To our valued patients,
Firstly, I hope you and your loved ones remain safe and well.
We are very pleased to inform you that we will be reopening the practice as per government guidelines on Monday the 8th of June. We are all really looking forward to welcoming you into the practice again.
Brushing our teeth is one of the most fundamental things that we can do in order to keep our teeth and gums clean and healthy. How and when we do this can also make a real difference, as can the type of toothbrush that we use and how frequently it is replaced.
Patients often ask which of the two is better: electric or manual toothbrushes? Actually, both have their own advantages. Whilst both types of brushes can be extremely effective in keeping the teeth clean, healthy and shiny, each of them has some distinctive advantages, which we discuss further in this blog.
Continue reading “Is It Better to Use an Electric or a Manual Toothbrush?”
A bridge literally ‘bridges’ the gap left by a missing tooth using the surrounding natural teeth or dental implants for support. It is made up of two crowns that sit on top of the teeth neighbouring the gap, and a replacement tooth (also referred to as ‘pontic’) to fill the gap itself.
What is a dental inlay? What about a dental onlay? What is a crown? And when might your dentist recommend either one of them? Fillings and cavities are part of the equation, both of which you may be more familiar with. We’ve put together an infographic to provide you some more information to fill in the gaps and get a better idea of what type of treatment your dentist may recommend if you have a cavity.
In theory, these two can often be used interchangeably, but inlays are typically reserved for much larger cavities. They both involve removing the existing cavity with a drill and filling that empty space, but how that space is filled is where they primarily differ. With a filling, an amalgam or composite material is used to fill the space, and it’s a much quicker process, involving only a single visit.
With an inlay, the space is filled with a single, solid piece that is usually fabricated in a lab and they are typically made out of a material like gold or ceramic. The inlay must be made precisely to the shape and size of the empty space, otherwise food and bacteria will enter the space, resulting in further decay. The upside to an inlay is that they do not contract to the same degree as a filling after being placed, so there is less chance of the restoration failing for that reason, or creating a gap between the filling and the surrounding tooth structure. Inlays also create a tougher and theoretically more durable surface for use when chewing, and as such, an inlay should be more reliable long term, although the data on that is mixed and inconclusive.
These are your more major single-tooth restorations, reserved for larger areas of decay where a filling or inlay won’t work due to the amount of tooth structure that must be removed. The primary distinction between an onlay and an inlay is that an onlay will cover a cusp of the tooth, whereas an inlay only fills the area between the cusps. The cavity is still drilled from the tooth, and an onlay is fabricated to the exact size and shape of the space. Conversely, a crown will cover the entire biting surface of the tooth, as well as the tooth structure above the gum line.
Compared to a crown, an onlay is a less aggressive restoration when one can be performed, as less tooth structure needs to be removed in order to place the onlay. The costs are similar, but an onlay is a little cheaper than a crown. As such, an onlay is actually the preferred restoration when possible. However, the caveat here is that an onlay is more difficult to do correctly and more reliant on the skill of the dentist.
Your dentist will talk through the various options available with you and will consider a number of factors including extent of the repair, where in your mouth the filling is needed and the cost, before advising you which type of filling material is best suited for you.
For more information, book a consultation by calling 01943 874476 today.
Following the Prime Minister’s update on 4th January 2021 advising that the country is moving into another lockdown, we received further guidance from the Government and NHS England that dentistry is exempt from the new restrictions.
This means our practice will remain open for both routine and urgent dental care for all patients. We can still offer face-to-face appointments, although these could be limited due to the constraints of our additional safety protocols.
Following NHS guidance, every dental practice in the UK has been asked to effectively close their doors and manage patients remotely where possible.
If you do develop dental pain, in almost all cases, we are able to assist our patients remotely and we can provide analgesics, antibiotics and more specific dental advice to help our patients overcome their dental problems until we are able to see them again at the practice.
