Woodside Dental Practice & Implant Clinic

Check up

At the first visit we feel it is more important to get to know you and establish a good relationship therefore unless there is any emergency treatment necessary we confine our first visit to a discussion of your Dental needs (if any), and a thorough Dental examination together with any necessary x-rays. Normally two x-rays are taken at your first visit. The Dentist will then discuss with you any necessary treatments identified during the examination. By explaining the options fully, we enable you to make an informed decision about the procedures that are right for you. You will be given a written quote and treatment plan, including a clear estimate of costs. After your treatment is complete we will agree together how often your routine examinations and hygienist appointments will be. For most patients this will be every six months. We can make your check-up appointments in the practice following your visit or our fully integrated computer system will generate a recall to be sent to you through the post, email or text messaging.

X-rays

Intra-oral X-rays are the most common type of X-ray taken. These X-rays provide a lot of detail and allow your dentist to find decay, check the health of the tooth root and bone surrounding the tooth, check the status of developing teeth, and monitor the general health of your teeth and jawbone. X-rays can often pick up problems at an early stage long before you begin to feel any pain or discomfort. Although there is a risk with taking dental x-rays, this is outweighed by the diagnostic benefit. If required we can arrange to have an extraoral X-rays taken (OPT) This shows us the teeth, but their main focus is the jaw and skull. They are useful when assesing impacted teeth, monitoring growth and development of the jaws in relation to the teeth, and to identify potential problems between teeth and jaw and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or other bones of the face.

Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening is a very simple, common procedure to whiten natural tooth enamel in a short time, and can be a highly effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surface. There are a number of reasons why you might get your teeth whitened. Very few people have brilliant-white teeth, and, just as our hair and skin colour vary, so do our teeth. Our teeth can become more discoloured as we get older. They can also be stained on the surface through food and drinks and smoking. Calculus and tartar can also affect the colour of the teeth. Whiter teeth give a more youthful and confident smile. Professional bleaching is the most common form of tooth whitening. Your dentist will be able to tell you if you are suitable for the treatment, and will supervise it if you are.

The 'active ingredient' in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide hydroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets in to the enamel on the teeth and the tooth colour is made lighter.

At Woodside Dental practice we offer professional home whitening kits rather than laser/in surgery tooth whitening systems as we feel they provide a much longer lasting result. As there is reduced dental chair time involved the costs are also considerably less.

Crowns

Your dentist may recommend having a crown(s) in order to protect damaged cracked, or worn teeth. A dental crown is a tooth shaped cap, placed over a tooth to improve its appearance, and restore its shape, size and strength. The dentist will shape the tooth and take an impression which will be sent to a dental technician. The technician will construct a custom made crown which will be permanently cemented into place by the dentist at a subsequent appointment. In the interim phase a temporary crown will be constructed and fitted onto the tooth by the dentist.

Crowns can be made from various types of material including an all porcelain, all metal or a porcelain and metal mix. Your dentist will discuss with you the most suitable option for your needs.

Veneers

A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain made to fit over the front surface of a tooth, like a false finger nail fits over a nail. Sometimes a natural 'composite' material is used instead of porcelain. Veneers can improve the colour, shape and alignment of your teeth. A precise shade of porcelain can be chosen to give the right colour to improve a single discoloured or stained tooth, or to lighten front teeth generally. Veneers can make a chipped tooth look intact again, and can also be used to close small gaps when orthodontic braces are not suitable. Veneers made with modern materials create beautiful, natural looking smiles.

Porcelain veneers often require removal of a portion of the natural tooth surface. Like crowns, impressions will be taken and sent to the lab technician who will construct the veneers to a desired shape, size and shade. This will then be fitted by the dentist at a follow up appointment.

Composite veneers offer an alternative to traditional porcelain veneers. Composite material can be built onto the tooth without having to remove any of the natural structure. This means that the procedure is less destructive to the tooth and whilst it may take more time in the surgery there are no lab fees associated with this technique. Your dentist will be happy to discuss this in more detail.

Bridges

Bridges are commonly used to replace one or more missing teeth. They span the space where the teeth are missing. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth, called abutments, serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges. Your dentist can help you decide which to use, based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), its function, aesthetic considerations and cost. Porcelain or ceramic bridges can be matched to the colour of your natural teeth.

Implant crown and bridge

A dental implant consists of a titanium metal rod which is placed in the jawbone. It is used to support one or more false teeth and, in practice, both the supporting rod and the false teeth are known as 'implants'.

Implants are a well-established, tried and tested treatment. How soon you can have new teeth will depend on the time taken for the implants to bond (integrate) with the bone after they have been put in. This takes at least 3 months in the lower jaw and up to 6 months in the upper jaw, and usually the permanent teeth are fitted 4-6 months after the implants have been put in.

Any number of teeth can be replaced by implants, from a single tooth to a complete set, however, the treatment will also depend on the state of the bone in your jaw which will be assessed as to its suitability. Bone grafts to the jaw may be an option if there is bone loss or it is not healthy enough.

Implants can have some advantages over conventional treatment such as crowns and bridges. For example, they avoid the need to cut down the teeth either side for crowns to support a bridge. Talk to us if you have any questions or require further information regarding implants, and we will assess whether this treatment is the best option for you.

Implant retained dentures

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