A visit to your dentist needn’t be scary.
We offer a number of general dentistry services, all of which are performed by friendly, experienced professionals. Here’s what you need to know about some of our most common procedures.
Fillings for cavities
If you suspect you have a cavity, don’t delay—make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible. Some common symptoms include tooth sensitivity, toothache, visible holes in the teeth, and stains on the surface of the teeth.
In a relatively simple procedure, tooth decay, which causes holes in your teeth through which bacteria can enter and grow, can be managed. Your dentist will place a filling to restore your damaged tooth and prevent further damage. The filling will be placed to close up the hole where bacteria is likely to enter, and the decayed part of your tooth will be removed and cleaned. The cavity will then be bonded and filled with a filling material, made from tooth-coloured composite or silver amalgam.
Root canal therapy
It might sound scary, but our root canal procedures are performed by highly skilled professionals with the use of a local anaesthetic. Root canal therapy is a procedure in which a tooth’s infected or damaged pulp is replaced with a filling. Damage to the pulp can be caused by a number of factors, including untreated dental decay, decay underneath a filling, and damage caused to the tooth as a result of teeth grinding, gum disease or trauma. After the procedure, you will need to take special care of your teeth while they recover. Avoid eating hard foods until the treatment is complete to avoid any damage.
Wisdom teeth removal
The wisdom teeth removal procedure is performed in order to correct any problems caused by the growth of wisdom teeth, or to prevent potential issues from occurring in the future. In many cases, the jaw is simply not big enough to contain all of the wisdom teeth, causing them to become impacted. This means that the teeth are sometimes unable to break through the gum line, or if they do emerge, they can appear at an awkward and uncomfortable angle. Sometimes, wisdom teeth partially break the gum line, causing gum tissue to grow over them. Food and germs can then get stuck in the tissue, leading to infection, cysts, and damage to the surrounding bone and teeth.
The good news is that these issues can be resolved by the removal of wisdom teeth. It may take a few days to recover from the procedure, but you will be prescribed with painkillers to help you deal with any discomfort. It is quite normal to experience some bleeding and swelling after surgery, which can be managed with cold compresses, warm salt water rinses and regular gauze replacement.
Teeth extraction
The most common reason for an extraction procedure is tooth damage caused by breakage, decay or infection. We will repair a damaged or broken tooth with the use of a filling or crown, but in cases where the damage is too extensive, we may recommend that the tooth is removed. During a simple extraction, the tooth is loosened with a special instrument known as an elevator. Your dentist will then use forceps to extract the tooth from the bone socket.
A surgical extraction may be recommended if your tooth has broken off at the gum line. In this case, a small incision is made in the gum through which the broken tooth can be carefully removed.
Need one of our dental services? To make an appointment, contact us here.