We provide dentistry for the whole family. It is rewarding to see parents, children and grandparents attending our practice for so many years. Our aim is to preserve teeth for life and whether you are 5 or 95 we focus on preventive techniques to help you keep your teeth for life. It is advisable to introduce a child early to dentistry. The recommended age is 6 months after the first tooth erupts. The most important goals in the early years are to introduce the child to the practice surroundings and for the child to develop a trust in the dentist and the staff. Therefore first visits might only be accompanying parents or meeting staff and not necessarily sitting in the dental chair. With regular visits to us children develop a positive attitude towards dentistry and towards keeping their teeth healthy for life.

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Preventive dentistry helps you keep your teeth for life. The major causes of tooth loss are decay, gum disease and trauma. If we are able to prevent or deal with these problems early on then there is a higher chance for you to keep your teeth for life.

Our first preventive step is a thorough oral health examination that includes an evaluation of your teeth, gums, soft tissues and jaw joints. Other information such as appropriate xrays, photographs and study models may be needed to best determine what treatment you require. The aim here is to identify and treat problems early and quickly before they become bigger problems. The first step will help you get your mouth healthy so that dental problems do not come back. By working in a close consultation with you we can identify your wants and needs and can customize a treatment plan just for you.

We will also give you appropriate advice and information to help you look after your mouth not just for today but everyday. So, you can work as hard as possible for the best prevention. By working together we can build you a healthy smile that you can be proud of for many years to come. The pleasing thing for us is that our practice approach works. We have sucessfully transformed many new patients who once had lots of dental problems, to patients with fewer and fewer problems over the years.

Our preventive program includes:

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One of the first things people notice is your smile. It is a reflection of your personality. A beautiful smile can brighten your life every day both professionally and socially. There are many ways we can give you an attractive looking smile. We can brighten teeth that have lost their sparkle, cover problem teeth with veneers or porcelain crowns, fill up missing spaces with implants or bridgework and make you beautiful dentures which look and feel natural.

Bonding refers to the technique associated with attaching porcelain or plastic materials to the surface of a tooth. This process is used to attach inlays, onlays, porcelain veneers & crowns, sealants and composite fillings. The surface of the tooth that is to be bonded is first prepared by cleaning and drying. The tooth is subsequently etched with a mild acid to make the enamel more porous and receptive to the bonding material. The bonding material is then applied on the tooth and cured with a light. Composite or porcelain that is matched to the patient's existing tooth colour are set on the tooth and polished.

• Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening is a simple and safe process that lightens discolorations of tooth enamel. These discolorations can be caused by a number of factors such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, red wine, smoking, nerve damage of the tooth and also the natural ageing process. It provides a conservative and effective solution for mild to moderately discoloured vital (alive) or root-filled teeth (non vital).

There are two types of whitening procedures:

Vital Bleaching - One of the most effective methods of vital bleaching is "home bleaching" supervised by the dentist. The major advantages are that there is no loss of tooth structure, it is a safe procedure and that the level of whiteness can be controlled with the home method.

Non-vital Bleaching - This method of bleaching is a conservative way to whiten discoloured root-filled teeth. The procedure involves placing the bleaching material inside the tooth, which is temporarily sealed for 1-2 weeks. Once the desired tooth colour has been achieved the bleaching material is removed from the tooth and a permanent filling is used to seal the tooth.

• Veneers

Veneers are very thin coverings or 'shells' permanently bonded to the front of your teeth. By improving their colour, size and shape, veneers can transform teeth that are stained, poorly shaped or uneven.

They can be used to close spaces, increase length, create maximum whiteness and even straighten teeth. This procedure is only indicated in selected cases whereby the teeth are not heavily discoloured or filled.

Only a minimal amount of enamel is reduced from the front of the tooth and the veneer is made in a dental laboratory from a mould taken. Once the veneer is made it is bonded to the tooth with resin. The veneers are usually made of tooth coloured porcelain, however composite veneers are also used. In this case the veneer is built up in the surgery in one visit.

 

• Dentures

Dentures are artificial teeth that are specifically made for a mouth to replace one or more missing teeth. They can be fitted for the top gums, bottom gums or both and are removable. Modern dentures can be custom blended to look as if you were born with perfect teeth. They can either be a short or long term tooth replacement.

There are generally 4 types of dentures

1. The full plastic denture is made of acrylic resin and used to replace all missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw.
2. The plastic partial denture is made of acrylic resin and fits on the gum. It may have wire clasps to hold it in place.
3. The metal precision partial denture is made of a metal chrome framework with some acrylic resin parts. It fits precisely with rests and clasps on existing teeth. It is less bulky than the plastic denture and can last very many years.
4. "Valplast" is a type of partial denture made by a new technique where a very thin flexible nylon is used. This allows the partial denture to be smaller, lighter and therefore less obtrusive in the mouth.

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With modern dentistry today we are faced with many choices as to which restorative material we should use to fill a tooth. Some of the factors we should consider are appearance, whether it is a front tooth or back tooth, size of the cavity and cost.

Their popularity as a filling material is mostly due to their excellent appearance. They come in various shades and can be matched perfectly to the colour of the teeth. They are made of a plastic resin and filler material. White composite fillings are bonded to the teeth, which avoids the need to remove large portions of healthy tooth. This saves more of the natural tooth for many years to come. The disadvantage of this material is its low strength and durability especially if the filling is large and placed on back teeth where chewing forces are the greatest. Therefore large composite fillings don't last as long as amalgam. Composites are effective if the cavity involves one or two surfaces of the tooth and are small in size. It is more costly than amalgam due to higher material costs and time factors.

• Glass ionomer fillings

They are also an excellent filling material made of fine powders and glass. It is more suitable in areas where strength is less important. It is usually placed in children's teeth and areas where gum recession has occurred. It bonds well to dentine and has the added advantage of releasing fluoride in the tooth and preventing decay.

• Amalgam fillings

This is the most widely used and time-tested filling material. They are made of an alloy of tin, silver, copper, mercury and other trace materials. The advantage lies in the cost, strength and durability of the material. The main disadvantage is their metal appearance, silver (or tarnished to black). Traditional amalgams are plugged into teeth and not bonded onto the teeth. Therefore usually more healthy tooth structure has to be removed to make the filling more retentive in the cavity. Nowadays with modern techniques of amalgam bonding the tooth preparations are made more conservatively, preserving healthy tooth structure. Amalgam fillings still act as a cost effective method of filling back teeth, which require large fillings. They are also used very commonly as a method to build up a base to allow a crown or bridge to be placed over the tooth later.

• Gold Fillings

Gold is the most durable and inert material that is biocompatible to the oral tissues. This is often the material of choice in back teeth where appearance is not as important. It is more expensive than other materials due to laboratory and material costs. It is recommended in situations where there is limited space to make a crown and in patients who grind their teeth.

• Crowns

Crowns are tooth shaped covers that are placed on front or back teeth. The procedure is carried out on heavily filled teeth, which are weak and susceptible to breaking. A crown will protect and preserve these teeth and may be the only possible long-term treatment. The crowns are usually made of tooth coloured porcelain for aesthetic reasons, however where this is not essential, gold or metal alloy may be used. The porcelain crowns are very attractive as they provide a perfectly natural look because of their colour and translucency.

There is an increasing demand for crown treatment due to the expanding scope of cosmetic dentistry. It can be used to correct problems such as misshapen teeth, over or under bite situations. The procedure involves reshaping the outer layer of the existing tooth and filling, making it slightly undersized so that a mould can be taken. The mould provides the dental laboratory with the necessary information so that the crown can be made to fit precisely. A temporary cover seals the area while the permanent crown is fabricated, which is then cemented on the tooth once it has been checked for its fit and appearance.

• Inlays and Onlays
  
An onlay restoration covers the area where the tooth tissue is broken away and also the cuspal (biting surface) area so as to prevent any fractures. An inlay fits inside the tooth contours. These inlays/onlays are made of gold, composite, porcelain, or metal alloys. They are stronger and more durable than direct restorations (fillings made at chair side). The restorations usually require two visits. The first visit involves preparing the cavity and taking a mould. The second visit is for fitting the restoration and polishing.

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Implants are used to replace one or more teeth and are permanently anchored into the jaw. The implant device once inserted into the jaw forms a chemical and mechanical bond. The jawbone actually grows into the implant, a process termed osseointegration. You are a good candidate for implants if you have jawbone ridges that are in good shape and healthy oral tissues. The first step is the placement of the titanium implant, which usually remains covered under the gum for approximately 3 to 6 months. Osseointegration takes place during this time. The second involves uncovering the implant and attaching an extension. This completes the foundation on which the new teeth will be placed. The final step is placement of new artificial teeth on the implant, which will blend with your facial characteristics and remaining natural teeth. An implant crown or bridge can be made to restore function and appearance. The implants will look and feel as good as your original teeth.

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Our services include:

Our first preference is always to attempt to save the tooth. However a tooth, which is very heavily broken down due to trauma, decay or gum disease may be beyond repair and require removal. The extraction can be done quickly and painlessly with our gentle care and careful approach. It becomes increasingly important that we look ahead into preventive strategies so that other teeth will not end up in the same way.

• Oral Surgery for wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth usually erupt (come through the gum) at the back of your mouth in your late teens or early twenties. They become a problem when there is insufficient room for them to erupt properly. This means the impacted wisdom tooth will either remain beneath the gum or partially erupt through the gum. Your wisdom teeth needs removal if they cause problems such as

Firstly, we need to take a scanning x-ray of your whole mouth. This enables us to assess the complexity of your wisdom teeth. We may decide to refer you to our in house oral surgeon Dr Don Macalister for the more complicated cases. He is an expert in all surgery and also intravenous sedation, which makes the procedure more pleasant.

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Toothache occurs when there is irreversible damage to the pulp (or 'nerve'), often due to infection, decay, deep fillings, trauma or tooth fracture. Root canal treatment is often required for the relief of pain. The procedure involves the removal of the dental pulp remnants, cleaning and sealing the pulp space to prevent bacterial proliferation in the canal system. Root canal treatment usually requires several visits to complete. In the first appointment the pulp remnants are removed through an access hole made on the top of the tooth. The root canals are measured for length and then cleaned. Subsequently a medicament is placed in the canal system and temporary filling is placed to seal the access hole. In the second appointment the root canals are then cleaned with sterilizing solution and further shaped with files. Once the canals are well shaped, they are sealed near to the root tip with a permanent filling. The tooth is then restored into useful function. Many root canal treated teeth subsequently require a crown to protect from possible fracture.

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The two main forms of gum disease are gingivitis and periodontitis. People of all ages may experience symptoms of this disease at some point in life. Both are caused by plaque formation around the teeth and gums. Plaque is a white sticky film that forms on teeth consisting of bacteria and food particles. It causes gum inflammation if not removed and calculus formation occurs once it hardens. Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease, which is reversible. It causes the gums to be red, swollen and bleeding. With correct brushing and flossing the plaque can be removed, causing the gum health to be restored again.  Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of periodontal disease with irreversible damage to the gums and bone supporting the teeth. The gums pull away from teeth causing deep pockets to form, which can become infected. Bone loss can occur as well. If the condition is left untreated the teeth will become loose and may eventually fall out or be extracted. Treatment will include scaling (cleaning) and root planning (smoothing the root surface), which removes the calculus from the tooth and below the gum line. Also all plaque retentive areas in the mouth are removed, such as overhanging edges of fillings.

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We have a special interest in the growth and development of your child's face and teeth. If you have any concerns about your child's teeth in terms of crowding, the appearance of their new teeth or the lack of them we can offer advice as to whether orthodontic treatment is required. Orthodontic treatment is used to improve appearance and function by correcting the teeth, lips and jaws into proper alignment and balance. While orthodontic treatment is most common during childhood and adolescence, an increasing number of adults are also opting for treatment. In some situations we can carry out the orthodontic treatment. This most often involves making a removable appliance or plate to correct the problem. For more complex cases we may refer you to a specialist orthodontist.

We can help children and teenagers keep their teeth for life with fissure sealants. Fissure sealants can greatly reduce tooth decay and the need for fillings. The chewing surfaces of most back teeth have a small fissure, which extends right down into the tooth itself. The fissures are difficult to clean thoroughly and are high-risk areas for decay to occur. The sealant is a plastic coating that is applied to the chewing surfaces where it seals the fissures, preventing any food or bacteria from getting in. The procedure involves cleaning the surface of the tooth, then applying the sealant. These sealants make the tooth surface smooth and easier to keep clean with regular brushing.

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A mouth which is heavily filled, broken down or partially edentulous (mouth with several missing teeth) often requires full reconstructive treatment. This type of treatment is very complex and careful planning is required. It is important to analyse the occlusion (bite) prior to commencement of this treatment. There is a need to take impressions of your teeth and make study models to evaluate the bite so that a healthy and stable bite foundation can be established before final treatment is planned.

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The Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is your jaw joint which holds your lower jaw in place. It slides and rotates when your jaw is moving. Your TMJ is surrounded by muscles that connect your jaw to the skull, which allow you to move your jaw forward, side to side, and up and down. The TMJ, jaw muscles and occlusion (the way your teeth fit together) closely interact with one another as a system. Temporomandibular disorder occurs when there is a problem with one or more parts of the system. Some contributing factors include clenching, grinding and oral habits, which put abnormal pressure on facial muscles. This can lead to chronic pain affecting the TMJ, jaw or neck muscles, headache, reduced jaw movements, problems with opening and closing such as clicking and earaches. Depending on the symptoms and situation, various treatments may be recommended. A common treatment is to provide a bite splint appliance. This custom fit splint is made of acrylic and fits over your top or bottom teeth. It allows the joints to move into their proper position, relieving pressure and relaxing the muscles.

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