Dental Treatments

Tooth-coloured filling materials can make it almost impossible to see that the tooth even has a filling. We can also replace old metal amalgam fillings to give your teeth that natural look once again.

When the decay has been removed, the tooth will be filled. 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.

Crowns (sometimes known as “caps”) are artificial covers which fit over teeth that have been prepared by reducing damaged or worn tooth tissue to be a particular shape. Crowns can be fitted to protect damaged or weakened teeth or to improve their appearance.

Crowns can be made of yellow gold, porcelain or porcelain fused to metal depending on where the tooth is and how visible it is during normal smiling.

Crowns can also be made to cover just part of the tooth, thereby preserving more of your natural tooth without compromising the durability of the crown. The outer part of the tooth is reduced in order to fit a crown and sufficient tooth or filling has to be drilled away so that the crown is not too bulky. The preparation is done under local anesthetic.

An impression is taken of the prepared tooth. This is sent to the specialist laboratory and a crown is made. A temporary crown is fitted while the definitive crown is being made. The definitive crown is usually fitted a couple of weeks later.

Bridges replace a missing tooth or teeth by using one or more teeth on either side of the gap as the support thereby `bridging` the gap. The bridge is cemented in position and does not have to be removed unlike a denture.

A bridge is usually made from precious metal and porcelain.

Conventional bridgework involves reducing the outside of the supporting teeth for crowns. Impressions are taken of the prepared teeth and the bridge is made in the laboratory. A temporary bridge is fitted at the prepartion appointment and two/three weeks later the bridge can be fitted.

A cantilever bridge involves the preparation of only one tooth on one side and the replacement tooth is attached to this one tooth.

Adhesive bridges are stuck on to the adjacent teeth and involve only minimal preparation of the teeth. They do not involve cutting down of the teeth as is required for a conventional bridge.

Where a gap is too big to be bridged implants can be placed to support a bridge.

Dentures are also known as” false teeth”. Missing teeth and their associated gum can be replaced with a denture. A denture can have a metal or pink acrylic base on to which the replacement teeth are fixed. A denture is removable and has to be taken out of the mouth for cleaning at least twice a day.

A partial denture can replace some of the teeth while a full , or complete, replaces all the missing teeth. Detailed impressions are taken in order to deisgn an individualised denture. Mouth preparations are often necessary to help to stabilise a partial denture.

When these have been done a very accurate impression of the teeth in the upper and lower jaws will be taken. Detailed records of how the teeth should come together will also be taken.

The framework will be made. Teeth will be added to the framework and this arrangement will be tried in position to assess the fit and appearance.Any adjustment to the colour, shape,or appearance of the replacement teeth can be made at that stage.

If the appearance and the fit are satisfactory the denture(s) will be finished in the specialist laboratory and will be fitted at the following appointment. A number of followup appointments will be usually required to help to deal with any minor problems.

It is advisable where front teeth are missing to have a spare denture made. This gives a great deal of mental security in case the denture is damaged or lost.

Root Canal Treatment (also called Endodontics) is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (the pulp) is infected through decay or injury. It is most often needed in teeth which have very large or deep fillings, or in teeth which have deep dental caries (decay).

Teeth can gradually darken as you grow older. They can also be made darker by bacterial deposits, food and drink, and habits such as smoking. Bleaching chemically lightens teeth, so that they look lighter and usually more attractive.

Bleaching is used to:

• Improve teeth if they have become discoloured with age;
• Remove stains caused by food and drinks such as tea,coffee,red wine and curry, as well as smoking;
• Remove stains under the surface of your teeth caused by certain antibiotics or stains caused by tiny cracks within the teeth.

A Veneer is a thin layer of material placed over a tooth, either to improve the aesthetics of a tooth or to protect a damage to a tooth’s surface.

A dentist may use one veneer to restore a single tooth that may have been fractured or discolored, or multiple teeth to create a “Hollywood” type of makeover.

The teeth suitable for veneers need little or no preparation of the tooth surface.