Restoring Teeth Following Tooth Decay

Looking at your options in Burton for rebuilding damaged teeth

We always say that prevention is better than cure, and this also applies when it comes to your oral health. Avoiding too much sugar, cleaning your teeth effectively and making sure that you attend our Burton dental clinic for a check up regularly are good ways of maintaining a healthy mouth. Although these are great ways of keeping a mouth healthy, it isn’t foolproof and problems like tooth decay can still occur. Providing your check ups are regular, relatively minimal intervention should be necessary to restore your teeth.

In cases where tooth decay has already occurred, you can opt to receive treatment at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice here in Burton. In today’s blog, we take a look at some of the possible treatments you might receive.

Minor fillings

If you eat a reasonably low sugar diet and also see your dentist regularly, there is every chance that any tooth decay we detect will be relatively minor. In most cases, any cavities should be able to be restored using a dental filling. Although traditional amalgam fillings can be used, more of our patients are turning to tooth coloured fillings as these are much less visible when you smile or when you are talking to others.

Larger filings

If you haven’t been to a dental clinic for a while, perhaps even ignoring early signs of tooth decay, you may well find that when you do eventually see your Burton dentist, you require a much larger filling than you would if you had sought treatment earlier. Tooth coloured fillings can still be used for most of these cavities as they are now much stronger than has been the case in the past. For larger rear tooth fillings though, we may recommend, if you are looking for an aesthetic option, the use of inlays or onlays for additional strength and appearance.

Dental crowns

Where a dental cavity is very large or where a tooth has broken away, it may not always be possible to treat it using a filling. In this case, the most likely option is to have a tooth crown fitted. These are made in a style and shade that matches the rest of your teeth so that it blends in well. In order to fit a crown, the damaged tooth will need to be prepared and an impression taken. The impression will be sent to a dental laboratory for the crown to be made. This process usually takes a week or so, during which time you will be fitted with a temporary crown to protect the tooth. The temporary crown will be removed once your new crown arrives back at our dental practice and this will then be attached to the prepared tooth.

Extractions

A tooth has to be fairly badly decayed to render it irreparable with a filling or a crown, but it does happen. There might also be a decision to be made where a large filling or crown is possible but may not offer the level of strength and security that you would like. In situations like this, we may suggest that it would be better to remove the tooth and provide you with a replacement, whether that be a denture or a dental implant. We will explain the pros and cons of these options with you at the time so that you can make an informed decision.

Gum disease

If your tooth decay has been caused by neglect in cleaning or because of missed appointments, there is also a reasonable chance that you will have some gum health issues as well. Although a lot of people think this is less important, it can in fact not only lead to uncomfortable symptoms but even potential tooth loss. Once any damaged or decayed teeth have been restored, it may be recommended that you see the hygienist to have your teeth professionally cleaned and in order to manage any gum health issues.

Naturally, we encourage all of our patients to have regular check ups to minimise the likelihood of decay and similar common dental problems. Problems do arise though and we encourage you to contact us as soon as you notice a problem if it is between appointments. The sooner a problem can be treated, the more of the natural tooth that is likely to remain.

If you would like to book a check up appointment at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice, or to see us because you have a problem, please call us in Burton on 0123 845345.