Stopping tooth decay with a range of filling options
These days, fillings are nothing to be afraid of – technology has made the procedure faster and more comfortable than ever. At Hassocks Dental Surgery, we offer a range of filling options for patients in Sussex, from cost-effective amalgam (metal) fillings to cosmetic tooth-coloured fillings, or composites – which are indiscernible from your natural teeth, and can also be used to replace old amalgam fillings. Whichever option you choose, you can rest assured that you’ll be in experienced and caring hands at Hassocks Dental Surgery.
Saving your natural teeth with root canal therapy
Endodontics, or root canal therapy, is now considered as routine as getting a filling – so it’s nothing to fear if your dentist at Hassocks Dental Surgery recommends it for you. If you’re experiencing toothache, swelling, and sensitivity to hot and cold, it may be that the inner soft tissue of your tooth – or dental pulp – has become infected due to a trauma or deep decay. A root canal treatment helps to eliminate the pain, clears the infection and seals the inside of your tooth against re-infection. It also saves a tooth that would otherwise need to be removed – always the best option for supporting the structure of your jaw and preventing future dental problems. A dental crown is often required to strengthen and restore tooth function.
Need to know: the root canal procedure
- The procedure is routine, but can take a few hours, so you may wish to bring headphones to keep you entertained. For more complex cases, we will refer you to a specialist root canal dentist.
- After your local anaesthetic is administered, the dentist will isolate your tooth with a rubber dam. This stops saliva touching the tooth during treatment and enables you to swallow comfortably.
- When your tooth is completely numb, the dentist will make a precise hole in your tooth, and use a special tool to widen the passage. A suction tool removes all the infected pulp.
- The space left behind is then filled with gutta percha, a rubbery substance that maintains the tooth’s strength and structure, and seals against future infection. A permanent filling or crown will need to be added at a later date.
Restoring teeth with lifelike inlays and onlays
At Hassocks Dental Surgery, we recommend inlays or onlays in cases where fillings are no longer possible, but the condition of the tooth isn’t bad enough to require a crown. Custom-made in a dental lab, an inlay is placed within the biting surface of the tooth, whereas an onlay can cover a larger area. As well as being particularly useful in the treatment of tooth decay, inlays and onlays can help to reduce tooth sensitivity and further tooth loss. Inlays and onlays are popular because more of the tooth is maintained than with a traditional filling – and because of the quality of the materials used, they can also strengthen a problem tooth by around 75 percent.
Preventing injury with custom sports guards
An athlete is 60 times more likely to damage their teeth if they’re not wearing a sports guard while playing – and increasingly, sports teams, clubs and organisations are making it compulsory to wear a sports guard. Dental injuries are the most common type of injury to the face during sporting events – and they are entirely preventable with the use of a sports guard. Although sports guards bought over-the-counter provide reasonable protection, a custom-made sports guard from the dentist is a superior option, providing a bespoke fit and enhanced comfort which contribute to reducing the risk of injury. Getting your bespoke sports guard will usually require two appointments at Hassocks Dental Surgery– one to have your dental impressions taken, which are used by a dental lab to create that perfect fit; and a final appointment at which you can collect and try out your sports guard.
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