Regular dental exams allow us to see if you have any dental problems and help prevent any from arising. Many dental problems don't always present with pain, and delaying treatment can make future treatment more complicated and expensive. Most people benefit from 6 monthly dental exams. If you are at higher risk of decay or gum disease we may recommend 3 monthly exams, and people who have had excellent dental health can have an exam once per year.
A dental exam can be scheduled at the same time as a visit to the hygienist.
A composite resin shaded to match the existing colour of your teeth. Unlike amalgam, the composite resin actually bonds to your tooth structure. This characteristic means we can focus on only removing damaged areas of the tooth and preserve more of your own healthy enamel when we place a filling.
We do not use amalgam fillings at this practice. Read more about amalgam removal.
Crowns are restorations. Typically crowns are recommended in situations where there is considerable tooth tissue requiring replacement, particularly on back teeth, which take a large load. They restore a tooth by encircling or forming a cap over a tooth to strengthen it and improve its appearance. Crowns can be made of materials such as gold but are today usually made of porcelain for a natural appearance. Crowns have also have an excellent lifespan. Because of their strength they are often used to protect teeth that have had root canal treatment.
A fixed bridge replaces missing teeth by bridging the gap between adjacent teeth. The replacement tooth is permanently attached to teeth on each side of the gap by crowns. The preparation of a tooth for a crown requires the removal of a considerable amount of tooth tissue. Therefore a bridge is generally indicated when the teeth adjacent to the gap have existing large fillings and would benefit from being crowned. A fixed bridge is reliant on the integrity of the supporting teeth. Bridges, like crowns, can be made, depending upon circumstance, exclusively of porcelain or a combination of porcelain and metal.
A Dental implant is a titanium cylinder surgically placed in the area of a missing tooth. After a period of healing, a crown is made and attached to the implant. Unlike fixed bridges, implant supported crowns are ‘stand alones’ and do not compromise adjacent teeth. An implant retained crown feels and functions like a natural tooth. If an implant is considered as an option, the patient is referred to an implant placement specialist (either a periodontist or oral surgeon) for an initial consultation. Once the implant is placed it is left 3-6 months where the patient then returns to the Dentist for the fabrication and fitting of the implant crown.
Porcelain inlays and onlays are an excellent conservative solution to restoring back teeth which have a significant loss of nature tooth structure. Although similar in construction to crowns, they require less removal of healthy tooth structure. Inlays and onlays are extremely durable, and although traditionally made of gold, are usually made of porcelain for a very natural appearance.
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