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White fillings for a natural looking smile

Sore teeth and persistent toothaches may be a sign that something is wrong with your teeth. If the pain just won’t go away, it is likely that could have a cavity. This pain will become worse over time and the only way to make it stop is by getting the cavity filled by your dentist.

At Amsel and Wilkins in Banbury, we urge our patients to have their teeth checked regularly in order to prevent decay and catch cavities before they become a bigger oral threat. Cavities can be generally treated with fillings but if they grow deep, a simple filling may not be enough. Not taking care of a cavity right away, might affect your tooth nerve and may even require a crown or root canal to fix the problem.

White Fillings in Banbury If you already have fillings, on the other hand, regular visits will allow our dentists to monitor them and watch out for any signs of wear or damage. While high-quality fillings can last for many years, they will eventually wear down and require replacement. Your dentist will let you know before pain and discomfort become noticeable. One other treatment option offered by our practice is to remove your old metal fillings and replace them with white fillings for a natural smile.

White composite fillings

If you have chipped, cracked or damaged teeth, fillings are essential for supporting and protecting them. Large cavities are noticeable and often painful, but small cavities also require your attention before they become extensive. Your dentist can help spot these cavities before it is too late and fill them in order to prevent them from expanding.

Just like metal fillings, composite, tooth-coloured fillings are used to repair teeth that are affected by decay, cracks or fractures, however extensive these may be. However, unlike metal fillings, composite fillings are made of tooth-coloured glass and plastic, which is very durable when set to the teeth. Your dentist will clean and remove the affected portion of the tooth and the fill it with the composite material. Composite fillings are long-lasting with good care and will withstand the forces in your mouth when biting and chewing.

Improve the appearance of your teeth with white fillings in Banbury

Back in the days when there was no alternative treatment, amalgam or silver fillings were popular in restoring decayed teeth. However, amalgam fillings can be unattractive due to their metal appearance. Luckily, modern dentistry has come a long way and there is an alternative to amalgam fillings – white composite fillings that match the colour of your teeth exactly and help keep them stable and decay-free.

At Amsel and Wilkins in Banbury, we believe prevention is always better than cure, therefore, we will always strive to prevent decay from developing on your teeth. If that’s impossible and you need a filling then, we recommend white fillings as a viable option that is both cosmetic and functional.

What are white fillings made of?

White fillings are made of a combination of glass and plastic also known as composite resin. This material is usually sculpted directly on the tooth by your dentist and set hard by using a high-intensity blue light. White fillings come in different shades, which are matched to the existing shade of your teeth creating natural looking smiles.

How long do white fillings last?

The durability of white fillings depends on many factors and while some of them last many years, others don’t last enough. Factors affecting the longevity of fillings include size, a patient’s diet, tooth surface, age and position in the tooth. Generally, smaller fillings tend to last longer than larger fillings because they are more stable. On the other hand, fillings on teeth with larger surfaces tend to last longer as well.

Advantages of white fillings

Unlike amalgam fillings, white fillings match your natural tooth colour and appearance. Since they bond to the tooth enamel chemically, they do not require placement of slots, grooves or other material in healthy tooth structure to retain them. White fillings are very stable and restore the strength and resilience of natural teeth. This is because they completely harden in second, instead of days required by other materials.

White fillings are also very versatile because they can be used on the back and the front teeth without compromising your appearance. Finally, if damaged they can be easily repaired.

To learn more about white fillings in Banbury, please contact us today.

What to expect during a hygienist’s clean and polish session in Banbury

Regular check-ups and visits to a hygienist are necessary and are the basis of a comprehensive dental care plan. At Amsel and Wilkins in Banbury, we strongly believe that prevention is better than cure and recommend visiting the dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings.

Regular visits ensure that problems are caught early on and treated rather easily, instead of evolving into more complex problems where drastic and costly solutions are often required. Our experienced hygienists are highly qualified and are able to spot any problems between your routine check-ups and cleanings.

What does a hygienist’s clean and polish involve?

A clean and polish treatment, also known as scale and polishing, involves a hygienist who will clean your teeth professionally above and below the gum line. A hygienist’s job is to prevent and treat gum disease, but can also demonstrate you the best ways to keep your teeth and gums free of plaque. Plaque is a deposit that sticks to your teeth when bacteria mixes with food and saliva. If not removed properly, plaque can cause gum disease, bleeding gums, gum shrinkage and ultimately tooth loss.

During your clean and polish session, your hygienist will use special equipment to loosen plaque and wash away the debris from your mouth. Traditional scales are ideal for removing smaller deposits between teeth. Once plaque deposits are removed, your hygienist will smoothen the surface of your teeth, followed by a polish. A special paste will be applied on your teeth, giving them a shiny and healthy appearance. As a final touch, your hygienist may apply fluoride in order to prevent further decay. Fluoride is good at providing extra strength and minerals to the teeth.

Is it painful?

Our dental hygienists are expertly trained and will care for your teeth and gums gently and professionally. Generally, a hygienist’s clean and polish is not a painful procedure. With that said, if you have sensitive teeth or feel any form of discomfort or pain, then we can provide special sedation.

How can I take good care of my teeth?

As much as having your teeth professionally cleaned regularly, it is really important to establish a good oral hygiene routine at home. Your hygienist in Banbury will show you how to care for your mouth using a toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, floss and inter-dental brushes. This way you can look after your teeth and gums and home between dental visits.

The importance of a hygienist’s clean and polish in Banbury

A clean and polish is a very common dental treatment which should be carried out as part of a complete oral preventive plan along with tooth brushing, flossing, and healthy eating habits.

During a routine clean and polish at Amsel and Wilkins in Banbury, our experienced hygienists will assess the state of your teeth and gums and thoroughly remove all plaque deposits and stain from your teeth. Your dentist will remove hardened plaque with special equipment and polish your teeth with a paste. After a professional clean, you will get an extra-squeaky clean feeling.

Why do you need to clean and polish your teeth?

Our teeth and gums are under constant threat from the sugars present in our food, which are slowly released as we eat. When combined with plaque, food residue forms a thick bacterial film over the teeth that produces a harmful acid. Not only is plaque unattractive – if it’s not removed it can lead to serious oral complications including gum disease.

A hygienist’s clean and polish will remove all traces of plaque from your mouth and leave your teeth and gums feeling clean and smooth. This will also prevent bacteria sticking to your teeth, which can lead to the build-up of plaque and gum disease.

Does it hurt?

Cleaning and polishing your teeth is an entirely painless procedure, with many patients reporting ‘tickling’ or ‘scraping’ sensations. However, if you have sensitive gums or active gum disease, you many experience mild pain or discomfort. In that case, your dentist will use a numbing gel on the area to be treated. It is important to let the hygienist know at the time so they can help ease your pain.

Maintaining good oral hygiene

After the treatment, your hygienist will show you the best techniques for brushing and flossing your teeth. It is really essential to look after your teeth and gums between visits, as this will keep your teeth strong and healthy for longer. Brushing and flossing your teeth daily and cutting down on sugary foods and beverages, can have a big impact on your oral health in the long-term.

Children can also benefit from having their teeth cleaned and polished, since they tend to consume more sugary foods and beverages than the average adult. Our hygienist can also apply fluoride varnishes or dental sealants on their teeth to help prevent decay.

Achieve straighter teeth in 6 months in Banbury

Nowadays, many adults opt for teeth straightening in order to achieve a healthy, straight and long-lasting smile. Gone are the days when traditional metal braces were the only option for teeth straightening. Modern dentistry has evolved and advanced dramatically in recent years and traditional braces are no longer the only option available when it comes to teeth straightening.

At Amsel & Wilkins in Banbury, we understand that metal braces may not be to everyone’s liking. This is why we offer our patients the very best of modern dentistry, with treatments that allow you to achieve the smile of your dreams, discreetly. Transparent, customised, removable aligners such as Invisalign are almost invisible, while other treatments include tooth-coloured or clear fixed braces. More importantly, treatment is now a lot faster than before, since it is possible to achieve straighter teeth in six months.

Do I really need to straighten my teeth?

Most people want to get their teeth straightened for cosmetic reasons, however, crooked, misaligned and gapped teeth can also cause serious health problems. When teeth are not properly aligned, it is much harder to reach between them and clean them properly. This can lead to plaque build-up, eventually causing tooth decay and gum disease. Straight teeth are easier to brush and floss.

Crooked teeth also put stress on your gums, causing chronic jaw pain and headaches. Straightening your teeth will help to alleviate these symptoms. Last but not least, you may not realise how your teeth affect your speech. Protruding teeth can cause you to lisp or have difficulty pronouncing words correctly.

Why choose us?

Before you even begin teeth straightening treatment, we can predict your tooth movement, thanks to 3D computer technology. When you undergo teeth straightening treatment in our practice, you can rest assured that your smile is in the capable hands of experienced dentists.

At your first appointment, we will examine your teeth thoroughly and determine your exact teeth straightening needs, for the best treatment outcome. Modern teeth straightening treatments can provide remarkable results, but you will need regular visits to your dentist to check how your treatment is progressing.

If you are interested in teeth straightening for adults in as little as six months, visit our website for more information about the different treatment plans available to you.

Replace old crowns and veneers in Banbury

Dental veneers and porcelain crowns are ideal and affordable treatment options for people with crooked, chipped or gapped teeth. Both treatments are minimally invasive since they do not require surgery and can be completed in a few visits to the dentist.

Replace Old Crowns and Veneers Unlike removable devices like dentures, dental crowns are fixed onto the teeth. Crowns are used to cover damaged teeth, but they also help strengthen them, improving their overall appearance and alignment. Besides their cosmetic effect, crowns can also help you bite and chew better, therefore improving your quality of life significantly. Once in place, dental crowns will work just like your natural teeth. They are able to withstand normal biting and chewing forces, though they require regular care, maintenance and replacement as they can become loose over time.

Dental veneers, on the other hand, are thin, custom-made, tooth-coloured porcelain shells, which are attached to the front side of teeth. Dental veneers are ideal for fixing various imperfections and providing a solution to more than one dental problems. They can help shape too small, too big or uneven teeth, and they can also fix oddly shaped, chipped, slightly crooked or gapped teeth. Dental veneers are extremely versatile. They correct dental problems with minimal preparation to the tooth, allowing you to preserve more of your natural, healthy tooth structure.

With good oral care and regular visits to the dentist, your crowns and veneers should last you a long time. However, as with all dental work, they can fail over time as a result of wear and tear or damage. In this case, our experienced dentists at Amsel & Wilkins in Banbury, will restore them using the latest technology and materials for a healthy, natural smile.

Crowns are generally very reliable and do not require a lot of extra care, but there are still things that can go wrong with them. Old crowns, in particular, can wear out, break or even fall off when you least expect it. Proper oral hygiene will ensure that your crowns will last for longer, but you may need to replace them after a certain period.

The same applies for veneers, which can be threatened by gum disease. Decay under crowns and veneers is hard to notice and requires good oral hygiene along with regular dental care.

Rejuvenate your skin with Botox and dermal fillers in Banbury

Ageing is a continuous process, already starting in our 20s and progressing through life due to the physiologic changes of the skin and underlying tissue. The first noticeable signs of ageing are fine lines and wrinkles. These lines appear on different areas of the face and tend to become more noticeable because of the effects of gravity and the pull of muscles.

At Amsel and Wilkins, we use innovative treatments like dermal fillers and Botox, designed to revitalise your skin and provide a fresh and youthful look. Our experienced and highly-qualified dentists offer a thorough cosmetic and face consultation in Banbury in order to determine the best available treatment for your skin. We are an accredited member of Save Face, a reputable website with qualified and trained registered healthcare professionals in the UK.

Botox

Botox is a very popular non-surgical treatment with many fans worldwide. The benefit of having this treatment done by dentists is that they have a thorough knowledge and understanding of your face and can perform this intricate procedure in a thorough and accurate manner. At Amsel and Wilkins, we use the botulinum toxin type A for Botox injections, which is a safe, high-quality injectable aesthetic solution.

Botox injections prevent muscle movement, and therefore contribute towards reducing facial tension and help the face to look smoother and more refreshed. The treatment targets frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles.

Dermal fillers

Dermal fillers, on the other hand, help restore the skin’s volume and plumpness. As we age, the collagen and the hyaluronic acid in our skin start to decrease, causing wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes, mouth, cheeks and jaw line. At Amsel and Wilkins, we use dermal fillers to temporarily halt facial wrinkles and add more volume and fullness to your face.

The injections, which only take a few minutes, are usually administered after a local anaesthetic has been applied. This way you will hardly feel any pain or discomfort. The effects of dermal fillers can last for up to 12 months and follow-up treatments will help to maintain volume and plumpness over time.

Contact us

If you are interested in learning more about cosmetic treatments in Banbury, why not book a cosmetic and face consultation today?

Brighten your smile with teeth bleaching in Banbury

Are you tired of having yellow, stained teeth, despite your diligent daily oral hygiene? You are not alone. Luckily, professional teeth whitening can help you overcome stained teeth and smile again with confidence.

At Amsel and Wilkins, we understand there is a chance your teeth have seen whiter days and we are here to help you restore the brightness of your smile. We deliver two types of teeth whitening – power whitening and home whitening. Both methods are safe and highly effective.

Why do teeth turn yellow?

So what causes teeth to discolour over time? Teeth darken naturally as we age and some people are genetically predisposed to have darker teeth than others, yet tooth discolouration is a very common phenomenon with various causes. Understandably, smoking, as well as excessive alcohol consumption, contribute greatly to the staining of teeth .

Similarly, caffeine and red wine also yellow teeth over time. Additionally, dark-coloured foods like blueberries, pomegranates and blackberries can leave teeth tinged with stains, and so do red pasta sauces and balsamic vinegar. Finally, some medications accelerate tooth yellowing. While it is not necessary to stop enjoying these foods altogether, it is really important to brush and floss your teeth straight after consuming them. This way you will minimise the staining effects.

Power whitening

Power whitening is ideal for patients looking for immediate results. A power whitening treatment at Amsel and Wilkins normally takes two hours or less, depending on your desired shade, and is carried out in the dental chair. Power bleaching is ideal for people who have an important event coming up and want to look their best.

Home whitening

Home whitening lasts longer than power whitening and can be performed in the comfort of your own house. Your dentist will provide you with a custom-made, lightweight, mouth tray that fits snugly over your teeth. You will then have to put a bleaching gel inside the tray and wear it all night or for a few hours during the day. You will begin to notice the first results approximately after two weeks.

Contact us

At Amsel and Wilkins, we pride ourselves on delivering superior results to each and every patient. If you are tired of your stained smile, contact us today.

Replacement tooth options

Many people living in the Banbury area of Oxfordshire come to Amsel & Wilkins wanting to replace their missing teeth. So, what are your options if you have missing teeth?

There are five different ways to go about solving this problem.

Do nothing

Many people choose this option. This can have some downsides. The bone where the tooth has been extracted will resorb overtime. This can make the surrounding teeth look longer as the gum pulls away.

This also means that if you wanted a dental implant later in life there may not be enough bone, or the procedure may be more uncomfortable or costly if bone grafting is required.

Another possibility is that the surrounding teeth on either side of the gap will fall into that space, potentially creating problems with your bite.

Crowns

Dental crowns are used in a wide variety of situations. The most common reason is to repair a broken tooth or weakened tooth structure. Under certain circumstances a crown can be used to cover a poorly shaped or undersized tooth. Dental crowns can also be used for cosmetic reasons to improve the appearance of dark or discolored teeth.

Bridges

A dental bridge is made by gently reducing the teeth either side of the gap to accept a new crown. With a new crown on the teeth either side of the gap, a new tooth can be suspended between them and joined to the two crowns. This creates a dental bridge made of three components joined together.

Dentures

At Amsel& Wilkins, dentures are an extremely good solution to the problem of missing teeth. Dentures are the most cost-effective option and with modern advances, they can be made to look so good that most people won’t ever know that you are wearing them.

Dental implants

If you have lost or missing teeth, then your jaw will shrink and weaken until the gap is filled. Dental implants are the best way to stop this ongoing damage, resulting in the closest thing to your natural teeth.

Amsel & Wilkins offer these treatments at our beautiful and welcoming practice in Banbury. Give us a call, so we can help you replace your missing teeth and restore your confidence.

Go White. Replace Old Silver Fillings

Most people have some form of filling in their mouth. Nowadays, fillings are not only functional, but can be natural looking as well. Many people don’t want silver fillings that show when they laugh or smile because they are more conscious about the way they look.

white-fillings-in-banbury Because silver fillings are opaque to X-Rays, it makes it difficult to see a cavity under the filling until it has become quite serious. Research has shown that if you don’t use any X-Rays you can see around 50% of what is going on under the filling and even with a full set of X-Rays you will still only see about 80-85%. So, there is 15-20% of cavities that won’t be able to be seen because the metal can block out the damage.

Does that mean white filings could help prevent decay?

Research has shown that silver fillings do not strengthen your teeth. So, a silver filling in a tooth, essentially acts like a wedge and when you bite down on the filling the forces are spread to the remaining tooth structure.

If the filling is large there is a good chance that the tooth is going to crack, break or chip. Because silver filling material was sometimes just packed into the tooth, there is no bond of the silver filling to the tooth. This is not the case with white fillings. The force of chewing is distributed over a larger amount of tooth, making the tooth around 20% stronger with white fillings.

The cost

Costs usually depend on the size and type of white filling used and the time it takes to complete the treatment. At Amsel & Wilkins, tooth coloured fillings start from just £65 a tooth. With an initial consultation being just £51, there has never been a better time to consider changing your silver fillings to white ones.

Give your loved ones this special gift

If you wanted to treat your family or friends to white fillings, we can offer you gift vouchers, available from as little as £10. You could make a loved one’s birthday or Christmas extra special. Just give us a call, or email us for more details on our gift voucher options.