Treatments

Bridges

If you have one or more missing teeth, a natural looking dental bridge can offer an effective way to fill the gap. A bridge, unlike dentures, is a fixed solution to tooth loss and uses one or more of the surrounding teeth for support. It is cemented to these supporting teeth using a strong dental adhesive which holds it firmly in place. There are many different types of bridge so your dentist will discuss the options with you.

As well as improving your smile, a dental bridge can be beneficial in plenty of other ways such as improving speech and chewing ability, creating a better ‘bite’ and keeping your natural teeth firmly in place.

How is a bridge fitted?

• We prepare the supporting teeth by removing a small amount of enamel to create some room and enable us to bond the bridge to your natural teeth.
• We take impressions of your teeth so accurate models can be produced.
• These models are then used by an expert technician to precisely construct your bridge. A lifelike appearance is achieved by carefully layering tooth colours onto the bridge using high quality ceramic materials so the new teeth will blend in with your smile.
• While you wait for your bridge, we will usually fit a temporary one to protect the supporting teeth.
• Your brand new bridge is checked and adjusted to make sure it looks and feels great, and then cemented into place.

 After fitting

After your bridge has been fitted, it is important to look after it by keeping it clean with regular brushing and flossing. Your dentist and hygienist will show how best to do this and will keep a close eye on the health of the supporting teeth and gums. Regular check-ups are vital so we can monitor your bridge and ensure it lasts for many years.

Crowns

Crowns can help to protect teeth that may have become weakened by decay, tooth wear, an extensive filling or root canal treatment.

There are a variety of crown types, such as traditional gold, porcelain and porcelain fused to metal, and more recently a number of highly aesthetic options have been developed, such as E-max and Zirconia based crowns that blend high strength with aesthetics. Your dentist will talk you through the options and advise which is the most suitable for you.

How is a crown fitted?

• We numb the tooth with a local anaesthetic and prepare it by removing some enamel so there will be space for the crown when it is fitted.
• We take impressions of your teeth so casts can be made.
• We employ a highly skilled team of technicians who use sophisticated techniques to construct the crown from the casts.
• It can take around two weeks to build a high quality crown, so your dentist will make you a temporary crown to cover and protect the tooth while your permanent one is being made.
• During your next visit the temporary crown is removed (usually under local anaesthetic) and the permanent one tried in place before it is cemented in position with a strong dental adhesive.
• We may make some minor adjustments to the crown during the fitting appointment to make sure your new tooth is comfortable.

After fitting

After fitting, it is important to maintain your crown by keeping it clean with regular brushing and flossing. Your dentist and hygienist will show you how best to do this and will keep a close eye on the health of the supporting teeth and gums. You should attend regular check-ups so we can monitor the crown and ensure it lasts for a number of years.

Dentures

If your missing teeth are messing with your smile, we can restore your confidence with our full or partial dentures. Not only will they bring back your grin but they will also make eating and talking so much easier.

There are many different designs and types of denture, so during your initial consultation your dentist will discuss which type will be most suitable for you.

How are dentures fitted?

• We take casts of your mouth so the dentures can be carefully custom-made to offer an accurate fit and optimum comfort.
• We record how your jaws naturally fit together so the teeth can be correctly positioned.
• We then check the fit, feel and appearance of the dentures and make any necessary minor adjustments.
• During your fitting appointment there may be further adjustments before you take them away for a week. After this ‘test drive’, we may need to make a few more adjustments to help you adapt to your new teeth.

After fitting

Your dentures may feel a little strange at first but you will soon get used to them. To make eating with your new teeth a little easier, you may want to start off with softer foods and then gradually introduce harder items. You may also notice a little more saliva but this will soon lessen and if your speech is affected, just keep talking, it will soon go back to normal.

Take care of your dentures by cleaning them with a toothbrush and storing them in water or dental fluid to keep them in good shape. And don’t forget to brush your gums, tongue and any remaining teeth after you remove your dentures at night.

It is important that your dentist checks your dentures regularly for signs of wear and tear. Some routine maintenance may be necessary due to wear and gradual changes to the mouth over time.

If your dentures break we can offer a speedy, high quality repair. We will also investigate why it may have broken to see if we can make adjustments to prevent it happening again.

There are many ways we can enhance the look of your teeth, so if you are unhappy with any aspect of your smile, we will be delighted to talk you through your treatment options.

Veneers

Veneers can be used to improve the appearance of badly discoloured, malformed or damaged front teeth. These restorations are either made from dental ceramic materials by a highly skilled technician or can be built onto your tooth by your dentist, using natural looking composite materials. We will advise which option is best for your teeth.

How is a veneer fitted?

• We remove a very thin layer of enamel from the surface of the tooth.
• If the veneer is being made in a laboratory, impressions are taken so that the technician can build up the veneer on a model of the teeth.
• The veneer is bonded onto the tooth using a strong resin based dental adhesive.

After treatment

After your veneer is fitted, it is important to keep it well-maintained with regular brushing and flossing. Your dentist and hygienist will show you how best to do this and will keep a close eye on the health of the supporting teeth and gums. It is vital that you attend regular check-ups so we can monitor the veneer and ensure it lasts for many years.

Remember – as with any restoration (or even teeth that have not been restored), it is important not to bite fingernails or chew pen tops, or use your teeth to open anything as this can damage the new restoration.

Download PDF

Tooth Whitening

We can brighten up your smile using our highly effective night whitening technique which uses a mild gel to lift off stubborn stains and discolouration. A completely non-invasive procedure, a two week course of night whitening has been shown to be a safe, effective and long lasting way to lighten teeth while maintaining a natural look.

Your teeth may have become discoloured for a number of reasons including:

• Coloured food and drink such as tea, coffee or red wine
• Certain medications
• Ageing
• Fluorosis

What does treatment involve?

• After an initial consultation to ascertain the best method of whitening, we will take impressions so models of your teeth can be made.
• These models are then used to custom build whitening trays, which contain a small reservoir around each tooth so the gel can work effectively by coming into direct contact with the tooth.
• Your dentist will check the fit and comfort of the trays and demonstrate how to apply the gel. You will be provided with enough gel for a two-week course and this will visibly improve the shade of your natural teeth

After whitening

Inevitably, over time, your teeth can start to dull a little but you can reuse your tailor-made trays for top ups when required.

Internal Whitening

Sometimes root filled teeth can discolour internally. Using a process that is a variation of night whitening, we can treat this discolouration using ‘Inside-Outside’ whitening.

A much less invasive alternative to a crown, your dentist can discuss this option if you have an unsightly root filled tooth.

Our experienced hygienist, Sarah, will help maintain the healthy support of your teeth by keeping the gums and surroundings tissues clean and free of bacterial plaque.

One of her most important roles is to encourage you to carry out effective home care by offering invaluable advice on tooth brushing techniques. She will also demonstrate how to clean hard to reach parts of the mouth and in between teeth with special interdental brushes and floss.

Sarah will monitor the condition of your gums and carry out gentle, meticulous cleaning to remove tartar deposits both above and below the gum line. She will also thoroughly polish your teeth, removing any surface staining to keep them looking shiny and bright.

She can protect teeth by applying fissure sealants, helping to shield them from harmful bacteria. This is an ideal treatment for younger teeth when they first start to make an appearance. In fact it is a good idea to introduce your children to Sarah from an early age so they can develop lifelong tooth care skills.

Regularly visiting our qualified hygienist will help ensure the continued health of your teeth and gums, and protect your overall well-being as poor gum health has been linked to more serious conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Download PDF

Wisdom Teeth

Your wisdom teeth are the four teeth located right at the back of your mouth and are the last of your grinding teeth (molars) to come through, usually making an appearance in your late teens or early twenties. By this time, as all your other teeth are in place, there may not enough room for your wisdom teeth to grow through properly. As a result they may start to emerge at an angle, get stuck against the tooth in front or only partially push through. When this happens they can be vulnerable to infection, resulting in discomfort or pain.

If you are experiencing any problems with your wisdom teeth, your dentist may take an x-ray to check the position of the tooth and decide whether it will need to be extracted. If the wisdom tooth is likely to be difficult to take out, your dentist may refer you to a hospital for the procedure.

Download PDF

Extractions

If you are having a tooth taken out, you must tell your dentist if you are taking any medication, particularly blood thinning drugs or bisphosphonates.

After a tooth extraction, it is important to follow some simple guidelines to promote effective healing:

• You will almost certainly experience some soreness following your tooth extraction so you may need to take painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. There may also be a little swelling and some mild bruising.
• For the first 24 hours try not to disturb the area by sticking to soft foods and eating on the other side of the mouth. It is also advisable to avoid smoking, drinking alcohol or eating very hot foods.
• After 24 hours, rinse gently with warm salty water – repeating several times a day.
• Try to brush your teeth as normal to keep the mouth clean.
• If, a couple of days after the extraction, you start to experience severe discomfort, you may have a condition called a dry socket. This can be treated by placing a dissolvable dressing into the socket which helps to ease any pain.
• If you experience significant bleeding from the socket after an extraction, roll up a clean cloth handkerchief into a small pad and place this over the socket. Apply constant pressure to the area for 15-20 minutes by biting firmly onto the pad. Try to do this while sitting down quietly and avoid talking as it can disturb the pad. If, after this, the bleeding has not stopped apply a fresh pad and contact us for further advice.
• Sometimes after a week or two you may feel some small pieces of bone working their way to the surface. This is perfectly normal and these should exfoliate naturally in time.

This treatment can help save a tooth from extraction as any infected pulp is carefully removed.

Damage to ‘living’ pulp can occur for a number of reasons including decay, a deep filling or trauma to the tooth. This can lead to infection which can spread into the root canal and cause a painful abscess or, if left untreated, work its way into the jawbone.

Though often thought of as a rather scary procedure, root canal therapy is similar to having a filling as the area to be treated is thoroughly numbed.

What does treatment involve?

• A rubber sheet (or dam) is used to isolate the affected tooth and keep it dry and free from saliva to avoid infection.
• An access hole is drilled, the infected pulp is removed and the root canal area cleaned with an antibacterial solution.
• These cleaned up canals are then sealed with a special thermo-plastic material to prevent any further bacteria from entering.
• The shape of the tooth and its functionality are restored with a permanent filling or crown, which will also protect it from further contamination.

After treatment

When your permanent crown or filling is in place, keep your treated tooth clean and be sure to attend regular check-ups so we can check it remains infection free.

Caries Advice & Prevention

Download PDF

Download PDF