Dental treatmentsHave you ever felt self conscious 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. .................................................................................. CrownsDental crowns, also referred to as "dental caps" or "tooth caps," are dental restorations that cover over and encase the tooth on which they are cemented. In comparison, fillings are dental restorations that fill in or cover over just a portion of a tooth. Since dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth, a dental crown in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface. Your dentist might recommend placing a dental crown for a variety of reasons but, in general, most of these reasons will usually fall within one of the following basic categories:
Fillings, in general, don't strengthen a tooth and can't protect a tooth from the forces generated by biting and chewing. In contrast, the strengthening capability of dental crowns is related to the fact that they cup over and encase the tooth on which they are placed. This means that a crown can act as a splint that binds a tooth together. This is a very important feature of dental crowns and one that makes them a very valuable type of restoration. Crowns can be made from a variety of different materials, your dentist will discuss which type is best for you.
..................................................................................BridgesBridges are a permanent and realistic looking way of replacing gaps between teeth, using porcelain teeth permanently fixed to the neighbouring teeth. Bridges can be made in a number of ways, and using a variety of materials. When a traditional bridge is used to replace a tooth, a pontic tooth (or false tooth) is held together by two crowns. This trio is then attached (bonded) to the abutment teeth (the supporting teeth on each side of the gap). Creating a fixed bridge is usually a good option if the teeth either side are strong enough to support the bridge, but are already crowned or have had large fillings. Sometimes adhesive bridges can be constructed. They are most suitable when the supporting teeth are healthy, or have only very small fillings. These have a lot less impact on the neighbouring teeth, because the latest bonding techniques are used to hold the false tooth in place, with minimal preparation of the supporting teeth. Adhesive bridges are typically less complex than traditional bridges, but tend not to last as long. .................................................................................. DenturesPartial dentures can be used to replace some missing teeth where implants or bridges are not possible. These can be made from acrylic (pink plastic) or chrome cobalt (metal framework). The chrome cobalts require more time in fabrication, but provide a better fit and more patient comfort, as well as being healthier for the remaining teeth. Complete dentures are used where all the teeth are missing, and can be fitted directly onto the gums, or where possible, onto implants or prepared tooth roots. Even if you have lost all your teeth, you will still need to visit us regularly to ensure that your dentures still fit properly and so that we can check for signs of oral disease, including mouth cancer. You also still need to care for your mouth, brushing your gums, tongue and palate daily as well as cleaning your dentures thoroughly. .................................................................................. Inlays & onlaysSometimes we may offer you an inlay or onlay instead of a filling. An inlay sits inside a cavity in your tooth, while an onlay is a more substantial restoration, sitting on top of a tooth and providing shape. These have several benefits over fillings – they are very strong, and can often look more realistic. They are particularly suitable for large repairs and the chewing surfaces of back teeth. Onlays are specially made to fit your teeth, in much the same way that crowns are made, and are bonded to your teeth with special high strength resins. .................................................................................. White fillingsFillings are one of the most basic methods of restoring teeth. They do exactly what their name suggests – they fill a hole in the tooth that has been caused by decay, playing an important role in helping us to keep a tooth for many more years. We use the most effective, modern, tooth-coloured materials. These look very natural, so no-one will be able to tell you have them. We will usually numb the tooth and its surrounding area with a local anaesthetic, and will drill the decayed material from the tooth. When the decay has been removed, the tooth will be filled. For tooth-coloured fillings, the material is placed into the hole in layers, with a special light being shone on each layer to speed up the setting process. We will then shape the filling, so that it looks as realistic as possible, and so it does not interfere with the way your teeth meet when you bite and chew. .................................................................................. Fissure sealantsIt is important to protect children’s teeth from cavities and one way of helping with this is though the use of a protective sealant. This quick, painless treatment is becoming increasingly popular. A sealant is a clear plastic fluid that is painted onto the biting surfaces of the vulnerable back teeth (molars and premolars). This dries in seconds and then acts as a barrier, helping to prevent decay. The procedure is usually carried out as soon as your child’s permanent teeth appear. The sealant can last for many years although your child will need to return to the dentist for regular check-ups to make sure it is still in place. .................................................................................. Root fillingsWhat are root fillings? 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. |
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