Veneers
Veneers are used in several instances to improve the aesthetics of the smile. Colour issues: Tooth colour varies considerably from person to person and darkens with age, while some have developmental anomalies that are unsightly. Veneers could transform the smile completely. We would like to give you beautiful, “natural” teeth that look as if they were “born” there, as opposed to Hollywood “Tippex” Teeth that look completely false. Small problems are corrected easily: Spaces between the teeth / Angled or misaligned teeth. Another problem that is becoming more frequent is shortened anterior teeth. Some people wear the front teeth over time so that they look noticeably shorter. Veneers are then used to restore the length of the teeth and give back the original smile
Implants
Losing one’s teeth is a traumatic experience, no matter the cause. We have seen many patients who have ended up on the wrong side of surfboards, tennis rackets or horse hooves! Did you know that some people are born without the full complement of teeth? Aside from the fact that missing teeth cause unhappiness because of difficulty with speaking and chewing, some people are embarrassed and refuse to smile. Imagine interacting with others and being too embarrassed to open your mouth!
Teeth Whitening
It is vital to have tooth whitening done by a professional as some products in the wrong hands may cause harm. There are also some pastes sold as whitening paste that have abrasive particles which will harm the enamel. The colour of one’s teeth is a very personal thing. Two people may have the same tooth colour but their skin tone can make their teeth seem very different. Various things stain teeth, for example, smoking, curry, red wine, etc, but most often these stains can be polished off during the routine oral hygiene appointment.
If one wants to change the actual colour of one’s teeth, whitening is the solution. The shade guide pictured here shows some groups of tooth colour – each group has the same base shade yet can be lightened considerably within that group. Whitening can be done gradually at home or in a single session in our rooms – ask us how it can be done.
Crowns & Bridges
CROWNS are placed when the tooth is weak or when a portion has fractured or decayed and the remainder of the tooth is not sufficient to support function. If you have had a root canal treatment the tooth may become brittle so a crown is often recommended to prevent fracture. The process requires a lot of detailed work to remove a small amount of the tooth in all dimensions to make enough space to place a complete coverage, thimble-like crown.
BRIDGES are placed when one or more teeth are missing. Modern dentistry now replaces missing teeth with dental implants (see our Implants page elsewhere on this website) but if this is not possible, a bridge is placed by crowning the teeth on either side and suspending one or more “dummy teeth” between them.
OVERLAYS are placed if there has been fracture or decay but there is still a good portion of healthy tooth structure. It would not be necessary to remove healthy tooth and cover it entirely with a crown, so the overlay “wraps over” the deficient edges and protects the tooth from fracture.
Oral Hygiene
Some patients are reluctant to attend oral hygiene treatments but it is vital for the health of your teeth and the rest of your body. Plaque (colonies of bacteria) is present in every mouth and if this is not removed through brushing and flossing religiously, it hardens to form calculus. This process occurs faster in some individuals than others so you may have to come in to see our “tooth fairy” more often. You may notice that there is some bleeding when brushing or flossing your teeth – this means that the soft tissue is inflamed and you need to improve your oral hygiene.
Inflamed soft tissue will retract slowly, leaving the roots of the teeth exposed; you may find that sweet and sour things cause sensitivity in these exposed areas. The bone underneath will follow the gum so that slowly the support for the teeth is reduced. Unfortunately, many people only realize that damage has occurred once the teeth become mobile and this is too late to reverse the bone loss. This process (periodontal disease) is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults today.
Interestingly, people are more aware of the less serious side effects of oral disease, like bad breath and bleeding gums. However, because the bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to other areas, periodontal disease is now also linked to other diseases in the body, for example, heart disease and diabetes. If you are sceptical about the need for oral hygiene you are welcome to ask the dentist to show you the inflammation in your mouth with the oral camera so that you can see why he has asked you to attend.
Our oral hygienist is available on several days of the week. You won’t believe how wonderful your teeth feel once you have a treatment!
Orthodontic Procedures
During orthodontic procedures, your dentist will correct teeth and jaws improperly positioned. Tooth decay and periodontal disease are prevalent when teeth are crooked and do not fit together properly. Due to extra stress on the muscles and joints headaches, neck and shoulder pain as well as back pain might be experienced.
You qualify for orthodontic procedures if you have the following:
- Overbite– sometimes called “buck teeth”- where the upper front teeth lie too far forward (stick out) over the lower teeth.
- Underbite – a “bulldog” appearance where the lower teeth are too far back.
- Crossbite– when the upper teeth do not come down slightly in front of the lower teeth when biting together normally.
- Open bite – space between the biting surfaces of the front and/ or side teeth when the back teeth bite together.
- Misplaced midline– when the centre of your upper front teeth does not line up with the centre of your lower front teeth.
- Spacing– gaps or spaces between the teeth as a result of missing teeth or teeth that do not “fill up” the mouth.
- Crowding– when there are too many teeth for the dental ridge to accommodate.
How does Orthodontic Treatment work?
Many different types of appliances, both fixed and removable, are used to help move teeth, retrain muscles and affect the growth of jaws. These appliances work by placing gentle pressure on the teeth and jaws. The severity of your problem will determine which orthodontic approach is likely to be most effective.
