General Dentistry

Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are a tooth-coloured restorative material used to repair a damaged or decayed tooth. The affected portion of the tooth is removed and then filled with the composite filling.It is then cured with a visible blue light which causes it to harden almost instantly.

Composite resin dental fillings are strong, durable, and make for a very natural looking smile. Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend composite resin dental fillings for the following reasons:

• To restore chipped or worn teeth.
• To close a space between two teeth.
• To repair cracked or broken teeth.
• To repair damage caused by tooth decay.

Crowns (Caps)

A crown (or cap) is a dental restoration that covers the entire visible surface of an affected tooth. If a tooth is damaged but not lost, a crown can be used to restore its shape, appearance and function.

A tooth that has been fixed with a crown looks and works very much like a natural tooth. Although there are several types of crowns, porcelain are the most popular because they best resemble your natural teeth to provide a beautiful long-lasting smile.

Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend a crown for the following reasons:

• To repair broken or fractured teeth.
• For cosmetic enhancement.
• To restore decayed teeth.
• To repair fractured fillings.

Fixed Bridges

A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) dental restoration that consists of one or more prosthetic teeth that bridge the gap created by missing teeth. There are several types of fixed dental bridges, including traditional fixed bridges, cantilever bridges and resin-bonded bridges. The porcelain fixed bridge is the most commonly used and best resembles the look and feel of your natural teeth. This type of bridge consists of an artificial tooth (or teeth) fused between 2 crowns that go over the anchoring teeth on either side of the gap.

Dental bridges are highly durable and can enhance your smile for many years. Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend dental bridges for the following reasons:

• Fill space of missing teeth.
• Maintain facial shape.
• Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.
• Restore chewing and speaking ability.
• Restore your smile.
• Upgrade from a removable partial denture to a permanent dental appliance.

Root Canal therapy

Root canal therapy is the process of removing infected, injured or dead pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth) from the space inside your tooth - called the root canal system. The canal is then filled with materials designed to prevent infection from recurring and restore the tooth to its full function.

A successful root canal treatment lets you keep your tooth rather than having it extracted. Keeping your tooth helps to prevent adjacent teeth from drifting out of line, causing further problems.

Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend root canal therapy for the following reasons:

• Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth).
• Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip.
• Injury or trauma to the tooth

Symptoms or signs for root canal therapy may include:

• Minimal to severe pain.
• Tooth discoloration.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold.
• Swelling and irritation in the surrounding gum tissue.
• Sometimes no symptoms are present.

Dentures & Partial Dentures

A denture is a removable dental appliance that replaces missing teeth and the surrounding tissue. Dentures are designed to be comfortable and functional. They are very similar in appearance to natural teeth and can dramatically improve your smile and facial appearance.

There are two types of dentures - complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures replace all natural teeth and cover the entire upper or lower jaw. These dentures rest directly on the gum and provide support for the cheeks and lips. A partial denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth. It consists of prosthetic teeth attached to a gum-coloured base that attaches to your natural teeth with clasps. A partial denture not only fills in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from shifting.

Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend dentures for the following reasons:

• Loss of all teeth in an arch.
• Loss of several teeth in an arch.
• Enhancing smile and appearance.
• Improving chewing, speech, and digestion.

Tooth Extractions & Wisdom Teeth

A tooth extraction is the process of removing a tooth from the mouth. There are a number of different reasons why a tooth may need to be extracted. In most cases, teeth have to be removed because they too badly damaged or decayed to be repaired.

Most people develop wisdom teeth around 18 years old. It is important to assess whether there is room for them in a patients mouth and if they are going to affect other teeth. Wisdom teeth commonly affect other teeth as they develop and can become impacted. Wisdom teeth are often extracted when or even before this occurs. 

We may recommend an extraction for one of the following reasons:

• Injuries and accidents
• Periodontal disease
• Overcrowding
• Dental abscess
• Dental decay