Scaling and cleaning involves removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) that accumulates on the teeth by a dental practitioner.

Dental plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria that forms on the surface of teeth. It can usually be removed by brushing and/or flossing. Calculus (also know as tartar) on the other hand forms when plaque has been solidified by saliva. The minerals in saliva enter the layer of plaque making it hard and prevent it from being cleaned by brushing and/or flossing.

We recommended our patients get scaling and cleaning of their teeth done every six months. In some cases, scaling and cleaning may need to be performed more often. Your dentist will let you know if this is the case for you.

“Preventative Dentistry encompasses a range of services such as oral hygiene instruction, dietary advice, fluoride treatment and fissure sealants Oral hygiene instruction (OHI) involves an assessment of your existing brushing and flossing technique and advice and tips on how to improve your existing technique as well as new ways of removing plaque (bacteria) from your teeth. We discuss products such as electric toothbrushes, water flossers, mouth rinses and high fluoride toothpaste which you can use to lower your risk of developing decay and gum disease.

Dietary advice begins with assessment of your existing diet. Following this assessment, advice is provided regarding changes that can be made to lower your risk of developing dental decay and gum disease. Fluoride treatment involves the application of a gel or varnish with concentrated fluoride that changes the chemical structure of your teeth and makes them more resistant to developing dental decay.
Fissure sealants area thin layer of dental filling material that are applied on back teeth to prevent them developing decay.

Premolar and molar teeth naturally have fissures or grooves. The fissures can sometimes be thin and deep which makes them hard to clean. Bacteria and food can get stuck inside the fissures and cause decay. The fissure sealant prevents food and bacteria getting stuck inside the fissures.”

Dental fillings are placed on teeth to replace natural tooth structure that has been damaged as a result of dental decay or fracture. There are three main types of dental fillings: composite resin, amalgam and glass-ionomer cement (GIC). Composite resin is the most common and is tooth coloured. Less drilling is generally needed for the placement of a composite resin filling as the material bonds to the surrounding tooth. The colour of the filling can be matched very precisely to the colour of your tooth making it very difficult for someone looking at your teeth to be able to tell if you have a filling.

Glass-ionomer cement (GIC) is also a white or tooth coloured filling material that is sometimes used. It is not as strong as composite resin but contains fluoride which helps repair the tooth structure underneath.

Amalgam is used less frequently these days compared to in the past. It is silver in colour and so can be easily seen by someone looking at your teeth. It has very good strength and longevity and so is still the material of choice in certain cases.

Mouthguards prevent damage to teeth when playing sport. It is recommended that everyone playing a contact sport or a sport that involves a risk of injury to the teeth wears a mouthguard. Your dentist will take a mould of your teeth to make you a custom-fitted mouthguard. They will also check the fit of the mouthguard and that it protects your teeth well. This is better than the mouthguard available at pharmacies or stores which fits poorly and doesn’t provide much protection

Occlusal splints or nightguards, are appliances made to protect the teeth and supporting structures from damage during clenching or grinding. Clenching or grinding of teeth, termed bruxism, can occur when patients are awake or asleep. Chronic clenching and grinding may eventually lead to temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).

Temporomandibular disorders are a group of conditions that involve the muscles controlling the lower jaw, the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) and supporting structures. Your dentist may recommend a nightguard if you have wear facets on your teeth that indicate you may be clenching or grinding your teeth or if you are suffering from temporomandibular disorders

A crown is recommended for teeth that are broken down or have been weakened by dental decay, large fillings, root canal treatment or trauma. Once the tooth is prepared, the crown fits over the tooth and strengthens it to prevent breakdown. There are a number of different types of crowns such as porcelain bonded to metal (PBM) or porcelain fused to metal (PFM), e.max, full gold crowns and zirconia. Your dentist can talk to you about which is the best type of crown for you.

A bridge, on the other hand, is carried out to replace one or more missing teeth. It consists of an artificial tooth that is attached to the adjacent natural teeth.

The adjacent natural teeth are first prepared in order to receive the bridge. The bridge is then cemented, replacing the missing tooth. There are different types of bridges such as traditional bridges, cantilever bridges and Maryland bridges. An alternative to a bridge is a dental implant. Your dentist can talk to you about which is the better treatment option for you.

Teeth can change colour as a result of age, diet, poor oral hygiene or trauma. Tea, coffee, red wine and smoking are the most common causes of tooth discolouration. Teeth whitening is a safe, effective and relatively inexpensive method of improving the colour of your teeth and removing any discolouration. There are two main options when it comes to teeth whitening: professional ‘in-chair’ whitening or at home teeth whitening.

Professional ‘in-chair’ whitening takes approximately one and a half hours and involves the placement of a strong teeth whitening gel by your dentist. Your teeth will be considerably whiter when you leave the appointment compared to when you came in.

At home teeth whitening involves construction of thin, plastic trays that are custom made for your teeth. A whitening gel is provided to you along with the trays. The gel is placed in the trays and the trays are worn every day. Your dentist will let you know how long to wear the trays for each day and how many days to wear them for.

Root canal treatment is treatment of infection or inflammation of the pulp. The pulp is located deep inside each tooth. It contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. The pulp can become severely inflamed or infected due to a deep cavity, extensive dental work to the tooth, breakdown of a filling or crown, a crack in the tooth, or injury. If left untreated, these teeth can cause severe pain and may lead to a dental abscess. In order to save such teeth, root canal treatment is needed.

In order to assess if a root canal is needed, the dentist will examine the tooth and take an x-ray. The dentist will then talk to you about the process, the cost and any alternate treatment options that you have.

If you decide to proceed, the dentist will administer local anaesthetic to numb the tooth. A sheet of latex, called rubber dam, will be placed over your mouth in order to isolate the tooth.

The dentist will then drill into the tooth, remove the pulp, clean and shape the root canals and seal the root canals. The procedure can take two to three appointments depending on the tooth and the complexity of the case.

These days teeth are extracted less frequently as patients are increasingly choosing to have other treatments such as root canals and crowns. However, in some cases, extraction of a tooth is the best treatment option. A tooth may need to be extracted due to extensive dental decay, gum disease, infection, cracks or to improve appearance as part of orthodontic treatment (braces).

If your tooth needs extraction, the dentist will take an x-ray of the tooth and have a chat to you about the process. The dentist will then administer local anaesthesia to numb the tooth and the area around it. Once the tooth is extracted, the dentist will advise you on how to look after the area at home and provide you a list of aftercare instructions.

As we get older, we tend to lose teeth because of dental decay and/or gum disease. In addition, older teeth tend to be more brittle and are susceptible to cracks and fractures. In cases where there are multiple missing teeth, a denture is a great option to improve the patient’s chewing, bite, speech and appearance.

Dentures are made of acrylic or metal. They can be partial dentures or full dentures and conventional dentures or immediate dentures. Each type having its advantages and disadvantages. Talk to your dentist about which option is right for you.

Our dentists carry out the same procedures on children that are carried out on adults such as scaling and cleaning, fillings, extractions etc. but with an in-depth understanding of child development and behaviour management. We often find that for many patients, their experience of going to the dentist as a child was traumatic which has resulted in them accessing dental care for relief of pain only. Therefore, we focus on ensuring a positive dental experience for the child and their family which encourages good dental habits and regular dental visits in the future.

Our clinicians are comfortable and skilled in talking to children and are gentle and patient in their delivery of dental care. This alleviates any anxiety or fear that the child may have of seeing the dentist. We are also able to refer children to a specialist paediatric dentist if they require sedation such as happy gas (nitrous oxide) or general anaesthetic.