Who is a Dentist? 

A dentist is a health care practitioner who diagnoses and treats diseases of the teeth and the mouth. The dentist’s job is to help prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases and conditions of the teeth and the mouth (or oral cavity).  The dentist is frequently assisted by a team consisting of dental assistants, dental hygienists, and dental technicians.

 

Common dental services offered by our Dentists –

 

Dental Fillings

Small cavities and mild tooth decay in teeth are so common in the general population that dental fillings are the most common procedure performed by dentists. Dental fillings are a form of dental treatment for those teeth that have cavities or decay. Fillings can also be used to repair fractured or injured teeth.

If a patient complains of a toothache, the dentist will generally first check the teeth for cavities and cracks, and then fix any teeth that need to be filled. After numbing the tooth with anaesthetic given by an injection into the surrounding gum, the dentist will use a dental drill to remove any decayed dental tissue in the inner tooth. The dentist will then clean out the tooth with water before sealing the tooth with a dental filling. The filling may be made of gold, silver, porcelain or dental resin.

 

Dental Crowns

Dental crowns are used to repair any teeth that have been badly damaged by decay or injury. They cover the tooth protecting the tooth from further infection or damage. A dental crown is a type of prosthetic cap, placed by a dentist over a part of damaged tooth, to strengthen it, restore its original shape, and improve its appearance. 

Putting a crown over a damage tooth may save damaged teeth from the need for extraction. Crowns are also used to correct cosmetic imperfections and hold dental bridges in place, and to cover dental implants. Usually, two separate visits to the dentist are needed to have a crown fitted; the first to take a mould from the damaged tooth so the crown can be made in a dental laboratory, and the second to implant the finished crown. Some dentists, however, can make the crown themselves in the dentist own rooms, so the patient can have a dental crown made and implanted the same day.

 

Tooth Extractions

The removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone is called a tooth extraction, or dental extraction. It may become necessary if someone’s tooth is so damaged that it can’t be fixed with crown or other dental restoration technique. In some cases, a dentist may need to extract teeth to prepare a person’s mouth for orthodontic treatment.

Extraction may also be necessary when a tooth has undergone too much decay to be saved, or when a tooth is impacted. Or, it may needed to extract a troublesome and painful wisdom tooth.

If the problem tooth is situated above the gum, usually the dentist will remove the tooth by loosening it from its bone socket and pulling it out. A tooth that is causing trouble under the gum is usually removed with minor oral surgery.

Dentists usually extract teeth under general or local anaesthetic so the patient does not experience pain during the extraction. There may be some mild pain after the procedure, which can be treated with oral analgesics such as paracetamol. 

 

Dental Implants

The most lasting way to replace lost teeth is for the dentist to replace damaged or infected teeth with a prosthetic teeth implant.  After administering an anaesthetic to remove any sense of pain, the dentist places the implant into the patient’s jawbone where the missing tooth’s roots were.  The implant is made of titanium or other material and looks like a screw. Over time, bone grows around the implant, which helps to hold it in place. An artificial tooth, or crown, is then attached to the metal to fill in the space left by the missing tooth. The crown is specially made to look like the other teeth in size, shape and colour. Though there are several steps in the process, and it takes a few months and several procedures to complete, the placement of dental implants gives the patient permanent artificial teeth. 

 

Teeth Straightening (Dental Braces /Invisalign)

There are many benefits to having straight teeth- beyond simply the benefits to your appearance; you’ll also have a better functioning and healthier mouth and looking after your teeth will be easier as well. For most people, the safest and most effective way to permanently straighten teeth involves wearing regular braces prescribed by a registered orthodontist. Braces are used to reposition the teeth so they are not only aesthetically pleasing but also easy to clean. They are also used to correct bad bites that can make eating or talking more difficult. Almost 80% of all braces worn today are used to align the teeth of young people under the age of 18.

However, these days, most practices are moving away from traditional braces and towards aligners. These use a series of clear plastic aligners to shift your teeth into alignment and improve your bite, rather than wires and metals. Aligners serve the same purpose as braces, however, to straighten and correct crooked teeth. Classic braces use metal and other materials to slowly tighten teeth back into place. Aligners are less visible and slower acting, but are nevertheless a very effective method to achieve the same goal. Putting them on may cause a mild ache at first, but nothing more.

However, if teeth are only slightly crooked or slightly crowded, a retainer prescribed by an orthodontist may be enough to straighten them. An orthodontist will work with the patient to find the right solution for straightening their teeth. Many general dental practitioners also perform orthodontic treatment. After treatment with braces or an aligner therapy, dentists may recommend a tooth retainer to keep treated teeth in their new location.

 

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is another technique used to correct teeth imperfections so as to produce a better-looking smile. Bonding is used to repair chipped teeth, decayed teeth, and cracked teeth. Bonding involves applying a tooth-coloured resin material to the teeth and hardening it with a light to bond the material to the teeth to improve a person’s smile. 

 

Dental Bridge / Bridgework

A dental bridge is a structure, a bridge, between two teeth designed to fill the gap between them where a tooth has been lost or extracted. To prepare the healthy teeth for the bridge, the dentist will usually file down the two healthy teeth on either side of the gap. They will then take a mould to make the bridge and place it across the gap and fixed to the top of the two teeth either side. The bridge itself is usually made of either porcelain or metal, a mixture of the two, or zirconium.

 

Dental Veneers

A dental veneer is essentially a thin covering placed over the front section of a tooth or set of teeth. They are most commonly made out of porcelain or composite resin. They can improve the appearance of damage teeth including chipped, broken, discoloured, or smaller-than-average teeth. The process is simple and painless for most people, and simple for dentists to perform.

 

Professional Teeth Cleanings

Keeping teeth clean is a very important part of oral health. In addition to you regularly brushing and flossing, most dentists usually recommend people have their teeth cleaned professionally by a dentist every six months, and some dentists recommend it once a year. 

Your dentist can clean and remove built-up debris from your teeth – this debris may include food particles, hard calculus (caused by the mineral deposits from saliva onto the soft plaque, also called tartar) or soft plaque (bacterial growth). Calculus and plaque are the main causes of gum disease. The dentist then cleans and polishes the teeth using a rotating brush with a polishing paste.

Your dentist can give you advice on how to keep your and gums healthy between appointments to make sure they remain healthy. Professional cleaning also helps treat and prevent gum disease.

 

Dental Check-Ups

Many general health conditions also have an effect on your oral health (and vice versa). Some medicines can also affect your mouth or may have an effect on dental treatment. When you go for a dental check-up, your dentist will ask questions not only about your teeth, but also about your general health and medications. 

Your dentist will check each tooth individually using small instruments, such as a mirror and probe (a fine, pick-like tool). The dentist will look for problems such as gum disease, tooth decay, and other conditions. 

The dentist will also look at soft tissues in the mouth (gums, lips, tongue, cheeks and palate) to look for any signs of oral cancer and other conditions of the oral cavity- the dentist may also look at your jaw joints and the lymph nodes in your neck. 

X-rays may be needed if the problem is not obviously visible – for example, there is possible decay between two touching teeth, or there is a suspected infection in the teeth. Usually, the dentist will do the x-rays in the dental office if needed. The dentist will then explain the treatment options,  the time it will take and give you an estimate of the cost of any procedures.

 

Gum Disease Treatment

Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is common and affects most people at some stage in their life.  Gum disease can cause bleeding, puffy, painful or receding gums or loose pockets surrounding your teeth, ongoing bad taste or breath in the mouth, or wobbly or drifting teeth. It can also lead to tooth loss, and is also a risk factor for some heart and lung diseases.

If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your dentist as soon as possible.

Dental treatment options include; root debridement (removing plaque and tartar deposits on the tooth root); scaling (removing any plaque build-up from above and below your gums). In severe cases, specialist gum disease treatment may be needed.

However, careful and regular cleaning of teeth, gums and dentures with brushing, flossing and general at-home dental care can help prevent gum disease. 

 

Dentures

Dentures are removable appliances used to replace missing teeth. A complete denture is used if all of a person’s teeth are missing and a partial denture is used if only some of the teeth are missing. Today’s dentures are usually comfortable, natural looking and well tolerated. 

 

Root Canal Treatment

A root canal is a very painful condition that occurs when the tissue inside or under a tooth becomes infected and inflamed. In the past, badly diseased teeth often had to be extracted – these days, they often can be saved through root canal treatment. A root canal treatment is a dental procedure that is used to repair teeth that are badly decayed or infected. To treat a root canal and relieve the pain, the dentist needs to deaden the nerve with an anaesthetic and remove the tissue. You may need to take an antibiotic before the procedure to treat the infection. 

Some people are apprehensive about having root canal treatments as they do have a reputation for being painful. But for most people, the procedure is no more painful than having a filling done. It can take a few hours after which the mouth will be numb from the anaesthetic for a few hours, but the pain will be gone since the infection has been treated.

 

Dental Fissure Sealants

Sealants are hard protective coatings that can be applied by a dentist on any tooth with a pit or fissure to protect teeth from decay. The sealant creates a barrier that stops food and other bacteria from causing decay and collecting in the grooves of the tooth. Any tooth that has deep grooves or fissures can be treated with a sealant, but they are usually placed on molars and premolars rather than front teeth. The sealant is painted on to the biting surface of a cleaned tooth, and sets as a durable plastic material. As Fissure sealants reduce the risk of decay in permanent teeth they are often recommended for children.

 

Teeth Whitening

Tooth whitening or tooth bleaching is the process of lightening the colour of the teeth that have yellowed with ageing. It can be done by yourself at home, but is usually quicker and safer if done by a dentist. Most often, dentists use a hydrogen peroxide gel and a special light source to whiten the teeth enamel. 

 

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth are those large teeth at the back of the mouth. Most people have two on the top, two on the bottom. They are the last teeth to emerge in adulthood, usually in the late teens or twenties. However, in some people, some wisdom teeth may only partly erupt (come through) and they may get stuck (that is, get impacted) against nearby teeth or bone. 

Some other possible complications of wisdom teeth are; a wisdom tooth growing out too far and damaging the cheek or gum, or it being in a position that makes it difficult to clean properly and cause repeated gum infections. Or, it may crowd out other teeth. 

Wisdom teeth can therefore cause pain, discomfort and have a long-term impact if not removed professionally- oral surgery may be needed in order to extract wisdom teeth in a safe and effective way. Some wisdom teeth removals can be very simple, with the dentist performing the extraction in their rooms with the use of local anaesthetic. Wisdom teeth extraction methods vary depending on the particular circumstances – if the situation is more complicated, for example, if the teeth are impacted, a specialist orthodontist may need to surgically remove them.

 

Dental Mouthguards

Mouthguards are often used while playing sport to prevent damage from accidental or deliberate knocks to the face. Mouthguards protect the teeth, jaws, lips, gums and tongue from injury. An effective mouthguard is like a crash helmet for the teeth and the jaw. Children and adults should wear mouthguards during contact sports or some activities like biking. They also help protect teeth, braces, dental implants and dental bridges from damage. Mouthguards may also be recommended by dentists for people who suffer chronic teeth grinding.  Custom made mouthguards are usually a better fit and protection against dental injuries than ready-made mouthguards. A dentist can take a mould (impression) of your teeth and make a well-fitting, comfortable mouthguard for your protection.