Treatments

New Patient Assessment

The new patient assessment is the first dental appointment and is an opportunity to meet the dentist if you haven’t done so already, and discuss any issues or concerns you might have. All new patients are required to fill out a medical history form so that we can ensure you receive care that is appropriate for you. During the appointment the dentist visually inspects your teeth, gums and general oral health, to assess what level of care you need. Then a suitable dental plan is put together to meet your needs; this may be regular oral health reviews, or a course of longer treatment should you require any work on your teeth. If a course of treatment is needed, the dentist will talk you through all the treatment and payment options so that you are totally happy and comfortable with the course of action for future visits.

Dental Health Review

This is the 6, 9, 12 or 24 monthly dental check-up.

Restorations

The term ‘restorations’ usually refers to Fillings. No longer made only out of amalgam, an unsightly dark silver/grey metal material, fillings can be made out of a number of materials depending on your individual needs. For example, if your cavity is in a place that is easily visible, a filling can be made out of a white resin material to better fit with the natural shade of your teeth.

The appropriateness and costs for different filling materials vary, so it’s best to discuss the options with your dentist so you can work out what is best for you.

Tooth Whitening

Teeth usually darken with age, due to things like drinking tea, coffee or red wine, eating strongly coloured foods such Indian curry which contains highly staining spices, and smoking. Tooth decay, fillings and tartar can also contribute to discolouring, as can damage to the blood vessels in teeth – this makes the tooth darker, with almost a grey appearance.

There are a number of different ways of whitening teeth; from toothpastes and chewing gums to at-home bleaching kits to laser treatment carried out by a dentist. Before undertaking any kind of whitening treatment it is strongly advised that you talk to your dentist – for some people whitening might not be appropriate and could cause damage, for example if you have a bridge or gum problems.

The most widely used and safest way of effectively bleaching teeth is to use a bleaching gel. Our tooth whitening kit uses a gel containing a bleaching agent such as hydrogen peroxide at a low strength to prevent causing sensitivity or damage to gums. Kits with higher strength gels are available although these are more likely to cause harm if used improperly – especially at home where the temptation may be to wear it for a little longer than advised!

It should take two appointments to prepare your own whitening kit. The first is to assess your teeth and take impressions so that the individualised moulds can be made. On the second visit you are given your moulds, along with the whitening gel and everything else you’ll need, and told how to use it correctly. Then you can take the kit home and use at your leisure. This way you get the best of both worlds, by having professional supervision but the convenience of doing the treatment in your own time, in your own home. Be careful to follow the instructions given by the dentist, as over-use can cause extreme sensitivity and even damage to your teeth and/or gums.

Bridges

Losing a tooth through an accident or injury or as a result of decay can be very traumatic. It can affect the way you look and the way you speak, as well as compromising your ability to chew. Furthermore, the gap left by the missing tooth can strain the teeth on either side causing them to lean into the gap, trapping food debris and causing further decay.

To improve appearance and function, and to prevent further damage, a bridge may be the best option. This is a false tooth used to fill the gap, and is permanently fixed to the teeth at one or both sides using metal bands held in place by resin or cement. They can be costly, but with the right care, a bridge should last for 10 to 15 years.

It takes at least two visits to the dentist to have a bridge fitted and adjusted correctly. The first visit comprises of preparatory work, to make sure there’s room for the bridge, identifying how it will fit with adjacent teeth, and taking impressions. On the next visit the bridge is fitted to ensure the correct bite. Once you have worn it for a few weeks and are happy with the fit and feel of the bridge, the dentist will then fix it permanently into place.

There are several alternatives to having a dental bridge – it’s best to ask the dentist what else may be available for your individual requirements.

Cosmetic Crowns

Crowns (also known as ‘caps’) are artificial restorations that fit over the remaining part of a tooth, giving it strength and the shape of a normal tooth. They are often used to repair broken or chipped teeth or teeth that have been weakened by decay or a large filling.

They can also be used for aesthetic reasons, for example to improve the appearance of a tooth that has a discoloured filling. They can be made out of a variety of different materials, depending on the purpose; porcelain bonded to precious metal, porcelain, ceramic, glass, or gold

It usually takes at least two visits to have a crown created and fitted properly. In the first appointment the tooth is prepared by shaping it so that the crown will fit, by removing some of the tooth’s outer surface. This means that when the crown is fitted it fits with the rest of the teeth. Sometimes it may be necessary to insert a post before placing a crown, in order to provide extra support and help the crown to stay in place. Once the preparatory work is done impressions are then taken so that a dental technician can make up the crown in the right shape and shade required to fit with what you need. Once ready, the crown is fixed in place with dental adhesive, which forms a seal to hold the crown in place and prevents debris getting between the tooth and the crown.

Cosmetic Veneers

A veneer is a thin shield of porcelain used to cover the front surface of the tooth. They are designed as a permanent way to change or enhance the look of stained, damaged, or unsightly teeth. In many situations veneers are an excellent alternative to crowns as they are a much less invasive treatment and require less preparatory work on the tooth or teeth.

Veneers can also be used to ‘close’ a gap between the two front teeth or to cover chipped or broken teeth so that they fit with the surrounding teeth.

Patients will need at least two visits, to achieve great veneers. It often requires a bit of planning and time to decide on what will work best for you in terms of colour/shade. Once you and dentist have agreed on how the veneers will fit and look, the teeth are prepared by being lightly buffed, to allow for the small added thickness of the veneer. Impressions are then taken of the prepared teeth so that the veneers can be made. At your next appointment the complete veneers will be fixed to your teeth by the dentist, after first placing them on to make sure that they fit properly and look correct.

Veneers are designed to last between 10 and 15 years, if treated correctly. It is advised to avoid hard foods and using your teeth as tools, for example to open packets, as they may chip or break. Porcelain veneers in particular can stain so try to only have heavily pigmented foods and drinks – such as coffee, red wine or tomato sauce – occasionally, to prevent the veneers from staining. Unfortunately, unlike normal teeth, veneers cannot be whitened. However, regular cleanings from your dental hygienist will help keep them looking great, along with regular dental checkups to keep your oral hygiene in check.

Dental Implants

A dental implant is an artificial replacement for the root of a tooth, which supports a false tooth in place. The implant is a small metal rod which is anchored into a pre-drilled socket in the jaw bone. Titanium is used to make implants because it is well tolerated by bone and integrates easily with bone tissue – therefore the bone heals quickly and correctly around the implant.

Before any implants can be placed, it is important to have the health of your teeth and gums assessed by the dentist. If there are any signs of gum disease or decay, these must first be treated. After x-rays and tests to make sure your bone quality is suitable, the treatment course can be planned. If there is insufficient bone material to accommodate the implant, a bone graft may be required, or smaller-sized mini implants could be used if suitable.

There are often long periods of time between appointments, to enable the implants to heal and integrate with the bone tissue so that they can fully support the false teeth. It may take anything between six weeks to six months. During this “healing period”, patients are given temporary teeth (bridges) or continue to wear dentures, which won’t interfere or put pressure on the implants. Once the gum has healed around the implant, then the final restoration tooth can be fitted.

Alternatives to implants include dentures and bridges. However implants have several advantages:

• Reduced bone loss – if you lose a tooth there is usually a hole where the root should be, and the surrounding bone can slowly degrade and disappear. An implant in place of a lost tooth can actually stimulate bone growth and production, preventing this loss.
• Improved function – once fully integrated implants function just as well as your own natural teeth: you can eat the foods you want and speak with complete confidence. With dentures however there can be several problems; hard foods can be difficult to eat, and dentures can rub and cause soreness or irritation.
• Improved dental hygiene – implants can be cared for in the same way as you would care for your natural teeth, whereas dentures and bridges require special cleaning routines.
• No need to drill or remove any healthy tooth structure – teeth need to be ‘prepared’ for bridges and crowns, by removing healthy tooth from adjacent teeth so that the restoration can be fitted. However with an implant is independent of any other teeth so no healthy teeth need to be prepared at all.
• Better aesthetics - Dentures can come loose and look unnatural if they do not blend with your gums, and some bridges and dentures have unsightly metal clasps to hold them in place. If done correctly, a dental implant should be indistinguishable from your surrounding natural teeth.

Implants are suitable for people of almost all ages; it just requires a sufficient quantity and quality of bone tissue available. For more information on whether this would be an appropriate treatment for you, come in for a free consultation or give us a call.