Information

ZOOM! - Teeth Whitening

Only one appointment is needed to complete the treatment.

Your appointment will be approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Your teeth will be cleaned and the ZOOM! whitening gel applied. We then shine a special light on the teeth that will do the whitening. This process may be done 3 or 4 times untill the desired shade is achieved.

You will leave the surgery with a brighter whiter smile and a top up gel to use when you feel the need.

Call one of our practices today to book your ZOOM! appointment!

Teeth Whitening

Believe it or not, people have been whitening/bleaching their teeth for more than a hundred years. The results, however, have not met peoples high expectations. With today's technology, teeth whitening has become an excellent and effective way to remove discolouration and stains to the teeth. All tooth whitening procedures use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to bleach out stains on your tooth enamel.

Whitening techniques will vary with every individual depending on:

1. the type of stain on our teeth
2. where the stain is located
3. the amount of time the whitening gel is used
4. the peroxide concentrate in the whitening gel

We use the popular take home whitening kit which only requires a small amount of in surgery time! This technique uses a custom made plastic/rubber trays that fits comfortably over the upper and lower teeth. Bleaching gel is then placed into the trays and then worn for multiple hours, a day or over night. The complete transformation will be noticed in 7-10 days.

Three appointments will be required over approximately a 3 week period to complete the treatment.

Appointment 1: a 15 minute appointment is required to take impressions, these are needed for special whitening trays to be made.

Appointment 2: approximately a week later, a 15 minute consultation appointment is required to show you how to use the trays and whitening gels. You will then be given the trays to take home and use with the whitening gel every day for approximately 7-10 days.

Appointment 3: a 5 minute review appointment is needed to establish whether or not additional gels a required to reach the shade preferred.

Call one of our practices today to book your TEETH WHITENING appointment!

Veneers

A veneer is a thin layer of tooth-coloured material which is made to fit precisely over the visible surface of a front tooth to make it look better.

They are ideal for discoloured or unsightly teeth to improve the appearance. They help to close the gap between front teeth and can protect the teeth from acid in food and drink.

Porcelain veneers are made by a dental technician after taking an impression of your tooth

A significant advantage of porcelain veneers is that a porcelain veneer`s surface is just that, porcelain. Since porcelain is a ceramic its surface is extremely smooth and impervious. this means that the surface of a porcelain veneer will not pick up permanent stains.

White Fillings

New materials are now available which have properties similar to those of amalgam (silver fillings), so the life expectancy of a white filling depends on where it is in your mouth and how heavy your bite is. We will be able to advice you on the best options for you.

The before and after shows how we replaced old and blackened silver fillings with new, white fillings. These advanced materials make your mouth look and feel natural and unscarred.

If you visit the dentist or hygienist at regular intervals and follow a daily cleaning plan, there is more chance that you will keep your teeth into your old age. Catching the problem before there is too much damage can only be achieved if you visit the dentist. If you have any doubts make an appointment right away and let us

deal with your problems.

Crowns

Crowns are fitted when a tooth is badly damaged or a root canal filling is in place. The crown is created in a laboratory after the dentist has prepared and taken an impression of the problem tooth. You will need to have at least two appointments if you have a crown fitted.

Appointment 1
Tooth preparation, impression, temporary crown.

Appointment 2
Cementing the permanent crown into place.

Bridges

A bridge is used to replace missing teeth and is one alternative to partial dentures.

Bridges are usually made from a precious metal base and if the bridge is visible, porcelain is then bonded to the base. To reduce the cost, non-precious metals can sometimes be used for the base.

The bridge is made by constructing crowns on the teeth either side of the gap and joining them together with a false tooth. It is made in the laboratory and cemented into place using a special dental adhesive.

Once in place the bridge cannot be removed. You can usually have a bridge if you have enough strong teeth with good bone support.

Implants

Implants can be used to replace missing teeth and maybe suitable for people who cannot use removable dentures. They are titanium rods which are surgically placed into the jawbone and used as anchors for bridges or crowns. Implants improve the appearance and function of your dentition. However, they are not suitable for everyone and we will advice you of the procedures associated with implants.

If you want a more permanent solution to dentures that improves your 'chew ability' and helps you avoid the 'sunken face' look often associated with missing teeth, implants could be for you.

It generally takes about six months for the surgical implant to heal before the final installation of the artificial tooth or teeth can be finished.

Due to the amount of surgery involved this procedure is expensive but this is the closest you will come to re growing your natural teeth. They are far superior to removable dentures and virtually undetectable. They will save you time and have long term health benefits compared with other treatments on offer (90% of modern implants last a minimum of 15 years).

If you would like a quote or more information about the procedure please give us a call.

Dentures

Dentures can be partial or full. Partial dentures can replace a few missing teeth. Dentures can be fitted straight after teeth have been taken out so that no-one knows you have had teeth removed.

A partial denture is the easiest way of replacing missing teeth, but some people find this uncomfortable and eventually decide to have a bridge or implant made. A partial denture is a plate with false teeth attached to it. The plate is made of either plastic, or metal and plastic, usually with clips to keep it in place. Sometimes the retaining clips can be visible when you smile or or open your mouth, but this depends on the position of the false teeth and clips.

We will be able to advice you on the range and suitability of the different types of plastic teeth available.

The denture will need to be removed from your mouth for cleaning. We will be able to show you how to clean it with a soft or medium bristled toothbrush and washing up liquid or liquid hand soap. Do not use toothpaste as it is too abrasive. Toothpaste will damage the acrylic denture surface by scratching it. This will promote bacterial adhesion and plaque formation. If you have a metal-based denture, be careful as some cleaners can corrode metal. Do not clean them in bleach or any other household cleaner. Never immerse them in bolling water.