Our dental tip of the day involves prevention, in particular reversing early decay. Did you know that in many cases dental decay starts from in between the teeth called the interdental area? If left untreated, these lesions will gradually progress and become closer to the nerve leaving you at risk of the dreaded root canal treatment. Our tip is simple - prevention is better than cure. Ensure your oral hygiene is excellent, clean properly in between the teeth using dental floss and brushes. We can also prescribe higher fluoride toothpastes to aid reversal and remineralisation of the decay. 

At Progressive Dentistry, we use state of the art digital radiography to spot early decay. Once seen, we will advise you on how to reverse the decay and monitor the areas for peace of mind. Remember - prevention is better than cure!

Dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth. Fact. So if you have missing teeth, your first choice should be a dental implant. The most common scenario we encounter is to replace a single missing tooth. Why replace the tooth? There are a number of reasons:
 

1. For aesthetics especially if it is a front tooth! 
 

2. To restore function.
 

3. To prevent any further bone loss. 
 

4. To prevent drifting of the adjacent and opposing teeth- yes they can move! 
 

5. To maintain the bite. 
 

6. For psychological well being.

In the case of a missing single tooth, there are a number of simple steps that have to be taken to end up with a new tooth:

1. Careful planning. 
 

2. CT scans may be required if the tooth was lost many years ago.
 

3. Careful placement of the dental implant. 
 

4. Often a waiting period of 6-12 weeks is required for healing. This is called 'osseointegration'. 
 

5. Impressions are then required. 
 

6. Final placement of the crown or a provisional restoration is placed.
 

7. If a provisional restoration was placed, a waiting period of 3-12 weeks may be required prior to the final crown.

For example, just look at our case below to see how a dental implant should look:
 

Our case of the month for May 2015 involves teeth straightening of the lower front teeth. Crooked lower front teeth is a very common problem that affects many adults. In fact, there is a term for this as the teeth gradually become more and more crooked - 'late lower incisor crowding'. There are a number of reasons for straightening lower teeth: 

1. Cosmetic 

2. Improved hygiene - often plaque and calculus (hardened plaque) readily forms on the inside of lower front teeth 

3. Improved bite 

4. Prevent further movement 

Just have a look at our case below. He was originally told that one incisor tooth required removal. However, we managed to create a great result without removing any teeth.
 

If you have ever thought about straightening your teeth but have dreaded the thought of metal braces, then we have the solution - lingual braces. Lingual braces are placed on the INSIDE of your teeth so that no one will know that you are wearing an orthodontic brace.

The days of the 'Ugly Betty' type brace have long gone - invisible lingual braces are the future. One of the most popular types of lingual brace is called the Social 6 brace. This aims to straighten the front 4 (upper or lower) teeth in a matter of weeks. So if you are after a cosmetic improvement to your smile and do not want to wait for months or years for results, the Social 6 brace could be for you. For example, have a look at our case below. A wonderful result in just a few weeks:
 

Dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth. There is certainly no doubt about this in the dental field. Why would you want to wear false teeth when dental implants can be used to provide a natural and secure replacement with long lasting results? For example, please take a look at our case study below. Here we have a missing front tooth. This is usually the worst place to lose a tooth. Just look at the result achieved:
 

Our case of the month for April 2014 involves the closing of a gap between the front teeth in only 3 months using invisible lingual braces. The before and after photographs speak for themselves:
 

Are you getting married this year? Have you set the date? Would you like straight, white teeth for the wedding day? If the answer is yes, we can help! Depending on your desires, we can help you achieve a beaming smile for your wedding day. For example:
 

Clean Teeth

A dental hygiene visit is between 30-60 minutes, instantly providing a fresher, cleaner mouth and with full stain removal!
 

Teeth Whitening

The usual time frame for teeth whitening is just 2 weeks. However, for more advanced cases a few extra weeks may be required. Our preferred technique is the take home kit using Philips Zoom gel. 
 

Cosmetic Bonding

Composite bonding can be achieved in one visit- a new smile instantly.
 

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain or composite veneers require a time frame of at least 4 weeks from start to finish. In those urgent cases, we can speed things up to 2 weeks. 
 

Cosmetic Teeth Straightening

For mild cases, teeth alignment can be achieved in as little as 6 weeks! In general, it is wise to allow 4-6 months for treatment.
 

Advanced Teeth Straightening

For more comprehensive cases, a period of 8-14 months may be required so plan well in advance! 
 

Dental Implants

Missing teeth can be replaced using dental implants in as little as 3 months. However, there are instances when we can provide a new tooth in a day!

Whatever your needs, we have the answer. Why wait, to achieve the smile of your dreams in time for your wedding contact us today.