Check up & Clean
How often should I go to the dentist?
The standard recommendation is to visit your dentist twice a year for check ups and cleanings.
Why are twice a year appointments necessary?
- So that your dentist can check for problems that you might not see or feel.
- To allow your dentist to find early signs of decay.
(decay doesn’t become visible or cause pain until it reaches more advanced stages.) - To treat any other oral health problems found.
(generally, the earlier a problem is found, the more manageable it is.)
What happens at the typical check up appointment?
The typical dental check up visit usually includes the following oral health care activities:
Professionals who will treat you
You will be treated by one of our dentists who will conduct an oral exam of your gums and teeth, ask about changes in your overall health or medicine use, clean your teeth, look for signs of oral cancer and other diseases, diagnose any oral health problems and make treatment recommendations.
Cleaning
Although home-based tooth brushing and flossing help remove plaque, only a professional cleaning provided by your dentist can thoroughly clean your teeth and remove the hardened plaque (called calculus or tartar) that builds up on teeth. Dentists will use an ultrasonic scaler, which provide deep cleaning above and below the gum line.
Polishing
After your teeth have been cleaned, they are polished to remove plaque and stains on the tooth surface. The polish contains an abrasive substance and is applied using a small rotating rubber cup or brush attached to the dental hand piece, fluoride will then be applied.
Prevention
Your Dentist might offer additional instructions for you to follow at home, based on the results of your exam. Don’t hesitate to ask your dentist for instructions about brushing or flossing, or general care questions about your teeth and gums.
X-rays
X-rays are generally recommended every 2 years to detect if there is any decay between the teeth or to further examine a specific tooth at any time.
Treatment recommendations
If any oral health problems are found during your examination, your dentist will make recommendations for the best next steps. These might include referral to another oral health care specialist, additional diagnostic tests, or advice to return for further work, a quote can be made for your further treatment.
Root Canal Treatment
What is Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth. The procedure involves removing the damaged area of the tooth (the pulp), cleaning and disinfecting it and then filling and sealing it. The common causes affecting the pulp are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, repeated dental treatment to the tooth or trauma. The term “root canal” comes from cleaning of the canals inside the tooth’s root.
What to Expect During treatment?
If you think you need a root canal, consult your dentist. There are a number of steps that occur over a few office visits.
X-ray
If a dentist suspects you may need a root canal, They will first take X-rays or examine existing X-rays to show where the decay is located.
Anesthesia
Local anesthesia is administered to the affected tooth. Contrary to popular belief, a root canal is no more painful than a filling.
Pulpectomy
An opening is made and the diseased tooth pulp is removed.
Filling the canals
The roots that have been opened (to get rid of the disease pulp) are filled with gutta-percha material and sealed off with cement.
Filling the tooth
Once the canals have been filled the tooth itself will then need to be filled, often a crown is recommended after root canal treatment.
Extractions
There are a number of reasons why your teeth may need to be extracted. Some of the most common reasons include:
Severe gum disease
(periodontal disease). This is caused by bacteria building up on your teeth and damaging the bone that holds them in place. The teeth become loose and will need to be removed professionally.
Tooth decay
If a tooth is very decayed, its nerves and blood vessels can die, leading to a painful abscess.
A broken tooth
If it can’t be repaired it will need to be removed.
Crowded teeth
If you have a small jaw or lost your milk (baby) teeth early, your teeth may be crooked and you may need to have one or more removed so the rest can be straightened.
Wisdom tooth problems
If there isn’t enough space in your mouth for your wisdom teeth they may become impacted (stuck behind the tooth in front) and need to be removed.
What happens during a tooth extraction?
So that you don’t feel any pain during or immediately after the procedure, your dentist will give an injection of local anesthetic into your mouth. This completely blocks feeling from the area so you don’t feel any pain during the procedure, though you may feel some pressure in your mouth and hear some noise.
After the anesthetic has taken effect, your dentist will widen the socket (the area your tooth sits in) using a tool called an elevator or a pair of special forceps. They will then move the tooth from side to side until it’s loose enough to be removed completely.
In more difficult and rarer cases, your dentist may not be able to reach the root of your tooth so small cuts will be made in your gum. If necessary your dentist can then drill away some of the bone so the root of the tooth can be removed.
What to expect afterwards?
There will be some bleeding and your dentist may put in stitches. After the extraction, you will be given a piece of soft padding to bite on to stop the bleeding.
If you’ve had your tooth removed under local anesthesia, you’ll need to stay at the dental surgery until the bleeding is controlled. This will probably take about 10 to 15 minutes. You may need pain relief to help with any discomfort as the anesthetic wears off.
Wait until the local anesthetic has worn off before having hot food or drinks – you might burn your mouth or chew the inside of your cheek while it’s still numb. Once you regain some feeling, stick to lukewarm, soft food and try not to chew in the part of your mouth where the tooth has been removed. Try not to drink alcohol or smoke for the first 48 hours after the extraction – this may cause further bleeding.
It’s best not to rinse out your mouth or do any exercise for the first few hours after the extraction. This is because any blood clot that may have formed could be disturbed and the bleeding could start again. After the first few hours, it can be helpful to rinse out your mouth with salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) a few times a day.
Tooth Whitening
Pola Night Office SDI
The high viscosity, neutral Ph tooth whitening gels ensure the greatest patient comfort in a take home kit. The unique blend of soothers, conditioners and high water content assist in reducing sensitivity. The formation of plaque and tooth decay is significantly reduced.
Natural soother and conditioner
The incorporation of special additives minimizes plaque formation and enhances remineralization to further reduce sensitivity. Antibacterial properties help in tooth recovery.
High water content
The high water content of the gel reduces dehydration of the enamel and decreases patient sensitivity.
Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment or braces can be done for children and adults. Age is no barrier for straight beautiful teeth. Many modes of treatments are available to achieve your goals.
The traditional metal braces, ceramic braces have been around for years and most people are aware of them. Invisalign is now gaining popularity with the young and old.
Invisalign.
Your Invisalign treatment consists of a series of nearly invisible, removable aligners that you change every two weeks for the next set of aligners. Each aligner is individually manufactured for your teeth, and your teeth only. As you replace each aligner, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position prescribed by your dental practice.
What’s more, a virtual treatment plan generated by Align Technology’s unique ClinCheck® software shows the series of movements your teeth will go through over the course of the treatment. This allows you to see upfront what your teeth are expected to look like at the end of the treatment. From the results of the ClinCheck software, your custom-made, clear aligners are produced especially for you.
If you’re ready for a smile that transforms your appearance, Invisalign is your answer. Although there are many choices out there, no other treatment works as comfortably as Invisalign.
Crowns, Bridges & Veneers
Crown
A crown sometimes referred to as cap are a covering that encases the entire tooth surface restoring it to its original shape and size. Although there are several types of crowns, porcelain (tooth coloured crown) are the most popular, because they resemble your natural teeth.
Porcelain crowns are made to match the shape, size, and color or your teeth giving you a natural, long-lasting beautiful smile. They are highly durable and will last many years, but like most dental restorations, they may eventually need to be replaced.
Reasons for crowns
A crown protects and strengthens tooth structure that cannot be restored with fillings or other types of restorations.
- Broken or fractured teeth
- Cosmetic enhancement
- Decayed teeth
- Fractured fillings
- Large fillings
- Tooth has a root canal
Treatment
This will take 2 appointments, in the first appointment the tooth will be prepared for the crown, impressions will be taken and a temporary crown will be cemented to your tooth while the impressions are sent to the lab to have the crown made. Generally 3 weeks later at the second visit the temporary crown will be removed and the permanent crown will be cemented.
Bridges
A bridge is made up of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap these two or more anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth and a false tooth/teeth in between. This is a fixed option to replace missing teeth. The bridge will be made of porcelain and will be matched to the color of your teeth so that it looks as natural as possible.
Treatment
This will take 2 appointments, in the first appointment the teeth will be prepared for the bridge, impressions will be taken and a temporary bridge will be cemented to your teeth while the impressions are sent to the lab to have the bridge made. Generally 3 weeks later at the second visit the temporary crown will be removed and the permanent crown will be cemented.
Fillings
What is a Filling?
A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist gives you a filling, he or she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.
By closing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay. A composite resin will be used to fill your tooth, this is a tooth coloured material.
If decay or a fracture has damaged a large portion of the tooth, a crown, may be recommended. Decay that has reached the nerve may be treated in two ways: through root canal therapy (in which nerve damaged nerve is removed) or by possible extraction.
What Happens When You get a Filling?
If your dentist decides to fill a cavity, he or she will first remove the decay and clean the affected area. The cleaned-out cavity will then be filled with the tooth coloured material.
How Do I Know if I Need a Filling?
Only your dentist can detect whether you have a cavity that needs to be filled. During a checkup, your dentist will use a small mirror to examine the surfaces of each tooth.
Anything that looks abnormal will then be closely checked with special instruments. Your dentist may also X-ray your entire mouth or a section of it. The type of treatment your dentist chooses will depend on the extent of damage caused by decay.
Dentures
Conventional Full Denture
A conventional full denture is placed in your mouth after any remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed. Healing may take several months, during which time you are without teeth.
Immediate Full Denture
An immediate full denture is inserted immediately after the remaining teeth are removed. (Your dentist takes measurements and makes models of your jaw during a prior visit.) While immediate dentures offer the benefit of never having to be without your teeth, they must be relined several months after being inserted. The reason is that the bone supporting the teeth reshapes as it heals, causing the denture to become loose. Immediate dentures should generally only be considered as a temporary solution until conventional dentures can be made.
Partial Denture
A partial denture rests on a metal framework that attaches to your natural teeth. Sometimes crowns are placed on some of your natural teeth and serve as anchors for the denture. Partial dentures offer a removable alternative to bridges.
Please click the image below for information regarding various Dental Treatments per age group.
