Whitening

TOOTH WHITENING
Tooth whitening is a procedure to whiten teeth involving: a.) ¾ hour in surgery for initial whitening. b.) At home whitening for ½ hours daily for 2-3 weeks (4-5 for severe staining), using upper and lower trays and whitening gel. Results are maintained by a) correct oral hygiene. b.) Nil or minimum smoking. c.) Non excessive exposure to stain foods (coffee / tea / wine). Trays can be used for 3 – 4 years and additional whitening gels can be purchased as required. If teeth become sensitive, stop for one day, reduce time to ¼ hour increment, as required. NB: whitening does not damage teeth.

Bonding

FILLINGS
Fillings last 3-10 years – a) done to restore fractures, damage by caries / decay. b) preventative resin restorations for minimal decay present. c) toothbrush abrasion – to restore tooth structure lost by aggressive / hard brushing and seal the dentine to prevent further / faster wear and treat / prevent sensitivity.
Fillings are made of composite resin (white) or amalgam (metal alloy). The risks of using amalgam are unfounded and use is advocated by the South African Dental Association and American Dental Association amongst others.
Composite is used for anterior teeth, small posterior cavities and toothbrush wear lesions / cavities.
Amalgam is used for most medium to large size posterior fillings for their proven long term durability and success. For more information on white restorations to replace large amalgam fillings, refer to the crown and bridge section.
PRECAUTIONS: 1.)Avoid hard foods, e.g. bones, toffees, ice etc. 2.)Fillings need +- 24 hours to fully set. 3.)Tooth may be slightly tender for the first few days and should settle down. If not, contact the surgery.

Gum Treatments

ROOT PLANING

Crowns & Veneers

CROWN & BRIDGE, INLAYS, ONLAYS & CERAMICS
Lasts 10 – 20+ years. Crowns are porcelain covered metal (VMK) units to completely restore badly broken down or root treated teeth. The crowns are the strongest (metal / porcelain) and most aesthetic (color matched to adjacent teeth) restorations to restore teeth. They are most often indicated after RCT to prevent fracture of the weakened root treated tooth. Bridges are units of 2 or more crowns to replace lost teeth.

Implants

IMPLANTS
An implant is a replacement for a missing root onto which a crown (tooth) is added. This can be fixed and is the ideal option for missing tooth / teeth. Alternatively, it can be removable, for a full denture, to replace all missing teeth and has the advantage of the denture not moving or being loose. The procedure is over two phases. (2) Placement of implant by a specialist / dentist with 3 – 4 month healing period during which a temporary crown may be placed. Placement of final crown by dentist (2 visits ¾ hour each). Contra indications and limiting factors are: a.) poor health healing b.) heavy smoking c.) Lack of bone d.) Excessive clenching/bruxing/grinding e.) Poor Oral Hygiene. N.B. procedure is not traumatic.

Sedation

Some patients can become  overly anxious when having dental treatment. As a result, they may not be able to relax or sit still long enough to receive treatment.
The dentist may advise  a form of medicine that can help them to relax and/or become sleepy.
This is called "conscious sedation.". Conscious sedation may be used when you  require a lot of dental treatment or have special needs. Conscious sedation may be given in several ways, including: medicine in the form of a syrup or a pill, or through a vein (intravenously).

Makeovers

Refers to a combination of different procedures like restoring worn down teeth, use of crowns,   whitening ,   veneers,   orthodontics ,  implants   to restore  your  teeth  and  smile   to  its  ideal  in  terms  of   function  and  aesthetics.

BITE SPLINT

The use of a hard cured acrylic bite splint or soft laminate material is indicated for bruxing (grinding) in the sleep. If not used the constant bruxing results in wear and damage to the biting surfaces of the teeth causing sensitivity, eventual exposure of the nerve, loss of the normal bite and looks unaesthetic. The use of the splint may even prevent bruxing in itself. Splints are slightly bulky and uncomfortable and take time getting used to, but their use outweighs the initial discomforts.

TOOTH SIZE CORRECTION
Process where teeth are restored to correct size, when worn down, usually due to:
1. grinding the teeth.
2. Eating very hard foods.
3. Loss of most of back / molar teeth.
4. Non correction results in: a.) unaesthetic appearance due to shortening of teeth and jaw line. Procedure usually involves most teeth to allow an even build up to the correct size. It takes 1 to 2 weeks to settle into the new bite. It may be slightly uneven initially but usually settles. If after 4-5 days, particular teeth feel too high or feel rough / sharp edges, call the office for an adjustment. You will usually require a night guard appliance, to protect the new fillings and prevent further damage.