Dr Sam Winter

Dentures are not fitting well

admin — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:49:13 +0000

Why don’t my dentures fit well anymore? False teeth, whether they are complete full dentures or partial dentures, are made to fit your mouth at a specific point in time. As you age, everything about you changes, even your mouth. But the false teeth you had made years ago cannot change with you. This . . . → Read More: Dentures are not fitting well

Should I have my abscessed tooth extracted or root canal treated?

admin — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 04:31:08 +0000

Once you know that you have an abscessed tooth, a decision has to be made. An abscess is an active infection, so it can’t be left untreated, because it will affect the level of health for your whole body.

Unfortunately, not all infected teeth are treatable. When a tooth is rotten or broken down . . . → Read More: Should I have my abscessed tooth extracted or root canal treated?

Will bleaching harm my teeth?

admin — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 20:33:55 +0000

Many studies have shown that repeated bleaching, even every day for many months, causes no permanent damage to the teeth.

Dental bleaching or tooth whitening is an easily available cosmetic procedure. People whiten their teeth at all ages. Even though people under the age of 30 generally have whiter teeth than older people, they . . . → Read More: Will bleaching harm my teeth?

When to go to the dentist

admin — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 23:52:26 +0000

Should I go to the dentist even if nothing hurts?

Yes, defnitely. Routine dental visits do for your teeth what routine maintenance does for your car. Would you leave the oil level in your car unchecked and oil not changed until your motor stopped? Of course not. Tune-ups for your car keep it running . . . → Read More: When to go to the dentist

Mercury in metal dental fillings

admin — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:35:02 +0000

What are metal dental fillings and what do they do to me?

Most metal dental fillings are an amalgam of about 50% mercury and the rest a mixture of mostly silver, with some copper, zinc and tin. Amalgam has been in common use since about 1860. In 1895 the formula was standardised, and about . . . → Read More: Mercury in metal dental fillings

What does my toothache mean?

admin — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:35:35 +0000

Pain anywhere in your body can be a warning of an abnormal situation. It is not always serious. For example, the pain of overeating or abdominal gas is real pain but is not dangerous and demanding urgent treatment. Teeth can also be painful due to temperature, usually cold, or pressure. Pressure can be applied . . . → Read More: What does my toothache mean?

Do I have gum disease?

admin — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:29:07 +0000

Gum disease occurs in varying degrees of severity. In its mildest form it is called gingivitis. The infection is on the surface of the gum tissue, and does not affect the bone, or the ligament which connects the tooth to the bone. Even though the infection is only on the surface, the gums are . . . → Read More: Do I have gum disease?

Should I change my metal dental fillings?

admin — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 19:02:47 +0000

Metal dental fillings, also known as dental amalgams, are made of approximately 50 percent silver and 50 percent mercury. You can tell if you have them in your teeth, because they are grey or almost black from corrosion. The corrosion is a natural and harmless result of the silver content.

The major reason to . . . → Read More: Should I change my metal dental fillings?

Should I get veneers for my front teeth?

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:26:56 +0000

I hear this question from people who don’t like the way their front teeth look when they smile. There are many reasons for this reaction.

When front teeth have large stained fillings. Depending on the size and shape of the fillings, and position of the front teeth, this situation can be improved by replacing the . . . → Read More: Should I get veneers for my front teeth?

Why I Blog

admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:59:33 +0000

Over the course of my dental practice I have had many people ask me similar questions. I think by posting some of these common questions along with answers based on my experience, I can help reduce some of the stress people have about asking dental questions, never mind going to or even speaking to . . . → Read More: Why I Blog