If you have crooked or wonky teeth then you might have considered having orthodontic treatment to straighten them, but might have thought the effects to be purely cosmetic. While most people have their teeth straightened to make them look better, the benefits to oral health can be considerable. People who have misaligned or crowded and crooked teeth are more likely to have tooth decay and gum disease. The simple reason for this is that it is harder to clean misaligned teeth properly and this can result in plaque building up just below the gum line and in between the teeth, increasing the risk of disease.

Gum disease and tooth decay are problems we frequently encounter in patients visiting our Leeds surgery, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Today’s orthodontic treatments are more accessible and affordable than ever before. They can produce significant results within a shorter space of time and are often near invisible. These treatments are ideal for busy people who need something that will fit in with their lifestyle.

Modern Orthodontics Are Easy, Fast and Affordable

Leeds City Dentalcare uses two different methods of inconspicuously straightening teeth, and one of these is the Inman Aligner orthodontic system. This is a removable orthodontic appliance that can align the front teeth extremely quickly. It uses gentle forces that have a very large range of movement. The actual process involves the use of nickel titanium coil springs that apply force to the two aligner bows that oppose each other. The appliance needs to be worn for between 16 and 20 hours each day, and will need to be checked by Dr David Brown or another dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare every few weeks. The majority of cases can be completed between six weeks and five months. The exact timeline is something that will be discussed with you when you visit our Leeds surgery for your assessment. The other system used by our Leeds surgery involves the use of clear aligners that need to be worn for approximately 22 hours each day.

Both systems are able to produce very good results, leading to improvements in overall appearance and oral health within a very short period of time. While they can give impressive results, they are not right for everyone, but this is something we can advise you on when you visit our Leeds surgery for an assessment.

Orthodontic treatment not only improves gum health, but is also an ideal treatment to have prior to a smile makeover. Having your teeth straightened can make it much easier to perfect a smile, and can mean treatment can be more conservative. The Inman Aligner can help to straighten teeth so fewer veneers are required, conserving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible.

If you are still trying to decide whether or not to get your teeth straightened then preventative dental care can help to reduce your risk of gum disease. This includes visiting our Leeds surgery regularly for a check-up and a scale and polish, and having great oral care at home. Next time you visit us then why not ask for tips and advice on how to clean your teeth more effectively? We are always more than happy to help.

Your diet can affect your teeth in several different ways. For instance it can increase the risk of oral cancer, the risk of oral diseases, and having a poor diet as a child can affect the way the facial bones develop. However the main way your diet affects your teeth is far more direct, as your choice of foods can influence whether or not you develop dental decay which is sometimes called dental caries.

Tooth decay is the second most prevalent disorder to the common cold, and although it’s more commonly seen in children and young adults, it can happen to anyone at any age. Once tooth decay does occur it is irreversible. It is caused by the action of plaque bacteria in the mouth that convert the foods you eat into energy for their own usage, producing acid as a side effect. This acid attacks the tooth enamel, softening and weakening it and increasing the risk of decay. Some foods are more attractive than others to the bacteria present in your mouth.

Starchy and Sugary Foods

Foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugars are most easily converted into acids by bacteria in your mouth. If you like to eat a lot of these types of foods then you are probably more at risk of developing cavities. The risk increases if you like to snack frequently as opposed to having regular meals. Some sugary foods such as dried fruits and sweets are worse than others, as these tend to be sticky and will be in contact with the teeth for a lot longer.

Foods That Are Naturally High in Acid

Some foods are more acidic than others, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, berries and blackcurrants, and these will present more of a risk to teeth even though they can be good for overall health. Other foods that are naturally acidic include white wine and coffee. However the worst offenders are often soft drinks which contain both citric acids and sugar. It’s far better to swap out these drinks for something more tooth friendly such as plain water, milk or heavily diluted fruit juice.

Foods That Are Tooth Friendly

In contrast some foods are more tooth friendly, and are more likely to be recommended by dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare. A Swedish study found that eating cheese and milk products could decrease the risk of developing cavities as these foods contain calcium and phosphate, both of which are essential for building healthy teeth. These foods also seem to offer some protection against tooth decay. While some acidic fruits might not be so good for teeth, in general a diet that’s high in crunchy fruits and vegetables is pretty tooth friendly. The reason for this is that chewing these foods helps to stimulate the production of saliva which in turn washes away harmful bacteria and acids.

If you do eat something that’s less than kind to your teeth then it does pay to wait a while before brushing so that the pH levels in your mouth can return to normal. If you can’t brush after a meal then chewing sugar-free gum can also be helpful. Of course regular dental care with Dr David Brown or any of the other dentists in Leeds is essential. If you do have any small signs of decay then these can be treated relatively easily.

Acid reflux is a common condition, but not everyone is aware that it can affect your teeth. The stomach contains extremely strong acids as these are necessary for digestion.  During an attack the acids from the stomach travels up the oesophagus and into the mouth.

The proper name for acid reflux is gastroesophageal reflux disease and it is caused by the small muscle at the base of the oesophagus functioning incorrectly. This muscle is called the lower oesophageal sphincter and when it is functioning properly it prevents the stomach juices from coming up into the mouth. If this muscle inadvertently relaxes and opens up at the wrong times then the stomach acids will rise up from the stomach, into the oesophagus and up into the mouth.

Some people are unaware they even have this condition as it can be completely painless and can present very few symptoms. One sign that it may be happening is noticing a sour taste in your mouth. It could be that the first time it is diagnosed is when you visit Leeds City Dentalcare for a check-up, as if it’s been happening for quite some time you may have signs of dental erosion.

What is Dental Erosion?

Dental erosion is where the enamel layer on the outer surface of the teeth becomes damaged by acids. A clean and healthy mouth normally has a fairly neutral pH level and only becomes acidic after you have eaten. When the pH levels become more acidic then this has the effect of removing essential ions such as calcium and phosphate from the tooth enamel. The end result is that the tooth enamel becomes softer and more vulnerable towards decay.

Signs that this may be happening include noticing:

• Increased sensitivity towards certain foods and food temperatures
• Discolouration as the teeth may appear yellower due to the tooth enamel becoming thinner and exposing more of the dentine layer underneath
• Teeth look more irregular and may even appear to be cracked or chipped as the enamel erodes
• Small indentations or pitting on the surfaces of the teeth

If Dr David Brown or another of our dentists notices signs of acid erosion in your teeth then they will suggest various methods of combating this problem. Using fluoride toothpaste will help to strengthen your teeth, and you should just spit out the excess after brushing rather than rinsing your mouth with water as this will enable some of the fluoride ions to remain in the saliva little longer, prolonging the protective effect. It may also pay to use fluoride mouthwash to help prevent this erosion becoming any worse. If the dental erosion is already quite significant then it could be necessary to bond the tooth with composite resin to help protect it from further damage. Occasionally it might even be necessary to crown the affected tooth to protect it against decay.

Helping to Prevent the Symptoms of Acid Reflux

It will also help tremendously if you manage to get your acid reflux under control, and some people manage to do this by making adjustments to their diet and lifestyle. It could be that the symptoms are triggered by particular foods including fatty foods, creamy foods, chocolate, caffeine and alcohol, and avoiding these products may help lessen the symptoms. Some people also find it helpful to avoid eating big meals, and to eat several small meals throughout the day instead. It’s also worth contacting your dentist in Leeds for help and advice as they may be able to prescribe medications, or could even recommend surgery.

Did you know excess drinking could potentially damage your gums? Researchers have found that people who are heavy drinkers are up to three times as likely to have severe gum disease or periodontal disease compared to those who only drink occasionally or who abstain completely. The figures are even worse if you choose to smoke, as this is well known to increase the risk of periodontal disease.

What Is the Link between Periodontal Disease and Excess Alcohol?

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that promotes an inflammatory response from the body as it tries to fight the bacteria responsible for the infection. The results can be extremely destructive, as periodontitis can destroy the ligaments holding the teeth in place, the gum tissue and the bone supporting the teeth. Having a strong immune system is essential to help fight this disease, but apparently alcohol impairs the body’s immunologic defence mechanisms. This means that the bacteria responsible for the infection can continue to thrive, penetrating the gingival or gum tissues.

In addition alcohol has a drying effect on the mouth making it more difficult for the bacteria to be washed away by saliva. This means bacteria can build up more quickly, causing plaque to form at a faster rate. It’s thought consuming in excess of 10 drinks per week could increase the risk of periodontal disease. One particular study found that increasing alcohol consumption from five units to 20 units per week could increase the risk of periodontal disease from 10% to 40%.

Reducing the Risk of Periodontal Disease

While one way to help reduce the risk of periodontal disease is simply to have as a healthy a lifestyle is possible, preventative dental care plays a huge part. This is why we urge you to visit Leeds City Dentalcare at regular intervals, regardless of whether or not you like a drink or two.

Early intervention is essential in treating gum disease, and can help reverse the disease before it causes any permanent damage to the gums. At this stage dentist in Leeds can advise you on how to reverse these early signs, called gingivitis. Our dental hygienists in Leeds will professionally clean your teeth, helping to remove much of the infection and inflammation. You’ll also be given lots of advice on how to practice good oral care at home, including how to brush properly so you reach right down to the gum line and just below the gums, and how to floss properly.

You can also help yourself by ensuring you eat healthily, and that you keep your intake of sugary foods to a minimum as this will help to limit the amount of bacterial growth in your mouth. Drinking plenty of water will help increase the flow of saliva which in turn helps to wash away plaque bacteria, slowing the production of plaque.

Following a good home care regime should help return your gums to health within a very short period of time. It’s important to persevere even if your gums bleed whenever you clean them as this bleeding should lessen and eventually cease as the gum tissue becomes stronger and less infected.

Humans have a grand total of fifty two teeth in their lifetime, which includes twenty baby teeth, and up to thirty two adult teeth. Although some people have supernumerary teeth, or teeth that appear in addition to the normal quota of teeth, these are relatively uncommon and are often quite small or peg shaped. In contrast American alligators have around eighty teeth, but are able to regenerate them roughly once a year. This can mean that an alligator has approximately 4,000 teeth during its lifetime, replacing its entire set of teeth fifty times. This ability to regenerate is obviously of great interest, given that Leeds City Dentalcare frequently sees patients who are missing one or more teeth.

A team of researchers carried out a detailed study of alligator teeth to see if they could understand how this occurred. Alligators have replacement teeth waiting in the tooth bed, something that is called the dental lamina and these experiments enabled the researchers to see exactly what happened to the mature and developing teeth. Their conclusion was that the dental lamina contains stem cells to help re-grow teeth. The next step is to see if those stem cells can be isolated and used to regenerate teeth in laboratory conditions.

In The Meantime Preventative Dentistry is your Best Option

This type of research is very exciting, but is probably decades away from producing a viable solution to re-growing missing teeth. In the meantime your best option is to make sure you have a good preventative dentistry regime. Your six monthly check-ups with our dentist in Leeds are an important part of this, as are your appointments for a scale and polish.

Preventative dentistry enables Dr David Brown, or other members of our dental team to check your mouth for any early signs of disease. At this stage you are unlikely to be aware anything is wrong as there probably won’t be any discomfort.  The beauty of catching these early signs is that any treatment will be minimal, quicker to complete, and easier on the wallet.

Preventative Dentistry and Gum Disease

Gum disease is a real problem, and is one of the main reasons teeth are lost. The early signs can be easy to miss but are something that will be picked up on during your dental check-up. The health of your gums will be assessed, and a probe is used to measure the depths of the gum tissue nearest to the teeth. Healthy gums have a depth of between 3-4mm, whereas those with gum disease will have depths in excess of these figures. Regular measurements provide your dental team with a good picture of your gum health. If you subsequently develop any early signs of gum disease then quick action will ensure it doesn’t create any lasting damage.

Treatment for early gum disease, or gingivitis usually involves having your teeth thoroughly cleaned to help remove the first signs of inflammation in the gums. The next step is to make sure you pay closer attention to brushing and flossing each day, and your gums should improve within a few weeks. Preventing gum disease is vital, as this disease has been linked with numerous other health conditions including heart disease and diabetes.

Regular preventative dental care will help your mouth to remain healthy, improving the chances of your teeth lasting a lifetime. Booking a scale and polish at the same time will freshen up your smile and your breath, so although you may not have as many teeth as an alligator, they’ll definitely look better.

A recent study published in the Journal of Periodontal Research found that blackberry extract has antibacterial properties that could help to treat or even prevent gum disease. Apparently researchers looked at the antimicrobial effect of blackberry extract and tested it on 10 different oral bacteria. The results showed that the extract was able to significantly reduce the activity of two bacteria known to contribute towards periodontal or gum disease. These bacteria are called Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, and activity was reduced by 40%. The blackberry extract was also found to help inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans the primary bacteria found in the tooth decay by approximately 30%. Obviously this is just one study, but the findings might be promising for developing treatments for gum disease in the future.

It’s not the first time that blackberry extract has been studied, as it’s also been linked with being able to prevent the spread of cancer cells, and contains more antioxidants than other berries including blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and redcurrants.

A Balanced Diet Is Essential for Oral Health

Certainly all the dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare would agree having a balanced diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals and which contains plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables is important for oral health.  Foods such as fish oil, leafy green vegetables and fish are all thought to be important for gum health. Your body needs these nutrients to be able to fight gum disease, and a healthy diet will help ensure you have a healthy mouth. It’s also well worth getting into the habit of reading food labels, as many foods may have hidden sugars, and it’s a good way of helping you make healthier choices.

If you like to snack in between meals then your choice can make a huge difference to dental health. For instance if you choose foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugars then this will increase the acidity of your mouth for longer as they are an excellent source of energy for plaque bacteria. A better choice for snacking in between meals would be a small piece of low-fat cheese, low-fat yogurt or raw vegetables or fruit. If you want to have a drink then try to avoid having too much fruit juice as this can be high in sugars. A better choice is to drink diluted fruit juice or to simply have a glass of water or milk.

There’s No Escaping the Need for Great Dental Care

Whatever you choose to eat it’s still absolutely essential to have a great oral hygiene routine, as both tooth decay and gum disease are easily preventable. Everybody should be brushing their teeth for at least 2 minutes twice a day and should use good quality fluoride toothpaste. It’s also essential to floss once a day, or if you can’t get on with flossing to try other means of cleaning in between your teeth. For example many people find interdental brushes a lot easier to use, or you may wish to invest in a WaterPik that works by squirting water in between your teeth to remove plaque bacteria and excess food. These choices can be better for people with limited dexterity who find it difficult to manipulate dental floss.

Visiting our Leeds surgery at regular intervals for check-ups with Dr David Brown is also an important part of your preventative dental care regime. All of the dental team at Leeds City Dentalcare can give you lots of great advice on how to improve your daily dental regime as we believe patient education is extremely important. Our aim is for you to have all the tools and knowledge necessary to have a healthy smile.

Oral cancer is relatively uncommon, but it is on the increase. In 2010 there were 6,539 people in the UK diagnosed with this disease, and in the same year there were 1,985 deaths from oral cancer, which is more than testicular and cervical cancer combined. There are several well known risk factors for oral cancer and in 2011 a study estimated that 93% of oral and pharyngeal cancers in men and 85% of these cancers in women are linked to environmental and lifestyle factors.

Risk Factors for Oral Cancer

One of the biggest factors is tobacco usage and the same 2011 study estimated 70% of oral and pharyngeal cancers in men and 55% of these cancers in women were caused by smoking tobacco. Smokeless tobacco usage is also a risk factor as it’s still carcinogenic but its usage is rare in the UK. Another major risk is alcohol usage, and is estimated this accounts for 37% of oral and pharyngeal cancers in men and 17% in women. The risk increases according to alcohol intake, and is greater in smokers than in non-smokers. There is evidence that being infected with the human papillomavirus can increase the risk of cancer especially for cancers of the oropharynx. It’s estimated that approximately 14% of cancers in the oropharynx and 8% of cancers in the oral cavity may be linked to human papillomavirus infection.

Things that Might Reduce Your Risk of Oral Cancer

Having a good diet that includes plenty of vegetables and fruits can significantly reduce the risk of oral cancer, especially in people who drink or smoke. Obviously cutting down on drinking and smoking will reduce the risk considerably.

It’s also been discovered that taking aspirin weekly or monthly could help to cut the risk of developing head and neck cancers. A recent study at Queen’s University in Belfast found that taking a weekly or monthly dose of aspirin could reduce the risk of getting head and neck cancer by up to 22%. The study showed a significant reduction in the risk of these cancers in those aged between 55 and 74 who regularly took aspirin. Apparently it’s most effective in helping to prevent throat cancer, and it is thought aspirin may act as a chemopreventive agent. Although this is good news, experts have urged caution and are quick to point out that people shouldn’t think of taking aspirin just to try to mitigate the effects of bad diet or excess alcohol or tobacco usage.

Regular Dental Check-ups are an Important Preventative Measure

Even though oral cancer is quite rare, early diagnosis is very important and is a key part of your check-up with our dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare. Dr David Brown or whoever you’re seeing at our Leeds surgery will examine all your oral tissues for any signs of this disease. You can also help yourself by keeping an eye out for anything that looks unusual in your mouth. This may be a mouth ulcer that fails to heal within a few weeks, or feeling unusual swellings or lumps in your mouth. If caught early enough the survival rates for oral cancer are extremely high at nearly 90%. However one of the problems with this cancer is that it’s all too easy to miss which is why it’s important you don’t ignore reminders for your check-up at Leeds City Dentalcare.

The British Dental Health Foundation recently pointed out that children sitting SATs, GCSEs and A-levels could be at increased risk of dental decay. This is based on a recent study that assessed the oral health of a group of students, before, during and after their exams. Students who found the exams particularly stressful were found to have higher levels of tooth decay compared to those students who found exams less stressful. Apparently female students are more at risk than male students, and 18-year-olds are nearly twice as likely to develop tooth decay compared to 22-year-olds.

Good Dental Care Only Takes A Few Minutes Each Day

The research is interesting because there is plenty of information on how to reduce stress levels during exam time, but there’s very little on anything related to oral health. Anyone facing exams is likely to be studying hard, and it can be tempting to skip brushing and flossing each day. However it’s worth remembering this just takes a couple of minutes, and using good quality fluoride toothpaste will help protect the teeth against tooth decay. Just as importantly, keeping a clean healthy mouth also lessens the chances of catching other bugs which could hamper efforts to complete exams successfully. Lots of students choose to snack during revision and it’s quite common to pick sugary snacks and drinks to help give an extra burst of energy.

The Problem with Sugary Snacks

Sugar isn’t a particularly good choice as it only provides a short-term burst of energy and the effects quickly wear off. Consuming foods that give a longer and more sustained energy release could be more effective for concentration, and will obviously help oral health. The problem with snacking on sugary foods over a long period of time is that the teeth will come under acid attack for longer. Every time something sugary is eaten the plaque bacteria in the mouth get to work on the leftovers, producing acid as a by-product. This acid attacks the teeth and gums for up to an hour afterwards before the effects are gradually neutralised by saliva.

If this sounds like your kids then you can help them by trying to steer them in the direction of healthier snacks such as cheese and fruits and vegetables that are high in water or you can buy them some sugar-free gum to chew after eating something sweet. This helps to stimulate the flow of saliva, reducing the time taken to neutralise the acids in the mouth.

Great Dental Care Helps a Lot

Of course having great dental care helps a lot, and we hope you’re already regular visitors to Leeds City Dentalcare. If we’ve seen your children since they were young then we may have already recommended dental sealants to help protect the chewing surfaces of the back teeth against decay. Regular check-ups with Dr David Brown or any of our other dentist in Leeds will help ensure these dental sealants remain in good condition as they do need renewing periodically. Visiting our Leeds surgery will also help ensure that any early signs of dental decay are picked up quickly and can be treated before they cause any problems. Fluoride treatments can help to halt the progression of cavities, and if any dental fillings are required then hopefully they’ll be pretty small.

Lots of people struggle with their weight and increasing numbers are losing this battle. However it’s well worth making the effort, as while many of us know that’s being overweight has been linked to a number of serious health conditions such as Type II diabetes, heart disease and respiratory problems, there is also increasing evidence that it could affect your gum health. Scientists have recently reviewed previous research on obesity and gum disease and have found an association between both conditions.

Periodontal disease is an infectious disease that causes an inflammatory response in the body as it tries to fight the plaque bacteria. If it isn’t promptly treated then it will eat away at the jawbone and the ligaments surrounding the teeth. Particularly severe cases of periodontal disease can result in tooth loss. Another problem with periodontal disease is that it can cause the gum tissue around the tooth to become ulcerated as it pulls away from the tooth, creating deep pockets that make ideal living conditions for anaerobic plaque bacteria that don’t require oxygen to thrive. Eventually these bacteria will be able to enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body.

The Link between Periodontal Disease and Being Overweight

Being overweight can make this problem worse as the adipose tissue or fat contains substances that also prompt an inflammatory response in the body. This reduces the body’s ability to regulate appetite, and also affects the way it uses insulin to regulate glucose levels. Adipose fat can increase the production of the C reactive protein that has been linked to cardiovascular disease and which is thought to increase the risk of diabetes. This protein is also associated with gum disease and can be more prevalent in the gums of people with periodontal disease. These findings are nothing new, as this link was first noticed in animal studies carried out in the 70s. Since then a number of studies have confirmed the link in humans. What isn’t yet known is whether gum disease or obesity came first, but it’s very clear the link between the two diseases is the chronic inflammation that both are capable of causing in the body.

Although periodontal disease is usually more common in older people, another recent study has found a link between obesity and gum disease in those aged between 18 and 34. It’s thought this might be due to a change in dietary patterns as younger adults are consuming less milk and more soft drinks than in the past. This means they’re gaining less vitamins C and calcium, both of which are important for helping to protect the gums against periodontal disease. Another problem is that soft drinks tend to contain more sugar and are higher in calories, increasing the risk of putting on weight.

Periodontitis or gum disease is a real problem, and is one of the reasons that Leeds City Dentalcare requests patient’s book regular check-ups and professional cleanings. Dr David Brown or any of our dentists will be able to detect the early signs of gum disease before it progresses into periodontal disease. The early stages of gum disease or gingivitis are pretty easy to treat, and simply require that you pay much closer attention to your daily oral routine and that you brush and floss more thoroughly than before. Our dentist in Leeds are always more than willing to help patients improve on brushing techniques, as even if you think you’re doing a good job it can be easy to miss areas of the mouth, allowing this disease to gain a foothold.

Richard III was the last English monarch to die in battle and his remains that were recently revealed underneath a council car park, have shown much about his dental health. Apparently it wasn’t too good as our King was likely to have been a teeth grinder, a condition that is often stress-related, and he was also in poor oral health. There is evidence that he may have had several teeth extracted, something that probably was none too pleasant as this process was carried out by barber surgeons without the use of modern anaesthetics and equipment that we all take for granted today.

There is also evidence that he had decay in several of his teeth, as some of those right at the back are missing, and he almost certainly had a build-up of tartar or hardened plaque bacteria on his teeth. Interestingly these tartar deposits were less on some teeth than on others, showing that people during this time may have had a basic understanding about dental hygiene. It is expected that analysis of this tartar will give an insight as to which strains of bacteria were present at the time.

The king was unusual in that his diet was much richer in carbohydrates and sugars than the ordinary people of the time, increasing the chances of developing gum disease and tooth decay. History can be very interesting, but most of us are probably thankful we did not have to live in those times when dental technology had yet to make much progress. While Richard III may have had some excuse for having poor teeth there is no reason for Leeds residents to have poor oral health.

Decent Dental Care Can Make Your Teeth Last a Lifetime

Nowadays dentists, especially those at Leeds City Dentalcare, have the knowledge and the technology to take care of patients teeth. Combining great dental hygiene at home with regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings at our Leeds surgery will help keep your smile looking good for longer, and will ensure you don’t have any significant tartar build ups on your teeth. Our surgery believes patient education is very important, and our dental team can advise you on how best to improve your oral hygiene, and can even demonstrate techniques to make this daily task easier. Access to fluoride toothpaste, quality toothbrushes and dental floss are something we all take for granted, and when properly used can really make a difference in getting and maintaining oral health.

If you are like royalty, and are prone to grinding your teeth, then it does pay to take action to protect them, and to try to break this habit. We can supply you with a mouthguard that can be worn overnight, and which will protect your teeth while you are asleep, and we can suggest various things you can try to help bring down your stress levels so you no longer grind your teeth.

If you are missing teeth then talk to Dr David Brown or another of our dentist in Leeds about the best way to replace them. Wherever possible we would recommend dental implants as this method is the most natural and permanent method of replacement. However this method isn’t always the most suitable option as you do need to be in good general health. If we don’t feel it is right for you then we can still replace your teeth with either a bridge or partial denture, making it easier for you to eat and speak.