stress and pressure. To learn more about how you can effectively maintain the health of your gums and teeth, contact us today or browse through the rest of our website.

Stress takes a toll not just on your emotional health, but also on your teeth. A growing body of research asserts that high levels of stress in the body and lifestyle habits associated with the health problem may lead to periodontal disease, which can increase risk for bone loss.
Hormonal Changes
Researchers and dental practitioners speculate that the hormone released during stress called cortisol, can suppress the immune system, which may allow bacteria to thrive in the mouth. This may lead to severe damage to the gums and jaw bone, if bacteria build up over time.
Gum infection, in turn, can have a devastating impact on the immune system. Dentists explain that the kind of infection present in moderate to advanced periodontal disease not only involves several, toxic bacteria, but these microorganisms can penetrate the bloodstream and travel to the lungs, making patients vulnerable to health problems other than gum infection.
Lifestyle Habits
Stress causes people to develop unhealthy lifestyle habits which may affect oral health; this includes neglect of oral hygiene, poor diet and smoking. These factors can all contribute to increased risk for periodontal disease. Let us explore each of these elements.
Neglect of oral hygiene. The key to excellent oral health is proper hygiene. People under stress tend to disregard dental care; this allows accumulation of plaque, which is the primary cause of gum infections.
Dietary changes. Stress involves dealing with a lot of emotions; if not expressed and controlled properly, these emotional conditions may change eating habits, including food choices, amount of food eaten, etc. These factors may indirectly contribute to poor dental health.
For example, a person may choose to eat refined carbohydrates more frequently; in the long run, this will cause excessive build-up of plaque in the mouth.
Smoking. Some people resort to smoking as a way of relieving stress. This habit, however, can aggravate periodontal conditions. Nicotine causes vasoconstriction, or the constriction of blood vessels, which raises blood pressure.
This condition causes lack of nutrients for the periodontal tissue, which predisposes the person to gum infections. What’s worse is, when smokers develop gum disease, treatment is more difficult, as smoking slows down healing in the mouth.
Stress affects not just emotional well-being, but also oral health. To prevent gum infections, reducing stress is necessary. People should find healthy ways to cope with stress and break the bad habits. It is also important to visit the dentist regularly to properly monitor dental health, identify possible signs of gum disease and treat the condition as early as possible. Contact us today so we can help you deal with gum disease.