Dr. David S Brown

Is Your Diet Staining Your Teeth?

If you have recently had your teeth whitened at Leeds City Dentalcare then we hope you are thrilled with the results. We will have already given you lots of advice on how to keep your teeth whiter for longer, but your teeth will eventually become darker, and you will need to re-use your tooth whitening trays periodically to maintain your gleaming smile. However the colour of your teeth can also be influenced by your diet, so if you really want to keep your pearly whites bright and shiny then you may need to make a few minor adjustments to the types of foods you eat. Some foods are definitely worse offenders than others, and the list may surprise you.

Many of our patients at our Leeds surgery are already well aware of the staining qualities of tea and coffee, but these can be very tricky to give up completely. Coffee can be diluted with milk or cream, and the calcium content can be an extra boost for dental health, but black tea is a little trickier. Drinking green or white tea can be a good substitute, and these teas are good for dental health but don’t always have the same appeal as a cuppa.
Red and white wines are also bad offenders, and we’re sure red wine is no surprise. We find some of our patients at our Leeds surgery are intrigued to learn white wine is bad for staining teeth, and the reason for this is due to its high acidity. White wine can soften the tooth enamel so if you then eat something staining it will be more able to penetrate the tooth.
Fruit juices are high in acids, and although they may seem healthy they can also be high in sugars. It is best to drink diluted fruit juice, or to simply replace it with a piece of crunchy fruit withhigh water content, such as an apple or pear.
Lots of people have got into the habit of having bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, but this highly coloured vinegar can stain the teeth. Balsamic vinegar isn’t quite so bad when used in salad dressings, and the reason for this is that lettuce can form a film over the teeth, helping to protect them.
Tomato based sauces are a favourite with many, as they tend to be lower in calories and are perceived as being healthier than cream based sauces. While this may be true they are not quite so good for teeth. It can help to make sure you eat plenty of vegetables with this type of meal as this will help to lessen the staining effects.
Fizzy drinks can be very high in sugar, providing food for plaque bacteria in the mouth. These bacteria produce acids as a by-product of feeding which will weaken the tooth enamel, increasing its porosity and the chance of it becoming stained. Diet versions may be lower in calories but are just as bad for teeth as they contain phosphoric and citric acids that will attack and soften the tooth enamel. The best thing to do is to drink these through a straw to limit the amount of contact they have with your teeth.
Curries also make it onto this list. The reason as to why is pretty obvious as their staining qualities on clothes is well known.

It would be impossible to cut out all these foods from your diet, and life wouldn’t be much fun if you tried. The solution is to eat everything in moderation, and to be sure you visit Dr David Brown for regular check-ups and that you book a professional cleaning with our dentist in Leeds surgery at the same time. Professional cleanings can help to gently remove some of these surface stains, giving your smile a boost while improving your oral health.

David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.

Vitamin D Could Help Improve your Dental Health

Vitamin D is often called the sunshine vitamin as it can be manufactured by the body when exposed to the sunlight. Approximately 80% to 90% of the required amount of this vitamin is made in this way. However it is estimated that up to half the population worldwide may have insufficient levels of this vitamin which can often be down to lifestyle. Vitamin D can only be found in a few foods such as fatty fish, and because of this it is often added to dairy products to make it more easily accessible. When you next buy dairy products or fruit juice then just take a look at the label to see if it has been fortified with this vitamin as you could be helping to improve your smile.

Vitamin D and Dental Decay

One of the problems faced by many of our patients here at Leeds City Dentalcare is dental decay, but research at the end of last year shows this vitamin may help lower the risk of cavities. The research looked at 24 different clinically controlled trials that took place over a 60 year period from the 1920s to the 1980s. Evidence collated from these trials showed that vitamin D was associated with approximately 50% reduction in the risk of cavities. This claim is something that has long been in dispute, as while vitamin D’s role in supporting healthy bones is well known, evidence for its role in preventing tooth decay has been the subject of much dispute. As early as the 1950s the US National Research Council and the American Medical Association reached the conclusion that vitamin D could be beneficial in helping to manage dental cavities, something that the American Dental Association disagreed with when reviewing the same evidence.

The trials that were recently reviewed took place in a number of different countries including Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, the United States, Austria and Sweden. The participants were aged between two and 16 years and received increased amounts of vitamin D through supplements or UV light. Although the importance of this recent review is still up for debate, making sure you receive sufficient vitamin D certainly can’t do any harm. It is also important to remember that having a healthy diet won’t help you if you don’t receive regular dental care.

Leeds City Dentalcare can help Keep Your Teeth Cavity Free

Visiting Dr David Brown or another of our dentist in Leeds will help keep your teeth and gums free from disease. We usually recommend that most patients pop in to see us at six monthly intervals for a check-up and professional cleaning. We’ll be able to detect any early signs of dental decay through visually examining your teeth, and through the use of dental x-rays at regular intervals. If you have children then we recommend they have the chewing surfaces of their back teeth sealed as soon as their adult teeth have erupted. These surfaces are especially prone to decay as the grooves and fissures can be difficult to clean. You may also have these teeth sealed as an adult, provided they are free from decay and do not have any fillings.

Much of our focus in our Leeds surgery is on preventive dental care, and we are very keen on patient education. If you feel you would like additional information on how to look after your teeth, and the best way to prevent cavities from forming then we do encourage you to ask our dental team for advice.

Dr. David S Brown

Easy Mistakes to make While Flossing

Flossing is one of those essential, but often thankless tasks that we know many of our Leeds patients find tricky to do properly. It is one of those things that needs a good technique, and it can be a good idea to ask our dental hygienists or Dr David Brown or another of the dentists for advice next time you visit Leeds City Dentalcare. We realise it can be tricky to reach right into the back of the mouth or to other hard to reach places, but we assure you it is worth the effort. Failing to do so could lead to you requiring costly restorative dental work, or at the very least you may need a new filling. If you aren’t due to visit our Leeds surgery for a while then we’ve put together a few of the most common mistakes that people make when flossing as well as how to avoid them.

Using the Same Section of Dental Floss for the Whole of Your Mouth

When properly used dental floss is excellent at helping to remove plaque bacteria from in between your teeth, but it is essential to use a nice fresh section for each tooth as otherwise you’ll simply be moving the plaque bacteria to a different site in your mouth. Dental floss is pretty cheap, so make sure you break off a nice long section of approximately 18 inches so you can easily cover the whole of your mouth. Some people find it useful to wind the ends around the middle finger of each hand, so the floss can be easily wound on for each tooth.

Failing to Floss the Teeth Right at the Back of the Mouth

A lot of people make this mistake, and think it is adequate to only floss their front teeth, or those that are relatively easy to reach. You should be flossing all of your teeth, even those teeth right at the back of the mouth as pieces of food and bacteria can still become trapped in these areas.

Forcing the Floss In Between Tight Spaces

Many of our Leeds patients have teeth that are very tightly squeezed in, and this can make it very difficult to thread the floss in between each tooth. If this is the case you shouldn’t be forcing the floss down between each tooth, but should be working in gently down to the gum line. If you find it very difficult then try a different brand of floss, as some are thinner or more heavily waxed than others, making them much easier to use.

Failing to Floss because it makes Your Gums Bleed

We sometimes find that patients fail to floss because their gums bleed whenever they try. While this may be off-putting it is extremely important to persevere and to take action over any bleeding. Healthy gums do not bleed when flossed as the gum tissues are strong enough to take the flossing action without reacting in this way. Bleeding is the first sign of gum disease, and it is worthwhile booking an appointment to visit our dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare for a check-up and cleaning. This should help remove infection from your gums, and our hygienists can also help you improve your oral hygiene routine to stop the bleeding while flossing. If you follow their advice then you should notice significant improvements within a couple of weeks.

Failing to Think About Which Teeth You Have Flossed

We know it isn’t the most scintillating of tasks, but it is important to keep track of which teeth you have flossed and those still left to do. Approaching it methodically helps a lot. You may have heard the saying that you should only floss the teeth you want to keep, well unfortunately it is true.

Dr. David S Brown

What is Xylitol and howcan it Help Teeth?

Xylitol is one of those products that a lot of people have heard about, but may not know exactly what it does, or why it could be beneficial for their oral health. Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that is found in plant materials, in particular fruits and vegetables. It is best known as being a sugar substitute, and is commonly found in sugar free chewing gum and sweets. It also has a reputation for helping to alleviate the symptoms of dry mouth, and in helping to prevent tooth decay. It is something that patients visiting Leeds City Dentalcare occasionally ask about.

Up until now its usefulness in helping to prevent tooth decay or in being able to improve oral health has been questionable. Now a secondary analysis of a previous three year trial that compared the effectiveness of xylitol sweets with a placebo, has found results that are statistically significant, and which support its effectiveness. However before anyone gets too excited it is important to emphasise that the benefits found were relatively modest. In spite of this, researchers still think that xylitol can play a part in helping to improve oral health, and that daily use of lozenges containing xylitol can help to lessen the chances of cavities forming. They also think it would be worthwhile carrying out a larger trial on its effectiveness, especially if larger doses were to be used. This research may help those patients at higher risk of developing caries, but the importance of other conventional treatments should not be ignored.

How Does Xylitol Work?

Xylitol is naturally sweet, but unlike other sugars it cannot be used as an energy source by the bacteria that are commonly found in the mouth. Most sugars are used by bacteria in the mouth, which then create acids as a by-product of this process. As xylitol cannot be metabolised by these bacteria, the mouth remains neutral so the risk of tooth decay is not increased. In addition the sweet taste of xylitol stimulates the flow of saliva in the mouth, helping to rinse away any other sugars or any food remnants. This is something else that helps to keep the pH of the mouth neutral.

Xylitol is called non-cariogenic, in that it does not contribute towards the formation of cavities in the teeth, and helps to prevent the formation of new cavities in the teeth. It can actually help to reduce the number of harmful bacteria in the mouth.

Xylitol is No Substitute for Good Oral Hygiene

In spite of its properties, chewing gum or eating lozenges containing xylitol is not a substitute for good oral hygiene. You still need to visit our Leeds surgery at regular intervals for check-ups with Dr David Brown or other dentist in Leeds, and for professional cleanings as implementing preventative dental measures is still the best way of ensuring your mouth remains free from disease. In addition you’ll still need to spend a few minutes a day brushing your teeth and flossing thoroughly. However it is easy to chew gum containing xylitol after a meal, especially if you cannot clean your teeth soon afterwards.

Xylitol is not known to be toxic for humans, but it is important not to eat too much of it each day as it can have a slight laxative effect if consumed in sufficiently large quantities. If you have pets then it is important to make sure products containing xylitol are kept out of reach as this substance can be pretty dangerous for them if they consume it.

Dr. David S Brown

Don’t Let Your Child Fall Prey to Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

It is never too soon to begin looking after your infant’s teeth, and starting early can pay dividends right throughout their lifetime. Even very young children can get tooth decay, something that is often referred to as being baby bottle tooth decay, and this is something that we do see amongst very young patients visiting Leeds City Dentalcare. This can happen if an infant is given a sweet liquid last thing at night in a bedtime bottle, and can include formula, milk or fruit juice, or anything that contains natural sugars and which can cling to their teeth for a long time. This can also be a problem if they are given dummies that have been dipped into syrup or other sugary drinks.

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Put Your Child to Bed with a Sugary Drink

Everyone’s mouth contains a certain amount of saliva and this has a naturally protective effect as it helps to wash away sugars and plaque bacteria, keeping the mouth clean and fresh. Saliva also helps to keep the mouth less acidic and at a neutral pH. However during the night-time saliva production tends to slow, leading to the mouth becoming drier. If your child goes to bed with a sugary drink then the sugars will coat their teeth, providing the perfect food for plaque bacteria. The numbers of bacteria tend to rise overnight due to the decreasing the flow of saliva, and they’ll have plenty of time to feed on the sugars on the teeth, increasing the acidity of the mouth. This acidity helps to weaken the tooth enamel, increasing the likelihood of tooth decay and cavities. Baby bottle tooth decay typically affects the front teeth, although it can occur in any of the teeth. If you want to put your child to bed with a drink then plain water is best.

It’s Important to Preserve the Baby Teeth

It’s all too easy to think that your child’s baby teeth are not particularly important, as after all they’ll be replaced with their permanent teeth within just a few years. However these baby teeth have an important role to play in the development of your child. Young children find it much easier to learn to talk properly and clearly when they have teeth, and they also find it much easier to eat a wider range of foods which can help improve their overall nutrition, allowing them to grow and develop normally. These primary teeth also act as placeholders for the adult teeth, ensuring they develop normally and increasing the chances that they will come through nice and straight. If your child loses these teeth too early on then the chances of them developing a speech impediment or having crooked adult teeth are increased.

Leeds City Dentalcare Can Help You to Look after Your Children’s Teeth

Our Leeds surgery can give you a lot of helpful advice on how to look after your child’s mouth, especially once their first tooth erupts. Our dental in Leeds can show you how to brush their teeth correctly, and how to floss in between each tooth. We can also advise you on whether or not you should use fluoride toothpaste or other fluoride supplements to help prevent cavities. Some children may be more at risk than others of developing cavities as sometimes the grooves and fissures on the baby teeth can be very deep and difficult to keep clean. In this case it may be advisable to have some of the teeth protected with dental sealants to help keep them free from disease.

Dr. David S Brown

New Research Could Mean More People Benefit from Dental Implants

Dental implants are an increasingly popular treatment amongst our Leeds patients who are missing more than one tooth, but at the moment this procedure does have limitations. Dental implants can be unsuitable for people who smoke, for diabetics or for people who have had cancer. They may also be unsuitable for people with osteoporosis, or for anyone who has bone deficiencies. Dental implants consist of a titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone, and these conditions can make it more difficult for the titanium post to integrate fully with the bone creating a strong enough bond to support a restoration.

Enhanced Biocompatibility

However now researchers in Castellón have come up with a new type of implant coating that is made of biodegradable material and which is aimed specifically at people who have bone deficiencies. These specially coated implants give enhanced biocompatibility and increase the rate of osseointegration. Osseointegration is the process whereby the titanium post fuses with the jawbone, creating a strong and stable base upon which the final crown, dental bridge or denture can be secured.

Apparently this new implant covering is biodegradable and when it comes into contact with bone dissolves during the degradation process, releasing bioactive molecules and silicone compounds that help stimulate the bone to grow around the implant. This technology is completely different from the methods currently being used. At the moment the titanium posts used for dental implants are specially treated to roughen the surface, increasing the surface area and therefore the likelihood of integration with the bone. At the moment this new technology is still being tested and has yet to receive a full clinical evaluation. It will be several years before it is a marketable product but it does show the types of improvements that are being made in dental technology.

If You Have Lost a Tooth and Then Ask Leeds City Dentalcare about Dental Implants

Although some people are unsuitable for dental implants, it’s the ideal solution for many and you can find out if it’s the right course of action for you simply by booking a consultation with Dr David Brown or another of our dentist at Leeds surgery. Properly planned and placed dental implants have an extremely high success rate, but they do require patients to look after them correctly and it’s vital to have a good daily oral care routine. The procedure for placing dental implants is really quite straightforward, especially if you are in good oral health and don’t have any other existing health conditions that may affect implant placement.

Dental Implants are Ideal for Stabilising Dentures

Implants are the best and most natural way of replacing single missing tooth, but are especially good for stabilising loose dentures. We do find quite a lot of our Leeds patients struggle with wearing full dentures, especially if they lost their teeth quite some time ago. This is particularly true for lower dentures as the bony ridge that used to support the teeth is gradually reabsorbed and becomes flatter and less retentive. Lower dentures may be able to be stabilised with relatively few dental implants making this a cost effective option that is within reach of many people. Stable dentures can increase confidence, and can mean better nutrition as it is easier to eat a much wider range of foods. If you currently struggle with dentures then it is well worth asking Leeds City Dentalcare about this option as it may be more affordable than you imagine.

Dr. David S Brown

Early Morning Smoking May Double the Risk of Oral and Lung Cancer

If you are addicted to cigarettes then you may well find yourself reaching for your first smoke within just a few minutes of waking up. However new research has found that doing this could double your risk of developing oral cancer or lung cancer compared to those smokers who wait for at least an hour before having their first cigarette. The levels of tobacco smoke carcinogens were found to be much higher in people who smoked within a few minutes of waking up compared to those who waited at least an hour before lighting up.People who smoke first thing in the morning are likely to be more addicted to smoking than those who are able to wait a while, something that is perhaps borne out by other recent research that found people smoking early in the morning have a much harder time trying to quit the habit.

If You Smoke Make Sure You Have Regular Dental Check-ups

This is all pretty bad news if you are a smoker, and if you’re finding it extremely difficult to kick the habit. Oral cancer is a real problem in the UK, and smoking is known to be a risk factor. If you do smoke then it’s doubly important to make sure you visit Leeds City Dentalcare at regular intervals for check-ups with Dr David Brown or another dentist at the surgery. Checks for oral cancer are an important part of your regular appointments and could help save your life. Our dentist in Leeds will closely examine all your oral tissues, including your tongue and the inside of your cheeks to check for any colour changes, or any unexplained sore patches or roughened or thickened areas that may indicate the early signs of this disease. When caught early enough, the survival rates for oral cancer are extremely good, but one of the problems is that these early symptoms are very easy to miss.

Carry Out Regular Self-Examinations at Home

In between regular dental check-ups in Leeds you can also help yourself by carrying out self-examinations every month. Try to get into the habit of examining your tongue and the tissues in your mouth for any signs of abnormalities. Your mouth tissues should be a healthy pale pink colour, and shouldn’t have any white or red patches. You can also gently feel around in your mouth for any changes to the texture or thickness of the tissues. Other symptoms to be aware of include:

Sores or ulcers that fail to heal within a reasonable amount of time
Having unexplained bleeding in your mouth
Experiencing difficulty in chewing or swallowing
Noticing your voice has changed or that you have a chronic sore throat
Noticing your teeth fit together slightly differently
Having any areas of unexplained numbness or pain in your mouth or neck area

Although it may be difficult, the best course of action is to try to quit smoking, and this is something you may wish to discuss with the dentists at our Leeds surgery. Smoking not only increases the risk of developing oral and lung cancer, but also the risk of developing gum disease. Nicotine makes it more difficult for the gum tissue to heal properly, and this can also be a problem if you are thinking about having certain dental treatments, for example dental implants. In addition giving up smoking will help keep your breath fresher. Even though these reasons are compelling, we do realise it can be extremely tricky to quit.

Dr. David S Brown

Bad Habits That Might Harm Your Teeth

If you’re vigilant about cleaning your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day, and if you make sure you visit us regularly at Leeds City Dentalcare then you might think you’re doing all you can to look after your teeth. However it’s all too easy to get into bad habits that may inadvertently harm your teeth and gums, so it’s well worth keeping an eye out for them and making sure you break these habits before they cause any harm. We’ve put together a list of the worst offenders.

Crunching on ice cubes is something a lot of us do without really thinking about it. It’s such an easy thing to do when you’ve finished a nice cold drink, and it seems relatively harmless. However ice is cold and brittle and can lead to fractures forming in your teeth. Initially these may be extremely difficult to detect as they will start off as microscopic cracks in your tooth enamel. Every time you bite down on food then these cracks will open up slightly, and you’ll probably notice your teeth are more sensitive towards hot and cold foods.. If you do have sensitivity to hot and cold foods it’s well worth mentioning it to Dr David Brown or your dentist next time you visit our Leeds surgery. They’ll be able to examine your teeth and determine the exact cause for this sensitivity. Fractures or crack may need treatment to prevent bacteria from entering the tooth.

Using your teeth as if they were a pair of scissors or a pair of pliers will also put a lot of undue strain on them. It’s all too easy to use your teeth to open a packet of food or to rip apart plastic tags. This bad habit can place your teeth under real stress, and may lead to a weakened tooth cracking or chipping. Reaching for a pair of scissors as opposed to using your teeth could save you a lot of pain and money in the future.

Teeth grinding is a slightly trickier issue, as many people are completely unaware they have this habit given that it tends to happen during the night. It’s something that can arise due to stress or anxiety, and it can cause substantial damage to your teeth and gums, as well as your jaw and the muscles in your face. If you frequently wake up with a sore painful jaw, or if you’ve noticed your teeth look more worn down than before then it’s worth making an appointment to see a dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare just in case you need treatment. If we think that you’re grinding your teeth then we will probably prescribe a mouthguard for you to wear at night. This can often be enough to break the habit, but if not there are plenty of other things that can be done to help you quit this habit.

Brushing your teeth too hard can cause quite a lot of damage to your teeth and gums, as can using a toothbrush with very hard bristles. You don’t need to brush very hard to thoroughly clean your teeth, and over brushing can lead to the tooth enamel becoming worn away, increasing the sensitivity of your gums and increasing the risk of tooth decay.

These issues are all relatively common, but resolving them may help improve your dental health, and that’s something we think is well worth doing.

Dr. David S Brown

Sjögren’s Syndrome and its Connection to Oral Health

Sjögren’s syndrome is an auto immune disorder and is a chronic disease for which there is no known cure. It has a significant effect on oral health, and in fact the initial symptoms are often first identified by dentists during regular check-ups. This condition affects the saliva glands and other glands that produce moisture in the body and can lead to dryness developing in the eyes and mouth. It’s something that tends to affect women who are nearing the menopause, and although the exact cause of the Sjögren’s syndrome isn’t known, it’s thought it could be linked to hormone levels. However some studies have also looked at genetic links and whether or not it may be triggered by a virus. This condition can sometimes run in families, and it may also be associated with other health problems in particular lupus, scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis.

If you think you might be at risk of developing this condition than it’s worth discussing it with Dr David Brown or another dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare. One of the first symptoms is experiencing a lack of saliva for several months, and being unable to attribute this dryness to any other reasons such as prescription medications or other diseases. Other symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome include unexplained muscle pain, a feeling of fatigue and experiencing numbness or tingling in the extremities.

Sjögren’s syndrome is a condition that can affect numerous parts of the body, and it can even affect the pancreas and liver. If this should happen then there’s a greater chance that cancer could develop in the lymph tissue. Lymphoma can occur in the minor and major saliva glands and can cause them to become enlarged and painful. Additional symptoms include unexplained weight loss, having itchy skin or noticing red patches on the skin, having unexplained fever and suffering from night sweats. However these symptoms can just as easily be a symptom of other illnesses or infections so it is important to get a proper diagnosis.

Alleviating the Oral Symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome

If you do have this syndrome is important to make sure you get treatment for your dry mouth or xerostomia. Although there is no cure there are lots of things our Leeds surgery can do to help you feel more comfortable. For instance we can prescribe or suggest saliva substitutes to help replace some of the moisture in your mouth, and it can help to make sure you keep well hydrated. Some of our patients in Leeds find it helpful to suck on sugar-free sweets, or to chew sugar-free gum, especially gum containing xylitol as this can help reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth.

One of the major problems with having a lack of saliva is that it does increase the risk of oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease. Saliva has a protective effect on the mouth as it helps to keep it clean, and washes away some of the bacteria present in the mouth. This means good oral hygiene is absolutely essential, and it’s quite possible that we might recommend you use an antibacterial mouthwash and additional fluoride treatments may also be helpful.

Visiting our Leeds surgery at regular intervals will enable us to keep a close eye on your oral health. We’ll be able to treat any early signs of dental diseases much more easily. It’s especially important to try to prevent gum disease or periodontal disease, as people with Sjögren’s syndrome can find it more difficult to fight off infections due to the way this condition affects the immune system.

Dr. David S Brown

What are Inlays and Onlays?

Inlays and onlays are a conservative way of restoring teeth to full function. Dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare always do their very best to maintain as much healthy tooth structure as possible, and inlays and onlays can be a great way of achieving this aim. The alternative would be to use a crown that covers the entire tooth, and this would require much more tooth structure to be removed in order to create sufficient room for the crown.

Inlays are made to replace the central part of the chewing surface of a back tooth, either a molar or a pre-molar. They are excellent for larger areas of decay that would be unsuitable for normal composite resin fillings.

Onlays can replace the central part of the chewing surfaces a back tooth, as well as one or more of the cusps. In fact onlays can be used to replace the whole chewing surface of a back tooth. The cusps are raised points that you find on the outer edges of back teeth.

Advantages of Having Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and onlays are precision made to fit tightly into the area of tooth that needs replacing. Once they are bonded into position they help to improve the strength of the tooth and offer a relatively long-lasting solution to repairing areas of tooth structure that have been lost to decay or disease. Their precision fit ensures that bacteria are sealed out of the tooth, and that the restoration is easy to clean.

You can choose to have inlays and onlays made out of tooth coloured materials that blend in extremely well with the remaining tooth structure, although some can be made from gold alloy. Most inlays and onlays are made out of some type of porcelain, as this material is durable and long-lasting, and will not stain. These types of restorations are called indirect restorations as they are made in a dental laboratory, and this does mean you will need to return to our Leeds surgery at a later date for fitting.

You may also be able to have a CEREC inlay or onlay. CEREC is a milled porcelain that is constructed right here at Leeds City Dentalcare. The huge advantage of this system is that you will be able to have your tooth prepared for the inlay or onlay, and can have it fitted during the same visit. CEREC restorations look very natural and are hardwearing, making them a good choice for repairing back teeth.

Procedure for Having an Inlay or Onlay

The procedure for having an inlay or onlay is very straightforward. You’ll need to have the tooth prepared, something that will be done by Dr David Brown or another of our dentists at Leeds City Dentalcare. Once the tooth is prepared then the next step will depend on the type of restoration chosen to repair your tooth. If you are having an indirect inlay or onlay then an impression will be taken of your tooth, and sent to our dental laboratory for fabrication. It will be fitted and cemented into place at your next visit.

If you have chosen a CEREC inlay or onlay then a special digital camera will be used to take pictures of your tooth. These images are used by our dentists to design your restoration. Once they are happy with the design then this is sent directly to the milling machine. The machine is able to mill your restoration from a single solid block of porcelain. The next step is for your dentist to stain and polish the inlay or onlay, before cementing it into place. You’ll leave our Leeds surgery with your tooth fully restored.