Early gum disease can often be reversed. More advanced gum disease cannot usually be completely reversed, but it can often be controlled and stabilised. The difference depends on whether the problem is simple gum inflammation or whether the supporting bone around the teeth has been damaged.This is an important distinction. At Twickel Dental Practice in Much Wenlock, we often explain to patients that gum disease is not one single condition. It exists on a spectrum, from mild bleeding gums to more advanced periodontal disease.Understanding where you are on that spectrum helps decide what can be improved, what can be stabilised, and what needs long-term maintenance.

Inlays and onlays are restorations used to repair back teeth when a normal filling may not be strong enough, but a full crown may not be necessary. They sit between a filling and a crown. The aim is to restore strength, shape and function while preserving as much natural tooth as possible.At Twickel Dental Practice in Much Wenlock, we often discuss inlays and onlays with patients who have large old fillings, cracked back teeth, or teeth that need a stronger and more carefully shaped restoration. Patients may not have heard of them before, but inlays and onlays can be very useful in modern restorative dentistry.

Gums usually bleed when brushing because they are inflamed. The most common cause is plaque building up around the gum line and between the teeth. Bleeding gums are common, but they should not be ignored, because they can be an early sign of gum disease.This is one of the most frequent questions patients ask in general dental practice. At Twickel Dental Practice in Much Wenlock, our dentists, hygienists and therapists regularly help patients understand why their gums bleed and what can be done to improve gum health.The important message is simple: healthy gums should not bleed regularly.

The best way to keep your teeth for life is to control the main risks before they become serious: decay, gum disease, tooth wear, cracks and neglect. Most teeth are not lost suddenly. They are usually lost after problems build slowly over many years.This is central to the way we think at Twickel Dental Practice in Much Wenlock. Good dentistry is not only about fixing teeth. It is about helping people need less treatment over time.

A filling replaces a damaged or missing part of the tooth. It can restore shape and function, but it does not turn the tooth back into a completely untouched tooth.The larger the filling, the more the tooth depends on both the filling and the remaining tooth structure working together. Over time, biting forces, temperature changes, wear and daily use can affect that relationship.Small fillings in strong teeth tend to be more predictable. Very large fillings in weakened teeth are more likely to crack, leak or break.

A crown is better than a filling when a tooth has lost too much strength for a filling to protect it properly. A filling repairs a damaged part of the tooth. A crown protects and holds the whole tooth together. The best choice depends on how much healthy tooth remains, where the damage is, how hard the tooth bites, and what we are trying to prevent in the future.This is a question we discuss often with patients at Twickel Dental Practice in Much Wenlock, including people who travel to us from Bridgnorth, Ironbridge, Telford, Shrewsbury and the surrounding villages. It is not simply a question of “which treatment is better?” It is more a question of “which treatment is right for this tooth?”