Please read the following, which was taken from a BBC report into child tooth decay and gum disease. This is a worrying report which not be swept under the carpet. Action must be taken now as tooth decay and gum disease are on the whole, preventable.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29712453

At Progressive Dentistry, we are more than happy to provide tooth brushing clinics in school, nurseries and care homes. Prevention is better than cure and we would be glad to help. If you would like us to arrange a visit, please contact us via telephone or e-mail.

Our case of the month for October involves composite bonding of the lower front teeth which were heavily worn and using a principle called the Dahl technique. This technique is not very well known but it is fantastic method for treating worn down teeth where there is no space to restore them. For example, when your front teeth wear down due to grinding, acid erosion, bad habits (biting pens, nails etc), there is often little space to restore the teeth using conventional fillings. In the old days, the teeth may have been cut down for invasive procedures such as crowns or veeners. The Dahl technique involves the careful restoration of the worn teeth directly or indirectly with little, if any, tooth preparation. This must be with precision so that the contact on the new restorations is in such a way that the unworn teeth can slowly re-position and make contact over time. Usually this takes 12-16 weeks to occur but what a concept! For example, just take a look at our case below:
 

For those dentists out there who are curious about what is acceptable when fitting your indirect restorations such as crowns, bridges, implant crowns and bridges, inlays and onlays, here are some useful facts on marginal fitting: Quality ratings for marginal fitting:

1. Clinically excellent: no gap; smooth transition between margin and tooth; probe does not catch 
2. Clinically acceptable: space of 150 µm; slight probe catching 
3. Clinically unsatisfactory: space > 150 µm - 250 µm; probe penetrates into the gap, but no dentine exposed.
4. Clinically poor: space > 250 µm; probe penetrates into the gap and dentine exposed. 

It is possible to use probes with a tip size of 250um and therefore check the fitting with accuracy prior to cementation.

At Progressive Dentistry, we are advocates of non invasive treatment to produce the very best results. We believe that treatments kind to the teeth and gums will produce longer lasting, natural results yet still highly aesthetic. For example, this week in the Daily Mail, a double page spread on celebrities who have had their teeth done. This included Simon Cowell, Noel Gallagher, Cheryl Cole (sorry Fernandez Versini), Tom Cruise, David Bowie, Catherine Zeta Jones, Gordon Brown (yes, our ex Prime Minister), Mel C, Nicolas Cage, Demi Moore, Ronan Keating to name but a few. 

The key factor with all of these cases, was the use of porcelain veneers for the smile makeover. Whilst we agree that porcelain veneers can produce dramatic results within a few weeks, the fact remains that this technique requires heavy preparation of the underlying teeth. Therefore, the hardest tissue in the human body- tooth enamel- is completely destroyed. In the long term, there will be consequences. 

Why go for a quick fix when a non invasive solution will last for a life time? For example, take at look at our case below. Our patient hated her crooked front teeth. With the celebrity option, all of the tooth enamel would need to be stripped away for porcelain veneers. Crazy. We opted to straighten the teeth over the period of only a few months, and an amazing transformation was evident. Just take a look: