Common Dental Problems

There are many reasons people visit a dental clinic. Sometimes emergency dental appointments are required if a tooth is broken, a dental abscess develops or gums start bleeding excessively. Normally however, dental problems are identified during routine dental appointments and a second appointment is scheduled to provide treatment.

Tooth decay

Tooth cavities caused by decay in the tooth enamel are the most common dental problem. Dentists treat tooth cavities with dental fillings and dental hygienists will clean the teeth and gums to remove any surrounding decay to prevent further cavities.

Gum disease

Gum disease can cause sore, bleeding gums and damage teeth, leading to tooth loss if untreated.

Missing teeth

Teeth can fall out because of decay, injury to the mouth, gum disease or may need to be removed to prevent further tooth decay or to make room in an overcrowded jaw. Dentists have a range of dental solutions to replace missing teeth from dental implants to dentures.

Chipped/broken teeth

Teeth that are broken or chipped are more sensitive and it is easier for tooth decay to develop in fractured tooth enamel. Correcting the chip or fracture is done using veneers, dental crowns or simple tooth bonding. Minor chips in teeth may not cause any dental harm but patients may want to repair the chips to improve the appearance of teeth.

Dental abscess

Tooth abscesses appear as a result of infection in the mouth or gum or as a result of severe tooth decay. Dental abscesses are common in patients who require root canal treatment to repair deep tooth cavities.

Stained teeth

Stained teeth do not affect your oral health, however teeth that are discolored can affect the way you feel about your appearance. If the stain are superficial, a deep root scale and polish by dental hygienists may remove the stains and there will be no need for further dental treatment. If the stains are ingrained in teeth, tooth whitening options are available to restore the natural brightness of teeth, while porcelain crowns and veneers can be attached to stained teeth to restore damaged teeth and disguise the stains on teeth.   

Jaw pain

Jaw pain may be because of overcrowding in the jaw or a misalignment of teeth. Tooth extraction and dental braces will be recommended if there are too many, or severely misaligned teeth in the gum. Many people suffer from TMJ syndrome – a disease affecting the temporomandibular joint connecting the jaw to the skull. TMJ problems cause severe jaw ache and restrict the patients ability to open the mouth. Dentists have a range of non-surgical therapeutic dental treatments to help relieve the pain caused by TMJ.

Related guides

• Tooth Decay
• Missing teeth
• Chipped/ broken teeth
• Dental Abscesses
• Stained teeth
• Jaw pain

Other guides

• Dental Hygiene
• Gum disease
• Childrens' Dentistry
• Teeth whitening
• Reconstructive dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Dental Implants
• Dental Crowns
• Cosmetic Dentistry
• Dental Veneers
• Dental Treatment in Mexico

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