Crowns
from £755
Fillings
from £113.33
Bridge
from £2,059.12
Hygienist
from £46
Crowns
A crown is a cap that is placed over a tooth and held in place by dental adhesive or cement. Crowns can be made from a variety of materials. They can be made from plastic, ceramic or metal alloys. A combination of metal and ceramic is also possible to maximise strength and simulate the appearance of natural teeth.
Firstly, a thorough clinical examination is conducted with radiographs, by the dentist. The suitability for crowns is assessed and any preparatory work is carried out. Your dentist will also be able to advise on material choices, treatment sequence and any other concerns you may have.
At the second appointment, the teeth to be crowned are prepared. This involves reduction of the tooth size (usually under local anaesthesia) followed by an impression or mould of the prepared tooth. This trimming of the tooth is required to create space for the crown to be fitted. The mould taken is then sent to a laboratory where skilled technicians will fabricate the crown. In the meantime, a temporary crown is made and fitted onto the trimmed tooth.
At the third appointment, the temporary crown is removed and the tooth surfaces cleaned. The completed crown is tried on the tooth for fit, harmony with the bite, and appearance. Finally, the crown is cemented onto the prepared tooth with dental cement.
Crowns are made of inert materials that do not deteriorate over time. However, the underlying tooth is still prone to decay and gum disease.
Ceramic on the surface may chip or fracture. Avoid chewing excessively-hard substances like ice or bones. Daily brushing and flossing are essential for maintaining good oral health as well as keeping the crown trouble-free. The most vulnerable portion of the crown is the margin or the junction between tooth and crown.
Regular check-ups will enable your dentist to detect any problems with your crown and recommend necessary treatment.
Benefits of Crowns
Root Canals
WHEN IS ROOT CANAL TREATMENT NEEDED?
The crown of the tooth is made up of the hard, white, enamel layer and a thicker dentine layer. Both these hard layers protect the innermost soft tissues of the tooth called the pulp. The dental pulp contains blood vessels and nerves within and extends from the crown to the tips of the root or roots.
Root canal treatment involves the removal of the pulp tissues from the tooth in the event that it gets infected or inflamed. The pulp can be infected or inflamed due to either deep decay or an extensive restoration that involves the pulp, cracked or fractured tooth due to trauma, excessive wear of enamel and dentine exposing the pulp, and sometimes as a result of severe gum disease.
Signs of pulp damage may include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, discolouration of the tooth, swelling, tenderness of the overlying gums or a bad taste in the mouth. On the other hand, there may be no symptoms at all. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can eventually cause pain, swelling and loss of the supporting bone.
IS ROOT CANAL TREATMENT PAINFUL?
Root canal treatment procedures are relatively comfortable and often painless as the tooth is anaesthetised during treatment. After treatment, the tooth may be sensitive or tender for a few days due to inflammation of the surrounding tissues. This discomfort can be relieved by taking mild analgesics or painkillers available over the counter at the pharmacy. However, if the pain persists and is severe, or a swelling occurs, you should contact your dentist.
Advantages of Root Canal
Root canal treatment saves teeth that would otherwise have been extracted.
After root canal treatment the tooth is pulp-less i.e. it has no vital tissues within. However, there are vital tissues surrounding the root e.g. the gum, periodontal membrane and supporting bone. A root canal treated tooth can function normally and can be maintained with routine dental care and oral hygiene measures.
Fillings
Today, with the higher standards of tooth care available, regular dental and hygiene check-ups, our knowledge of good and bad foods and the wide range of dental products on the market, our teeth are generally healthier and stronger than ever before.
Despite this, there are very few people who won’t require a filling at some point in their lives.
You may need a filling for various reasons. Most often it is because of a decay in the tooth, however excessive biting of fingernails or grinding of the teeth can cause wear. They can also be damaged by hard food items or when biting on hard objects.
For aesthetic reasons, many people now opt for composite resin (tooth coloured) fillings.
First introduced in the 1960’s, composite fillings are a mixture of plastic and glass (silicon dioxide). The resin is white in colour giving it a natural look which blends very well with your natural teeth.
Due to the fact that white filings were generally considered softer and therefore less hard wearing than amalgam, composite fillings were originally only used in the back teeth.
Today, with more modern materials now available, composite is suitable for use in all teeth and has proved just as strong and durable as amalgam.
Bridges
Bridges are usually made of a precious metal. If the bridge will show, porcelain is then bonded to the base. Sometimes, there are other non-precious metals used in the base for strength.
Although a bridge may seem costly they can be a wise investment that will give many years of good service. It will also improve your appearance and bite. A bridge uses the considerable skill of the dentist and technician, and in this way, it’s similar to ordering a piece of hand-made jewellery.
You need to clean your bridge every day, to prevent problems such as bad breath and gum disease. You also have to clean under the false tooth every day. Your dentist or hygienist will show you how to use a bridge needle or special floss, as a normal toothbrush cannot reach.
Hygienist
We have different types of cleaning appointments available to suit everyone’s needs- from an express clean for that special occasion to more intense treatments for those who feel they may have gum disease.
Hygiene visits are not just about cleaning your teeth and providing you with effective tooth brushing techniques, advice can also be given on dietary habits, smoking, examples of different cleaning products and fluoride use all of these have a direct effect on how healthy your teeth and gums will be. Many people believe that bleeding gums are normal, but they are not.
Just as you would go to see an optician or your doctor if your eye was dripping with blood, you should see a dental professional if your gums are bleeding – there is no difference. Now, you do not need to see a dentist first, you can just telephone the practice to make an appointment with our hygienist. Gum disease is caused by plaque which consists of food debris and bacteria which is left behind on our teeth every day. The plaque, if not removed by regular tooth brushing, causes irritation to our gums which can lead to gum disease.
Symptoms of Gum Disease
Hygiene Treatments
FAQs
Where the insertion of implants is relatively straight forward it usually only takes around 15 minutes. Following this, the implants will require some time to integrate with the jaw bone. This can take between 3 and 6 months depending on where they have been fitted. Temporary restoration and full dentures can be worn throughout the recovery process until it is possible to fit the final crown. Each treatment is unique and your requirements will be discussed with you prior to commencement. Long term care is vital and regular check-ups and other maintenance will be scheduled as required.
Over 95% of implants are successful and with good levels of oral health and regular long-term care they can last for 15 years or more.
Implants usually take place under a local anaesthetic so you will not feel any pain during the procedure, although you may experience some discomfort for a week or two afterwards. If you are particularly nervous or your case is more complex, then a sedative may be considered. Overall, placing an implant is generally easier than removing a tooth.
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