Incisors
The eight flat, chisel-shaped teeth at the front. Used to bite and slice food into smaller pieces.
Dental health
Understand your smile.
A short, honest guide to the anatomy of your teeth, the work we do, and how to keep your mouth healthy for the long term.
Anatomy
Anatomy of a tooth
Every tooth is a small piece of layered engineering. Knowing what is inside makes it easier to understand why each treatment matters.
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Enamel
The hard, glass-like outer shell of the crown — the most mineralised tissue in the body. Strong, but cannot regrow once damaged.
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Dentin
A softer, yellowish layer beneath the enamel. It makes up most of the tooth and carries microscopic tubules that connect to the nerve.
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Pulp
The living core — blood vessels and nerves that keep the tooth alive. Pain usually means the pulp is irritated or infected.
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Root canal
The narrow channel inside each root through which the pulp extends. When infected, it is cleaned and sealed — that is a 'root canal treatment'.
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Cementum
A bone-like layer covering the surface of each root, where the tooth anchors into the jawbone via tiny ligament fibres.
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Gum & bone
The gum and the jawbone hold the tooth in place. Healthy gums are pink, firm and do not bleed when brushing.
Tooth types
The four tooth types
An adult mouth has 32 teeth (including wisdom teeth), split into four families. Each family is shaped for a specific job.
Canines
The four pointed teeth next to the incisors. They tear fibrous foods and guide the bite into place.
Premolars
Eight teeth with two cusps, sitting between the canines and the molars. They start breaking food down.
Molars
Twelve large teeth at the back of the mouth — the workhorses. They grind food into a paste before swallowing.
Procedures
Common procedures, plainly explained
A short reference to the treatments we offer most often. None of these descriptions replace an in-person consultation — they are here to demystify the words.
01
Professional cleaning
Removal of hardened plaque (tartar) and surface staining that brushing alone cannot reach. Painless, and the foundation of healthy gums.
02
Composite filling
A tooth-coloured resin used to repair a small or medium cavity. The decayed tissue is removed, the cavity is shaped, and the resin is bonded in layers.
03
Root canal
When the pulp is infected, we clean out the canals, disinfect them and seal them. A crown is usually placed afterwards to protect the tooth.
04
Crown
A custom ceramic cap that covers a weakened or repaired tooth, restoring its shape, strength and appearance. Made with a digital scan and CAD/CAM.
05
Porcelain veneer
A thin ceramic shell bonded to the front of a tooth to refine its shape, colour or alignment. Cosmetic and minimally invasive when planned well.
06
Dental implant
A titanium post placed into the jawbone to replace a missing tooth's root. After healing, a crown is fitted on top — the gold standard for replacement.
Daily care
Caring for your teeth, every day
Most dental problems are easier to prevent than to fix. Four simple habits keep our work — and your own teeth — lasting longer.
01
Brush twice
Two minutes, morning and evening. A soft brush and a fluoride toothpaste are all you need — pressure does not equal cleanliness.
02
Floss daily
Brushing reaches roughly 60% of each tooth surface. Floss or interdental brushes handle the rest, where most cavities and gum issues begin.
03
Mind the sugar
It is not how much sugar — it is how often. Frequent snacks and sweet drinks give bacteria constant fuel. Keep treats to mealtimes.
04
Visit us twice a year
A check-up and cleaning every six months catches small issues while they are still small — and keeps your visits short and easy.
When to come in
When to come in sooner
Some signs are worth a quick visit. The earlier we see them, the less we usually have to do.
- Sensitivity to cold, hot or sweet
- Bleeding gums when brushing
- Persistent bad breath
- A chipped, broken or loose tooth
- Pain when chewing
- Gums that pull away from the teeth
- A spot of discolouration that will not brush off
- A lump or sore that does not heal in two weeks
Ready for a calmer kind of dental visit?
Book a consultation with Dr. Genti — we will discuss your goals, examine carefully, and give you a clear plan and an honest quote.