You only get one set of teeth

In terms of teeth, the shark has got it made. They never need to worry about decay or gaps because they replace any teeth that get broken or fall out. And fall out they do, because sharks’ teeth don’t have any roots.

People are not like that. We get one set of adult teeth, with roots, and when they fall out, we don’t grow another tooth to fill the gap. We get 32 teeth and that’s our lot. Our teeth are literally irreplaceable and that’s why it is very important that our kids learn to take really good care of them.

Decay abound

Sadly, tooth decay among the children of the UK is still very high. This may be due to the amount of sugar in their diets. A survey in September 2014 found that 12% of 3-year-olds had cavities. A particular kind of decay shows up on the front teeth and then spreads rapidly, and is caused by drinking sugary drinks from a spouted cup when children are being weaned.

This is totally avoidable if you bring your child to the dentist for regular check-ups.

Getting a check-up

At Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon, children’s teeth are checked very carefully for decay from the time they first appear. This is when we recommend you start bringing your child in for check-ups. We also recommend that you bring them in before that. Bringing them along to your own appointments will habituate them to the dental environment. They will feel more relaxed in their first check-up, maybe even eager, if they have already seen mummy and daddy and older siblings, if you have any, in the dentist’s chair.

As children’s teeth are so susceptible to decay, we offer 2 treatments that provide extra protection. Fluoride can be painted onto the teeth to mineralise the enamel against decay. We can also paint sealant onto the back molars. This covers the fissures in the chewing surfaces, where decay tends to occur. Seeing young patients also allows us to keep an eye out for issues with the bite and spot teeth that are going to come through out of alignment.

Dealing with sensitive teeth

Do you feel a sudden pain in your teeth every time you eat or drink something hot or cold? Does the thought of biting into ice cream or drinking a cold glass of water make you cringe? Sensitive teeth are a reality for many people and can be caused by several things including dental erosion.

At Wimbledon Dental Care, we understand that sensitive teeth can cause problems for many people. We encourage our patients to have their teeth thoroughly checked so that we can identify and treat the problem.

What causes tooth sensitivity?

Tooth sensitivity is one of the most common dental problems experienced by patients worldwide and occurs when the hard tooth enamel is worn down or gums have receded. Sometimes, however, tooth sensitivity can be the result of other factors, such as cavities, cracked or chipped teeth, old fillings or cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening.

Treating sensitive teeth

If you are in pain because of your sensitive teeth, visiting your dentist will help identify the underlying cause of your tooth pain. Depending on the conditions, your dentist might recommend a special toothpaste and solution, fluoride applications, desensitizing treatment or in more severe cases, a surgical gum lift and a root canal.

Once treated, to prevent sensitive teeth from recurring, they will also offer tips and advice on how to take good care of your teeth. It is essential to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. However, be careful to avoid vigorous or harsh scrubbing or abrasive toothpastes that can actually harm your teeth more. If you grind your teeth, ask your dentist to provide you with mouth guard. Tooth grinding can fracture teeth and is a leading cause of sensitive teeth.

Your dentist will also suggest limiting acidic foods and drinks, such as soda drinks, oranges and other citrus fruit, wine and yogurt. Make sure you drink lot of water to balance the acid levels in your mouth. Finally, it also helps to avoid brushing your teeth directly after eating acidic foods and drinks, since acid can soften the enamel and leave your teeth more vulnerable to erosion during brushing.

Replace your missing teeth with crowns and bridges in Wimbledon

We often fail to acknowledge that teeth function as a whole, therefore, missing one can have consequences for our oral and overall health. In reality, all our 32 teeth work together to help us chew, speak and bite properly. When one of them goes missing, we gradually begin to lose oral function and suffer other health problems. Luckily, modern dentistry has developed considerably in recent years and we now have many options to replace missing teeth.

At Wimbledon Dental Care, we use crowns and bridges to replace one or several missing teeth in a row. Our experienced dentists will help you decide which treatment suits your individual needs.

Why you should replace your missing teeth

The most obvious reason to replace missing teeth is aesthetic. Missing teeth can destroy your confidence and stop you smiling and laughing in public. More importantly, missing teeth are responsible for the gradual deterioration of the jawbone and can even lead to further tooth loss, since they allow your healthy teeth to move into the gaps. Finally, teeth play an important role in your diet. With missing teeth, your diet options are very limited and you are unlikely to be able to eat chewy and hard foods such as fruit and vegetables.

Tooth replacement options

If you have a broken, decayed, loose or missing tooth, then crowns are an ideal solution for restoring its function. Crowns essentially fit over the remaining part of the prepared tooth and make it stronger, while at the same time they provide protection against tooth decay. Crowns are usually made of high-quality, tooth-coloured porcelain that looks just like your natural teeth.

Another option you can consider for tooth replacement is a bridge. Traditional bridges are very sturdy, hard-wearing and rest on your neighbouring teeth for support. It consists of a metal bases that’s attached to the teeth and gums, topped by high-quality porcelain crowns that look like your natural teeth. In some cases, your dentist may add a bit of porcelain to the base of the bridge to make it look more natural.

Bridges helps to strengthen the prepared teeth and restore chewing and eating power, because they are permanently fixed to your mouth.

Fillings that blend in

For many years, the only option available if you needed fillings to repair your teeth was amalgam. While this is effective, the material is grey and very visible in your mouth. This can make you feel self-conscious when laughing or speaking as amalgam fillings can be very obvious. Modern materials mean that we can now offer a great alternative in the form of white fillings, which are durable and extremely discreet. Unless your mouth is examined closely, it is very hard to see them at all. At Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon, we have found that they are a popular choice with children and adults who prefer a more natural look.

What are white fillings?

Most people need fillings because their enamel and the underlying tooth has been decayed by plaque acid, creating a cavity. Fillings are used to plug the gap after the weakened areas have been removed from a tooth. This stops infection getting in, strengthens the tooth and prevents further damage. The material used in white fillings is a composite resin. This is slightly more expensive than silver amalgam, but has the obvious benefit of being almost invisible. We use tried and trusted composites such as Heraeus Venus and TPD Spectra which are well known for their very high performance qualities. They last well and enable us to repair your teeth reliably to keep them healthy in the long-term.

Why choose white fillings?

In addition to the obvious benefit of matching the tone of your original teeth, white fillings are also less damaging because of the way in which they are fitted. With amalgam, healthy tissue has to be removed along with the decayed area. The technique for white fillings is different so only the damaged tissue is removed. This means that you can retain as much of the original tooth as possible which keeps it strong. Some people who already have them choose to have their metal fillings replaced with white ones due to aesthetic reasons or because they are worried about mercury in amalgam. Whatever your reasons, we are happy to discuss your concerns, outline treatment options with you and create a plan which will give you the results you want.

Dental hygiene and preventive dental care in Wimbledon

Proper oral care is really important to the health of your teeth, gums and mouth. Maintaining good oral hygiene habits is critical to maintaining optimal oral health and avoiding tooth decay and long-term gum disease. Poor oral health, on the other hand, can actually have a direct impact on your overall health with known links to diabetes and heart disease. Gum disease is also the number one cause of tooth loss in Great Britain. Even if the connection between oral health and general health problems is not valid, oral diseases can be unattractive, painful and cost you a lot of money.

At Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon, we offer not only a range of aesthetic and restorative dental treatments, but oral health advice, and a range of treatments and services that will help you keep dental problems at bay. Tooth decay and gum disease are the most common oral diseases in the developed world and we are here to help you treat them and prevent them, if possible.

Dental Hygiene in Wimbledon Whereas tooth decay is usually the result of poor dental hygiene, gum disease can affect a wider range of patients including pregnant women and people suffering from diabetes. Because it is not painful during its initial stage, it is really difficult to spot the symptoms without the help of your dentist. Sometimes, gum disease is characterised by swollen, sore or infected gums, and possible bleeding during brushing. If left untreated, it can lead to severe gum issues and even tooth loss. Our dentists are trained to look for the early signs of gum disease and advise you of preventive treatment.

Having your teeth cleaned professionally is one of the best treatments for gum disease. Our dental hygienists will scale and polish your teeth, removing any plaque build-up even from below the gum line. Polishing will smooth out your teeth and prevent plaque from sticking to them.

With regular cleanings and good oral maintenance, we can almost always prevent plaque build-up and related diseases like tooth decay and gum disease. It may be a cliché, but prevention is always better than cure. Call in, phone us or send an email to book an appointment today.

What are veneers?

Veneers are very thin shells that are commonly made out of a durable material like porcelain. They are placed over the top of existing teeth in order to change something about them. This could be the size, shape or colour.

If you have a gap in your teeth that you would like to close, for example, veneers can be useful for this. They could save you having orthodontic treatment to correct the issue. If the gap is small enough, a veneer can be fitted that is slightly larger than the tooth next to it. This extends the reach of the tooth to cover the gap.

We offer veneers in Wimbledon at Wimbledon Dental Centre for a range of issues. You need to have healthy teeth in order to have veneers, as each one is supported by the tooth underneath. Come for a check-up and consultation with us and we can check your suitability and make recommendations.

How are they fitted?

Veneers are held in place by a very hard dental cement. Once they are in position, they cannot be removed.

The first step in fitting is to remove a thin area of enamel from your tooth. This allows the veneer to sit flush with the other teeth. Your dentist will take an impression of the area so that a dental technician can shape any veneers that you need and return them to the practice. At you next appointment, the veneer will be slotted into place using the adhesive. It can be moved around to get the position exactly right before a special light is shone on the area to harden the cement. The dentist will finish off by removing any excess material.

How do you look after them?

Once they are in place, your veneers can be treated like normal teeth. They are designed to last around 5–10 years.

You need a diligent dental hygiene routine to care for your teeth. You can still get tooth decay in teeth that have veneers fitted. If they start to deteriorate, it can affect the longevity of your dental enhancements.

Veneers will not discolour over time so you can enjoy a bright smile for as long as you have them. This is why some people consider getting a full set of veneers for an attractive uniformity.

Zoom teeth whitening

Coming from the US, Zoom teeth whitening is the latest method to whiten your teeth. Using the power of lasers, Zoom teeth whitening can lighten your teeth by eight to 10 shades, with less sensitivity than other teeth bleaching methods. And all this can be achieved in just one 60-minute session.

teeth-whitening-in-wimbledon The Zoom whitening system is a scientifically advanced tooth whitening procedure which is only administered by qualified dentists, such as Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon. It is safe, effective and very fast. In less than an hour your teeth will become dramatically whiter. It will remove discolouration caused by staining substances such as coffee, tobacco and red wine.

A British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) survey revealed that “women are more inclined to believe a nice smile indicates a warm personality, whilst men consider it begets more success in life”. Either way, a whiter smile achieved through Zoom teeth whitening has the power to create a great first impression, which can unlock many possibilities in both the social and professional areas of your life. After a Zoom teeth whitening session, you’ll leave a more attractive and confident you.

The procedure

The procedure is simple. It begins with a short preparation to cover your lips and gums, leaving only your teeth exposed. The dentist then applies the Zoom whitening gel, which was designed to be used with a specially designed laser. The Zoom light and gel work together to gently penetrate your teeth, breaking up stains and discoloration.

Before you go home you will receive a special Zoom whitening touch up kit to take home. The kit includes trays that are custom-made and whitening gel. You dentist will explain how to use the kit to keep your teeth white longer.

How long does it last?

On average, Zoom teeth whitening will last for around one year. By following some simple post whitening care instructions, your teeth will always be lighter than they were before. To keep your teeth looking their best, dentists such as Wimbledon Dental Care in Wimbledon, would recommend flossing, brushing twice daily and occasional refreshing with the Zoom night time gel and custom-made trays.

Make those teeth as beautiful as they are healthy

Do you know how good smiling is for you? When you suppress your smile, you are also suppressing the release of natural feel-good chemicals such as serotonin and beta-endorphin. You are also suppressing nature’s greatest icebreaker, because people are hard-wired to respond to a genuine with smile with warmth, friendliness and a desire to help.

Here at Wimbledon Dental Care, we want you to get the most out of your smile, with regards to wellbeing in all areas of your life, which is why we offer cosmetic dentistry.

cosmetic-dentistry There are several options for cosmetic dentistry, for subtle and extensive work, to help you get the smile you deserve. Let’s take a look at a couple of the treatments we offer here at Wimbledon Dental Care.

Porcelain veneers

These are great little miracles of dental technology for covering up cracks and chips, worn edges, little gaps and minor misalignments. Porcelain veneers are highly durable sheaths that fit over the front of your teeth, and are fixed in place using dental adhesive. In order to have veneers fitted, you need to have a thin layer of enamel removed from your natural tooth. This provides the rough surface needed to fix the veneer on to. It also makes sure that the veneer lies flush with your surrounding teeth. Veneers are custom-made to match the size, shape and colour of your surrounding teeth. You can have one veneer, or all of your teeth covered. The porcelain is very durable so, if you take care of your veneers, they can last for 10 years or longer.

White fillings

White fillings are increasingly being used in place of mercury amalgam fillings, both to fill new cavities, and to replace old fillings when they crack with age. Some people are also choosing to have all their amalgam fillings removed and replaced with white composite ones. With white fillings, you can throw back your head and laugh as loud as you like without anyone being party to your dental history, laid out in front of them in a glint of amalgam metal. Keep your cavities to yourself and enjoy a good laugh again.

If you would like to find out how cosmetic dentistry can enhance your smile, why not pop in and see us for a chat? We are open on Saturday mornings as well as during the week.

Serving the community with the latest in dental care

Here at Wimbledon Dental Care, we have been serving the community for more than 60 years. For the last two decades, principal dentist Dr Kultej Sihra has been guiding us through the changing landscape of technological advances and patient care.

One way we aim to serve our patients is through using the latest dental technology to provide simple and effective ways to brighter smiles.

Straighter smiles

Do you feel self-conscious about your smile? Do you hold back from smiling or laughing in social or professional situations because of the way your teeth look? If so, you aren’t alone. We know that many of our adult patients feel self-conscious about their smile and we are always looking for ways to help create happier, healthier smiles in Wimbledon. Six Month Smiles is one popular treatment that helps to align the front teeth quickly and easily.

Working on the ‘social six’ teeth that show when you smile, Six Month Smiles in Wimbledon are discreet braces made from tooth-coloured wires and brackets. This means they are almost invisible so have minimum impact on your social and professional life. The braces are custom-made from photos and impressions, so fit your teeth exactly.

As well as being more discreet and quicker than traditional metal braces, Six Month Smiles are also more comfortable, as they use a much milder force to move the teeth.

Is it right for me?

Come in for a consultation to see if Six Month Smiles in Wimbledon will work for you. It isn’t a suitable treatment for everyone, and if you need more extensive orthodontic work, we can refer you to a specialist.

The treatment takes between four and nine months, with results typically in six, hence the name. If you do go ahead with the treatment, you will need to come in to see us for a check-up every four to five weeks in case we need to adjust the braces.

After your Six Month Smiles treatment is complete, we can also offer you an optional mini smile makeover as a follow up – for example, teeth whitening and repair of any cracks or chips – to give you a smile you can feel truly confident in.

Is it really necessary to swap silver fillings for white fillings?

Do you have metal fillings? You may want to consider changing them for white fillings. If so, we can help you. At Wimbledon Dental Care we offer a range of treatments including swapping metal to white fillings. Wimbledon Dental Care is conveniently situated on The Broadway- perfect for anyone wanting to pop by for an appointment on their lunch break.

What are the disadvantages of silver metal fillings?

Risk of damage to your teeth

Metal expands and contracts depending on the temperature. By exposing your mouth to range of temperatures, for example while eating hot food or enjoying frozen ice-cream, your metal filling with also expand and contract. Over time there is a risk that the tooth will crack as a result.

Discolouration

As the years pass, there is a chance that the metal from your silver filling will turn the tooth slightly grey in colour.

Unattractive appearance

Due to silver fillings being so noticeable, it can lead to feelings of insecurity.

What are the benefits of white fillings?

Wimbledon is a bustling place for business and socialising; a smile can be everything. There are good reasons why you may want to consider white fillings.

Durability

White fillings are known for their strength and long-lasting wear. They should last for decades if looked after properly!

Good appearance

White fillings mould perfectly into the cavity of your tooth. The appearance of your smile will be brighter with white fillings.

Increased confidence

With fillings that blend in perfectly with your own teeth, you’ll feel happier to flash you smile, giving a boost to your self-esteem.

With so many reasons why, swapping out metal to white fillings in Wimbledon makes sense! If you have further enquiries, or you would like to book a consultation, then drop by and see us at Wimbledon Dental Care.

If you have been dreaming of an all-white smile, then you are in luck! This treatment is growing in popularity in Wimbledon. Metal to White fillings is a possibility that we provide, and our dentist is more than happy to explain more details of how this procedure works.

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