Comprehensive Examination
We believe prevention is key when it comes to maintaining your dental health and consequently your general health.
It is important to see your dentist on a regular basis. For most people this involves an examination every 6-12 months. For others an examination may be required more frequently to allow us to monitor issues or maintain gum health.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Undiagnosed problems can escalate if left untreated. When we are able to diagnose problems early, the solution is inevitably easier and less costly to fix than if it is neglected for long periods.
Our examinations cover all the structures that are vital to the function of your teeth from the jaw joint and muscles to the soft tissues and bone that support your teeth. We look at all the surfaces of the teeth as well as record the gum measurements. Photographs and X-rays are also used to accurately record the condition of your teeth. These help to provide a good baseline from which we can pre empt any changes and work with you to prevent deterioration. We provide comprehensive diagnosis with the aim of avoiding any future problems based on your individual risk assessment. A thorough diagnosis allows us to target the correct treatment and prolong and protect the function of all your teeth and gums for life.
We like to keep you informed and motivated by discussing all the options and are happy to answer any questions you have about your treatment plan.
Scale and Polish
Following an examination we recommend having your teeth cleaned by our dentist or hygienist to remove hardened bacteria and stains. Bacteria in your mouth are continually forming and growing. If left to grow, they irritate the gums and can cause them to bleed. The minerals from the saliva are absorbed by this layer of bacteria which harden on the teeth to form tartar. Once the tartar builds up, it cannot be removed by simply brushing and flossing. If the tartar is allowed to invade under the gums this creates an ideal environment for certain bacteria that produce toxins leading to gum disease and irreversible bone loss around the roots of the teeth. Unfortunately when too much bone is lost then the teeth will become loose and can eventually fall out.
We pride ourselves in providing thorough cleaning to remove, plaque and stains as well as all the tartar above and below the gum line. Think of tartar like barnacles on a ship that can not be brushed away. With the use of a specialised ultrasonic scaler, the chunks of tartar can be physically dislodged. This is one of the easiest ways we can prevent gum disease which has harmful associations to heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other systemic diseases.
Restorations (Fillings)
Filling a tooth will prevent the decay from progressing deeper in to the tooth. If we can catch the decay early enough we can avoid pain, root canal therapy or avoid having to remove the tooth. We will discuss and explain all options depending on what is optimal in each situation.
Extractions
Some situations where an extraction may be required under local anaesthetic include:
- Baby teeth that are stubbornly not falling out,
- Broken teeth that are unfortunately unable to be repaired or restored, or
- Wisdom teeth where they are causing gum infections, pain or creating problems for adjacent teeth and sometimes there just isn’t enough room for them.
Root Canal Therapy
Excruciating, throbbing pain from toothache can keep you up at night and prevent you from being at your best. The good news is such pain can be eliminated. Root canal therapy may have a notorious reputation but it is no where near as bad as what you might imagine or have been told. We use local anaesthetic to help alleviate the pain then treat the abscess or infection to get you back to health again. Root canal treatment allows you to keep your tooth instead of losing it and creating the need to replace it.
We usually require three separate appointments to complete the root treatment. Depending on your situation a crown may be recommended in order to help protect the tooth from splitting.
Same-day Crowns
A dental crown is a “cap” that can be placed over a tooth to restore it’s shape, strength and appearance.
Crowns can increase the life and function of your tooth.
- To cover and brace a cracked tooth to protect it from splitting and breaking further beyond help
- To protect root filled teeth that are structurally weak and prevent them from splitting
We use a digital scanner to capture a highly accurate 3D model of your teeth and gums allowing us to create a precise fit for your crown.
Implants and Implant crowns
We can restore implants that have been placed by a trusted specialist dentist. We work closely with the specialist to plan and optimise the result of the crown over the implant. Once the implant is placed by the specialist, you return to us to have a custom made crown over the titanium implant.
Dentures
We can create new dentures and also repair, reline existing dentures. We work with a local trusted technician.
Mouthguards and Splints
Mouthguards protect your teeth and gums during contact sports are custom made for better fit and protection. We create mouthguards for both children and adults in your choice of colour.
Grinding and clenching increases the load on teeth, making them more prone to fracturing and wear. Such wear also shortens your teeth, is irreversible and prematurely ages you. Damage from wear will rid the tooth of the precious enamel that is there to act as a protective coating against decay and sensitivity. Night guards (splints) can prevent further wear on your teeth from grinding and load from clenching.
Whitening and Bleaching
To optimise the results of teeth whitening, we make customised trays that fit your teeth exactly. This also prevents problems with your gums and sensitivity. It is important to first have a thorough check up prior to bleaching to avoid potential problems prior to bleaching teeth.