Still Bay Dentist
Highly Experienced Professional
Dental Services
My dentist told me I needed a crown. I was like “I know, right?”
General Care
We take care of your teeth the best way and with the least discomfort or pain we possibly can.
Regular professional cleaning of teeth helps to prevent tooth and gum problems. During the cleaning process we scrape off plaque and tartar deposits. Then we polish the tooth surfaces to remove small stains, unevenness and roughness until the teeth appear bright and shiny again.
Dentures (false/artificial teeth) can break, crack, or splinter off for various reasons. Our expertise is conveniently at hand to repair them quickly and soundly.
Depending on the specific case, we can attach on one or more additional teeth to the existing plate
We make use of a tooth-coloured composite resin to repair broken or damaged teeth and restore their appearance. When performing this procedure, we apply the resin material to the damaged teeth changing the shape, size as well as colour of teeth.
We use the same process to treat mild cases of exposed tooth necks.
We supply the necessary equipment, along with precise instructions to responsibly perform whitening at home.
Investigation & Diagnosis
Before we can actually work on your teeth, we need to establish the root of the problem.
We perform complete dental check-ups to determine whether you have any problems with your teeth. During the check-up we look for symptoms like swelling or redness of the gums and mouth sores, as well as signs of grinding/gnashing like fine cracks. We also check the alignment of your jaws. Regular check-ups can, of course, assist with the prevention of dental decay, gum diseases and even oral cancer, as a result of identifying and solving potential problems in time.
We make use of oral x-rays to evaluate your oral health. Like brushing and flossing, regular oral x-rays is an integral part of overall oral health. With such an x-ray we obtain an image of the interior of teeth and gums which enables us to identify problems such as cavities and tooth decay. There are two categories of oral x-rays, namely, intraoral (inside the mouth) and extra oral (outside the mouth).
A panoramic oral x-ray give us a complete image of your mouth. The machine rotates round your head and presents us with a two dimensional, ear-to-ear image of both the upper and lower jawbone. This we typically use to check your wisdom teeth and jaw problems, as well as to plan implants and identify cysts, growths, tumours, etc.
Types of Dentures
Fixed and removable, partial (replacing missing teeth) and complete (replacing all teeth).
Acrylic dentures are dentures that are attached to an acrylic base plate which you can take out of your mouth. They vary between full dentures and partial dentures. This cost-effective method offers a more affordable alternative to dental implants.
We use a dental bridge to permanently replace one or more missing teeth with false teeth. The false teeth (bridge) are attached to the teeth on either side of the gap, mostly by putting a crown on the abutment teeth or implants with the false teeth between them.
A chrome denture is usually a partial denture or a one tooth denture supported by a metal framework. The chrome denture is supported by the remaining teeth to keep it securely in place. It is designed in such a way that it can’t be seen once it is in place and is made to fit precisely in your mouth. Cobalt chrome is a medically approved light alloy and, since the metal is durable, strong and light, the denture is very thin and comfortable to wear.
We make use of a dental crown to repair a weak, broken or decayed tooth. It is a sort of a cap shaped like a tooth that we place over the problem tooth to re-establish its shape, along with its size and strength. Crowns are mostly made from porcelain, but other materials are also used, for example metal, ceramic, zirconium, etc.
A dental implant crown is a false tooth that we attach to an implant which is screwed into the jawbone. Such a crown is as strong and durable as a natural tooth.
Dental Procedures
These include all dental work we, as dentists physically do on your mouth, such as extractions and fillings.
We use a dental bridge to permanently replace one or more missing teeth with false teeth. The false teeth (bridge) are attached to the teeth on either side of the gap, mostly by putting a crown on the abutment teeth or implants with the false teeth between them.
A dental implant is a screw like metal post or artificial root that replaces the tooth’s roots. By means of a surgical procedure we position or screw this post into the jawbone. False teeth like crowns or bridges can in turn be attached to the implant, e.g. to replace a missing tooth. It stands on its own and looks like a natural tooth.
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. CEREC crowns are exclusively made of porcelain and inserted on the same day (in the chair), in other words, there is no waiting period. We take different shot of the teeth and gums, the computer software puts them all together to eventually create a 3D image. We use this image to produce the permanent crown. The entire process takes approximately 2 hours.
Cavities are the most common form of tooth decay and can cause serious pain and discomfort. Symptoms of cavities normally manifest in sensitivity for hot or cold food and drink, sweets, pain when chewing, or toothache especially when eating. Further decay could be prevented by filling the cavity so that nothing can enter the cavity and cause more pain and decay.
Sometimes the soft inside or pulp of a tooth gets damaged or becomes infected. In such cases we remove the damaged or inflamed pulp, clean the inner area and disinfect it, after which we insert filling material into the inner part of the tooth. We refer to this process as performing a root canal.
If a tooth has decayed beyond treatment, we have to pull it out. Since such a tooth is completely visible, we can easily reach it. First we properly anaesthetise the area around the tooth, then we wriggle it to loosen it some, then pull it out. A tooth extraction wound heals quickly and does not really need special aftercare.
We surgically remove teeth that have broken off or never came out, such as wisdom teeth. For this procedure we administer a local anaesthetic or anaesthetise the patient. First we make a small incision in the gum in order to reach the tooth. Then we extract the tooth as a whole, or break it in smaller pieces until it is completely removed. After this procedure it is important that a patient carefully follow our aftercare instructions.
Referrals
Some dental problems need to be treated by a dentist holding a qualification in a particular area of dentistry.
Some dental problems require specialised knowledge, skills and also equipment that family dentists do not always have. In such cases we gladly refer patients to dental specialists, such as orthodontists whose job is to correct irregularities of teeth, mainly by means of braces. Or prosthodontists (prosthetic dentistry), endodontists (root canal specialists), periodontists (gum specialists), as well as paedriatic dentists (children), and more.
Smile with Confidence
Take sensible care of your teeth and they could serve you all your life.
Make a habit of visiting us every six months for a check-up and professional cleaning.