The Mulberry Dental Blog » cavities

Dentists in Surbiton use cosmetic bonding to fill cavities and patients are gratified with the results

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 06:13:56 +0000

If cavities should develop in your mouth then they will have to be dealt with. Of course it is best to try and avoid them in the first place but if they take hold then your dentist will need to fill them up. Cavities occur when plaque is allowed to stay on teeth for such a time that they erode the enamel and create holes. In order that the tooth won’t carry on decaying and become useless, dentists fill the holes up.

Traditionally it was always metal that was used for filling cavities. People of a certain generation will be familiar with the sight of black spots in peoples’ smiles where cavities have been filled using this method. It was always a slightly problematic way of doing it though because using metal for such a purpose doesn’t allow dentists to be as precise as they would like to be and sometimes the fillings would fail.

Dentists tend to fill cavities in a different way know. Cosmetic bonding is the new way that dentists carry out this essential work these days. Instead of struggling with metal, dentists can utilise cosmetic bonding that is involves a far more malleable combinations of materials. The results are far more successful in general because of the greater accuracy afforded to the dentists’ work. An added bonus is that cosmetic bonding yields tooth coloured fillings that are much better to look at.

Speak to your Surbiton dentist if you are suffering from cavities and are interested in cosmetic bonding. Many people are even having their old metal fillings replaced by the stunning, white fillings of cosmetic bonding.

Cosmetic bonding now available at Surbiton dentists to effectively fill cavities

admin — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 08:32:22 +0000

Do not despair if you find yourself suffering from dental cavities. It can be a painful problem and you might feel ashamed that you have let it happen to your teeth, but it is important that you go to your dentist and have them filled so that the problem does not get any worse. Cavities in the teeth can lead to them losing their structural integrity so you need to get them filled as soon as possible.

For many years the only option was to get metal fillings installed where the tooth has decayed away. Unfortunately this method could leave patients with unsightly looking dark patches in their smile and the metal that was used was not always that easy to work with because of the properties of it meant that dentists couldn’t always be that precise.

Thankfully all that is changing because of incredible cosmetic bonding techniques. What these changes basically amount to is that you can now have stunning white fillings which are matched to the colour of your surrounding teeth so are far more discreet. Even your closest intimates will find it difficult to tell that you have had your cavities filled. The dental composite that is used to fill cavities is far more malleable than the metal that used to dominate the procedure. This means that the fillings can be done with extra precision and they will stay far longer in the teeth.

If you are not wholly enthusiastic about metal fillings but know that you have cavities in your teeth, then you should talk to your Surbiton dentist about cosmetic bonding and how it can work for you.

Fighting dental decay in Weybridge

admin — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:41:48 +0000

Dental decay in Weybridge affects almost all of us at some point in our lives. If you’ve had a filling, you’ve had dental decay and it’s more commonly caused by a combination of diet and poor oral hygiene. The consumption of foods with a high content of starch and sugars are the main protagonists that can cause plaque to form on the teeth. If not removed, it will start to breakdown the outer layer of the tooth and form cavities and this can lead to expensive repair work such as root canals and the fitting of crowns; worst case scenario is the loss of the tooth, which is even more costly to replace. Dental decay can also lead to gum disease and other health issues throughout the body such as heart problems and even pneumonia. Yet, it seems ridiculous to think that it’s the easiest of conditions to prevent. Regular visits to the dentists should be a high priority as it’s the chance to clear any plaque or build up of tartar from around the teeth in a single visit. But it’s also the perfect opportunity for you to discuss a programme of oral hygiene and a diet of nutrients and vitamins that will help protect the teeth. Brushing and flossing are important, as is the right choice of brush and toothpaste. Combined with a good mouthwash it should be enough to fight any dental decay until you’re next visit to the dentist.

A dry mouth can cause dental cavities says a Molesey dentist

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:10:38 +0000

A dry mouth has many causes and a few consequences, one of which is dental cavities says a Molesey dentist. The warning about the relationship formed by a dry mouth and cavities isn’t a new one; cavities are formed by the acid that is made by the bacteria in our mouths, mainly feeding off sweet and sugary food residue. Diabetics are familiar with his problem as one of the main symptoms of diabetes is a dry mouth, the acid can produce quickly and do its damage on the enamel of the teeth. Chemotherapy patients are another victim, as if they don’t have enough problems already. We need the saliva that our glands produce in order to neutralise oral acid, which is the single most problem we have with oral care. Drinking water is one answer, but when you’re on chemo or a diabetic with a high sugar level, then this in itself causes more problems. The answer in some prolonged cases is a dental sealant, this is a solution that a dentist will usually reserve for his younger patients aged between 6-10 years old. The problem occurs in children who cannot get a brush into their cavities due to the smallness of the cavities. A plastic filling is used to replace the enamel that is burned away by the acid, acid cannot burn away plastic, so this preventative treatment is a really clever one. This won’t work in all cases though, and so it needs the patient to be aware of the problem and use other methods to counteract the acid problem. Drinking water and swishing it around the mouth will go some way to doing the job, but if you don’t want to keep visiting the loo every 20 minutes, then just swish and spit.

A Kingston-upon-Thames dentist explains all about dental sealants for children

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 08:16:01 +0000

Dental sealants are usually given to children who are between 6 and 10 years old, it is a measure that protects their teeth from further damage caused by acid production and normal wear and tear. The cavities that cause the problems are usually on the teeth at the back of the mouth, this is normally due to a couple of reasons, firstly these teeth are the most common used to chew food, secondly these teeth are hard for children to clean as most tooth brushes are too big to get into the cavities and eliminate the bacteria deep in the tooth. The solution is a simple one though and it works very well, it lasts for about 10 years and is also easily repairable during that time. Similar to a normal filling the tooth is numbed and the cavity is cleaned with a drill, then the cracks are cleaned out to get rid of any hidden bacteria. Acid is then brushed into the cavity and left for a few minutes; this is to give the next stage a better bonding surface. The acid is rinsed with a water spray, and then the area is air dried to make sure it is completely dry. The plastic solution of the filler is brushed on using a hard, short bristled brush, then that solution is bombarded with an intense light source to set it hard. If it cracks or becomes chipped it can easily be repaired using the same method. This method is a very successful way of protecting the teeth of our children in their most vulnerable years; it doesn’t mean though that we can be lax in their oral hygiene care. They need to floss and brush as usual to prevent other problems, and make their teeth last well into their adulthood.

Dental Bonding at Shepperton Dental Clinic

admin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:37:34 +0000

Dental bonding involves placing a tooth coloured restorative material on the facial surfaces of the front teeth. Your Shepperton dentist may choose bonding to: repair decayed, chipped or broken front teeth; change the appearance of the front teeth, by making them look better, and closing existing spaces between the teeth; as an aesthetic choice instead of amalgams in the back teeth; and, to cover exposed root surfaces when the gum tissue recedes.
In most bonding cases, very little tooth preparation and no anaesthesia is required. This is, unless the bonding (i.e., composite) material is to be used to fill a cavity or cavities. You Shepperton dentist will use a shade selection guide to match the shade of your tooth/teeth to be bonded. If your dentist is using bonding to lighten your teeth, a lighter shade of composite material will be selected. You tooth or teeth surface(s) will be roughened using a diamond drill where the bonding material is to be placed. Your dentist will then dry the tooth and apply and acid-etch gel to remove organic materials from your tooth/teeth, so that the bonding material will hold. Then, the tooth/teeth will be cleaned with a water spray and re-dried, an unfilled liquid resin material will be applied, and the dentist will use a special “curing light” so that the unfilled resin will set in place. Then your dentist will apply the filled composite (i.e., bonding) material and shape it closely to the desired results and again use the “curing light” to set the material in place. The dentist will then use some drills, polishing stones, and polishing wheels to finish the restoration/bonding. Dental bonding can be performed in a relatively short time, and multiple teeth can be bonding during the same visit. Dental bondings are the least invasive and relatively inexpensive aesthetic dental procedures that you can get. Proper home care must be used to maintain and clean the dental bonding(s), as well as your other teeth. Your Shepperton dentist will review all of this with you during your dental visit.