Scale and Polish

The dental cleaning is a very important aspect of treatment for every patient. Normally recommended every 6 months, a scaling and polishing helps to remove any unwanted plaque and calculus as well as removing stubborn extrinsic staining. While undergoing orthodontic treatment, regular dental visits and good at-home care is imperative to ensure the best result possible once the braces come off.

During a cleaning, your dentist will be able to clearly examine your teeth and gums for signs of disease, as well as advise you on how to improve your personal oral hygiene habits. There’s nothing better than having that dentist-clean feeling and reassurance that your teeth are in a healthy condition after a good clean.

Fillings

Dental fillings are one of the most common treatments done in restorative dentistry. If a tooth has become damaged by decay or trauma, a dental filling is used to repair the damaged tooth tissue and return the tooth to normal function.

In modern restorative dentistry, a white tooth-coloured filling material is most often used as it offers superior aesthetics and function compared to its metal predecessor. This white filling material, composite resin, chemically bonds to the tooth structure. This allows for a seamless transition between tooth and filling which improves aesthetics and decreases the risk of fillings falling out. We have a range of shades available to ensure that you always get the filling that matches your tooth colour.

Radiographs

As part of your regular check-up, your dentist may recommend that you take x-rays to help inspect your teeth for signs of damage or decay. Radiographs are an important part of the dentist’s diagnostic toolkit, as it allows them to check for hidden signs of decay, the condition of existing fillings, and even check the bone for signs of infections.

Modern dental radiographs are digitalised, which mean that they are quicker to process and use significantly less radiation than traditional film-based radiographs, ensuring patient safety.

Radiographs will normally be taken before beginning any orthodontic or surgical treatment to examine the condition of the teeth and bone.

Fissure Sealants

A fissure sealant is an ideal way to prevent decay from starting to form in the vulnerable cracks and fissures present in newly erupted adult teeth. Recommended mainly for children and young teens, a white resin coating is placed in the fissures of the tooth and hardened to protect against cavities and make your teeth easier to clean. It only takes 2-3 minutes per tooth and no drilling involved!

Whitening

Over time, our teeth may lose their lustre after years of drinking coffee, tea or red wine and even smoking. Playing an important part in facial aesthetics, tooth colour is becoming more and more important to people in achieving their ideal smile.

Professional tooth whitening is a widely employed treatment used worldwide to improve the existing colour of your teeth, without damaging the tooth structure. There are a few different methods of whitening available which you may discuss with your dentist to tailor the ideal whitening plan for you.

Take-home whitening: This whitening method is the most commonly used professional whitening procedure. Used overnight (6-8 hours) with a custom whitening tray, the patient can expect to see a gradual overall whitening over the course of 1-2 weeks. Post-whitening sensitivity is minimised as the whitening gel used is low-potency and the shade change is more gradual. A custom-fit tray is provided to ensure optimum efficiency of the whitening gel, using less gel for a better result.

In-office whitening: This whitening achieves a similar result as the take-home whitening mentioned above. The difference being that the process is much quicker and is under greater control by the dentist. The result is achieved after just a 90-minute dental appointment. This option is ideal for those who want to impart greater control to the dentist and to fast-track the whitening process.

Non-vital bleaching: Following trauma or root canal treatment, a natural tooth may begin to turn grey, leaving a single discoloured tooth in your smile. In these cases it is optimal to bleach this single tooth on its own by placing bleach inside the existing root canal. This allows the tooth to gradually return to its natural colour as the patient continues with their regular daily schedule. This treatment is only suited to previously root canal treated teeth.

Crown + bridge

Crowns are simply a ‘cap’ that sits around your tooth and provides protection to teeth that have been weakened by decay, trauma or tooth wear. In some cases, fillings alone aren’t strong enough to repair a tooth permanently and a crown is used to add the strength and protection needed for a long-lasting fix.  

Once placed, crowns are permanently fixed to your tooth, meaning that they feel like your regular tooth, and you clean them in the same way that you clean your natural teeth. Crowns can be fabricated from either metal, porcelain or a combination of both to ensure optimal aesthetics while providing the necessary protection required.

Crowns protect a single tooth, while bridges allow missing teeth to be replaced by joining two or more crowns together to bridge the gap between missing teeth. With the development of modern dentistry, bridges are used less often in favour of dental implants for restoring single missing teeth.

Implants

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.

Our oral maxillofacial surgeon and general dentist will consult with you to determine where and how your implant should be placed. Depending on your specific condition and the type of implant chosen, they will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs.

Root canal

All teeth, in adults and children, have nerve tissue at their core. This nerve tissue enables the development of the tooth tissues, ensures that natural teeth have sensations and allows the tooth to protect itself to a certain degree. Unfortunately, in some cases this nerve is at risk of becoming damaged through decay or trauma. If the nerve of the tooth becomes inflamed, it can cause symptoms of a toothache such as aching, throbbing or sharp pain. If you are beset by any of these symptoms, your dentist will complete a thorough examination to determine which tooth is the source of the pain.

A root canal is completed by thoroughly cleaning the tooth and removing only the nerve from inside the tooth. The tooth’s nerve channel is then disinfected and filled to stop the risk of further infection. Performing a root canal treatment is an ideal way to eliminate any pain from a toothache, all while keeping the tooth in the mouth for normal function.

A root canal treatment is normally carried out over 2-3 visits, and treated teeth are normally protected with a crown after treatment to protect the tooth against fracture. Review appointments are common for root-treated teeth to ensure an optimum outcome for the patient.