Treatments

In terms of offering long-term protection to teeth and gums from bacteria and impurities, normal tooth cleanings generally considered to be insufficient. There are always gaps e.g. between the teeth and the edges of crowns which even the most persistent brushing cannot reach. Professional tooth cleaning (PRT) should form an intergral part of any tooth care programme. The first step is to get rid of plaque with a mixture of ultrasonic and manual techniques. Stains, caused by coffee, tea or nicotine, are then removed with air-flow. Finally the teeth are vigorously polished to reduce uneven surfaces where plaque can build up again. We recommend a PRT routine every six months.

During fluoridation, fluoride is applied to the teeth in a coating. Fluorides are naturally occurring minerals which can be built up in the tooth enamel, and which can radically alter tooth enamel structure, this offering increased resistance to bacterially caused acidity. The colourless fluoride coating adheres to the tooth surface for a number of days after application, during which time, small amounts of fluoride are continuously absorbed by the enamel layer (deep layer fluoridation). The teeth are consequently re-mineralised and sealed tight for up to six months, guaranteeing extensive protection against tooth decay.

Even regular and comprehensive tooth care procedures are no guarantee for brilliant white teeth. Natural or genetic tendencies towards discolouration can leave teeth looking yellow or off white. Teeth whitening is a process where the tooth discolouration is ‘whitened’ to a lighter shade.

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-coloured materials designed to cover the front side of teeth to improve the overall appearance of teeth. They are made of either thin plastic resin or porcelain and can be placed to: Tooth preparation is minimal and confined to the enamel structure. The veneer is bonded to the tooth structure with tooth-coloured resin cement. Several visits are necessary to complete treatment. Patients should be aware that this is usually an irreversible process because it’s necessary to remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth to accommodate the shell.

For many years, the material of first choice has been amalgam, although its composition has been greatly improved on, the potential risk involved in its application cannot be fully excluded. This is why we only use plastic composites as filler material. This composite can be made to match the form and colour of the tooth more exactly, thus lending your teeth a more natural and cared-for appearance.

Where there are larger defective areas, or wide gaps caused by missing teeth, especially among the back teeth, the best form of treatment is generally considered to be the ceramic inlay. Ceramic inlays are manufactured using the so-called indirect process. After taking a cast of the prepared tooth, the inlay is created under laboratory conditions. The inlet is then fitted and fastened to the tooth.

Where the substance of the tooth has been greatly reduced, the crown can offer a long lasting solution in terms of appearance and functionality. Crowns are made of materials of various qualities and properties, ranging from relatively simple plastic and metal crowns, up to crowns made of gold similar precious metals, as well as full ceramic crowns with individual colouring.

Where teeth have been partially lost, the bridge offers a solution which combines the best in comfort and aesthetics. The teeth on either side are prepared as for an individual crown(abraded). The next step is to create a model from casts, which is then taken as the basis for the construction of the bridge in the laboratory. The missing teeth are represented by the bridge. The value and durability of such bridges can be testified by the experience of many years.

Implants are artificial titanium roots which are inserted into the jawbone and into which false teeth can subsequently be inserted. Implants are especially suited to gaps left by one missing tooth, since in contrast to bridges, the neighbouring teeth do not need to be prepared. Implants are often employed either to provide a stabilising effect for a prosthesis or as pillars for bridge. Normal application of this process occurs under local anaesthetic, although a full narcosis under the supervision of a trained anaesthetist is possible.

Measures which need to be taken in order to save a tooth where the nerve is damaged or dead, thus avoiding the need for extraction. The objective of a root canal treatment is to clean out the root canal, to reduce bacteria to a minimum, and subsequently to seal the canal with a filler material. Please remember however, that prevention is better than a root canal treatment. If a tooth is inwardly inflamed it is normally because it has been penetrated by bacteria from the surface of the tooth.

Periodontitis may best be described as an inflammatory disease of the gums. Typical symptoms include bleeding gums, receding bones and gradual loss of teeth. Recent developments in dental techniques have enabled us to combat this disease in many new and effective ways. Bone which has been lost can nowadays be easily regenerated by the use of guided tissue regeneration and substitute bone material. In this way teeth which have been despaired of can be maintained for many years.