Teeth require root fillings because they are:
<ul>
<li>Abscessed</li>
<li>Fractured</li>
<li>Very heavily decayed</li>
<li>In need of a post crown</li>
<li>Things to remember:</li>
</ul>
Root fillings are very complex and intricate procedures.
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The realistic chances of a root filling working are around the 75-80% mark
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Some teeth are best treated by specially trained dentists called Endodontists. Because of their extra training and special equipment they have higher success rates than General Dentists.
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Some root fillings can be done in 1 visit, others take more.
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It is usually advisable to have a crown on any back teeth that are root filled, because root filled teeth become brittle and prone to breakage. It is however up to you to decide whether to have this further procedure.
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It is not uncommon to have pain and discomfort after a root filling, and it can vary in severity dependent form one person to the next.
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If you experience pain that occurs as soon as the numbess wears off, this pain is due to inflammation. Inflammation is the pain you get when you bang your toe. This is normally best controlled by pain killers, of which IBUPROFEN is the most affective. PARACETAMOL is another pain killer of choice, as is ASPIRIN (you should only take pain killers if it is safe for you to do so, and never exceed the recommended dose).
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If you experience pain that comes on after a few days, this is usually infection. Infection is caused by bacteria, and is best dealt with either by antibiotics (or in some rare cases re-doing the root filling). You will need to contact us so your dentist can look at your tooth.
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If looked after root fillings have an acceptable life span, but you need to understand that it will not last for ever. You will need to brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, limit sugars from your diet and floss/use interdental brushes to keep the tooth and gums clean and healthy
&nbsp;

Root Fillings

Night time grinding or BRUXISM as it is otherwise known can cause several problems:
<ul>
<li>Morning headaches</li>
<li>Pain in the jaw joints</li>
<li>Pain in the teeth/fillings</li>
<li>Broken teeth</li>
<li>Worn teeth</li>
<li>Neck pain</li>
<li>In some people it can cause migraines</li>
</ul>
Things to remember:
<ul>
<li>A night guard takes two visits to make.  One visit to do impressions, a second to fit it to your mouth.  Although they might not look it, these are very intricate devices that can take a lot of adjusting to get right.</li>
<li>More and more teenagers are grinding their teeth due to exam stress.</li>
<li>Your night guard is there to protect your teeth and reduce the pain in your jaw joints and in the muscles that work your mouth.  It is not a cure.</li>
<li>Night guards are made of a form of hard plastic, and as such they will wear down dependent on how much you grind your teeth.  Occasionally we will make a soft flexible gum shield not unlike a boxers gum shield if we feel it is appropriate.</li>
<li>Different people grind to different degrees.  Some people grind all the time. Others grind only during periods of stress.</li>
<li>The guard will wear down and will need replacing at additional cost.</li>
<li>Some people also clench their teeth during the day.  Whilst it might not seem it, this is a conscious habit that can be controlled.</li>
<li>If you do not get on with your Night Guard you may need a referral to a specialist</li>
<li>You can keep your night guard clean using a nail brush and cold water</li>
<li>REMEMBER – bring your night guard with you to EVERY appointment.  For example, if you have a filling the guard will need to be adjusted.  If you come for a check up, we will need to check the night guard is still doing it’s job.</li>
</ul>

Night Guard

Gum disease is a slowly progressing chronic disease of the mouth that is in the most part painless.  The causes of gum disease are:
<ul>
<li>Genetics – if your parents had gum disease there is a good chance you will have it</li>
<li>Stress</li>
<li>Inadequate tooth and gum cleaning – Dental plaque, the white film that forms on your teeth is the primary cause of gum disease in the majority of people.  It is vital that you take control of your disease by removing the primary cause through affective brushing (twice a day) and by cleaning in-between your teeth with either floss or special brushes that fit between your teeth.</li>
<li>Smoking – whilst smoking does not cause gum disease, it does make it worse, and also limits the effectiveness of any treatment we do.  If you have gum disease and you smoke, the chances of you losing teeth and having painful episodes from your gum disease are vastly increased.</li>
<li>Diabetes</li>
</ul>
Things to remember:
<ul>
<li>Most people who have gum disease only find out when their dentist tells them</li>
<li>Gum disease causes the loosening of teeth and their eventual loss if left unchecked.</li>
<li>The treatment for gum disease can take several visits.  It is not uncommon for teeth and gums to be sore for several days after they have been treated for gum disease.  If after treatment you experience a tooth that becomes very painful, you should phone us.  This occurs because sometimes the gum disease is so extensive that it can kill the tooth off.</li>
<li>Only part of the treatment is done by the dentist.  We will do our best to get your mouth stable, but it is then up to YOU to do your part.  This means effective cleaning EVERY DAY for the rest of your life.</li>
<li>You will always have gum disease.  However, it can be controlled by effective home cleaning.</li>
<li>We recommend those with gum disease visit their dentist every 3 months so that we can help keep the tartar off your teeth and monitor its progress.</li>
<li>If you have gum disease and you smoke, the disease will be almost impossible to control and will proceed at a faster rate.  This means you will lose more teeth faster than if you didn’t smoke.</li>
<li>We advise you to visit your doctor or local pharmacy to get yourself checked for diabetes</li>
</ul>

Gum Disease

Through discussion you and I have decided that there is a tooth in your mouth that requires extracting, and you have agreed to have this treatment done.  Teeth require extracting because they are:
<ul>
<li>Too badly broken down to be saved, either through decay or fracture</li>
<li>Heavily abscessed and the person does not want a root filling</li>
<li>Wisdom teeth that are causing problems</li>
<li>Very loose due to gum disease</li>
<li>Damaged by gum disease and cannot be saved</li>
</ul>
Things to remember:
Extractions are a surgical procedure. It is the removal of an organ of your body. Sometimes teeth come out easily. Sometimes it is more difficult and may require a specialist called an Oral Surgeon.
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Whilst we do everything we can to limit the chances of you getting an infection after your extraction (sterile instruments, sterile gloves etc) research shows that up to 1 in 10 extraction sockets (the hole left in your jaw when the tooth is removed) will experience an infection or other problem. This is because there are billions of bacteria that live in the mouth, and bacteria can cause infection.
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YOU MUST NOT SMOKE THE DAY BEFORE, THE DAY OF AND SEVERAL DAYS AFTER YOUR EXTRACTION.
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We advise you to start rinsing your mouth out with Corsodyl 3 times a day (mornings, lunch time and evening) 3 days before your extraction date if this is possible.
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If you are on Warfarin, we need to coordinate the day of your extraction so that it is within 72 hours of you having your INR checked. If you are taking Aspirin, it is important that you not take this on the day of the extraction.
&nbsp;
We will give you instructions which will help limit your risk of complications. If you experience pain that occurs as soon as the numbness wears off, this pain is due to inflammation and is usually temporary. If it persists, you should phone us.
&nbsp;
Inflammation is the pain you get when you bang your toe. This is not uncommon, and is normally best controlled by pain killers, of which IBUPROFEN is the most affective. PARACETAMOL is another pain killer of choice, as is ASPIRIN (you should only take pain killers if it is safe for you to do so, and never exceed the recommended dose).
&nbsp;
On the day of the extraction due to the risk of bleeding, Paracetamol is the only pain killer you should use however.
&nbsp;
If you experience pain that comes on after a few days, this is usually infection. Infection is caused by bacteria, as is best dealt with either by antibiotics and the application of sedative dressing in the surgery. Please phone us on 01494 455900

Extractions

Decay is very traumatic to teeth. It represents a bacterial infection of the teeth. A filling is an irreversible procedure. We remove the heavily infected tissue of your tooth and insert a filling into the hole. This keeps the tooth comfortable and allows you to chew without getting food stuck. It can also restore the appearance of the tooth.
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It is not uncommon for a filled tooth to be sensitive to hot and cold after the filling is done. This sensitivity should be temporary in nature. If it persists or gets worse, you should contact us by phone.
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Sometimes with decay that goes deep into the tooth other problems arise. Most decay is painless in its early stages, which is why we as dentists recommend people come to see us on a regular basis. If decay is allowed to occur over a prolonged period puts at risk the health of the tooth, threatening the nerve or even the tooth itself.
If the decay goes deep into the tooth, the nerve can begin to die. We will warn you if we think this is the case. Despite our best efforts, the bacterial infection related to deep decay can kill off the nerve in the tooth. This is usually when a root filling is needed to save the tooth. If you experience a lot of pain or discomfort after a filling, it is usually the result of deep decay, even if you had no pain in the tooth before the filling.
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Fillings can be either metal or tooth coloured (white). White fillings on back teeth are more awkward to do, and there are more problems that can arise. The research also shows that they do not last as long as metal fillings. We try to place white fillings as our first choice but there are occasions when they are not suitable. Your dentist will discuss alternatives if you do not wish to have a metal filling.

Fillings

There are 2 main types of denture. Partial dentures and full dentures. Partial dentures are appliances that fill the gaps caused by missing teeth and clasp or fit tightly around your remaining teeth. Full dentures are only required when you have all the teeth missing from one arch.
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There are 2 types of material that dentures can be made from. Acrylic (plastic) or Cobalt Chrome. The Cobalt chrome dentures ar a precision fit and generally provide more stability than an acrylic denture. The dentist will discuss with you which would be better for you as every case is different.
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Things to remember:
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>New dentures will feel strange in your mouth, and will take several weeks to get used to.</li>
<li>Dentures can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.  To combat this you need to limit your intake of sugar/starchy foods/drinks and clean your teeth to the best of you abilities.</li>
<li>It is not uncommon for your speech to sound different initially until you tongue and lips get used to the dentures new shape</li>
<li>If the denture has a palate that covers the roof of your mouth, you will find that your sense of taste is altered slightly.  You will also find your perception of heat is different also, so you will need to be careful initially of hot drinks.</li>
<li>An immediate denture may well need replacing after 6 months.  This will carry an additional cost to yourself.</li>
<li>If you find the denture rubs, or the bite feels wrong, you should phone us for an adjustment appointment.  Most dentures need adjusting more than once to get them right for the mouth.  If your denture is rubbing, we advise you to keep it out as much as possible so as not to get an ulcer.</li>
<li>Dentures will need replacing after a period of time.  The shape of your mouth changes as you age, and the teeth on the denture wear down as you chew.</li>
<li>With partial dentures, if you go several weeks without wearing them, you may find they no longer fit.</li>
<li>Metal clasps on dentures, will over time suffer metal fatigue.  This can cause the clasp to loosen, and in some cases break.  This is sometimes an indication that it is time for a new denture.</li>
<li>The clasps on a metal denture fits around the teeth in your mouth.  If one of these teeth ends up needing a filling it may adversely affect the fit of your denture.</li>
<li>If you have a partial denture and you lose a tooth, this may require you to have a new denture made at full cost.</li>
</ul>
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Caring for your denture:
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Clean it using a nail brush and a denture cleaning product.  This is best done over a towel in case you drop your denture whilst cleaning it.  Use only cold water, as repeated use of hot water will change the colour of your denture.</li>
<li>Anything that can stain your teeth will stain your denture (tea, coffee, red wine etc)</li>
<li>Do not sleep with your denture in.  It is important to give you gums chance to relax.</li>
</ul>

Dentures

Through discussion you and I have decided that now is the time for you to have a crown on one of your teeth.  Teeth are crowned because
<ul>
<li>They are broken down and cannot be fixed with normal fillings</li>
<li>They have a crack that is threatening to destroy the tooth</li>
<li>They have had a root filling and have become weak and brittle</li>
<li>They already have a crown on which has failed</li>
</ul>
Your crowning procedure takes 2 visits.
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On the first visit the tooth is prepared and moulds are taken of your teeth. You will be made a temporary crown that is made of plastic to wear until your second visit.
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On your second visit, if the crown fits it is stuck onto your tooth with special dental glue. It is normal for some adjustments to be done both to make the crown fit to the tooth and to fit well when you bite your teeth together.
&nbsp;
Things to remember:
It is not uncommon for a crowned tooth to be sensitive to hot and cold after it is prepared, and after the crown is fitted.  This sensitivity should be temporary in nature.  If it persists or gets worse, you should contact us by phone as it may indicate the following point may be occurring.
&nbsp;
Crowning a tooth carries a risk to the nerve inside the tooth.  There is a 1 in 10 chance that the nerve will die after a tooth is crowned, in which case the tooth would require a root filling to save it.
You will be wearing a temporary crown for 2 weeks.  These temporary crowns are made of plastic, and as such can break if you are not careful.  You must avoid hard foods, chewing gum and sticky foods as all these can break and/or loosen your temporary crown.  If your temporary crown breaks or comes off YOU MUST contact us.  Failure to do so may mean that your crown will not fit, meaning we will have to start your treatment from the beginning.
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When your crown is fitted, we will do all we can to make sure it feels comfortable.  However, this is a very complex process and on the odd occasion the crown will need further adjustment.  So if after a few days something doesn’t feel right, please phone us.
White crowns on back teeth are white because they are made with porcelain.  Please avoid biting on anything hard like pork scratchings, gob stoppers etc as this can break the porcelain.
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If looked after crowns have an acceptable life span.  You will need to brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, limit sugars from your diet and floss/use interdental brushes to keep the tooth and gums clean and healthy

Crowns

On this page you will find links to advice from The Dental Practice in High Wycombe

Advice

Testimonials

Please contact us or book now for a consultation.

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Advice - The Dental Practice

Rachel, Stephen and all the team at the practice take time to get to know you and explain everything that is about to.happen, putting you at your ease

Barbara Dennis

Amazing people,, its as if your visiting a family member or a lovely friend. They are always happy to see you. Thank you all, Stephen Rachael and lovely helpers. Happy Christmas and happy new year, see you soon xx

lionel pearce

I always have a good experience at the Dental Practice, am always welcomed and treated by people who are really professional (and friendly!). Hope they never retire.

Julia Kendrick

I attended yesterday for the first time, as I had an emergency with one of my tooth. I was seen by Stephen and was very pleased with the service I received. I will definitely return. 
Thank you Stephen and Team.😁

Ena Smith-Miller

A nervous-but-trying-to-hide-it husband goes in with a lot of pain and comes out so much happier. I think Stephen has restored my husband&#8217;s faith in going to the dentist after many years. The staff at The Dental Practice are a credit to the clinic &#8211; everyone was so pleasant and warm and there is an atmosphere of calm, which we could feel as soon as we walked through the door. Super service and thank you so much !

Jennifer Le Goff

Always a happy relaxed visit &#8211; so welcoming and expert care

Anne Martin

mark voon

I had a bonded composite white 
filling procedure on my front tooth today, and was delighted with both the result and with the professional kind care Stephen and his team provided. 
I would recommend Stephen and his practice to anyone looking for quality dental care &amp; excellence. 
Thank you Stephen. 
Kind regards Philip

Philip Gregory

As ever, a pleasant atmosphere, happy and friendly staff and the chipped filling was replaced and looks better than ever. Thank you

Patricia M

there are not enough stars &#8211; it should be 7 or 8 at least.

David Anderson

Great dental practice &#8211; Dentist Stephen and Hygienist Libby are professional and caring, great for nervous patients

Leslie Paul

The service and care received on my visit yesterday was outstanding.

Amanda De Thier

A 6 monthly check up &amp; a visit to the hygienist today. Always a nice welcome &amp; seen pretty much immediately. Full check up &amp; any worries discussed with the dentist. Then through to the hygienist for a thorough scale &amp; polish with a few pointers to keep my teeth &amp; gums healthy. Friendly &amp; approachable staff. Next appointment made&#8230;..

Natalie Ward

I recently had problems following a wisdom tooth extraction of a dry socket, Steven saw me and helped relieve the pain I was in. First class friendly service, cannot recommend them highly enough

Lorraine Crook

The practice fitted me for an urgent appointment to fix a molar. Stephen did a wonderful job. It was painless and end result looks better than it did before !

Mary Kilner

We were recommended to try The Dental Practice recently and having now attended the Practice we would definitely recommend to others. 
Good value, Efficient, Clean, Friendly, and Professional.

Ian de Thier

Stephen did me composite bonding about a year ago after I’d had Invisalign. 
I’m so happy with my results, he took a lot of time and Precision to make them as natural as possible. 
A lot of my friends have had composite bonding done at other clinics and had big problems with teeth chipping regularly! I have not had a single problem or chip with mine. 
Cannot thank Stephen enough for his care and attention. 
Highly recommend

lowri algar

Very patient friendly and caring.

joyce parsons

I am not a fan of going to the dentist, but the whole experience was good. He was very kind and gentle and put me at ease.

Advice

ADVICE

Root Fillings

ADVICE

Night Guard

ADVICE

Gum Disease

ADVICE

Extractions

ADVICE

Fillings

ADVICE

Dentures

ADVICE

Crowns

Testimonials

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