Dental Blog - Amsel & Wilkins Dental Practice

Replacing your metal fillings; a step by step guide to getting white fillings in Banbury

Chances are that if you have had a filling in your molars in the last 10 years, your dentist has used a metal filling.

Of course, they have! This has been standard practice for many dental surgeries for decades. Metal fillings are hardy, easy to fit and easy to replace if they fall out.

However, in dental practices today, many dentists are suggesting that regardless of the area of decay in your mouth, white fillings in Banbury are a better option for many people.

Why should I replace my metal fillings?

It seems an odd concept doesn’t it? To go to your dentist to have a filling removed and another put in its place? If it’s not broke, don’t fix it! But there are many advantages to having white or composite fillings in lieu of your metal ones.

No discomfort

If you have a metal filling, you may notice that it can sometimes be temperamental due to changes in the temperature of your mouth.

This is not your imagination, at Amsel & Wilkins, we often have patients complaining of discomfort around their metal fillings, even though there is no damage. This is because, when you drink hot tea or beverages, the metal in your filling naturally expands. This expansion can put pressure on the surrounding teeth and can cause further damage.

White fillings in Banbury do not respond to temperature and therefore do not cause damage to the surrounding teeth. This is one of the key reasons we recommend replacing your metal fillings with composite ones as we do not want to further damage your teeth.

No discolouration

When you have a metal filling fitted, you may have noticed that the surrounding tooth now has a grey look.

This can cause you to feel self-conscious and worried about the appearance of your teeth.

If you choose to have your metal fillings replaced with composite ones, regardless of how large or deep the filling is, your teeth will not change in colour at all. In fact, our dental team uses a colour-based scaling system to match the colour of your white filling perfectly to your tooth.

No plaque accumulation

As white fillings in Banbury are fitted to match the colour of your teeth, your dentist will be aware of flattening the border or ‘edges’ where your filling meets your tooth. This lack of an edge is beneficial for your long-term dental health as borders on your teeth provide the perfect place for plaque to build up.

Plaque build up is not only unattractive, but it creates potential future issues for your teeth, such as decay and breakage. Metal fillings are more difficult to mould and soften to the surface of your tooth, meaning they are more likely to have edges and thus allow plaque to accumulate.

Want to change your metal fillings for white ones? Contact us at Amsel & Wilkins in Banbury– we will be happy to assist you with improving your smile.

Call today!

Restore your smile with white fillings in Banbury The advantages of composite fillings

Dating back to their invention in 1955, composite or ‘white fillings’ have improved both dental techniques and smiles for over half a century.

Originally made of porcelain and set to the tooth with resin, white fillings in Banbury have proven to be just as hardy as traditional metal-based fillings with the obvious benefit of creating a more natural, less noticeable look. Indeed, many dental customers today are choosing to have their old, metal fillings removed and replaced with composite ones to improve their smile and confidence.

But what are the other advantages of white fillings in Banbury over metal ones?

Composite versus metal

Of course, if you have decay at the front of your mouth or simply have a damaged tooth, you will want a filling that will not draw attention to itself.

However, many people are unaware of the other benefits of choosing white fillings, that can even make dental check-ups easier for your dentist.

Decay

An annoyance seen daily in dentistry, tooth decay is the primary reason for fillings and while some dentists may opt to simply give you a metal filling (based on location), at Amsel Wilkins, we know the benefits of having composite fillings fitted instead.

One of the key examples is decay. With metal fillings, even the most experienced dentist can miss a minor crack and tooth decay that may be occurring under the filling as result. White fillings in Banbury have the advantage of allowing dentists to detect if a filling has cracked and can even help them see if decay has occurred underneath too. This means check-ups are easier and any other dental work will be minimal.

Support

If you have a tooth that has decayed, you may have minor cracks forming on the surface too. A composite filling will bond to the natural shape of the tooth and protect it against future breakage and damage, creating a stronger tooth that needs less maintenance.

Resistance

Many people who have had metal fillings fitted are often surprised at the sensitivity of the tooth afterwards. Metal in not as resistant to extremes of heat (tea, coffee) or cold (ice cubes, ice lollies) as composite and can cause pain or sensitivity when exposed to these temperatures. Composite is more durable and adapts easily to different temperatures with no sensitivity or issue, so you can drink as many hot beverages as you want without complaint.

Immediate use

When having a metal filling fitted, many people have been advised by their dentists to ‘take it easy’ on the tooth for a day afterwards; this is due to the sensitivity of the metal and the need to adapt to your mouth. White fillings can be used straight away and do not require a ‘breaking in’ period.

If you want to have your old metal fillings replaced with composite, our dental team at Amsel & Wilkins in Banbury will be happy to fit new ones for you. They are stronger, more durable and will improve your overall confidence.

What are white fillings?

White fillings are common within modern dental work, also known as composite fillings they are commonly preferred over the traditional metal looking filling due to their tooth coloured and therefore more natural appearance. White fillings in Banbury are a mixture of tooth coloured resin and glass, meaning they are able to withstand for many years. White fillings are used as a popular alternative due to amalgam fillings being aesthetically poor, as well as containing mercury.

What are fillings and why might I need one?

Fillings are essentially a dental implant that fills a cavity within the tooth that has been damaged through decay and can be extremely painful if not treated correctly. These holes within the teeth can lead to later dental hygiene problems and infections if not treated. You may require a filling if you are experiencing pain within your teeth that is diagnosed as a cavity by your dentist. Although the most common use of fillings is to fill a cavity, fillings can also be used to mend fractures and cracks within the teeth. Fillings ensure a more serious alternative of removal of the tooth itself is not necessary. Fillings may be required if there is significant tooth decay. This decay is caused by the acids in foods breaking down the tooth enamel. The plaque is caused by saliva, food and bacteria, the acid within the plaque is the cause of tooth enamel decay.

Why might white fillings in Banbury be a better alternative to standard fillings?

Our patients at Amsel and Wilkins have a variety of motivators when they decide to pursue cosmetic or dental work, however most of our patients aim for a natural looking appearance. The traditional metal looking filling has been used for many years, however with several advancements in dental work in recent years, alternatives are now available. White fillings adhere directly to the tooth, and can even be applied to the sides of teeth. White fillings can be used to replace the traditional filling, our dentists remove the metal filling, ensure all debris is also taken out, and the new white filling is directly adhered. White fillings are a subtle alternative, meaning you can maintain your natural smile whilst fixing your dental problems. At our practice, our main concern and motivator is the wellbeing and satisfaction of our patients. Our smile is a huge asset of our appearance, and having a visible filling may act to decrease this. Having the white filling adhered causes minimal discomfort , and despite common misconception are reasonably priced.

Why choose us at Amsel and Wilkins to adhere your white fillings?

At Amsel and Wilkins we take pride in our treatments. With over forty years of experience, our team consists of a multitude of professionals, including a dental therapist and a business manager. We welcome new patients of all ages and offer a variety of treatments including cosmetic work. We offer an initial consultation at our practice, helping to assure our patients queries or concerns. The wellbeing and comfort of our patients is at the heart of everything we do.

Why choose white fillings in Banbury?

It is common knowledge to most of us that standard metal fillings can be used to fix cavity decay within the mouth, therefore reducing discomfort and further damage, however standard metal fillings can be obvious within the mouth. Within modern society, several dental alternatives are available that aim to enhance your natural smile, a variety of which we offer here at our practice. We offer white fillings in Banbury to increase our patients confidence and minimise visible dental work, despite dental alterations being nothing to be ashamed of, most of our patients prefer minimal visibility when it comes to their fillings, a more natural alternative may be more attractive option for you too.

White Fillings in Banbury At our practice we are able to replace the traditional metal filling and replace it with our subtle tooth coloured alternative. Our dentists will remove the decay, along with the metal filling and replace it with our white filling, swiftly and with minimal discomfort. This material is able to withstand long term wear, such as acidic drinks and foods, as well as offering you a more natural smile. Fillings are common within dental work, and our white alternatives allow patients to feel a higher degree of confidence within their smile.

Why would I need a filling?

Fillings are used to treat dental decay. If dental cavities are left untreated they can lead to more serious dental damage and therefore dental hygiene issues. If these cavities are unresolved they may lead to further infection which may require surgery to fix. Our dentists will advise you whether or not fillings are required, and work through the possible options, such as the white fillings here at Amsel and Wilkins.

What are the advantages of white fillings?

White fillings in Banbury are relatively inexpensive in comparison to porcelain crowns, white fillings when applied correctly adhere extremely well to the teeth, they are also able to adhere to the sides of teeth. Unlike silver fillings, white fillings are able to be applied directly to the tooth, minimising further tooth decay, white fillings last several years and are a long term alternative for our patients. Amalgam is used to create metal coloured fillings, however they can cause discoloration for surrounding teeth and may appear unsightly, metal fillings are usually used in the lower jaw however they can also be applied to the upper jaw, replacing these fillings with modern tooth coloured materials may be a good choice for our patients if they wish to increase the natural look of their smile.

Why choose us to adhere your white fillings?

At Amsel and Wilkins, we offer a modern surgery that has been upstanding for over forty years, our caring team prioritise our patients wellbeing and comfort over anything else, we welcome patients from a variety of ages and offer a variety of dental as well as cosmetic treatments. Cosmetic dentistry and dental implants are just a few of the wide selection of treatments we have to offer. At our practice we offer an initial consultation to allow our patients to make their own informed decisions.

When your wisdom teeth have to come out

Not everyone has to have wisdom teeth extractions. It depends on how your wisdom teeth come through as to whether the team at Amsel & Wilkins will recommend that you have them removed.

What are wisdom teeth?

Your adult teeth come through in 2 waves. Nearly all of the teeth come through when you are aged 8-12, but there are 4 molars right at the back, one at either end of the upper and lower arches, that come through from around the age of 17-21.

The problems with wisdom teeth

The trouble is that wisdom teeth do not always come through straight. Sometimes they don’t come through at all. Other times they come through at an angle, this is what we mean when we say that your wisdom teeth are impacted.

The extraction procedure

Taking out wisdom teeth can be straightforward but your dentist may recommend a referral if it appears to be complex. At Amsel and Wilkins we have Consultant oral surgeon Catherine Sternberg who works alongside us , she will carry out an examination of your wisdom teeth and discuss what needs to be done, before drawing up a written treatment plan, including costs.

Generally speaking, we can remove your wisdom teeth under local anesthetic at the practice. If you are likely to be anxious about the procedure, we can also offer referral for treatment with sedation or general anesthetic.

Go white, replace your old silver fillings

If you want to upgrade your smile and make it more attractive, have you ever considered getting your old amalgam fillings replaced with tooth coloured ones?

Go White, Replace Old Silver Fillings You may not have, after all, fillings tend to be around the back teeth and are not always visible when you look in the mirror at yourself.

So, it may seem like a subtle thing to do, but getting your amalgam fillings replaced with tooth coloured composite can make a dramatic difference to how your teeth look.

You can have all your old fillings taken out and replaced in one or two appointments, or we can replace each filling as it wears out or starts to crack.

Tooth coloured fillings are made of a mixture of plastic and glass called composite resin. These fillings can be matched to the colour of your surrounding teeth so that they blend in very well.

Tooth coloured fillings, are built up in layers and can be sculpted. Each layer that goes in is hardened, or cured, with a LED light before the next one goes in. When the cavity is filled, the dentist then polishes it smooth and sculpt in the mounds and valleys of the chewing surface, so you end up with a filling that looks just like a tooth.

Don’t forget the hygienists’ clean and polish

Despite all the gadgets and tricks to make life quicker and easier, it seems that we are all just as busy as we ever were, maybe even more so. We are constantly trying to find ways to save an hour here, 20 minutes there.

Hygienists Clean and Polish So, if you have your regular check-ups here at Amsel & Wilkins in Banbury, you may think it’s okay to not bother with your 6-monthly half hour with hygienists for a clean and polish. After all, the dentist has already given you the thumbs up as far as your dental health is concerned, surely it can’t hurt to skip the hygienist and save yourself some time, and money.

Well, we don’t think skipping the clean and polish is a good plan, and here’s why.

Plaque, plaque, plaque

Plaque is the name we give to a particular kind of bacteria that live in your mouth. It builds up in sticky layers on your teeth, and other surfaces in order to avoid being swallowed in your saliva. Plaque bacteria feed on the sugars in your saliva and the more sugar there is, the more quickly they reproduce and build up on your teeth, giving you that furry feeling.

The trouble with plaque is that it gives off acids. They’re not harmful when they have been diluted in your saliva but as they come off the bacteria they are pretty concentrated and they can eat away at your teeth, creating little holes for decay-causing bacteria to get into.

Plaque love to hide away in difficult to reach places, such as around the gum line, and here the acids attack the gums, and then get under the gums to attack tooth roots and jawbone. With both decay and gum disease, the end result is tooth loss.

Brushing your teeth is done to remove plaque, but it’s impossible to get it all and when it’s left in situ for more than 3 days, plaque hardens and can’t be brushed away. Twice yearly sessions with the hygienist ensure that any build up of plaque is removed. So, please don’t skip this vital part of your oral health regime. If you haven’t been for a while, why not book an appointment today?

Filling the gaps

It’s only as you start to lose your teeth that you realise how important they are, not only for eating, but also for looking youthful and healthy, and for being able to speak clearly. And the more teeth you lose, the harder it gets.

If you have lost a few teeth, or maybe even all your teeth, now is the time to get a new denture. Dentures have been around for centuries and are constantly being improved to make them fit better, look more realistic and do their job of eating and aiding clarity of speech better.

Here at Amsel & Wilkins, all of our dentists are trained to provide partial and full dentures. And one dentist, Nigel Braine-Hartnell, is certified to provide BPS (biofunctional prosthetic system) dentures, which are made of special materials to provide a high reproduction of natural speech and eating functions.

There are 2 kinds of dentures, full and partial.

Full dentures

Full dentures go over your gums in a snug fit. You will need to get a full denture if you have lost, or are about to lose, all the teeth on either your upper or lower arch. We like to fit full dentures as we remove your teeth so that you never have to be without teeth. Sometimes, if there have been a lot of extractions, and your gums have swollen because of them, we like to leave the fitting until the swelling has gone down. Once we have done the fitting, we send the measurements off to a laboratory to be made up. We won’t leave you without teeth during this time; you will get a temporary denture to wear.

For extra stability, your dentures can be attached to your jawbone with dental implants.

Partial dentures

If you have lost a few teeth around one jaw, we can replace them with a partial denture. This is a plastic or metal plate with the teeth placed around it that goes in behind your teeth and can be fixed onto the back ones with a clip to keep it still. You unclip your plate to take it out and clean it.

Come in for a consultation and let dentures give you your life back.

Straighter teeth look so great

Does it seem like everyone in your peer group is fixated on having straighter teeth? Well, there’s a couple of reasons why it has become so important to have teeth that line up well.

People notice what your teeth are like

Over many thousands of years, we have evolved to take a great deal of notice of each other’s teeth. These days, it may seem like we are just being fussy, but in the not so distant past, checking out each other’s teeth was a way of working out how safe it was to be around someone.

Straighter Teeth in Banbury Imagine you are out and about in Banbury in the middle ages and you run into some new people. Before you get too chatty with them, you are going to want to take a good look at their teeth. If they are yellow and stumpy and their breath is not so fragrant, you’d probably elect to stand a few paces back, so that you did not pick up any infections they might have been harbouring.

These days, we are much less likely to be wandering about with any really nasty diseases that are contagious, but we still subconsciously focus on each other’s’ mouths and take note of what we see there.

So, if you feel like everyone notices that your teeth are not perfectly straight, that’s because they do.

Straighter teeth mean healthier mouths

When you have teeth that aren’t straight, over time it can lead to several problems.

Firstly, wonky teeth provide more places for bacterial plaque to build up and harden into calculus. Once that happens, and it takes about 3 days, you can no longer brush the plaque away. Meanwhile, under the calculus that plaque is still reproducing and giving off acids that will rot your teeth and attack your gums, eventually causing them to fall out, either through decay or gum disease. Straighter teeth tend to last longer than wonky ones.

Secondly, if some teeth are bearing the brunt of all your chewing, they may well crumble away after some years. Uneven chewing pressure can also cause a lot of pain.

So, come into Amsel & Wilkins and find out how we can help you get straighter teeth.

And it’s all thanks to digital technology

If you want to feel like you are seriously up-to-the-minute technology-wise and get your teeth straightened at the same time, you need to get Invisalign clear aligners. These are the technology superstars of the braces world. In fact, if it wasn’t for digital technology, they wouldn’t even exist.

Invisalign clear aligners were the brainchild of an American college student who wished he could have worn something more like his retainer instead of brackets and wires to straighten his teeth.

Invisalign in Banbury It took a long time to get the funding together, and put together a manufacturing process, but since Invisalign first came on the market in the late 1990s, more than 4 million people have had their teeth realigned with this innovative treatment.

How Invisalign is made – digital consultation

Getting your aligners all starts with a consultation with us at Amsel & Wilkins in Banbury. We take detailed digital measurements of your teeth using the Itero handheld scanner, which works by taking hundreds of pictures of your teeth. As they are taken, they are built up into a 3D picture of your teeth on a nearby screen, which we can move around to look at your teeth from any angle.

We also put the image through a programme that shows how the teeth will need to be moved to reach their correct positions, and what they will look like once they are all beautifully straight.

3D printing

We send all that information over to the Invisalign factory in the USA. Because it goes over the Internet, it takes no time at all to get there, whereas sending putty impressions in the post can take several days.

Your aligners are then 3D printed, several of 80,000 such aligners that roll over the 3D conveyor belt every day at Invisalign. These do need to be sent by post, so they take a few days to get to us and then we can fit them for you.

None of this would be possible without digital technology, which is why we think Invisalign is pretty amazing.