Services we offer
We offer a comprehensive range of dental treatments including:
• scaling and polishing (cleaning)
• fissure sealants and fluoride application
• tooth coloured fillings
• root canal treatment
• nightguards and sportsguards
• inlays, onlays, crowns
• bridges
• removable dentures
• extractions and implants
• teeth whitening
• adult cosmetic braces
• porcelain veneers
Scaling & Polishing
This is a procedure that removes plaque and tartar (the hard, calcified plaque that you cannot remove with a toothbrush) using hand instruments and an ultrasonic cleaner. Superficial surface stain is also removed with a polishing brush and your teeth can then look a little lighter. We recommend that you do not consume any foods or drinks for 90 minutes to rapid re-staining. Most people benefit from this procedure every 6 months. To keep your gums and teeth healthy we will teach you how to clean thoroughly, effectively and regularly in between visits.
Fissure Sealants & Fluoride Application
Fissure sealants are applied to the unfilled biting surfaces of the teeth, often in the back of the mouth. This is to prevent plaque getting stuck in areas where your toothbrush bristles cannot clean and decay developing. The fissures are cleaned and sealed with a tooth coloured resin and the procedure is painless. Fluoride varnish can also be applied by the dentist to all teeth surfaces periodically. The fluoride is absorbed by the tooth and makes it more resistant to decay. You can expose your teeth to additional fluoride by using fluoride mouthrinses and toothpastes containing more than the usual amount of fluoride. We also recommend just spitting out after brushing and not rinsing your mouth with water after brushing so that your teeth remain exposed to fluoride for longer.
Root Canal Treatment
When the nerve of a tooth becomes infected or dies then the only way of saving the tooth is with root canal treatment. An alternative is to extract (remove) the tooth. Root canal treatment involves:
• numbing the area with local anaesthetic
• isolating the tooth and finding the canal(s)
• disinfecting and shaping the canal(s)
• filling the canal(s)
• placing a filling or crown to protect the tooth from fracture
• monitoring the tooth to ensure that no infection recurs.
The process is often done over 2 visits but depends on how long the infection has been present and other factors. Root canal treatment can often save your tooth but can recur and extraction may eventually be necessary. However, keeping your natural tooth is always the least invasive option.