One of the hottest topics of online dental discussions has to be the safety, or otherwise, of amalgam fillings. The reason for this controversy is that amalgam is a mix of metals including 50 percent mercury, a liquid metal known to be highly toxic to nerve and brain tissue. The concern is that mercury can leach out of the fillings, leading to health problems. Amalgam fillings have a long track record, coming into common usage almost 200 years ago. The material was cheap, simple to use and strong enough not to break under chewing loads, so it gained widespread acceptance within dentistry. The ..read more

Modern dentistry is painless, but sometimes extra help is needed to reduce nervousness and increase comfort during treatment. Sedation allows a comfortable and anxiety-free experience for anxious patients, or for larger procedures such as wisdom teeth removal. During sedation, you are still awake but in a drowsy, dreamy state, and afterwards there is usually little memory of the procedure. Intravenous (IV) sedation is helpful for deeper relaxation and is administered in our office at the time of treatment. Oral sedation is useful for mild anxiety, and involves taking a tablet before your appo ..read more

Ask smile expert Dr Chris Anderson what he likes most about Invisalign treatment and the answer is simple – it’s much, much easier than braces! “With Invisalign it’s easier for clients to see exactly what they are getting before they say yes, it’s easier and quicker for them to get through treatment, and it’s easier for me to design the perfect treatment for each individual case”. Chris prefers a consultative approach to treatment planning, with full patient or parent involvement. “The Invisalign 3D tools are not only incredibly powerful, they are also easily understood. The sequence of tooth ..read more

Nicola is passionate about providing dental care of the highest standard and brings a wealth of skill and experience to our team. Her interests include cosmetic dentistry, full-mouth care and dental implants, as well as sedation for those needing extra help to get through treatment.  Aside from her expertise in providing dental care, Nicola (known as Nikki to friends and clients) is renowned for her warm and friendly nature. Several of the DentalPlus team have worked with Nicola previously, and they are super-excited to have her joining us because of her kind nature and ability to commun ..read more

Over time, our natural teeth are put under immense pressure and exposure that can result in decay or disease. And unfortunately, it sometimes can also just be a part of the ageing process, even with the most strenuous care taken with your natural teeth over its lifetime. If you are in the process of considering teeth replacement, searching for “dentures in Tauranga” or consulting with your local dentist – you will soon realise that it’s not just a simple case of fitment with minimal maintenance in the future. Below is an introduction to Denture Care For Beginners. Particular care needs to be ..read more

Of all dental procedures, wisdom tooth removal is one of the most common. The majority of adults struggle with pain and discomfort caused by their wisdom teeth, and extraction is often the best and simplest solution. If you’re booked to go for this procedure and would like to know what to expect and how best to deal with your recovery process, keep reading. Recovery Time And Healing Phases How long it takes for you to recover from wisdom tooth removal varies from person to person. Some may require stitches during the procedure, which will need to be removed after a week, while some people suf ..read more

Natural teeth are incredibly strong, built to resist wear and tear from millions of chewing cycles. The hard outer enamel layer of teeth gives wear resistance while the dense inner core provides toughness and flexibility. Together they create a strong and elastic structure that stretches and bends under load to dissipate heavy forces. Teeth lose much of this strength and durability once they have been filled with traditional non-adhesive methods. Stress cracks around old fillings are common and deepen with time, putting the tooth at increased risk of splintering. The longer a filling has been ..read more