oral hygience & prevention

  Our Therapist, Hygienist or Dentist will assist in the prevention and treatment of oral disease focusing on periodontal health by monitoring oral hygiene practices. A preventive program is a cooperative effort by the patient, dentist, and dental staff to preserve the natural dentition and supporting structures by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.

 Dental exams give us the opportunity to evaluate your current methods of dental care and provide suggestions for future care in order to protect you from complications such as cavities and gum disease. They also allow us to detect problems early so that they can be fixed quickly and easily. During the exam your dentist will look at your teeth, gums, bite and surrounding tissues (lips , tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, throat, sinuses etc). Exams may also include digital x-rays, impressions and other procedures as needed 

  We perform scaling and polishing and where necessary give specific advice on prevention and nutrition. When we clean we first use a scaler to remove calculus/tartar and plaque build-up on your teeth. We will then use a hand scaler and then floss thoroughly. This is followed by polishing to remove any remaining stains or plaque. 

 Your cleaning may also include a fluoride treatment. Fluoride is a natural mineral which helps to rebuild the minerals in the enamel of your teeth to prevent or reverse tooth decay. We provide fluoride treatment for adults with sensitive teeth, adults and children who have a high risk of tooth decay to help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent decay. 

 We provide teeth cleanings for patients with sensitive teeth. Many adults avoid visiting the dentist due to concern that their teeth will hurt or feel worse during the exam and cleaning. We offer options so that you are comfortable while getting your dental clean. Teeth become sensitive due to the enamel on the outside of the teeth wearing away. Enamel can wear away due to age, what you eat and improper oral health care. While brushing with desensitising toothpaste can help, visiting the dentist to ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy is recommended. During your dental exam let us know about the discomforts so that we can discuss ways to reduce sensitivity using methods such as fluoride treatment, sealants etc. 

  A crown is a cover or a cap your dentist can put over a tooth. The crown restores the tooth to its normal shape, size and function. A crown can make the tooth stronger or improve the way it looks.  

• You have a cavity that is too large for a filling. 
• You have a tooth that is cracked, worn down or weakened. 
• You have had root canal treatment - the crown will protect the restored tooth.
• You want to cover a discoloured or badly shaped tooth to improve your smile. 

 Crowns are made from several types of materials. Metal alloy, ceramics, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, zirconium or composite resin may be used. When a crown is made, the material is coloured to blend in with your natural teeth. 

To decide which material to use for your crown, your dentist will consider many factors such as: 

• Tooth’s location and function
• The position of the gum tissue
• Your preference
• The amount of tooth that shows when you smile
• The color or shade of the tooth  

 It usually takes 2 dental visits to complete the treatment. Your dentist prepares the tooth by removing a minimal amount of tooth structure (1.5 - 2.0 mm) so that the crown will fit. Any decay is also removed. If additional tooth structure is needed to support the crown, your dentist may build the core of the tooth. An impression is made to provide an exact model for the crown. The impression can be made from a mold or by digitally scanning the tooth. You may get a temporary crown while you wait for the permanent crown to be ready. When the new crown is ready, your dentist places it in your mouth and makes the necessary adjustments. When you and your dentist are happy with how it looks and feels, the crown is cemented into place. Like natural teeth, crowns can break and the tooth under the crown can still get cavities. You need to look after your crowns the same way you look after your teeth. 

Common reasons for pulling a tooth include excessive tooth damage and problematic wisdom teeth. Teeth are also sometimes pulled to prepare for other dental procedures like orthodontics. Sometimes a tooth may be badly damaged  as a result of dental decay, gum disease and or injury of the tooth. This will leave us with no option but to extract the tooth.  

 Wisdom tooth emerge later in life and can be problematic. They can grow in the wrong positions or there simply won’t be enough room for them in the mouth. Wisdom teeth may become impacted or may not fully erupt and cause pain and discomfort as a result. In these cases extracting them is necessary. 

Dental implants are changing the way people live. With dental implants, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life. Implants are designed to feel and appear like natural teeth. Dental implants are tiny titanium posts that are placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. Implants also help preserve facial structure and prevent bone deterioration which occurs when teeth are missing.   

A denture is a removable restoration (may be valplast, chrome cobalt or acrylic) that replaces missing teeth and surrounding tissues. There are two types of dentures available:

•  Complete dentures  (These are used when all the teeth are missing) 
• Partial dentures (These are used when some natural teeth remain )