Referral Treatment
Extractions
Although permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, there are a number of reasons why tooth extraction may be needed.
– tooth that is too badly damaged to be repaired.
– A crowded mouth. Sometimes teeth are removed to prepare the mouth for orthodontics. Wisdom teeth may not have enough space to come through comfortably.
– infection that can not be treated with root canal therapy or a failed root canal treatment.
The vast majority of teeth are removed fairly simply by a general dentist. Sometimes, the actual pulling part of the procedure takes less time than the ‘going numb’ bit and the ‘getting you to stop bleeding bit’ afterwards. However others are more difficult and these may require the expertise of an oral surgeon.
Apicectomy
The aim of the treatment is to remove infection from the base of the root of the tooth where root canal treatment alone has not been successful in eradicating infection. Access is gained through the gum rather than through the tooth like in conventional root treatment. A small window is made in the bone over lying the root. The root is then cleaned and filled to prevent any further infection.
About 3 – 4mm is removed from the root tip. This has two functions. The first is to remove the infected part and the second to facilitate the filling and healing of the root end.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a titanium screw that can replace the root of a tooth when it fails. Just like a tooth root, it is placed into the jawbone. It is used to support one or more false teeth and the implant will look like a natural tooth. You can have any number of teeth replaced with implants – from one single tooth to a complete set. Implants are a safe, well-established, tried-and-tested treatment. Implants, just like natural teeth, will last for as long as you care for them.
If your implants are well looked after and the bone they are fitted to is strong and healthy, you can expect them to last for many years. However, just as with other surgical implants (such as a hip replacement) there is no lifetime guarantee. If you don’t look after your implants, then they will develop a coating similar to that found on neglected natural teeth. Left untreated, this can lead to gum infection, bleeding, soreness and general discomfort.
Orthodontics
If you have crowded or crooked teeth, orthodontic treatments can be used to not only straighten them out to improve their appearance but also to move them into a better position to allow easier cleaning and a healthy bite. When teeth do not meet correctly this can put a strain on jaw muscles and joints causing pain and even headaches. More complex cases are better treated by our Consultant Orthodontist.