Fillings are one of the most basic methods of restoring teeth. They do exactly what their name suggests - they fill a hole in the tooth that has been caused by decay, they also play an important role in helping us to keep a tooth for many more years.
In the past fillings were always made from either gold or a silver-coloured alloy called amalgam. Both these materials are extremely durable and in some circumstances they are still the best choice available. But they both have one disadvantage – they do not match the natural white teeth in appearance.
At One Smile Dental, we use the most effective, modern, tooth-coloured materials to enable you to have white fillings. Unlike the more traditional grey amalgam fillings, the tooth-coloured ones look very natural, so no-one will be able to tell you have them.
Inlays and onlays are two types of restorations used if you have a cavity in your tooth that needs to be filled. An inlay is a small filling that fits into the biting surface of a tooth while an onlay covers a larger area of the tooth and is better suited to bigger cavities.
Inlays and onlays are usually made from a tooth-coloured porcelain and can be made in a dental laboratory by a technician, with the help of impressions taken of your teeth. While these are being made, we will fit a temporary filling. When your inlay or onlay is ready we will remove the temporary filling and glue the inlay or inlay into place using a special adhesive.
A dental crown is sometimes known as a ‘cap’ and is an artificial tooth that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it a natural tooth shape. Dental crowns address aesthetic needs, restore tooth function and enhance the overall health of your mouth.
Dental crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth that have been damaged or weakened by decay or a very large filling. They can be made of porcelain or gold or a combination of these materials.
A dental bridge can be used to replace missing teeth for several important reasons; your appearance is one reason. Another is that the gap left by a missing tooth can mean greater strain is put on the teeth at either side. A gap can also mean your ‘bite’ is affected, because the teeth next to the space can lean into the gap and alter the way the upper and lower teeth bite together. This can then lead to food getting packed into the gap, which may cause both decay and gum disease.
Whether you are missing a few, or many of your teeth, dentures could be the solution for you. They can restore your smile and make eating enjoyable once again.
A denture is made from hard-wearing material that mimics the look of teeth and gums to give your mouth a natural appearance. At One Smile Dental, we provide excellent bespoke dentures that are constructed using the latest modern techniques and materials.
Correctly fitted dentures are designed to restore your lip support, therefore avoiding that ‘sunken face’ look that can appear following the loss of your teeth.
You will be able to remove your dentures for cleaning, and our hygienist can show you how to best take care of your denture(s) and gums. As always it is important that you take extra care in your hygiene routine to avoid tooth decay and gum disease.
Many people have to have a tooth removed at some time in their lives.
There are many reasons we may need to remove a tooth; overcrowding - as part of the teeth straightening treatment it may be necessary to remove teeth, sometimes a tooth may be too badly decayed or damaged to be repaired, gum disease can cause teeth to become so loose that they have to be taken out, some people have to have their wisdom teeth removed, usually because they are growing in the wrong direction and are causing problems.
In many cases, continued tooth ache is a signal that you have a problem that your dentist will need to assess. Prompt attention can usually prevent the need for a tooth extraction.
Root Canal treatments (Endodontics) are carried out when the inside of the tooth (the root or pulp) becomes infected or damaged. Infection and damage to the root can be very painful, creating inflammation with the risk of severe pain and swelling.
Root Canal Treatment eliminates the cause of the pain by completely removing the diseased or damaged tissue from the tooth. The root canal is meticulously cleaned, shaped and decontaminated, before securely filling it back up with a durable, inert material. This means you can be pain free whilst still keeping your original tooth.
