GENERAL DENTAL TREATMENTS IN TONBRIDGE
General Check-ups
What happens at a routine dental check-up?
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If it is your first appointment at the practice, your dentist will take a full dental and medical history. They will also:
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Thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and mouth.
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Take X-rays if necessary.
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Discuss any dental problems you may have had since your last visit
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Discuss general health and dietary issues that can affect your teeth and gums – such as alcohol consumption or smoking.
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Discuss your teeth-cleaning habits, such as brushing technique, and recommend any improvements such as interdental brushes or flossing as required.
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Explain any further treatment you may need, such as fillings, root canal treatment or hygienist appointments.
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Provide you with a full treatment plan.
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Answer any questions you may have regarding your treatment and what options are available.
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If you require no other treatment, your dentist will let you know when you should come for your next routine check-up.
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Life benefits
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Maintain good oral health
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Spot any problems early
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In many cases, prevent problems before they start
Emergency Dental Care
If you have chipped or broken a tooth as a result of an accident or injury, it is very important that you see a dentist as soon as possible. The same goes for one or more knocked out teeth. The sooner you are seen by a dental professional the better the chances that the teeth could be re-implanted, depending on the severity of your injury. Here are some of the steps an emergency dental appointment will cover:
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A thorough examination of the injured area will be undertaken. This may include dental x-rays to determine the extent of the damage.
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Depending on the severity of the pain, the area will be numbed with local anaesthetic.
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The injured area will be sterilised to reduce the risk of infection.
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The damaged teeth will be restored temporarily or permanently, depending on the case.
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In severe cases the affected tooth may require extraction and implant treatment will be discussed.
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If you require emergency dental treatment, you should ask to see a dentist as soon as possible. At our practice we offer appointments for all dental emergencies from toothache to lost or broken crowns, chipped teeth and fillings to abscesses, trauma, avulsed teeth and facial swelling. We can take care of your injuries to ensure you heal quicker and more effectively, ensuring that you avoid additional dental problems and complications in the future.
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Life Benefits
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Preservation of remaining tooth structure.
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Reduced risk of infection.
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Improved long-term oral health overall.
Extractions / Oral Surgery
In cases of advanced gum disease and tooth decay, teeth may need to be extracted. Some patients may also develop impacted wisdom teeth, which can cause intense pain. This is alleviated by having them removed surgically. One area in which it is possible for dentists to specialise is oral surgery, an umbrella term for all dental procedures involving surgery, such as the extraction of teeth or wisdom teeth. It is always important to get the advice of a dental professional if you are worried about any of your teeth. Never attempt to pull out your own tooth at home as this could cause a more serious problem for you.
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Tooth extractions typically involve the following:
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Before the procedure you may require an x-ray of your teeth.
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Depending on your particular case and the severity of your problem, you may be given a local anaesthetic and offered sedation if you are anxious.
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Dentists have the right equipment and sterile environment to extract teeth with the utmost care and your recovery can be surprisingly quick.
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In the case of wisdom tooth extractions, you may have some swelling after the procedure and discomfort that can be eased with over-the-counter painkillers. In cases of advanced gum disease or periodontitis, antibiotics will be prescribed to reduce the risk of further infection.
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Life Benefits
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Safe and sterile procedure.
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Quick recovery and healing time with reduced infection risk.
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Sustained good oral health.
Treatment for Broken Teeth
Even the best cared for teeth can become chipped due to accidents, for example tripping over or sports injuries. Teeth that are weakened by decay can also become chipped when biting hard or chewy food such as toffee. If your tooth becomes chipped you should contact your dentist straight away because chipped teeth are weaker and can cause discomfort in your mouth. Left untreated they can also develop more serious problems because the sensitive inner parts of the tooth can be exposed.
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If you have a small chip in your tooth enamel, this can often be fixed with one quick visit to the dental practice. If a large part of your tooth has broken off, you may require more extensive treatment and more than one visit to the practice – your dentist will be able to advise you about this on examination.
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How is a broken tooth treated?
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1) Fillings and dental bonding
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A small chip to a tooth near the back of your mouth can often be repaired with a filling. A tooth-coloured composite material can often be used, which makes the filling largely unnoticeable. Your dentist may drill the tooth to remove any decay and to smooth the edges before the filling is placed. This can commonly be done in one visit.
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If you have a small chip on your front teeth, your dentist may recommend dental bonding. Using a tooth-coloured composite, this will repair your tooth and will be matched in colour as closely as possible to your natural teeth. Your dentist will apply a gel to the affected tooth, followed by an adhesive and the bonding material. This material is then shaped to look like a natural tooth and hardened using ultraviolet light. This procedure can also commonly be done in a single visit.
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2) Crowns
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When a large piece of tooth has broken away or when the natural tooth is very decayed, a crown or cap can be the best option. Crowns are tooth-shaped caps that fit over the top of your teeth and can be made from metal, porcelain or composite material. While metal crowns are the strongest, they are better for back teeth; porcelain crowns are the most realistic-looking and are better for teeth nearer the front of the mouth.
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A composite filling material will be used to give your tooth added strength before the crown is placed on top. An impression is taken of your affected tooth and the corresponding tooth that bites down on it for your crown to be made. Your dentist may fit you with a temporary crown whilst your permanent crown is being made – this typically takes up to two weeks.
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3) Veneers
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When a front tooth is chipped, dental veneers are often used to disguise the damage. This is a quick and easy option to restore your smile.
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Dental veneers are thin slivers of porcelain or composite resin material, which is placed over the whole front of your tooth. Your dentist will prepare your tooth by removing a small amount of enamel, and will take impressions of your tooth, which are sent to the laboratory for your veneers to be made. This can take from one to two weeks. Once your veneer is ready, your dentist will use a special bonding material to fit the veneer to your tooth
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Life benefits
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Stronger teeth
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Reduces the danger of food getting stuck in gaps and cracks, which could cause more serious problems
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A smile you are proud to show off
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) is needed when the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected through tooth decay or damaged by an injury to your mouth. This infection may spread through the root canal system and could eventually lead to an abscess, causing a great deal of discomfort. If root canal treatment is not carried out, the tooth may need to be taken out. Root canal therapy involves the following:
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First, local anaesthetic will be administered to ensure no discomfort is felt during treatment.
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The tooth will be prepared with a drill, allowing access to the root canal system.
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The root canal system will be thoroughly cleaned out to remove all infection and pulp.
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The root canal system is then filled and sealed temporarily with a crown.
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The tooth is checked at a later visit and when all the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled.
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Root canal treatment is a skilled and time-consuming procedure and most courses of treatment will involve two or more visits.
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Life Benefits
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Preservation of remaining healthy tooth structure.
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Prevention of infection spreading any further.
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Restoration of tooth to its natural look and feel.
Sedation
Many patients feel self-conscious about dental treatment and nervous about visiting the dentist. We offer special care to our anxious patients to make their appointments more comfortable and relaxing.
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At Tonbridge Dentistry we offer intravenous sedation (also known as IV sedation). The sedative drug is injected in a controlled manner, so that you feel relaxed during the dental treatment.
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Our team of dentists and nurses are specially trained to deliver this type of sedation and will make sure that you are safe and comfortable at all times during your visit.
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Life benefits
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Now you don’t have to let your fear of the dentist stop you from getting the dental treatment that you need.
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A safe way to feel calm and relaxed during dental treatment.
