Dental Instruments

Our instruments at Dr. Lis Bradley’s Brentwood dental practice are naturally objects of curiosity. They may also be objects of apprehension. To help patients become more comfortable with their dental care, we thought it would be a good idea to explain a little about what our tools are for.

Dental explorers are the instruments we use the most frequently, along with the handheld mirror. Also known as probes, explorers are small metal hooks that can be used to scrape away bits of tartar. They are used to push against enamel and examine gum pockets to determine whether there is an active infection. A variety of probes exist to check the various parts of teeth from different angles and scrape tartar from under the gums.

When we find tooth decay, we numb the patient with an injection and remove damaged enamel with a drill. The drill sprays water onto the teeth while in use to prevent heat damage. Once the decayed enamel has been removed, we mix the composites for a filling on a small spatula. Application and shaping of the filling are done using burnishers, which are instruments with blunt or rounded ends. If a filling needs to be removed, we remove debris with an evacuator, which is a more powerful version of the ejector used to vacuum away saliva.

Lis Bradley, DDS, operates at 8112 Isabella Ln, Suite 101, Brentwood, Tennessee. To schedule an appointment, visit Lis Bradley or call 615-778-0810.

 

Causes of Filling Failure

We provide patients with inconspicuous, comfortable fillings at Dr. Lis Bradley’s Brentwood dental office, and as scientists study fillings more, our procedures continue to improve. We want to pass along the results of a study on filling failure that provides some good news as well as information about when people need to especially be on their guard.

Fillings do not usually last longer than ten years before needing to be replaced, but a few factors cause them to fail early. Two of the most common of these are smoking and alcohol use. The new study also found that early filling failure tends to run in families, suggesting there could be a genetic component. For people in these categories, it is especially important to maintain regular dental check-ups, so we can examine each filling’s viability and replace it before failure allows decay to resume or function to be compromised.

The study also had a very positive finding. White-colored composite fillings, which have recently emerged as an alternative to amalgam ones, have just as high a rate of success. This is good news because the white fillings are generally thought to be more attractive and avoid some of the problems with metal, such as sensitivity to coldness and heat.

Lis Bradley, DDS, operates at 8112 Isabella Ln, Suite 101, Brentwood, Tennessee. To schedule an appointment, visit Lis Bradley or call 615-778-0810.