Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry is required when teeth have been affected by disease or trauma, or to replace previous dentistry work that has failed or worn out.
Most people have a 95% chance of suffering from some form of tooth decay throughout their lives. It is a very common problem but when caught early, is very easy to repair. As soon as you notice it, book an appointment as it’s important to remove the decay and clean and repair the tooth.
Composite Resin Restorations
Composite resin is most commonly used to replace old and failed amalgam fillings on back teeth. It is also used to restore decayed, chipped and cracked teeth.
Composite bonding is a process where tooth coloured materials are applied to the tooth and shaped to achieve a natural appearance.
Ceramic Onlays and Crowns
Weak teeth will often need a ceramic onlay or crown to strengthen them. Ceramic onlays are used when a tooth has been fractured, has a large filling or a significant crack.
Ceramic crowns are used to protect and restore a broken, weakened or heavily filled tooth. It can also be used to improve the appearance of discoloured or crooked teeth.
Crowns can be colour matched to your existing teeth, giving them a natural appearance. We routinely use digital photography to ensure the best colour match possible.
Bridges
Bridges are used to replace missing teeth. The teeth on either side of the gap will be prepared to receive the bridgework which goes from tooth to tooth.
Bridges were always considered to be the best way to replace missing teeth but dental implants have now overtaken this.
We tend not to use a bridge as a permanent solution anymore unless there is a reason why a dental implant cannot be fitted.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment, or endodontic therapy, is necessary when the pulp of the tooth becomes infected and starts to destroy the nerve of the tooth. Treatment is also carried out when trauma occurs in a tooth.
Once the pulp becomes infected, it can become very painful and can’t heal by itself. A root canal treatment is carried out to clean out the infected pulp and disinfect the canals of the tooth.
This is Dr Janet Ibbotts’ area of special interest and she continues to push the practice forwards with her postgraduate study in this area.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a very close match to the look of a natural tooth. It is a well-established solution to replacing one or more missing teeth, with 95% of cases lasting many years as long as they are cared for correctly. An implant consists of a titanium rod which is set into the jawbone, an abutment and the natural looking tooth replacement.
We only use Straumann dental implants which are one of the two leading manufacturers of dental implants and have over 30 years of clinical data backing up their success.
Cleaning and Prevention
The best way to maintain a healthy mouth is to attend regular dental appointments. This ensures our dentists can notice and treat any potential problems before they become more severe and harder to treat. You will avoid having many fillings and extractions and are more likely to keep your natural teeth for life.
Hygienists perform thorough hygiene maintenance and will teach you how to properly take care of your teeth. If plaque is not removed, it turns into tartar which can only be removed by a professional. It is this plaque and tartar that causes gum disease and tooth decay.
Night time bite guards
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, can destroy your teeth, as well as give you headaches and jaw ache. You may not notice that you suffer from bruxism as it often happens during sleep.
However, if you do notice that you are grinding your teeth, we would recommend using a night guard to prevent any further damage from occurring.
The study of jaw joints, bites and bite related symptoms is one of Dr Chris Ibbotts areas of special interest.