Treatments

All examinations and treatments are carried out under magnification which enables the dentists to work at higher speed and with greater accuracy.

Examinations

A full clinical examination is carried out on your first visit. The functioning of the jaw-joint are checked, the lymph-nodes of the head and neck are checked and the tissues of the mouth examined. The teeth are checked individually, mainly visibly; the traditional probing is now used less. Finally, the gums will be gently probed. X-rays, both small and large, are used to screen for further problems. We may well use photographs, taken with either a large SLR or a small intra-oral camera, to record clinical findings.

Gum Treatments

Also known as periodontology, this covers everything from simple, routine scaling and polishing to complex treatment of established gum-disease.

Fillings

Most fillings are now done using tooth-coloured materials bonded to the tooth. Mechanically, functionally and aesthetically they are now mostly superior to the old silver amalgam fillings, although amalgam does still have its uses in certain cases. Your dentist will advise you as to the best material for any treatment you require.

Root-fillings

Root-fillings, or root-canal therapy as it is sometimes called, is needed when a tooth has died or is dying and the patient does not wish for the tooth to be extracted. Contrary to popular belief, the procedure should be painless. Your dentist will discuss the treatment with you in detail.

Crowns

When a tooth is badly-damaged by breakage or decay, the dentist will often advise the use of a crown to rebuild it. These may be made from gold, ceramic materials or a combination of the two. They are also use extensively in cosmetic procedures. The damaged parts of the tooth are drilled away, an impression (mould) of the teeth is taken and a temporary crown fitted. A dental technician uses the impression to make the crown which is cemented into place at a later appointment.

Bridges

A bridge is also known as a fixed partial denture. It is a way of replacing a missing tooth by fixing the false tooth or teeth to an adjacent tooth or teeth. There are a number of ways of making bridges and they can range from the very simple to the extremely complex.

Dentures

These are the traditional way of replacing missing teeth. They can be classified as complete dentures, where all the teeth in the upper or lower jaws are replaced, or partial dentures which replace a few missing teeth and fit round the remaining teeth. Partial dentures may be made from acrylic (plastic) or a cobalt/chrome alloy.

Extractions

Sometimes, a tooth cannot be saved or a patient does not wish it to be saved. We undertake all but the most complex surgical exctractions in-house.

Cosmetic Treatments

These can range from a quick polish to remove staining to elaborate and complex reconstructions of a patient's entire smile. We have extensive experience of cosmetic procedures with a large library of photographs to demonstrate cases we have carried out. We use the Evolution home bleaching systems having found them to be the best available. We do not use in-surgery systems since they are costly, less effective than the at-home systems and often associated with extreme sensitivity. Feel free to discuss with your dentist any cosmetic requirements you have.