Tooth repairs and fillings
How do we repair decayed or damaged teeth?
Decayed, broken and damaged teeth are repaired by fillings, bonding, inlays and crowns. We are highly experienced at repairing cracked, worn, and unsightly teeth and use both traditional and more advanced materials to restore your teeth to their natural looking best.
The optimum treatment for you will depend on the nature of the problem and degradation of the tooth or teeth. We will discuss with you all the options available and you can decide which treatment is best for you.
Treating tooth decay
If you discover tooth decay early enough you might not need a filling. Your dentist might apply a fluoride varnish to try to prevent further tooth decay and discuss ways to reduce your sugar intake.
Often, decay will result in the need for a simple filling. This procedure involves removing any decay and repairing the damage to your tooth using dental amalgam or tooth-coloured composite.
Tooth-coloured fillings
Tooth-coloured fillings are made from durable plastics mixed with microscopic glass particles, called composite resins. Similar in colour and texture to natural teeth, the fillings are less noticeable, and much more attractive than other types of fillings. Together we will decide what type of filling is best for you. As a rule of thumb, large fillings at the back are not suitable for tooth coloured fillings and it may be better to place a laboratory constructed restoration such as an inlay or a crown.
More advanced decay
If the decay is more advanced and has created a more substantial hole, a filling might not be adequate and your dentist may need to fit a crown over your damaged tooth. If the decay has spread to the pulp of your tooth, often resulting in an infection, it might be necessary to remove the pulp through root canal treatment.
In very severe cases, it might not be possible to repair your tooth and it might need to be extracted. If this does happen, we will be able to fill the gap using a dental implant, bridge or denture.
Two tips to help prevent tooth decay
Brush your teeth twice a day
Removing plaque from your teeth is the key. It’s important to regularly brushing and floss your teeth before the plaque has a chance to become a problem. If plaque does get the chance to harden and turn into tartar you will need to see your dentist or hygienist to have it removed. As plaque production is an ongoing process it’s very important to visit regularly to keep your teeth in tip-top condition.
Reduce your sugar intake
The bacteria in plaque feed on sugar and produce the destructive acids that cause tooth decay. Therefore, reducing your intake of sweet foods can also help to cut your risk of tooth decay. Reducing the frequency of sugar is just as important as quantity. If you’re constantly snacking you are creating the perfect environment for tooth decay as it takes your mouth around 30 minutes to neutralise the resulting acidity.
Crowns
Crowns are an ideal way to rebuild teeth which have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or have a very large filling. The crown fits right over the remaining part of the tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape and contour of a natural tooth. Crowns are made of many materials for example, porcelain bonded to precious metal. You dentist will discuss the suitable alternatives with you.
Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a dental procedure which is needed when the blood or nerve supply of a tooth becomes infected due to tooth decay or injury. Root canal treatment can prevent the spread of infection and save the tooth.
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Preventative dentistry is what we're all about, to help you reduce the need for and dental treatment in the future
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