GENERAL DENTISTRY

Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. A bridge is made up of two or more crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap — these two or more anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth — and a false tooth /teeth in between.

Types of Dental Bridges

1. Traditional fixed bridge: This is the most common type of bridge. It includes a crown on either side of the pontic(s).
2. Maryland dental bridge or resin-bonded bridge: This is often used to replace front teeth. Instead of crowns, it uses porcelain or metal frameworks with “wings” that are bonded to the back of your teeth on either side of the gap.
3. Implant-supported bridge: An implant for each missing tooth is surgically embedded into your jawbone in one procedure. The bridge, which contains the pontic(s), is placed over them in a later procedure.
4. Cantilever bridge: This one is no longer commonly used. When only one side of the gap contains a natural tooth, the pontic(s) are anchored by a single crown on that natural tooth.

Why visit the hygienist?

It is possible to visit without a referral, or you may have been prescribed treatment as part of a preventative treatment plan. With the help of our dedicated team of hygienists, our patients can prevent gum disease and get treatment when they need it most. You will receive the skills and training you need to maintain healthy gums and teeth over a lifetime.

What happens during a dental hygienist appointment?
During the appointment your hygienist will carry out an initial dental hygiene examination. They will then: Offer tailored advice on how to maintain good dental health and demonstrate techniques you can use at home.

How often should you see a dental hygienist?
Your dentist might suggest that you should see a hygienist at regular intervals to help you manage your oral health, or you might just choose to book an appointment whenever suits you to remove stains and freshen up your smile. Dental hygienists are the experts in managing the health of your gums.

Why do I need a denture?
A denture is a removable dental appliance that replaces the appearance and function of one or more missing teeth. During long-term treatments such as dental implants, they are also helpful as a temporary solution.

What types of dentures are available?
We are fortunate to have a wide variety of dentures to choose from. Generally, dentures can be classified into two main categories: full and partial dentures. Partial dentures are designed to replace one or more of the natural teeth left on your arch, while full dentures replace all of your teeth.

What are dentures made from?
Dentures are usually made from dental acrylic in part. Dental acrylic is available in several colours, allowing us to use materials that closely match your natural teeth’s shade.

You may want to consider a cobalt chrome denture, which has a metal frame on which the artificial teeth are mounted. These dentures are thinner and more comfortable, especially for those not accustomed to wearing dentures.

How long will it take to make my dentures?
It usually takes 4-6 weeks to create a bespoke set of dentures.In order to get your dentures made, you will have two sets of moulds made, as well as bite measurements and a trial denture to ensure you are happy with the fit and shade before receiving your new teeth.

A filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape. When a dentist gives you a filling, he or she first removes the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area, and then fills the cleaned out cavity with a filling material.

How do dentists fill a tooth?
Once the tooth is free from decay, the dentist will make sure the hole is a suitable size and shape to hold the filling material firmly in place. They will also make sure it’s completely clean and sterile, ready for the filling material to be applied. For an amalgam filling, the material is mixed immediately before application.

Types of tooth fillings – what are dental fillings made of?
There are various different tooth filling materials that dentists use according to the type of filling. For a front tooth filling, for instance, dentists typically use a tooth-coloured material. Many of these dental adhesives are the same as those used to attach crowns, bridges and veneers.

Each material has its own benefits and drawbacks in terms of:

• Cost
• Appearance
• Strength
• Durability
• Ease of application

Amalgam (silver) fillings
Amalgam is more noticeable than composite. Silver-coloured amalgam fillings are made from a mixture of metals; around 50% mercury along with silver, tin and copper.

This is the cheapest tooth filling material available and is relatively easy to apply. It’s also the strongest, which is why it’s often used on stress-bearing surfaces. It’s a particularly good option for large or deep fillings.

Composite resin fillings
Composite tooth fillings are typically made from a mixture of acrylic resin and powdered glass. The composite material is shaded to match your natural tooth colour as closely as possible, making the filling hardly noticeable.

What are Dental Inlays and Onlays?
 Inlays and onlays are indirect dental restorations, which means they are made outside of your mouth in a laboratory. An inlay or onlay is typically used when a cavity is too large for a simple filling. Inlays and onlays can increase a tooth’s strength by up to 75 percent.

What is the difference between an inlay and an onlay?
Therefore, rather than re-shaping a sound tooth to fit under a crown, your dentist can simply use an inlay or onlay. An inlay fills the gap in the tooth while the onlay is applied to the top of the tooth – but apart from positioning they essentially play the same function.

What is an onlay filling?
An inlay is a small filling that fits into the biting surface of a tooth. An onlay covers a larger area of the tooth and is better suited to bigger cavities. Gold was traditionally used for these types of restorations. However, in recent times hard-wearing tooth-coloured porcelain has become a more popular choice of material.

Your dentist may suggest root canal treatment if there is inflammation or infection inside one of your teeth. They will clean and fill inside the tooth to prevent further damage or infection. Root canal treatment can save your tooth from having to be taken out.

What is a root canal?
Your teeth have ‘roots’ that anchor them into your jawbone. Inside each of your teeth there is a mixture of blood vessels and nerves called pulp. Pulp sits inside a space called the pulp chamber and this extends down into the roots of the tooth. The pulp chamber within the root is called the root canal.

Why is root canal treatment needed?
If your tooth is damaged, bacteria can get inside it. This causes irritation, pain and swelling. If the pulp inside the tooth becomes infected, this can spread into the pulp inside the root canal.

The aim of root canal treatment is to prevent your tooth from being taken out by removing the damaged pulp and treating the infection.

You may need root canal treatment for a number of reasons, including:

•  Severe tooth decay
•  Repeated dental treatment on the tooth
•  A cracked tooth
•  A broken crown
• Cracked or loose fillings
• Gum disease
• An injury, such as a blow to your mouth

If the infection isn’t treated, it can spread further and cause an abscess, which is a collection of pus. This can be painful, tender and can cause swelling around your tooth and jaw.

Sometimes your tooth may look darker in colour than your other teeth, which means that the nerve inside your tooth is dead or dying.

What is a tooth extraction?
Tooth extraction is performed by a dentist or oral surgeon and is a relatively quick outpatient procedure with either local, general, intravenous anesthesia, or a combination. Removing visible teeth is a simple extraction. Teeth that are broken, below the surface, or impacted require a more involved procedure. 

Why are teeth removed?
There are lots of reasons why you might need to have a tooth removed. For example, if you have:

• Severe tooth decay
• Gum disease (periodontal disease)
• A broken tooth that can’t be repaired
• An abscess (a collection of pus) on your gums or around your teeth
• Crowded teeth – when your teeth don’t have enough space in your jaw
• Impacted wisdom teeth 

Your dentist will usually remove a tooth in your dental surgery. But sometimes an oral surgeon will do the procedure in hospital if your extraction is more complicated. You can usually go home on the same day.

Wisdom teeth removal means having one or more of the third molars (your wisdom teeth) at the back of your mouth taken out. This can sometimes involve a surgical procedure.

Your wisdom teeth are the last four of the large grinding teeth (molars) at the back of your mouth to come through. You’re likely to have them by the time you reach your mid-twenties, though some people find they come through earlier or later than this.

Sometimes, your wisdom teeth don’t come through properly, meaning they’re impacted. This can cause problems such as pain, swelling and infection. Having your wisdom teeth taken out can ease these symptoms.

Why would I need to have my wisdom teeth removed?
Wisdom teeth don’t always need to be removed. For many people, they come through normally and don’t cause any problems. However, as your wisdom teeth are your last teeth to come through, there’s often not enough space in your mouth for them to grow properly.

They can get partially stuck in your gums or grow at an angle. This is called an impacted wisdom tooth. Even impacted wisdom teeth don’t always need to be taken out if they aren’t causing any symptoms.

Sometimes though, the way an impacted wisdom tooth is positioned can make it easy for food and bacteria to get trapped around the gum. This can lead to swollen and sore gums (pericoronitis), tooth decay and infection. If you’re having problems such as these, your dentist may recommend taking the impacted tooth out.

Having your wisdom teeth removed is one of the most common procedures done in the UK. It’s usually done in your late teens or twenties, when your wisdom teeth come through.

How is wisdom tooth removed?