Archives for March, 2011

Crooked teeth in fleet

March 29th, 2011

Having crooked teeth can be a real problem.  It can have a massive effect on your confidence when in social or work situations.

A client came to Time Dental and had been unhappy about his smile for 10 years!  His front teeth were crooked at the top and bottom.  He said he never smiled in photos and people thought that he wasnt a very happy person.  He told us that if he could smile properly again he would be so happy.

There are a number of treatment options to deal with this problem.  One option is to veneer the teeth. These are thin porcelain laminate shavings that are bespoke for each individual tooth.  They can be used to help correct colour, shape, size and position of teeth. 

Another option isto move the teeth into postion using orthodontics.  They can be in the form of traditional metal “train-tracks”, they can use white brackets, or even clear aligners.  This type of treatment can take 1-2 years. 

If the front teeth are the only problem, the new Inman aligner is another solution.  It is a removable brace that uses gentle constant pressure on the teeth to push them into place.  This can take between 8-20 weeks!  The advantage is that is is cheaper than the other types of orthodontic options, faster and it can be taken out if you have an important function to go to.

Call us for a free consultation to find out more on 01252 723 008

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Broken crowns in Fleet

March 22nd, 2011

A guest came to see us at Time Dental as they had broken their crowns and the metal was showing through.

During our conversation the lady had very big chewing muscles particularly by the jaw line.  She tells me that she used to suffer from anxiety and had a history of clenching her teeth together.  When inspecting her back teeth, she had indeed broken the porcelain off her back crowns which exposed the underlying metal sub structure which made the teeth look terrrible!

There are generally three types of crowns; gold, metal-ceramic and all-ceramic.  Gold is a metal that is time proven and has been around for a number of years, however due to the unaesthetic qualities it is not always a popular choice.  Metal ceramic crowns are tooth coloured but have a metal sub structure.  These types of crowns are the traditional types and have also been around for many years.  The newer crowns are the all-ceramic.  The are metal-free and are completely tooth coloured.  They are extremely strong and some types can even be bonded to the tooth for added strength.

After discussing the options with our guest, she opted for the all-ceramic crowns due to the strength and aesthetics.  We also discussed the use of a splint to help reduce the stress on her teeth at night time.  This would help protect her crowns as well as reduce muscle stress.

Call us to see how we can help you on 01252 723 008

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Fillings and onlays in Farnborough

March 15th, 2011

Did you know that you have more than one option to restore your tooth when it’s decayed?

When cavities are small to medium sized a tooth coloured composite filling is perfect.  They are placed into the tooth once the decay has been removed.  When placed they look just like natural teeth unlike mercury metal fillings.

When the cavities are larger one option could be to use composite white fillings however they may last you only a few years as the stress on the tooth when chewing can be too great for the filling to last. 

Another option could be an inlay or if it covers a cusp an onlay.  Inlays and onlays are normally recommended when the cavity becomes so large that the cusps of the teeth are at risk of breaking.  Inlays/ onlays are laboratory made, your tooth is initially prepared and impressions are taken.  These impressions are made into models and the inlays are made on these models.  They can be made of resin, ceramic or gold.

Ceramic inlays are very popular as they are the strongest material and they look just like your normal tooth.  They also last much longer than direct composite fillings.

When replacing old mercury fillings it is common to find cracks within the tooth, so inlays / onlays are perfect for bringing the strength of your tooth back.  They require less preparation than crowns, so you’re preserving as much tooth as possible.

Call us to discuss your options when you visit us at Time Dental on 01252 723 008

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Chipped crowns in Fleet

March 8th, 2011

If you have a very strong bite and grind your teeth you are very likely to chip the porcelain off your crowns.  This was the case for a client at Time Dental.  She was also very nervous about having impresions taken of her mouth as they made her gag.

On assessing her chewing muscles and her teeth, we found that she indeed used to grind and clench her teeth as she suffered from anxiety.  This left her exixting crowns under enormous amounts of pressure.  Did you know that if you clench or grind your teeth you can put up to ten times more pressure on your teeth than someone who doesn’t do it?  That’s a huge force.  This had resulted in the porcelain on her crowns chipping off exposing the metal under her crowns.  This meant that not only did the crowns look ugly, but her chewing function is reduced meaning that she would not be able to chew her food properly.

We decided to replace the existing crowns with stronger porecelain crowns which are are able to withstand much more force than the traditional metal ceramic crowns.  However we had to also get her over the gag reflex which she was worried about.  Dr Rashid talked her through her anxiety and pin pointed what it was that actually bothered her.  After running through breathing exercises and how to control the reflex the client was over the moon after we had taken the impressions so quickly and without her feeling worried.  Now that was one happy client!

See how we can help you by calling 01252 723 008

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clenching in aldershot

March 1st, 2011

With daily stresses and pressures loading on top of us, its not surprising that the amount of tooth damage caused by clenching and grinding our teeth is increasing.  Clenching and grinding is collectively known as ‘bruxing’.   A lot of people aren’t even aware that they are doing it and many aren’t aware they are bruxing at night.

Do you wake in the morning with a sore tense jaw or head? You might be a secret bruxer.  Stress and fracture lines will appear on the tooth’s surface, and can cause ‘abfraction cavities’, something not many people are aware of.  These abfraction cavities are found just above the gum line on the teeth, and can be identified by running your nail along the tooth’s surface.  It should feel flush and smooth, but if it feels like there is a notch of groove there, you may have an abfraction cavity.   As you grind your teeth, it’s causing the enamel along the gum line to chip away as the enamel is much thinner around this area leaving the tooth exposed to sensitivity and decay.

Abfraction cavities can be fixed in one session in the dentist’s chair with composite bonding fillings, but what about the long term effects?  The good news is there is a solution.   At Time Dental you can have a handcrafted bite guard made especially for your mouth. There are 2 kinds, soft and hard, and they work by deprogramming your jaw and stop the clenching or grinding action.  These are mainly worn at night, but can also be worn in the day if you are aware of daytime bruxing. 

So if you feel that your teeth are suffering with the effects of a stressful lifestyle or a bad grinding habit, come and pay us a visit and see what we can do for you!

Call 01252 723 008

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Time Dental Practice 87 West Street | Farnham | Surrey | GU9 7EN | 01252 723 008
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