Many people feel anxious when they have to go to the dentist; our approach in the first instance is to assess how our patient is feeling. Dentistry today revolves around preventive dentistry, general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, well-being and mental serenity. At Amsel & Wilkins, we strive to achieve a balance combining all of those elements to a level acceptable to each individual. We have been practising as a dentist in Banbury for over forty years, serving the dental needs of the local community.

You are our primary focus!

Trepidation and fear are usually brought on by a lack of understanding, and education plays an important part in alleviating dental anxiety. Our focus is on you, and all of our staff are trained to make your visit as relaxing as possible. All dental procedures will be fully explained, and you will be encouraged to ask any questions that you feel necessary to put your mind at ease.

Ultimately you are the one who has to decide which treatment you would prefer, and to do this, you must have as much information as possible. As a responsible dentist in Banbury, we will guide you, but we want you to feel comfortable that the treatment you decide on will give you the results that you expect.

More than just a dental surgery

Building a relationship with you based on being candid allows us to discuss sensitive areas openly and honestly. You may be suffering from tooth decay and bad breath due to poor oral hygiene; for your well-being, we need to be able to bring this to your attention and demonstrate to you where you are going wrong. A proper dental regime will benefit you in the long run, and being provided with some dental care advice is a small price to pay. We want our patients to feel at home in our surgery, and we know that everyone is different. Just like any family, we are made up of a variety of individuals all wanting to be respected for our individuality and accepted into the group. We provide that unity and want you to feel comfortable around us.

Our passion and commitment

In a fast-moving world, it is incumbent on us to ensure that we provide you with high-quality dental treatment at any given time. To stay up to date, we regularly attend training and seminars on new equipment and techniques. All our staff benefit from this commitment because we want to ensure that we all work to achieve the same goal, providing you with the dental care that you expect from modern-day dentistry. We are all motivated by passion and the desire to help you keep your oral cavity healthy.

Dental treatments and more

Practising as a dentist in Banbury, we offer the full range of dental treatments, including cosmetic treatments, to make sure that when you smile, you can do so with pride and confidence. We also know that sometimes you may feel the need to pamper yourself a little. To satisfy this need, we also provide anti-wrinkle treatment and dermal fillers to help you feel a little younger. As dentists, we are fully trained in facial anatomy, and this allows us to provide safe treatment in our sterile treatment rooms.

As a human being, you only get two sets of teeth during your lifetime; one set starts to develop during your first 6 to 12 months and should have completely erupted by 34 months. This first set of teeth will usually last you up to around six years of age and then will gradually start to loosen and need to be removed one by one. Finally, the next set, which is your adult teeth, will gradually grow through, and by the age of 21, all 32 of your teeth should be fully developed. This set will have to last you for the rest of your life. As a progressive dentist in Banbury, we have a preventive dentistry program designed to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums during your lifetime, which starts with your children.

Start young to achieve dental longevity!

Proper oral hygiene can be defined in one simple word ”routine”. You must routinely brush your teeth twice a day and visit our dentist twice a year. Amazingly, we regularly take our car for a service, yet some people do not regularly take care of their teeth.

One of the greatest gifts that you can give your child is not a mobile phone or a computer but education on the proper maintenance of their teeth. If you bring your children to us at Amsel & Wilkins, your community dentist in Banbury, we will help you educate them about the importance of a proper routine oral regime.

Bring your children in with you when you have an appointment; our friendly and capable staff will take care of them while you have your treatment. This way, you will help your children become comfortable with our dental surgery. When the time comes to have their first appointment, your children will be relaxed and calm. We will also play our part in helping them keep their teeth healthy by identifying any problems they may have and any that may manifest later.

Why suffer from dental discomfort

The theory that you only need to visit a dentist when you have a toothache is ridiculous because that may be too late. Tooth decay, bad breath, gum disease and even gum disease can result from poor oral hygiene. You can avoid unnecessary dental pain by simply brushing your teeth at least twice a day and letting us check your teeth and gums at least twice a year. Adhering to a simple oral hygiene regime is probably the simplest way of taking care of one of your body’s most valuable assets.

All dental treatments available for you

As a practising dentist in Banbury for over forty years, we have always kept up to date with the latest equipment, treatments and techniques by attending seminars and training regularly. This allows us to be confident that the treatment we recommend for you is the most suitable at that time. Because we are fully trained in facial anatomy, we can also offer you some pampering treatments. In addition to our full range of dental treatments, we also offer anti-wrinkle and dermal filler procedures. These non-surgical treatments are provided by our qualified practitioners in our safe and sterile treatment rooms.

We at Amsel & Wilkins are a professional and experienced team that is ready to get your smile looking fabulous and super healthy. We offer a range of treatments from general dentistry and preventive treatments to cosmetic and restorative ones. One of our popular treatments is Invisalign, and we are proud to be accredited as Platinum providers since 2004. To achieve this status, we have to treat over 120 cases each year. Needless to say, we’ve probably seen it all in almost 20 years since our accreditation. So, if you want great service that’s delivered with the benefit of extensive experience, our dentist in Banbury at Amsel & Wilkins is ready and waiting to get you started on the treatment you need.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a system that consists of plastic aligners that can be worn over the teeth like a gumshield. When they are worn, the aligners will be virtually invisible because they are plastic and transparent, so only your teeth should be seen. The aligners apply a small amount of pressure to your teeth to gradually move them into the desired positions. You will be given sets of aligners to change between each week, and you will need to see us every 6 weeks for a checkup and to receive your next batch of aligners – easy peasy! Treatment can take as little as 6 to 18 months on average, so you won’t have to wait long to see the great results.

What is Invisalign used to treat?

Invisalign is designed to target mild to moderate alignment issues, such as crossbites, underbites, overbites or crowded or gapped teeth. We will be able to assess your mouth to determine whether or not Invisalign is the right treatment for your specific needs. All you will need to do is book an initial consultation so that we can examine your mouth thoroughly and discuss treatment options together. You can ask us lots of questions to feel fully informed, before making a decision on your treatment plan.

Why should I choose Invisalign?

If you are offered Invisalign, remember that as Platinum providers, we have the experience to support our opinion that it’s right for you. We will be able to digitally scan your mouth using iTero technology, which we use to get the measurements for your aligners to be made bespoke for you. From this scan, our dentist in Banbury can then generate a digital animation of what your teeth will look like after treatment has been completed, so you will know from the outset how great your smile will be.

Another benefit of Invisalign, aside from the comfort afforded by having bespoke aligners that are virtually invisible, is the fact that the aligners may be removed for up to 2 hours a day. This means that you can continue to eat and drink as normal and brush and floss effectively too without anything impeding your efforts.

There’s no time like the present!

If you are looking for a dentist in Banbury, visit us at Amsel & Wilkins and see how we can help you get a healthy and beautiful smile. Whatever you need, we have the experience and expertise to get you sorted out.

When you are looking for a dentist in Banbury, you may be looking for general dentistry care or something more specific like cosmetic dentistry, restorative treatments or facial aesthetics (yes, you heard us right!). Dentists are professionals in facial anatomy and can perform delicate work in sterile conditions, so we’re well placed to deliver this!

At Amsel & Wilkins, we love helping our patients to have fresh faces and healthy smiles. If you have missing teeth, we can offer a treatment that allows you to have replacement teeth fitted permanently and securely. Dental implants are arguably the next best thing to having your real teeth.

What are dental implants?

Imagine your natural teeth being held securely in your jawbone by its roots; dental implants are an artificial version of this. We use metal screws and attach them to the jawbone. The body’s tissues fuse with the screws and do so effectively because titanium lends itself well to this purpose. Once the tissues have healed around the screws, they are firmly fixed in place and you can have your replacement teeth of crowns, bridges or dentures fitted by our dentist in Banbury, depending on how many teeth you need to replace. A crown is normally used for a single tooth replacement, a bridge is used to replace several teeth, and dentures are used to replace a whole set of teeth.

The benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants do not require major surgery; you can have this treatment with a local anaesthetic. You should feel very comfortable during the procedure as any pain will be managed with the local anaesthetic that we use. Do not worry if you are a nervous patient since we are very experienced in treating those who are anxious, and we will take everything at your pace. We can discuss this more if dental implants are the right treatment for you.

Another benefit of choosing implants is the fact that no matter what you choose to eat or how much you love a good natter with friends, family, or Hilda next door, your dental implants shouldn’t loosen, keeping your replacement teeth firmly in place. As a result, nobody should realise that you don’t have a full set of natural teeth, especially because your replacement teeth will be made to complement each other as well as any remaining natural teeth that you have. You will also be able to eat as normal, and nothing needs to be taken off the menu. Bring on the chewy toffee pudding after the steak well done!

Dental implants are also really easy to take care of; all you need to do is brush and floss regularly and visit us for your routine dental checkups. If you do this, your implants could last you a lifetime!

Are dental implants for me?

You will need to visit our dentist in Banbury at Amsel & Wilkins to enable us to examine your mouth thoroughly and determine whether or not dental implants would be the right treatment for you. No matter what your concerns about your teeth or your face are, we have treatments that should be right for your specific needs. Our friendly and professional team is ready to discuss your requirements and get you on the right treatment plan. We look forward to seeing you soon!

For our patients who are struggling with a missing tooth, one of the best treatments we can provide is a dental implant. It’s a great option for replacing any number of teeth, and can really help to bring a smile back to life. Our team at Amsel & Wilkins are dedicated to ensuring that our patients receive the highest quality of treatment possible, and that they walk away from our practice feeling happy and more confident.

What are dental implants?

Before we get into the process of how we provide dental implants, you will want to know what they actually are. A dental implant is usually made up of three main parts, the implant screw, the abutment and the crown. Firstly, the implant screw is the foundation of the implant that holds everything else in place. On top of this, the abutment is placed, which is the part that connects the implant screw to the crown. And finally, the crown is the part of the implant that will really make the difference visually. The crown is a custom-made piece of porcelain that is shaped and coloured to match your other teeth, and this is attached to the abutment to complete the dental implant. Our dentist in Banbury can also attach bridges or dentures to the dental implants for those who are looking to replace a larger number of teeth.

What will happen?

When you contact us at the practice for dental implants, the first thing we will do is invite you in for a consultation with our dentist in Banbury. It’s very important that this happens, as this is the stage where we can get to know you, examine your teeth and take scans. We will ensure that we carry out a full clinical assessment to make certain that you are eligible for implants before beginning the treatment, which helps to make sure that the process goes as smoothly as possible. We will take scans such as X-rays to get a deeper look at your bone structure, as it’s important that you have enough bone left in the area where the implants are being placed.

Once we have had the consultation with you and determined you are eligible, we can go ahead with the treatment. The next step is for your customised crown/bridge/denture to be created, which will be influenced by the scans we take during your consultation. Your face shape, mouth shape and appearance of your other teeth will all be taken into account when creating the crown to ensure that it looks as natural as possible.

When your new teeth are ready, our dentist in Banbury will invite you back to the practice for your first main appointment, which will involve inserting the implant screw into your jawbone. We do this by opening up the gum in the desired area, inserting the implant screw, and closing it back up again. This will then be left to heal for several months to allow it to fuse with your bone, which creates a very strong foundation for your new tooth. If we didn’t do this, then your implant would be weaker and wouldn’t last as long.

Once the area has healed, we will invite you back to the practice for your final appointment. This is when we will attach the abutment to the screw, and attach the crown on top. This is the moment when you will really see the difference that dental implants can make. You can then leave the practice and enjoy your new and improved smile, which can last for 20 years or more with the right care!

Here at Amsel & Wilkins, we are dedicated to ensuring that our patients are happy with how their smiles look. Which is why we offer a range of different cosmetic treatments to help with this. Don’t hesitate to contact us today for a consultation appointment, so we can find out which one is the best for you.

Invisalign

The first and one of the most popular cosmetic treatments we provide to our patients is Invisalign. It focuses on mild to moderate cases of misalignment, and you can expect to see results in as little as 6 to 18 months. It works by wearing custom-made, clear, plastic aligners that gently move your teeth over time. You will wear one aligner for around 2 weeks before moving onto the next one, and this process is repeated until your teeth are as straight as possible.

White fillings

The second cosmetic treatment that we provide here at our practice are white fillings. Our dentist in Banbury uses these on our patients who have cracked or damaged their teeth. White fillings can help to restore the damaged tooth’s shape and strength. We tend to use white fillings rather than silver, because they look more natural and blend in with your other teeth well.

Porcelain veneers

Veneers are another cosmetic treatment that our dentist in Banbury can offer to our patients. They can help to cover a range of imperfections that you might have, such as cracks and discolouration. The treatment involves the use of a small, custom-made piece of porcelain that is attached to the front of your tooth to cover it. The veneers will be coloured and shaped to look just like your other teeth, so other people wouldn’t even be able to notice that you have them. We can provide you with as many veneers as you require, whether you’re just looking for 1 to cover a single tooth, or want a whole new smile.

Teeth whitening

One of the simpler cosmetic treatments that you can get with us is teeth whitening. This treatment can really help to rejuvenate your smile and bring back the sparkle. Whether you have stained teeth and are looking to address this, or just generally want to go a few shades brighter, our dentist in Banbury can help. At our practice, we can provide you with an at-home teeth whitening kit, which includes a custom-made whitening tray and some whitening gel. All you will need to do is put the gel inside the tray and wear it on your teeth either at night or for a few hours during the day. Our patients typically start to see noticeable results within 2 weeks of applying the treatment. 

Inlays and onlays

The final cosmetic treatments that we provide are inlays and onlays. They are similar to fillings, as they are solely used to fill in cavities. An inlay is a smaller filling that fits into the biting surface of your tooth, and an onlay is the bigger type of filling that can be used for larger cavities. We typically use porcelain to do this as it gives the most natural look, but gold can also be used if you wish.

When you’re unhappy with the way your smile looks, it can really get you down and cause you to feel self-conscious. Luckily, you don’t have to live with this feeling because here at Amsel & Wilkins, we offer a range of cosmetic treatments to help you with this.

Treatments

Porcelain veneers

One of the cosmetic treatments that our dentist in Banbury can help with is porcelain veneers. A veneer is a thin piece of porcelain that can be attached to the front of your teeth to cover imperfections. Various stains, chips and mild misalignment can be covered with a veneer, and we will make sure that it matches your other teeth as closely as possible to maintain a natural look. If you are looking to cover all or multiple of your teeth, we can also cater to this; the choice is yours when it comes to how many veneers you get.

Your veneers will be custom-made just for you, and our dentist in Banbury can adjust them if you think they’re not quite right. Once the veneers are ready to be permanently attached to your teeth, you will only need one appointment with us to do so. We attach the veneers with dental cement that can be hardened by a strong beam of light.

Invisalign

One of our most popular cosmetic treatments here at Amsel & Wilkins is Invisalign. It involves the use of clear, plastic aligners that can straighten your teeth over a certain period of time. The aligners can be custom-made just for your teeth, so they will be more comfortable to wear and barely visible to others. This treatment has been a great option for our patients who want to straighten their teeth but maintain a natural look throughout.

Our dentist in Banbury will provide you with multiple aligners when you begin treatment with Invisalign. You will usually have to wear an aligner for around 2 weeks before moving on to the next one. This process should be repeated until you have completed the treatment. Our patients have preferred this treatment over some others due to there being no invasive procedures, no food restrictions, and few dental appointments.

Teeth whitening

More and more people are coming to our practice wanting to rejuvenate their smiles using teeth whitening. Sometimes, even if you brush and floss your teeth regularly, they can still get discoloured. Drinking coffee, eating sugary foods and smoking can all contribute to discolouration.

Here at Amsel & Wilkins, we can provide you with an at-home teeth whitening kit; this has been really beneficial for our patients as they can do it from the comfort of their own homes. In this kit, we provide you with a custom-made whitening tray that can fit snugly on your teeth, as well as whitening gel. You should put the gel into the tray and wear it for a few hours during the day or at night. Our patients usually start to see the results after around 2 weeks of doing this process. Your teeth will be noticeably whiter and brighter, which can really help to improve your smile as well as your confidence.

If you are struggling with missing teeth, you will know that it can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. To help with this, our team at Amsel & Wilkins can provide you with a dental implant, which will allow us to fully replace your tooth with a new, prosthetic one.

What is a dental implant?

Dental implants consist of 3 main parts, the screw, the abutment and the crown. Firstly, the screw is the part that our dentist in Banbury will insert into your jawbone; this creates the foundation. The abutment is a piece of metal that holds the screw and the crown together. And the crown is a piece of porcelain that can be shaped and coloured to match your other teeth, and this will be attached to the abutment to complete your new tooth.

Whether you just need a singular implant or a whole new set of teeth, our dentist in Banbury can help with this through the use of dental implants. As long as you have enough bone left in the desired areas, you can choose how many implants to have.

Our process

If you decide you might want to get dental implants, we will first have a consultation appointment with you. This appointment will allow us to explain everything you need to know about the treatment, as well as examine and scan your mouth to determine your eligibility. As mentioned above, the key factor that we look out for is whether you have enough bone left in the selected area of your jaw. This is because the implant screw needs something to anchor into and fuse with to create a strong foundation for your new tooth.

If all goes well and you are eligible, we will book you in for your first surgical appointment; this will involve our dentist in Banbury inserting the implant screw into your jawbone. It is a fairly quick procedure, and once the screw is in, we will close the area back up and leave it to heal for a few months. This is a vital part of the treatment, as it gives time for the screw to fuse to your bone, meaning it will essentially become part of your jawbone.

After a few months, the screw will have hopefully fused to your bone, and we can invite you back to our practice for your new tooth to be attached. We will first attach the abutment to the screw and then pop the crown on top of that. Once this is done, you will really see the difference that a dental implant can make. It will have been custom-made just for you, so you won’t even be able to tell the difference between the implant and your other teeth.

The benefits

Long-lasting and durable

Two of the main benefits of getting dental implants are how long they last and how strong they are. Porcelain is a great material to use for creating dental implants because it is strong and naturally stain resistant, meaning your implants will look better for longer.

Easy to care for

Another thing that our patients have enjoyed about dental implants is how easy it is to keep them clean. All you need to do is treat them just like your other teeth, making sure you brush and floss daily.

It is something that many people do not want to think about. Known as ‘the big C’, cancer can and does occur commonly in the mouth, and due to lifestyles such as smoking, drinking alcohol and consumption of certain foods, it is an unfortunate fact that oral cancer is on the rise in countries like the UK and America.

And it is also a key reason why you should always aim to attend your biannual checkups, as your dental team will include an oral cancer screening as part of a general assessment.

At Amsel & Wilkins, our dentist in Banbury will always aim to provide you with a thorough dental assessment, ensuring that any abnormal growths or patches of skin are explored and that you leave our clinic with a clean bill of health or an appropriate treatment plan.

But what are some of the signs of oral cancer that you can detect at home? Here, our dentist in Banbury provides a brief list of things to look out for.

Sores on the lips or mouth

It is worth noting that oral cancer can initially present on the lips, tongue, gums or tonsils. So when you are brushing or flossing your teeth, it is worth assessing all of these areas if possible. If you have sores on your lips or in your mouth that are not healing, you should aim to book an appointment with our dentist in Banbury as soon as possible, as this can be a tell-tale sign of oral cancer.

You should also have any cold sores that recur in the same part of the mouth examined by our dental team.

Lumps or bumps inside the mouth

When most people hear the word cancer, they think of a lump or bump. While most lumps and bumps inside the mouth can be benign, if you spot one on your inner lip, your gums, your tongue or the roof of your mouth, you should book an urgent dental appointment with our team.

If we have concerns, as mentioned earlier, we will refer you to a specialist who can perform a biopsy.

Ear pain

When you were younger, you may recall being told that if you had an earache, it may be due to an issue in your mouth or with one of your teeth. Unfortunately, recurring ear pain with no obvious cause can point to oral cancer. This is usually because a growth may be putting pressure on the nerves that are shared by your mouth and ears.

Once again, if you do suffer from ear pain with no obvious cause, you should see our team.

Loose teeth

Statistically speaking, loose teeth in adulthood are more likely to be caused by reversible disorders like gum disease. However, if you do not have gum disease and your teeth are wobbling, this can indicate that there is another issue in your mouth that is destroying the tendons and gum tissue.

White or red patches

Much like the recurring ulcers or sores, if you have patches in your mouth that physically feel different when you run your tongue across them and appear red or white, then you will need to see our team. These symptoms can be the early stages of a cancerous lesion.

The dangers of smoking cigarettes are known the world over. And while you may be fed upto your back teeth (pun intended) of hearing about the disadvantages of smoking, it may be worth exploring the advantages of quitting this habit instead.

As you may have guessed, smoking does not only cause issues with your general health but also wreaks havoc on your dental health, which can cause long-term issues with self-esteem, loose teeth and, of course, chronic yellowing of the enamel. None of these are things that somebody should aim to have.

At Amsel & Wilkins, our dentist in Banbury is happy to provide our patients who smoke with smoking cessation advice to help them get their dental health back on track and, of course, improve their life and other aspects of their well-being. Great stuff!

But what are some of the advantages that are to be had from quitting smoking on your dental health? Here, our dentist in Banbury provides some answers.

Gum health

Gum disease is the leading cause of missing teeth in adults. While you may have heard that gum disease is caused by plaque, it can be worsened by smoking. This is because the chemicals in cigarette smoke attack the gum tissue and cause it to deteriorate or mutate. Smoking can also destroy the tendons, which can cause issues with the stability of your teeth.

Therefore, according to our dentist in Banbury, a key advantage of quitting smoking is having healthier, pinker gums that are less susceptible to periodontal disease.

Whiter teeth

There are no two ways around this; if you smoke cigarettes or cigars, your teeth will feel the pinch, specifically relating to colour. Many people know of someone who smokes cigarettes excessively and has yellowing teeth, which is not something that is cosmetically appealing and can hinder self-esteem.

By quitting smoking and maintaining good oral hygiene, these stains can be removed, providing you with a healthier-looking and whiter smile.

Fresher breath

In a similar vein, smoking also causes very bad breath, due in part to dehydration and reduction in saliva in the mouth.

So rather than spending a fortune on chewing gum and continuing to smoke, it may be worth giving up the habit altogether to allow your mouth to stop being so dry and enable your saliva to do its job and keep your mouth hydrated and your breath fresher.

Lowered oral cancer risk

The risks between smoking and cancer are nothing new but, if you are a smoker, you will need to attend dental checkups more regularly for our team to assess your mouth for signs of oral cancer.

These can vary from anything from lumps to sores that will not heal to loose teeth. But by quitting smoking, you can reduce your risk of developing oral cancer by 70% over 2 years.

Longer lasting teeth!

Following on from gum disease and its links to oral cancer comes longer lasting teeth. If you do develop gum disease, and if it is aggressive or left untreated, the likely outcome is that your teeth will fall out. By quitting smoking, you reduce the risk of developing aggressive gum disease, and your teeth will likely last longer.