Treatments

Fillings and Crowns

Dentistry is a rapidly changing field, these days we can offer a much wider range of materials.

The filling material that works best, usually depends on which tooth is affected, the size and position of the cavity and your personal preference.

Weʼre up to date with all modern materials and offer a complete range that includes

• tooth-coloured materials
• gold and ceramic fillings
• brightly coloured fillings for the wee ones

Sometimes more than just a filling is required, this is when weʼll talk about crowns. Crowns are made of very strong material and are sometimes called “caps”. They cover the teeth to protect them and improve the way they look.

Filling the gap – Missing teeth

We often see people who are concerned about missing teeth. Some people have difficulty eating, others are concerned about more teeth moving or breaking, and some people are embarrassed or just donʼt like the way it looks.

We have a range of solutions, including bridges, implants and dentures.

A bridge fills the gap by attaching a “fake tooth” to one or more teeth near the gap.

Dental implants are titanium devices which are shaped like the original tooth and are attached directly to the jaw bone.

Dentures are plastic teeth that sit on the gum. They come in all shapes and sizes these days, including the newer smaller valplast dentures.

If youʼre concerned about a gap, youʼre not alone, itʼs a common problem. What will work best for you will depend on many factors and weʼll talk through the benefits as well as the limitations of each of these options.

Root Canal Treatment

Despite what you may have seen on American sitcoms, having root canal work isnʼt usually that big a deal.

Sometimes the root of the tooth becomes unhealthy, so we clean inside the root, then fill up any empty space with a rubber material so the bacteria canʼt grow back.

Itʼs usually done in stages, which means a few visits to complete treatment. The good news is that with modern techniques and  equipment, the success rates for this type of treatment is very high and fewer people are having to loose their teeth.

If you need root canal, please donʼt worry. Lie back, watch a DVD and weʼll take care of it.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Teeth that are discolored, chipped, misshapen or missing can be treated in a variety of ways. We can reshape your teeth, close spaces, restore worn or short teeth or alter the length of your teeth. Common procedures include bleaching, bonding, crowns, veneers and reshaping and contouring.

These improvements are not always just cosmetic. Many of these treatments can improve other problems, such as your bite.

Hygiene

The standard recommendation for having teeth professionally cleaned is every 6-12 months. A healthy mouth is more than just an attractive smile, there is a direct relationship between our oral health and our general health. Nutritional deficiencies, infections and systemic diseases which affect the whole body, are often first evident in the mouth.

We will remove the tartar build-up and disrupt the harmful bacteria that can grow along the gum line, in particular the bacteria that grows below the gum which canʼt be removed with regular tooth brushing or flossing. We may also apply gels or varnishes on any teeth that look like they might be at risk of developing a hole.

Itʼs also a good time to remove the staining that builds up over time and fine-tune the cleaning and flossing techniques that can be done at home.

And donʼt worry- we have yet to meet anyone who flosses everyday. Weʼre not here to tell you off or treat you like a child. Cleaning teeth isnʼt rocket science, but we can sometimes give some useful tips.

Kids/Teenagers

Weʼre a family practice and enjoy treating kids.

We provide free care for all 13-18 year olds.

We provide free care for children under 13 years who have been referred from their school dental therapist.

Some parents, for different reasons choose not to enroll their primary aged children in the school dental service and weʼre happy to provide regular dental care for these children as private patients. Where possible we try to schedule appointments in the mornings when the children are less likely to be tired and the appointments move at a pace the child is comfortable with. To help keep costs down we donʼt charge as much for children.