Dental Treatment
Dental Treatment
PREVENTIVE CARE
We recommend 6 monthly checkups to ensure your ongoing oral health. A routine checkup includes an examination and scaling & polishing. Your dentist will examine the health of teeth and soft tissue, including gums, lips and cheeks.
A professional dental cleaning (scale and polish) removes the bacteria and plague. Over time plaque absorbs minerals in the saliva to form hardened deposits known as calculus or tartar. When left untreated the bacteria will eventually cause a number of common dental problems such as dental cavities in your teeth and gum problems, which in turn can lead to gum disease.
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During your visit for preventive care your dentist may recommend the application of topical fluoride. Fluoride is important for prevention of tooth decay. It is estimated that water fluoridation reduces tooth decay by 20-40% and tooth sensitivity. When ingested it is incorporated into the structure of the developing teeth, and it prevents the acid produced by the bacteria in plaque from dissolving tooth enamel. It also helps to repair the early stages of tooth decay even before the decay becomes visible.
RESTORATION
Filling is a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape.
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Decay causes a “hole” on your teeth or causes space in between your teeth. It is important to get a filling done in the initial stage; before the cavity becomes deeper and causes pain, in order to avoid more complex and more expensive procedures.
When a dentist restores your tooth, he or she will first remove the decayed tooth material, cleans the affected area then fill up the cleaned out cavity with a filling material. By sealing off spaces where bacteria can enter, a filling also helps prevent further decay.
Many types of materials can be used for fillings. The common ones are called composite resins and glass inomer cements which are both tooth colored.
Inlays or Onlays are used to restore teeth with mild to moderate decay, or teeth that have cracks or fractures that are not severe enough for a crown. They can also be used to replace metal fillings.
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Inlays are used to restore teeth where the decay or damage is within the indented top surfaces.
Onlays are used to restore teeth where the decay or damage extends to the cusp of the tooth or beyond.
Dental inlays or onlays are made from porcelain, composite resin or gold.
X-Rays
X-rays are an essential diagnostic tool, providing valuable information on what can’t be seen with the naked eye under the gums, under fillings, and in between the teeth, such as hidden dental structures, malignant or benign masses, bone loss, and cavities.
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Modern digital imaging limits radiation exposure to about the same as you experience in a normal day from environmental radiation. A routine exam which may include bitewings is about 0.0025 mSv, which is less than one day of natural background radiation. It is also less than the amount of radiation exposure from a short (1 – 2 hour) flight on an airplane.
Root Canal Treatment
When decay is left untreated for a period of time, bacteria can get into the nerve of the tooth and cause the nerve to be infected. This will result in a tooth ache. At this point, root canal treatment will be required to remove the nerve (also known as pulpectomy) and also to avoid extraction of the tooth.
Depending on the complexity of your case, root canal treatment may need to be performed over several visits.
The pulp is then replaced with materials that seal off the root canal from bone supporting the tooth’s root.
It is strongly advised that a crown is placed on the tooth after the root canal treatment has been completed to preserve the tooth structure and ensure its ability to function.
Fixed Prosthetic (Crown)
Crowns are also known as “Caps”. It is a tooth shaped cap that fits over your teeth. Crowns are placed on teeth that have been structurally weakened by decay or after root canal treatment, or teeth that have cracks or large fillings on them.
Crowns can also be used to cosmetically improve the appearance of your teeth. A Bridge is an artificial tooth supported by the teeth on either side of the space. Unlike dentures, this is a fixed option for filling in spaces where tooth or teeth use to be.
Removable Prosthetic (Dentures)
Denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth. There are two types of dentures; complete and partial dentures.
Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing,
while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain. Dentures are removable for the ease of cleaning them.
A denture can be made of plastic (acrylic denture) or metal (cobalt chrome denture) or nylon (flexible denture).
Surgeries - Removal of Wisdom Tooth
Wisdom tooth refers to your third molar teeth. The third molar will be the last adult tooth to erupt and it normally surfaces around 18-21 years of age.
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Sometimes, wisdom tooth can be removed via normal extraction. For certain cases the wisdom tooth could be impacted. In such cases, the tooth has to be removed surgically.
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A wisdom tooth surgery is a procedure whereby the dentist performs a minor but delicate surgical procedure to remove a wisdom tooth that has not erupted fully. Wisdom tooth surgeries are usually done under local anesthesia and it is Medisave claimable.
Surgeries - Implant
One of the best ways to replace missing teeth is dental implants. They generally look and feel better than other alternatives such as removable dentures and fixed bridges. In fact, modern implants look and feel natural.
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Dental implants are root-like structures made of titanium, a material which the body easily accepts. They are surgically inserted into the jaw bone at the site of the missing tooth, and a protective cover screw is placed temporarily on the implant while it fuses with the jawbone. An interim denture can also be placed over the implant immediately after surgery, to be worn for the duration of the healing time.
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Once the implant has infused in to the jaw bone, a crown(s) or bridge is then joined to the stable implants via titanium abutments. Due to the extreme stability and careful colour matching of the implant crown, your new teeth will look and feel like real ones.
Eating and chewing will be as natural and comfortable as with your original teeth. The long term success rates of dental implants is over 90%. They are a cost-effective and aesthetically elegant solution for those with missing teeth.
Implant Surgery are usually done under local anaesthesia and it is Medisave Claimable.
Surgeries - All on 4 Dental Implant
The all-on-4 implant procedure is a modern, effective and safe alternative solution to replace an entire jaw of missing teeth.
Instead of using dentures, four dental implants are used to support a full denture bridge. With fewer implants required, the overall treatment time and costs are reduced.
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Bone grafting is typically unnecessary in this procedure. Therefore, you will not be subject to any discomfort or a long healing period.You will also be able to enjoy your new teeth on the day itself after the treatment.
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The new teeth will look and feel very much like natural teeth and you can proceed with the daily routine immediately after surgery.
Gum / Periodontal Treatment
Gum treatment comprises of multiple types of specific treatment on the gums for patients with diagnosed gum problems/ concerns such as patients with loose teeth, severe bone loss, long looking teeth etc.
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Gum treatment can also sometimes involves opening the gum (called a flap) to debride the affected area and cleaning it thoroughly.
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Periodontal disease is a chronic infection that destroys the supporting bone and attachment tissues that hold your teeth in place in your mouth.
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The milder form of gum disease is also known as gingivitis, which is reversible, and the more severe form is called periodontitis. In advanced stages, the bone supporting the teeth is irreversibly lost. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to premature tooth. The good news is that you can keep your natural teeth with proper care.
Orthodontic Treatment
(Metal Braces)
Orthodontics deals with the treatment of improper bites, which may result from tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both. One type of treatment is braces. Braces can rearrange teeth and control or modify facial growth.
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It can be carried out for cosmetic reasons such as improving the general appearance of one’s teeth and face, and for practical reasons like functionally improving one’s bite.
Metal braces are made of stainless steel. Brackets are designed to be smaller and more comfortable.
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Though metal braces are more noticeable, many youths and adults view metal braces as a fashion accessory and enjoy making bold colour selections with the rubber bands, which are changed monthly.
Orthodontic Treatment
(Ceramic Braces)
Ceramic invisible braces are a clear alternative to metal braces. They are attractive, translucent and comfortably designed to give you all the self-confidence you need to face every day with a smile.
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Ceramic brackets will not stain or discolour. It may be used whenever metal braces are appropriate for dental braces treatment.
Orthodontic Treatment
(Clear Removable Braces)
Clear aligner treatment is a system of virtually invisible aligners used to move the teeth. Rather than fixed braces, you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing it due to the nearly invisible aligners.
Clear aligners are also removable, so you can eat, brush and floss normally and at the same time maintain a good oral hygiene. With no brackets and wire in your mouth, you will feel less irritation and lesser visits to the dentist to do adjustment. At Absolute Family Dental, we use Invisalign.
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In consultation with the dentist, you will determine which system is the better alternative for your treatment, depending on the complexity of your needs.
Tooth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a popular and affordable choice to brighten your smile.
Our dentist will advise you if your teeth and gum are suitable to go through the whitening process. We offer a range of whitening options from custom-made take home kits to quick chair side in – house whitening.
Veneers
Veneers are laminates made to fit over the front surface of a tooth, like false fingernails over nails. They can be used to correct deficiencies in a person’s smile, such as crooked teeth, yellow or discoloured teeth, chipped teeth or teeth that are too short.
They are almost indistinguishable from natural teeth, making them a favourite of many stars to achieve that dazzling smile.
Veneer teeth are made from medical-grade porcelain (ceramic) or resin composite materials.
Mouth Guard
(Night Guard)
Many individuals are unaware that they grind or clench their teeth at night, but a lot of damage can occur.
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Symptoms associated with teeth grinding include headaches, ear aches, facial and neck muscle pain, and jaw joint pain.
Night guards are used to treat bruxism (teeth grinding) and clenching.
The night guard fits over either the upper or the lower teeth, creating a cushion between them and absorbing the impact of grinding or clenching. Night guards help reduce enamel damage, jaw joint inflammation, and irritation to gums. Overall, most night guard wearers report less pain and better sleep.
Mouth Guard
(Sports Guard)
Sports guard primarily act as a shock absorber. These dental mouth guards protect children’s and adult’s teeth and jaw joints from trauma that can be sustained while playing contact and collision sports, such as rugby, hockey, MMA, and boxing.
Accidents can happen during any physical activity and a mouth guard ultimately helps absorb shock experienced by the face, thereby reducing risk of teeth injuries such as a chipped tooth, tooth loss, soft tissue injury, and in severe cases, jaw injuries.