Treatments - Restorative
Occasionally your teeth can deteriorate or become so damaged that they can affect your ability to chew; make you mouth look unsightly; and are uncomfortable and even painful. We offer a series of treatments to help you enjoy eating again.
White Fillings
Where a tooth has decayed leaving large holes in the teeth we can offer composite or white fillings which, unlike the metal amalgam fillings:
- chemically bond to teeth
- can be used to repair teeth that are chipped and broken
- require less tooth preparation (drilling), so more of your healthy natural tooth is retained
White fillings are not suitable for all situations but where they are they:
- will be matched to your own tooth colour
- can reshape and rebuild broken tips, corners and the edges of teeth
- be used to cover unsightly marks within teeth
Where white fillings are not suitable attractive alternatives are available.
Crowns
We can fit a crown, or 'cap', where a tooth is broken down or weakened, through decay or a very large filling. We also advise you to have a crown if your teeth are discoloured or misaligned. A crown will cover the entire tooth, protecting and strengthening it.
Our crowns are:
- metal free
- computer designed
- tooth colour matched
- look and feel like a natural tooth
- less likely to cause an allergic reaction
Depending on the strength of the tooth underneath, your oral hygiene and regular checks, a crown can last for many years.
Inlays and onlays
Applying an 'Onlay'
We can sometimes repair damaged teeth using 'inlays', which sit in a tooth, and 'onlays', which sit on a tooth. They build up a tooth's shape and can be made from:
- tooth-colour matched porcelain
- gold
- non-precious metal
- white filling material
Inlays and Onlays:
- are strong and can last much longer than fillings
- require less preparation
- bond to the tooth and so retain or improve the overall strength of the remaining tooth
- Are durable and especially suitable for the chewing surfaces of back teeth
Because of their durability, function and aesthetic potential, inlays and onlays are highly recommended for many tooth restorations.
Root canal treatments
An abscess in the gums often indicates dead, dying or even infected, nerves and blood supply to the teeth. We can remove the dead tissue, fill the space created and then repair and protect the affected tooth.
Root canal treatments saves the tooth from extraction and brings pain relief.
Fixed bridges
How we fit a 'bridge'
If you have lost one or more teeth we can usually replace them with a bridge. We fix the replacement to your natural teeth either side of the gap using precious metal, ceramic or even non-precious alloys (depending on the clinical situation and your preference). Sometimes we can apply a 'winged bridge' which attaches to only one adjacent tooth.
Bridges can be used to:
- improve the shape of your mouth
- correct any bite problems you have
- improve your speech
- protect your natural teeth from wear and tear
- prevent your remaining teeth from tilting
Bridges require your commitment to oral hygiene,but will last several years or more, provided your mouth and teeth are checked on a regular basis.
Removable dentures
There are various options for dentures
We can replace a lost tooth or group of teeth with removable dentures. They can be the larger acrylic resin dentures, or the stronger metallic dentures.
Our removable dentures:
- are custom made for you
- help you to chew properly and comfortably again
- prevent your remaining teeth from tilting
- improve your speech
- replace lost support in your cheeks to give you a fuller face
- can be removed for cleaning
