Author: sohaldentalpractice

Tooth decay is really common, with thousands and thousands of people across the country having to have treatments for it every year. Although traditionally it can be really embarrassing to admit to having an issue with dental decay, we at Sohal Dental Practice want to reassure and help patients understand that sometimes these things just happen. It’s not necessarily a major reflection on you, your cleanliness or overall dental hygiene or health. Here’s how our dentist in Birmingham can help with your dental decay worries.

Why does decay happen?

Dental decay for most patients happens when the tooth has been infected with bad bacteria and germs; that then get through to the root and begin to wear away at the foundation. This usually happens when patients can’t get to a particular area when brushing. Which is why it’s so important to both floss and brush. When the decay happens the tooth starts to discolour which isn’t always noticeable to the human eye, and is why it’s so important for us to be able to take X-rays when you come into the practice for your check-ups.

How is decay treated?

For most tooth decay our dentist in Birmingham will need to carry out some type of filling, the size of this filling will greatly depend on how much decay has occurred. For basic fillings we will numb the area with a local anaesthetic and then drill out the decay and make sure the area is extremely clean. Much like mould, if even the tiniest bit is left it will start to grow again and cause further issues, so cleaning is very, very important. Once the area is cleaned it will be filled with whichever substance you have chosen. There are a wide variety of filling options all varying in visibility and price. You can talk through which options are best for you when you come in for your appointment with our dentist in Birmingham.

Preventing decay

With decay prevention the most important thing is that you are practising good oral hygiene daily. Good oral hygiene isn’t as simple as just brushing your teeth. You should be combining twice daily brushes with the use of dental floss, interdental brushes, good quality toothpaste, and regular dental check-ups. You can also add tongue scraping, mouthwash and regular hygienist appointments as extra ways to keep your oral health in tip-top condition.

Signs of decay

If you are suddenly experiencing a dull toothache, sharp pain from hot or cold drinks, bad breath, bleeding gums, swelling around the gums, a funny taste in your mouth or wobbly teeth it could be that you are experiencing signs of decay and should book in to see the team at our dental practice as soon as you can. The sooner tooth decay is caught the more likely you are to make a full recovery without the need for more serious treatments such as the removal of teeth.

If you have any questions on tooth decay do not hesitate to contact the surgery.

Here at Sohal Dental Practice, we offer advice and a range of treatments that help our patients to have healthy teeth and gums. As the dentist in Birmingham, it is our job to ensure that our patients have access to the best possible guidance and preventive care as well as treatments that help to resolve any issues. This is a guide to why water can be an important tool in maintaining one’s oral health.

Fluoride

As the dentist in Birmingham, we always recommend that our patients brush their teeth with a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride is very useful for helping to protect the teeth. The great thing is, in most cases it is found in tap water. This means that drinking tap water throughout the day can help a person to look after their teeth.

Fluoride helps to strengthen the teeth and make them more robust, which means that they are less vulnerable to developing cavities. It also helps to protect the enamel of the teeth. Enamel is an important part of healthy teeth which allows them to be more resilient and less likely to become stained and damaged.

Prevents dry mouth

While there are some cases of a dry mouth being caused by other factors such as certain medications, there is no doubt that it is often the result of dehydration. This can cause a person to develop bad breath, which can have a very negative impact on their self-confidence. If dehydration is the cause of having a dry mouth, it is easy to resolve this by ensuring that water is drunk regularly throughout the day.

Being well hydrated also helps the mouth to be more effective at producing saliva. Saliva is very important for good oral health, as it helps to protect the teeth and gums.

Good replacement for other drinks

Some drinks can have a negative impact on the teeth and gums. Beverages such as tea and coffee can cause the teeth to become stained if drunk too often. Other options such as fizzy drinks, including the ones that do not contain sugar, can erode the enamel of the teeth and cause them to be at increased risk of developing cavities.

When a person chooses water as their main beverage instead of all these other alternatives, they are making a much better choice for their oral health. The patient who mostly drinks water is very likely to have much healthier teeth and gums than the one who hydrates themselves with caffeinated and fizzy drinks.

Helps to minimise snacking

In many cases where people believe they are a little hungry and find themselves reaching for a snack, they are simply dehydrated. When these snacks are high in sugar, they have a negative impact on the health of the teeth and gums. If a person drinks water consistently throughout the day, they are less likely to develop this kind of false hunger. This means that they are considerably less likely to indulge in snacks that harm the teeth, and thus can enjoy better oral health.

We’re heading rapidly into the summer months of 2022. It’s going to be barbecues in the garden followed by afternoon tea with friends and family under shady trees, not to mention the long list of couples getting hitched. And, quite rightly, lots of our patients are wanting to have that instant, ready smile gleaming and shining, and we don’t blame you. So how do you get your smile back to its full potential and is it always necessary to opt for a whitening treatment? Find out here what your dentist in Birmingham can do for you.

Why do teeth dull and discolour?

For most of us our day-to-day lives involve lots of things that cause discolouration to our teeth. Coffee, tea, red wine, fruit juice, curry, berries, the list goes on and on. All add up to cause discolouration and it’s a very hard balance between enjoying the treats in life and taking care of our teeth. So if you are someone who’s enjoying many a coffee or tea in the working day and then heading home for a glass or two of red wine and worrying about their discoloured teeth, it could be time to have a little look at ways in which you could lower your intake of tannins (tannins are the compounds in food and drink that cause discolouration).

Smoking is, of course, well known to be a leading cause of teeth yellowing and comes with a multitude of other health issues and so we at Sohal Dental Practice would always encourage and support patients on the journey to quitting smoking. If you would like information on this you can talk to us at the practice.

How to bring back shine

For some patients they find they’re not really looking to bring back so much of a whiteness, but just more of a brightness in general to their teeth. We find an appointment with our hygienist can actually really help with this – rather than opting for a full whitening treatment. So many patients go for a deep clean with the hygienist and come out feeling like they’ve gained a brand new smile. 

If, however, you do want to opt for a professional whitening treatment then speak to our dentist in Birmingham about what options could be best to help treat you. Everyone has a different journey to go on when it comes to their smile, so it’s best to ask a dentist which option would be right for you. In general our dentist in Birmingham will recommend either Enlighten Smiles which is a two week treatment plan you do yourself at home followed up with an hour long top-up session at the practice, or Boutique Teeth Whitening which requires the dentist to make moulds of your teeth after which trays are then specially made for you. Like Enlighten, the treatment plan is carried out at home using a bleaching agent in the trays. This is great for removing tough stains.

If you would like more information on teeth whitening please get in contact with the practice via phone or email.

Having a smile to be proud of is no new goal for us. Everyone wants to have a set of teeth that sparkle and gleam but it’s hard to maintain a perfectly white smile when so much of what makes our lives great also causes us to have discolouration on our teeth. What do I mean? Well if like me you love nothing more than strong creamy coffee in the morning or a robust red at the end of the day – it will either be old news or new news to you that these life delights are big reasons for our teeth to dull and yellow. So what can be done at the dentist in Birmingham to bring back that bright white smile?

What is the process of getting teeth whitend?

The team here at Sohal Dental Practice have a wealth of experience when it comes to teeth whitening and offer two main options for our patients. Enlighten smiles whitening is able to whiten teeth by up to 16 shades. It increases the teeth permeability to oxygen which then breaks the stained molecules and so makes the smile brighter. This treatment is mainly done from the comfort of your own home but you will need to make one visit to your dentist in Birmingham to finish off the treatment.

The second option available to you through us would be boutique teeth whitening – your dentist in Birmingham will make molded trays that fit your teeth exactly. Once these have been made and returned to tus to check they fit you correctly you will take them home and apply the special gel to your teeth every night. This system can be used to get rid of a multitude of stains and discolouration.

How to keep teeth sparkling after they’ve been whitened

Firstly you need to make sure you are on top of good oral hygiene, this includes brushing twice daily, flossing, using interdental brushes and making regular trips to the dentist. Try if you can to avoid staining foods and drinks now this is much easier said than done as like me giving up coffee could feel impossible – but if you can cut down or even when possible use a straw this could really help keep teeth white. Use a whitening toothpaste – there are many on the market that can really help keep your teeth white, it’s worth investing. Rinsing and swilling your mouth after you eat can actually really help keep discoloration at bay so if you can, always rinse. Look after your tooth enamel – weak enamel can be easier to stain so invest in a good quality mouthwash that can support this or again a toothpaste that supports enamel strength and development.

If you have any questions on teeth whitening please do get in touch with the team either through the website or over the phone one of our dental reception team will do their best to answer any questions you might have and if they can’t will try and organise a time for a dentist to get in contact with you.

A trip to our dentist in Birmingham might not be on top of your list. Maybe you’re not in any immediate pain, or if you are you haven’t had the time to make an appointment. You might even be nervous about a visit to the dentist, due to previous bad experiences or an overall fear of dental practices. In most cases, it is likely that you don’t even think our dentist can provide help with your specific problems. We’re here to tell you that this is not true!

Here at Sohal Dental Practice, we want to make your visits to the dentist much more enjoyable. We want you to leave with a smile you can feel comfortable in and experience that you want to tell the world about. Our patients are at the core of everything we do.

Below, our dentist in Birmingham will talk about some of the services and treatments we provide, hopefully answering any questions and concerns you might have.

Check-ups

When it comes to the oral hygiene and general care of your mouth, gums and jaw, regular check-ups with our dentist in Birmingham will keep you on top of any potential problems. It isn’t irregular for any dental problems to go unnoticed, especially if they don’t present themselves immediately. Some signs to look out for include bad breath, tooth decay, gum disease, sores, tooth erosion, sensitivity and toothache. At a check-up with us, we will examine your mouth thoroughly and ask you general questions about your lifestyle, to get a well-rounded view of your mouth health. The aim of these check-ups is to catch any problems before they get worse or cause you pain.

Crowns and bridges

If you have missing teeth, you might start to feel self-conscious about the way you talk, eat or smile. We can help to fix that. If you feel you would like to replace them then a bridge might be ideal or dentures if you have more teeth missing. The bridge will be cemented in place by attaching it to your teeth surrounding the gap.

We also offer crowns which can completely cover a damaged tooth. The crowns will provide additional support, as well as giving you back your confidence once the damage is covered. These crowns can also be used with implants, and if more stability is required implants can be used to attach a bridge to.

Invisalign

If you have misaligned teeth, or an overbite or underbite, you might also be concerned about your appearance. Not being able to live, smile and talk the way that you want to can have detrimental effects. With Invisalign clear aligners, your teeth will be subtly moved into the position you desire without the obvious use of metal braces. They’re completely removable, meaning you don’t have to change your diet and can clean them properly.

Teeth whitening

If you’re under the impression that dental practices can only offer help with tooth pain, then you’re mistaken. We also provided cosmetic dentistry, which is just as important to a patient’s happiness and confidence. With teeth whitening, we will have your teeth looking white, bright and almost brand new!

At Sohal Dental Practice, we believe that a smile isn’t just about teeth, it’s about the person behind the smile. We care about each and every one of our patients and offer a range of treatments catered to give you a beautiful smile.

At our dentist in Birmingham, you can enjoy everything from regular checkup appointments to a visit about possible cosmetic dentistry or even orthodontic treatments. At our Surrey-based practice, we enlist ABC dentistry to help restore smiles and confidence to our patients. ABC dentistry stands for Align, Brighten and Contour, which, in its essence, means transforming your smile by straightening, whitening or contouring your teeth through composite bonding.

We also offer a smile makeover service, which is one of our latest treatments designed to give patients a Hollywood-worthy smile. It’s accessible to all and offers a host of treatment options from teeth whitening and Invisalign to dental implants.

Dental checkups are key to great oral health

The health and wellbeing of our patients is our utmost priority. We believe in having general dental checkups as a way of taking care of your oral health. Our dentist in Birmingham encourages our patients to look out for any initial signs of dental issues that present themselves. Common problems that surface, which could develop into more serious issues down the line, include gum disease, toothaches, tooth sensitivity, sores and even bad breath.

Traditionally, our checkups include the examination of your teeth, gums and general mouth to ensure everything is in good order. This is often followed by questions about your overall health and any other dental problems you may be experiencing. These issues will then be identified and addressed, and we will provide a treatment plan in order to effectively correct these issues.

Enjoy the smile you deserve

Regardless of your dental history, our dentist in Birmingham is here to help create the smile you wish you had. Our team of professionals are on hand to restore your confidence and create a smile you are proud of through our leading cosmetic dental treatments. We have years of experience delivering celebrity-standard teeth for our patients while taking the utmost care to cater to all their needs.

In the past, having a smile makeover may have seemed like a luxury treatment that cost the earth. However, this treatment plan is surprisingly affordable and easily accessible to all our patients, making everyone a suitable candidate. Some of the common services included as part of the smile makeover program include teeth whitening, veneers and teeth straightening. There are also options for dental implants and bridges.

Experience a smile makeover at Sohal Dental Practice

Here at Sohal Dental Practice, we offer a treatment called a ‘smile makeover’, and this is a personalised treatment plan uniquely catered to each patient. If you are wondering whether you would be a suitable candidate for a smile makeover, the answer is yes. Any patient who would like to transform their smile is eligible for this service. Our goal is to assist our patients in feeling confident and happy about their appearance.

If you are unhappy with your current smile you need not worry, as many dental practices are able to offer treatments within cosmetic dentistry for those who are looking for safe and effective ways to improve their smile. At Sohal Dental Practice, this is no different, as we understand the importance of having a smile you can be happy with, and this is why we offer cosmetic dental treatments for our patients. If you are unsure as to what dental treatment is most suitable for you, by visiting our practice, our dentist in Birmingham will be able to recommend the most suitable dental procedure for you, so you can achieve your desired smile.

About us at Sohal Dental Practice

At Sohal Dental Practice, we are dedicated to promoting and bettering the oral health of all our patients, through providing high quality dental treatments within a wide range of dentistry and offering specialist advice and dental care. Led by Dr Sarbjit Sohal, who is our principal cosmetic dentist in Birmingham, our team of dentists practise in accordance with the standards provided by the General Dental Council, working together to provide the best solutions for your dental issues.

If you cannot remember the last time you visited a dental practice, we would recommend when you visit us for the first time that you have a consultation with us. This will allow our dentist in Birmingham to thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and mouth to determine your oral health and whether you are in need of dental treatment.

If you have good oral health and there are no dental issues, you will be advised to have regular check-ups with us. Although this varies for each individual, as a general rule we advise that you visit us every six months.

We also offer e-consultations at our practice and this may be ideal for those who may not be comfortable visiting our surgery or those who are considering dental treatment and are unsure as to what might be the right treatment for them.

If for example you would like straighter teeth and are considering your options, our free e-consultation allows you to send us photographs of your smile and gives you the opportunity to tell us why you are unhappy with your smile and what you would like to change about it. One of the ways in which you can improve your smile at our practice is by having a smile makeover.

Smile makeovers at Sohal Dental Practice

At our practice, we understand how important your smile is, which is why we offer what is known as a ‘smile makeover’ for our patients. This is a modern system which uses targeted cosmetic dental treatments to improve the appearance of your teeth and boost your confidence. This approach is suitable for anyone who is interested in improving their smile and every smile makeover is completely unique for each patient, as it will include treatments that are suitable for your particular needs.

You will be required to have an initial consultation with us which will allow us to explain the recommended treatments for you and provide you with a detailed plan, so you can be well informed about every part of the process. A smile makeover can include treatments such as whitening, implants and teeth straightening.

Composite bonding opened up a new area of dentistry, by reconstructing teeth in a way that simply was not possible before the development of light cured UV resins. Let us find out more about how they could help you at our dentist in Birmingham.

UV cured resins in dentistry

UV cured resins have been an elegant solution to a problem that dentistry has had since day one; what kind of adhesive can be used to repair teeth or hold or prostatic in place? There’ve been many attempts to solve this problem; temperature based adhesives would have to be applied hot enough to medt, but would have the added disadvantage of not being able to warp when the patient drinks a hot beverage, making them unsuitable for the clinic. Chemically setting adhesives often use very unpleasant solvents which would also be inappropriate.

UV bonding gives a great deal of control to the rate at which the adhesive sets to our dentist in Birmingham, which made it initially useful as a technique for attaching veneers. By building up in layers fully setting each before reapplying, resin can be constructed into an in situ bonding. This is very similar to the way that gel nails are applied in beauty salons.

The fully cured resin is both hard and resilient yet can be sculpted using a dental drill, allowing natural shapes and ridges to be cut into the bonding. The exact shade and texture of the resin can be altered by changing its composition; this puts many of the functions of the dental laboratory into the hands of our dental team so we only need a single session to produce an in-situ bonding. Depending on how they’re applied, they can behave more like a crown, giving structural support to the tooth, or they can just be placed on the front surface behaving more like a veneer.

Maintaining and looking after an in situ bonding

In-situ bondings are not considered high maintenance; with regular brushing and flossing and the standard 6-month check up, they are not that different from any other two. They will get the same attention from our team as would any sort of crown or prosthesis during the check up just to make sure that it’s still firmly in place and undamaged.

Application of in situ bonding is non-destructive; a very small quantity of enamel has to be touched for the first layer to adhere but apart from that, your natural tooth is unaffected. You should experience little to no pain when it is being fitted and will be able to eat and drink immediately after the procedure

As an emergency procedure?

Due to flexibility, in situ composite bonding could have an interesting role in emergency dentistry; being able to stabilize and build up a damaged tooth without having to delay treatment whilst prosthetics were constructed in a dental laboratory. If you do require emergency dental care, please contact our dentist in Birmingham immediately and we will do our best to see you on the same day. Otherwise, if you have further questions about how in situ bondings might be suitable for you don’t hesitate to ask. We are currently accepting new patients and would be happy to hear from you.

There are many different factors that can affect the aesthetic appearance of our teeth, and despite good oral hygiene, your teeth can lose their natural shine and beauty over time. Whether your issues are a result of poor oral hygiene or injury, at Sohal Dental Practice, we have the solutions to your dental issues. Speak to our dentist in Birmingham and book an appointment to visit us in person. We will carry out a full examination of your teeth and gums and put together a tailored treatment plan to help create a stunning smile makeover for you using an approach known as ABC dentistry (Align, Brighten and Contour).

With the knowledge and expertise of our dentist in Birmingham, we can guide you in choosing a treatment option that will work successfully to help align, brighten and contour your smile, according to the health of your teeth and your personal needs.

Different treatment options for straightening your teeth

Any misalignment of your teeth can affect the aesthetic appearance of your smile as well as your overall oral health. By straightening your teeth, you will have a healthier set of teeth and a more beautiful smile at the same time.

There are many different treatment options available for straightening your teeth, and they will depend on the severity of the misalignment and your preferences. Once our dentist in Birmingham is satisfied with the cleanliness of your teeth and the health and strength of your gums, we will lay out the most suitable options for you from which you can choose.

You may wish to undergo orthodontic treatment with metal braces as this is the most effective form of teeth-straightening treatment, suitable when extensive treatment is necessary. Conventional metal braces consist of metal wires and brackets that can be attached to the surface of your teeth. They work by exerting continuous pressure on your teeth to adjust their positioning until they are aligned well. However, if you are reluctant to wear conventional braces, then you could consider invisible orthodontics. This alternative works in the same way as conventional devices; however, the brackets and the wires are either matched to the colour of your natural dentition or attached to the back of your teeth so that they are almost invisible when worn.

Teeth whitening and composite bonding

Once you have an aligned smile, we can provide you with different teeth-whitening procedures for you to consider. Teeth whitening can either be carried out by our dentist if you are looking for an instant result or be prescribed as a home whitening kit that works gradually over time and can be used in the comfort of your own home. Furthermore, when necessary, we can also consider composite bonding to completely transform the surface of your teeth where you may have permanent marks, scratches or cracks that cannot be removed. So, don’t delay your opportunity for a beautiful smile any longer. Speak to our dental team today to find out more about our smile makeovers and how we can help you get a smile to be proud of.

Venees can give you the fastest and most complete alteration to your teeth than any other cosmetic procedure. Let’s see how we provide the highest quality veneers at our dentist in Birmingham.

Veneers have come a long way from the acrylic glue and movie makeup that they originally were. We can provide a highly optimised finish to the front of your teeth, and when used by themselves, we will match them to the shade and texture of surrounding teeth in order to provide a seamless look. If you are receiving a full set of veneers, you can take total control of how your final appearance will be, from your teeth’s shape to shade!

Although the veneer will probably always be associated with its Hollywood birthplace, it has now become a permanent fixture of dental makeovers. The modern porcelain veneer is only a few micrometres thick and it can be applied without having to take large quantities of enamel from the front of the tooth. This is great because with older style veneers, quite a lot of tooth enamel had to be ground away for it to be attached. This then created the problem of leaving teeth exposed and allowing encroaching cavities to attack from the edges of the veneer.

When we carry out a single tooth veneer, it is usually as part of restorative treatment. Perhaps the tooth has become cracked or chipped and this veneer is fixing that individual problem. We do this after addressing the damage itself, usually applying a fluoride sealant or some other preventive. When being used cosmetically it’s usually a full set. This involves focussing on the top and bottom teeth, which are usually exposed during talking and eating throughout everyday life. 

When it comes to sudden makeovers, nothing is as rapid as veneering; it’s performed over two sessions. During the first one, measurements are taken of the teeth and sent to a dental laboratory for fabrication. When they are finished, we would book you in for the fitting during which the enamel on the front of your teeth is etched to provide a rough surface. Dental cement is used to bond the veneer to the enamel, with a final sculpting performed by the dental team, during which time the veneers can be altered in position and their final shape carved with a dental drill by our dentist in Birmingham. It is this artistry that gives the final sparkling finish to the veneers that we provide.

Would veneers be appropriate for me?

For most patients with a full set of adult teeth, veneers would be perfectly appropriate although there are some cases where they might be contraindicated and others where they would be more useful. Veneers can be an excellent orthodontic treatment in minor cases of crooked teeth, providing the final alignment to give a very symmetrical overall smile. That said, to truly find out if veneers would be appropriate for you, you would have to book a consultation with our dentist in Birmingham. If you have any further questions feel free to get in contact with the clinic.