dental treatments

Have you ever felt self concious about your smile? Do you always smile with your mouth closed, or cover your mouth when you are talking? if you feel your teeth are less than perfect, we can help.

We offer full examinations including intra oral camera images as standard, fillings, hygienist, periodontal/gum treatments, orthodontic referrals for braces and all ceramic Swedish crowns.

We offer a wide range of cosmetic dental treatments that can solve a wide range of problems and transform your smile.

One of our most popular treatments is tooth whitening, which can noticeably brighten your smile and leave you looking years younger and beaming with confidence.

Other treatments include veneers which are very thin layers of porcelain that are bonded to your teeth and which can transform your smile; Bonding, which helps eradicate gaps, chips & cracks; and implants which provide a strong, long lasting and extremely realistic replacement for missing teeth.

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Crowns

What is a crown?
A crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape of a natural tooth. A crown is sometimes known as a ‘cap’.

Why would I need a crown?
Crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth that have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling. A crown could be used for a number of other reasons, for instance:

  • You may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth.
  • You may have had a root filling which will need a crown to protect it.
  • It may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.

What is a crown made of?
Crowns can be made of a variety of different materials and new materials are continually being introduced. Some of the most popular options are listed below.

Porcelain bonded to precious metal: this is what most crowns are made from. A precious metal base is made and then porcelain is applied in layers over it.

Porcelain crowns: these crowns are made entirely out of porcelain and are not as strong as bonded crowns, but they can look very natural and are most often used for front teeth.

All-ceramic crowns: this modern technique offers a metal-free alternative, which can give the strength of a bonded crown and the appearance of a porcelain crown. Therefore it is suitable for use in all areas of the mouth.

Porcelain and composite: porcelain and composite resin materials can sometimes look the most natural. However, these crowns are not as strong as bonded metal crowns.

Glass: these crowns look very natural and are used on both front and back teeth.

Gold alloy crowns: gold is one of the oldest filling materials. Today it is used with other metal alloys to increase its strength, which makes it a very hardwearing restoration. These crowns are white or gold in colour.

Before   After
veneers   veneers

Bridges

What are bridges made of?
Bridges usually made of a precious metal. If the bridge will show, porcelain is then bonded to the base. Sometimes, there are other non-precious metals used in the base for strength.

What is the alternative to a partial denture?
The main alternative is a fixed bridge. This is made by putting crowns on the teeth at either side of the space, and then joining these two crowns together by placing a false tooth in the space. This is all made in the laboratory and then the pieces are cemented into place with special adhesives. The bridge can’t be removed

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Hygiene

What causes bad breath?
Bad breath is a very common problem and there are many different causes. Persistent bad breath is usually caused by the smelly gases released by bacteria that coat your teeth and gums. However, strong foods like garlic and onions can add to the problem. Smoking is also one of the main causes of bad breath, along with certain illnesses such as nasal and stomach conditions. Bits of food that get caught between the teeth and on the tongue will rot and can sometimes cause an unpleasant smell. So correct and regular brushing is very important to keep your breath smelling fresh.

The bacteria on our teeth and gums (plaque) also cause gum disease and dental decay. If you see your dentist regularly this will not only help prevent bad breath but will also let the dentist look for and treat these problems.

How can I tell if I have bad breath?
Lots of small signals can show that you have bad breath. Have you noticed people stepping away when you start to talk? Do people turn their cheek when you kiss them goodbye?

If you think you might have bad breath, there is a simple test that you can do. Simply lick the inside of your wrist and sniff – if the smell is bad, you can be pretty sure that your breath is too.

Or, ask a very good friend to be absolutely honest, but do make sure they are a true friend.

How can my dentist help?
If you do have bad breath, you will need to start a routine for keeping your mouth clean and fresh. Regular check-ups will allow your dentist to watch out for any areas where plaque is caught between your teeth. Your dentist or hygienist will be able to clean all those areas that are difficult to reach. They will also be able to show you the best way to clean your teeth and gums, and show you any areas you may be missing, including your tongue.

One of the warning signs of gum disease is that you always have bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth. Again, your dentist or hygienist will be able to see and treat the problem during your regular check-ups. The earlier the problems are found, the more effective the treatment will be.

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Dentures

What is a denture?
A denture is an appliance which is worn to replace lost or missing teeth to enable you to enjoy a healthy diet and smile with confidence. A complete or full denture is one which replaces all of the natural teeth in either the upper or lower jaws. A partial denture fills in the spaces created by lost or missing teeth and is attached to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments.

What are dentures made of?
The base of a denture is called a plate and can be made of either acrylic (plastic) or metal. The teeth are normally made of acrylic and can be made to match your natural teeth. This is especially important in the case of partial dentures.

Will dentures make me look different?
Dentures can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that little change in appearance will be noticeable. Modern dentures may even improve the look of your smile and help fill out the appearance of your face.

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Inlays & onlays

What are they
You can have inlays & onlays instead of fillings. Fillings are soft to begin with and are moulded to shape the mouth. Inlays & onlays are usually made outside the mouth, usually in a dental laboratory and then glued to the tooth in the surgery.

An inlay sits in a hole in the tooth. An onlay sits on the tooth and builds up its shape. Inlays and onlays can be made in tooth coloued porcelain, gold or a material called composite. Different materials are suitable for different parts of the mouth and different parts of the teeth.

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White fillings

What are they
A filling replaces part of a tooth that has been lost because of decay or accidental damage.

Unlike silver (amalgam) fillings, white fillings stick to teeth so they can be used to repair teeth (especially front teeth) that have been chipped, broken or decayed. They can sometimes be used in back teeth if there is not too much decay or damage.

You will probably hear the dentist talk about ‘composite’ or ‘glass lonomer’ - these are just different types of white filling.


What will my dentist do?

  • Normally give you a local anaesthetic to numb the area;
  • Remove any decay;
  • Remove some or all of an old filling;
  • Wash and dry the tooth by blowing water and then air onto it (the dentist will be holding something which looks like a water pistol);
  • Put the filling material into or onto the tooth and shape it
  • Harden the filling by pointing a bright light at it, inside your mouth (you will see the dentist and dental nurse protecting their eyes); and
  • Trim and polish the filling.

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Fissure sealants

What are Fissure sealants
Fissures are grooves on the chewing surface of back teeth. They are difficult to keep clean so there is more risk of decay. Fissures can be sealed with tough plastic to protect them. The plastic is runny at first but sets hard, like paint. Sealants may be see-through or tooth coloured. They are normally only used for children and only on permanent teeth, not on ilk teeth.

You dentist will discuss whether you need sealants. If you do, you will also have to agree which teeth need to be sealed. The need for sealants will depend on:

  • The shape of each teeth.
  • How much a child's teeth have already decayed.
  • How much decay a brother or sister has had ( because there can be family patterns in tooth decay).
  • A childs general health (because general health problems can make it especially important to avoid dental problems).

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Root fillings

What are Root fillings
Root canal therapy can be considered as an advanced procedure to save a tooth, which a number of years ago would have been extracted.

Root canal therapy is normally required when a tooth has died, usually as a result of a large amount of previous decay or trauma.

The typical symptoms are pain and swelling which unless treated will get worse and is known as an abscess. By using very fine and flexible instruments and magnification, the narrow canal inside the teeth can be cleaned of all infected material and shaped to accept a plastic based filling material. Once the canal system has sealed, a permanent restoration can be placed on top.