Treatments
Click below to browse our treatments.
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Implants
Implants are a permanent way of replacing missing teeth. An implant consists of two parts:-- Titanium screw which is inserted into the jaw bone.
- The tooth replacement whether it is a crown, bridge or denture (this is the part you see in the mouth.
- Replaces a missing tooth or teeth
- Base for various restorative options
- No tooth substance lost (a bridge requires destroying other teeth)
- Stabilizes ill fitting dentures if you have a problem with eating or speech
- Placement of a tooth can possibly be placed immediately.
- The titanium screw is permanent
- Implants are as strong as natural teeth
- Implants come in various sizes depending on the amount of pressure it needs to withstand
- Reduces ongoing shrinkage of the bone which can make the face look older
- It can eliminate the numerous embarrassing inconveniences of removable dentures
- Improved self esteem
- Look, feel and function like natural teeth
- Won’t decay
- Good general health is required for surgery
- Good bone quality is required for the implant to be placed
- Good bone quantity is required for the implant to be placed
- Regular visits to our hygienist is required to maintain good oral hygiene
- Good oral hygiene is required to be maintained at home using various cleaning aids
- Many appointments with your dentist is required from the initial appointment to fitting the final restoration
- Depending on how complicated your treatment is, it can take up to 12 months from the initial appointment to fitting the final restoration
- An implant costs around £2500 per tooth
- There is a very small chance the bone will not bond to the implant causing the implant to come out. You can try to place another implant if this happens or other treatment options will be discussed such as bridges and dentures.
- If you are a smoker there is risk the implant could fail.
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Bridges
There are two main types of bridges which replace missing teeth. They are:-- Fixed Bridges
- Acid etch bridges
A fixed bridge consists of a crown and a false tooth linked together. This can be made from either porcelain or porcelain bonded to metal. Bridges can be made by taking impressions or by taking a 3D scan of the mouth using our brand new state-of-the art chair side oral scanner.http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/LavaCOS/3MESPE-LavaCOS
What are the advantages of a fixed bridge?- Replaces missing teeth using adjacent teeth
- Cheaper than implants
- Can possibly last years if oral hygiene is maintained
- Distributes biting forces by replacing missing teeth
- Prevents remaining teeth drifting out of position
- Improves appearance
- Helps with speech and chewing
- Prevents overgrowth of tooth in the opposite jaw
- Minimal bulk as occupies same amount of space as the original
- tooth
- Loss of tooth substance on adjacent tooth/teeth
- Cement can de-bond from tooth causing bridge to come off
- Can cause gum inflammation if good oral hygiene is not followed
- correctly
An acid etch bridge consists of a false tooth made from porcelain with either one or two metal wings attached. The metal wings are then cemented on to the back of the adjacent tooth/teeth.
What are the advantages of an acid etch bridge?- Replace missing teeth using adjacent teeth
- Cheaper than both fixed bridge and implants
- Prevents remaining teeth drifting out of position
- Improves appearance
- Helps with speech
- Very little tooth substance lost on the back tooth where the metal
- wing will be placed
- Can de-bond from the tooth causing the bridge to come off
- Can cause gum inflammation if good oral hygiene is not followed correctly
- Not designed to withstand a lot of biting pressure
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Crowns (Scanner)
A Crown is a way of rebuilding a tooth which have either been broken or weakened by decay or a very large filling. A Crown can be made from metal, porcelain or porcelain bonded to metal in a laboratory. A crown fits over the remaining part of the tooth (making it strong) and giving the shape and appearance of a natural tooth. Crowns can be made by taking impressions or by taking a 3D scan of the mouth using our brand new state-of-the art chair side oral scanner.
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/LavaCOS/3MESPE-LavaCOS
What are the advantages of having a crown?- Can restore appearance of a tooth due to it being broken down or decayed
- If the tooth is very broken down it is possible your can place a post into the root of the tooth and then place a crown on top
- Can restore appearance of discoloured teeth
- Gives a broken down tooth extra strength
- Gives a tooth-like appearance
- Feels like a natural tooth
- Can be matched to the colour of the natural teeth
- Will last for many years as long as good oral hygiene is maintained
- Can be only way to restore a heavily broken down tooth
What are the disadvantages of having a crown?- Requires loss of tooth substance
- Good oral hygiene is required as the gum can become inflamed or decay can start to occur
- Tooth coloured crowns on back teeth are not available on the NHS
- A crown may need to be replaced if it chips or fractures
- Tooth decay can still happen under and around the crown which will result in the crown needing to be replaced
- If tooth whitening is carried out the crown will not change colour like natural teeth
- A crown takes 2-3 weeks to make at a laboratory. You will need to wear a temporary crown during these 2-3 weeks. The temporary crown can discolour and is not as presentable as the permanent crown
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Veneers
What is a veneer?
A veneer is a thin layer of tooth-coloured porcelain that is bonded on to the front of the original tooth. This may be needed due to decay, a crossed tooth, an accident, a discoloured tooth, spaces between the teeth or for other appearance reasons. Veneers can be made by taking impressions by taking a 3D scan of the mouth using our brand new state-of-the art chair side oral scanner.
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/LavaCOS/3MESPE-LavaCOS
What are the advantages of veneers?- Improves the appearance of discoloured teeth
- Improves the position of a mildly protruded tooth
- To protect teeth from further erosion and abrasion
- Improves appearance of crossed teeth
- Improves appearance of a misplaced tooth where a patient does not wish to have orthodontic treatment
- Can replace tooth material which has been lost through wear
- Improves appearance of a heavily restored or fractured tooth
- Very little natural tooth material is lost
- No alteration to the inside surfaces of the prepared tooth
- Tooth material is lost
- More expensive than tooth whitening if the colour of your teeth is the concern as this would require multiple veneers
- There is a risk the veneer may fracture resulting in the veneer needing to be replaced
- You will be required to have a temporary veneer in place for two weeks whilst the laboratory makes the porcelain veneer. The temporary veneer can discolour therefore it will be advised not to have strong colourants such as red wine or curry
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Tooth Whitening
What is tooth whitening?
Tooth whitening is a process which effectively lightens the tooth’s natural colour using carbamide peroxide. The process involves the taking of impressions to provide thin plastic moulds of your teeth. You then carry out the tooth whitening process at home, with the whitening gel placed in the trays after full instruction from your dentist.
What are the advantages of tooth whitening?- Improves the appearance of teeth without removing any natural tooth material.
- Can lighten individual teeth if a tooth becomes dark. This could occur if the nerve has died off or a root filling has been done.
- Gradual colour change so you have control over the process.
- Carry out tooth whitening procedure at home so less time spent in surgery.
- Less sensitivity than the alternative in surgery systems.
- Cheaper than changing appearance using crowns or veneers
- Very effective colour change
- Cheaper than having veneers and crowns on front teeth to improve appearance
- Teeth can temporally be sensitive whilst undergoing the tooth whitening treatment
- You may be required to maintain the colour of your teeth by purchasing a syringe of carbamide peroxide and repeating the process for a few nights
- The darker the teeth the longer it takes to lighten your teeth
- It takes approximately 2 months from the start of the treatment to the final result
- Tooth whitening will only lighten natural teeth
- If there is any crowns, bridges or white fillings the tooth whitening process will not change these therefore these may need to be changed
- You will be required to have regular review appointments with your dentist so you are able to monitor the colour change of your teeth
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Dentures
What is a denture?
A denture is an appliance which is worn to replace missing teeth. The base of a denture is called a plate and can be made of either acrylic (plastic) or Cobalt chrome (metal). The teeth are normally made of acrylic and are made to match your natural teeth.
What are the advantages of having a denture?- Replaces missing teeth
- A temporary denture can be made quickly in the case of an emergency
- Improve your smile and help fill out the appearance of your face
- Can be re-polished to restore them to their original appearance
- Additional teeth can be added at a later date if necessary
- Metal grip can be added to a denture which hooks around natural teeth to help with retention
- If a denture fractures or a tooth is lost, this can be easily repaired
- Cheaper than a bridge or implants
What are the disadvantages of having a denture?- 5-6 appointments are required from the initial appointment to the completed denture(s)
- Pronouncing words may require practice
- Your sense to sense hot/cold food and drinks may be affected
- You will be required to leave your denture(s) out at night to make sure gum health is maintained.
- You are required to clean your denture(s) frequently just as you would with your natural teeth
- It is important you take special care brushing your natural teeth when wearing a partial denture to prevent tooth decay and gum disease
- Gum and bone can shrink overtime therefore it may be necessary to have your dentures relined so they fit properly or new denture(s) made
- You may have a problem keeping you dentures in until the muscles in your cheeks and tongue learn to keep them in
- Regular dental health check appointments are required as healthy teeth and gums are vital
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Contouring
Contouring is a process which involves re-shaping teeth to improve appearance.
What are the benefits of contouring?- Improves appearance
- Simple non-invasive process
- Does not involve the use of anaesthetic
- Only one short appointment required
- Mild sensitivity maybe experienced
- Only minimal adjustments maybe made
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Tooth Coloured Fillings
What are white fillings?
A white filling is made from a composite material and is used to replace a part of the tooth that has been lost due to decay or through accidental damage. The process involves the removal of any decay and old filling material. The white filling is then bonded to the tooth to restore its natural appearance and is then set using an ultra violet blue light.
What are the benefits of having a white filling?- Natural tooth-like appearance
- Less tooth preparation required
- Adheres to the tooth which means less tooth substance taken away
- Hard Wearing
- Different shades available in order to match the filling to your natural tooth
- Can be used as a veneer
- Can be used on both front and back teeth
- Sets immediately so can be used for chewing straight away
- Easy to improve appearance in fractured front teeth
- Prolongs the life of the tooth
- Cheaper than having a tooth crowned
- The filling requires good moisture control or the composite will not adhere to the tooth.
- Can take longer to place
- May need further adjustment so your teeth bite together correctly
- White fillings on the biting surface of back teeth are not available on the NHS.
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NTI
What is a NTI splint?
A NTI splint is a small splint that fits over your front teeth and is worn either at night or during point of stress. Over time it can help reduce jaw pain, headaches and tooth wear. The NTI splint works by minimising clenching intensity and in time the primary source of pain.
Treatments for Children
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Fissure Sealants
A Fissure sealant is a protective plastic coating which can be applied to the biting surfaces of back teeth. This prevents bacteria from getting into the groves of teeth which can cause decay. It is common to carry out this treatment for children and young people to protect their newly emerged adult teeth. This is a quick and easy treatment that does not require the use of anaesthetic. -
Fluoride Application
Fluoride is a mineral that can help to protect teeth from decay, especially in children. Fluoride is found in toothpastes, mouthwashes and even in the public water supply. Sometimes, teeth need extra protection from decay. If this happens, the dentist can apply a highly concentrated fluoride varnish to the surface of the tooth. This is a quick and easy treatment that does not require the use of anaesthetic. -
Deciduous Fillings
A deciduous filling is a restoration that is carried out on a milk tooth that has become decayed. Deciduous fillings are usually done without anaesthetic as they do not have a rich nerve supply like adult teeth do. Our child membership patients will receive tooth-coloured deciduous fillings. -
Education
The most important part of a Childs dental care is to give them the knowledge they need to look after their oral health. Every time a child visits the dentist they will check the standard of the Childs oral hygiene and give advice on how this can be improved as necessary. This includes diet advice, cleaning instructions and helpful tips on how to make the most of their smile.