Treatment Information

Teeth can stain and discolour for a number of reasons: drinking tea, coffee and red wine, smoking, or even eating certain types of coloured foods. In fact, it is almost impossible to have a lifestyle that will not stain your teeth!Fortunately it is possible for us to remove these stains, and brighten your teeth in a matter of weeks by using a home whitening kit.

The process is relatively simple, involving just a few steps. Firstly, we will check all your teeth and gums to ensure that you are dentally fit and a good candidate for whitening. Then impressions are taken, and a custom-made tray that fits exactly to your mouth will be fabricated. Once we have made sure that the trays fit properly, we will show you how to use the whitening gel, which is placed in the tray and worn through the night as you sleep. The trays are extremely thin and comfortable to wear, people rarely have any problems sleeping with them.

FAQs

1.Is everybody suitable?

Most people are suitable candidates for whitening. If you have existing crowns/veneers/fillings on your front teeth, then these will not whiten, and results may be unpredictable.

2.How long do the teeth whitening effects last?

Teeth whitening results are long-term, but not permanent. People who smoke, or expose their teeth to foods and drinks that cause staining will see the whiteness fade more quickly than those who don't. Once your whitening trays are made, they can be reused, and it is a simple and inexpensive process to 'top-up' from time to time. We recommend topping-up one night every second month to maintain optimum whiteness.

3. Do teeth whiteners damage tooth enamel?

Studies of teeth whitening products using 10% carbamide peroxide showed little to no effect on the hardness or mineral content of a tooth's enamel surface.

4. Are there any side effects?

Between 10-20% of people who whiten their teeth experience sensitivity, either during the night when whitening, or the following day. This sensitivity is transient, and normally goes away within 24 hours. Using sensitive toothpastes will normally alleviate the sensitivity

5. Do teeth whiteners damage a tooth's nerve?

There's no evidence to date that the teeth whitening process has a harmful effect on the health of a tooth's nerve. One study reported that at both a 4.5 and 7-year follow up, no individual who used a teeth whitening system needed a root canal procedure on any teeth that had been whitened

Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a dental procedure used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth. Root canal treatment is not painful and can save a tooth that might otherwise have to be removed completely.

Root Canal Treatment requires a skilled dentist. It is a time-consuming procedure, perhaps needing more than one appointment.

1.The infected pulp is removed at the first appointment.

2. Any possible abscesses are to be drained at this time.

3. The root canal is then cleaned and shaped for the filling.

4. A temporary filling is inserted.

5. The tooth is left to settle.

6. When all infection has cleared the tooth often needs the protection of a crown. A root filled tooth is not as strong as a normal tooth and therefore needs the protection of a crown to avoid fracturing. If the root filled tooth fractures this would mean extraction of the tooth.

A crown is an artificial tooth that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape of a natural tooth.

A crown is sometimes known as a 'cap'. Crowns are an ideal restoration for teeth that have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling. They can be made of porcelain or gold or a combination of these materials.

A dental crown could be used for a number of other reasons, for instance:

•You may have discoloured fillings and would like to improve the appearance of the tooth

•For cosmetic reasons where a front tooth has become very discoloured or damaged

•You may have had a root filling which will need a crown to protect and strengthen it

•It may help hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.

Dental implants are metal anchors that act as tooth root substitutes. They are surgically placed by a specialist into the jawbone after the tooth and root has been extracted. When the root is removed it is replaced with a titanium implant.

For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone.

After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. The specialist dentist will uncover the implants and attach a small healing collar. After two weeks you can return to us in Dental Solutions and we will be able to start making your new teeth. An impression must first be taken. Then posts or attachments can be connected to the implants. The teeth replacements (implant crowns) are then made and attached over the posts. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months.

These appointments are for the person that has a healthy mouth or someone who once had recent dental decay or gum disease and they have stopped the progression of both following treatment from our team. I am guiding the patient on the preventative path. This is achieved by disclosing (colour dying) the bacteria, showing and discussing with the patient any areas where oral hygiene needs more focus. Mechanical removal of bacteria using an ultra-sonic scaler (water instrument) and hand instruments is completed and all teeth are polished. Bespoke oral hygiene is reviewed with patients.

These appointments are for the person that has a healthy mouth or someone who once had recent dental decay or gum disease and they have stopped the progression of both following treatment from our team. I am guiding the patient on the preventative path. This is achieved by disclosing (colour dying) the bacteria, showing and discussing with the patient any areas where oral hygiene needs more focus. Mechanical removal of bacteria using an ultra-sonic scaler (water instrument) and hand instruments is completed and all teeth are polished. Bespoke oral hygiene is reviewed with patients.

Everybody is different, every mouth is different. Sometimes teeth are sensitive and patient’s elect themselves to have local anaesthetic (teeth numbed). Other times the need for local anaesthetic is explained to the patient if clinically required.

Following a referral from one of the dentists in Dental Solutions, it would be recommended you attend this appointment. The referral is made following an oral examination where it has been identified you have periodontal disease (gum disease). There are different stages of gum disease, the stage is determined by measurements taken and radiographs (x-rays) showing the bone around the teeth.

This assessment appointment consists of disclosing (colour dying) the bacteria and noting the percentage of bleeding around the gums.

Measurements are taken around each tooth, this is documented and input into your dental chart. This assists in diagnosis and treatment planning the disease.

Measurements are documented to be able to compare the beginning stage of the disease and the outcome following treatment.

As your role is the most important factor in controlling the disease, oral hygiene is a hugely important element of the appointment. Bespoke techniques are shown. There are a wide variety of oral hygiene tools as everyone and every mouth is different. A selection of the tools will be used and shown to you in this appointment.

By you using the oral hygiene aids given to you, the healing of the gums will begin at home. The bleeding can reduce down within the first two weeks.

Occasionally in this appointment some of the tartar (calculus) will be removed if it is felt it will impede your oral care efforts at home or hinder the healing from your efforts at home.

A treatment plan will be determined based on clinical findings in combination with current clinical guidelines. This treatment plan will be explained to you along with the number of appointments required and costs involved.

A virtual oral hygiene appointment will also be scheduled, this is to ensure that you are managing the new techniques and tools shown to you. An email will be sent to you containing much of what will be discussed in this appointment.

These appointments are the treatment phase of care. It will always begin with oral hygiene, the number of bacteria and bleeding in your mouth will be calculated.

The guidelines advise, for periodontal treatment to begin, there needs to be either a 50% reduction in bleeding and bacteria living on the teeth, or for the amount to be below 30%-35% from your first calculation.

Treatment will begin with one section of the mouth. Local anaesthetic will be given to the area intended for treatment. This allows for the removal of all the calculus (tartar) from underneath the gums without causing discomfort and also allows treatment to continue efficiently.

The instruments used are an ultra-sonic scaler and also hand instruments. These are the typical instruments used for supportive appointments, however in periodontal therapy a more varied selection of the ultra-sonic scalers and hand instruments are used. By using a varied selection, it ensures treatment can be adapted to each different tooth and anatomy of the tooth. At the end of the appointment, oral hygiene is reviewed and discussion will take place around how you feel it is progressing at home.

The guidelines recommend examining the gums a minimum of three months after finishing a course of treatment.

This appointment will consist of data collection, taking gum measurements, recording how much plaque and bleeding are present at this appointment.

This will be followed by a full mouth cleaning where we have achieved optimal results.

The new information is compared to the first measurements. This will guide us on the best recommendation that will move you into the supportive care of your treatment. It will also highlight any area that has not responded and we will determine along with the dentist if a specialist referral is required.

This incorporates all the elements of the supportive preventative care appointment. However, with dental implants, there are more specific examinations to be monitored to ensure that the implants remain healthy.

  1. The tissue (gum) around the implant needs to be pink in colour and without bleeding
  2. Check the implant area to ensure there is no pus in the area
  3. Check mobility of the crown of the implant
  4. Specific oral hygiene demonstrated around the dental implants.
  5. Assistance in oral hygiene aids selection

Gum recession is where the gum has moved away from the crown of the tooth. There can be many different reasons that this occurs.

  1. Trauma from tooth brushing or oral piercings.
  2. Type of gum tissue you have, genetics can play a role
  3. Movement of teeth during orthodontic treatment

The appointment consists of measurements being recorded in the recession area. Photographs taken of these areas. Disclose the biofilm (bacteria) and very specific oral hygiene demonstrated. Fluoride varnish will be placed on the recession sites. The varnish will protect the now exposed root surfaces from harmful acid attacks in your mouth. The varnish can also help with sensitivity that these recession areas can sometimes have.

This incorporates all the elements of the supportive preventative care appointment. However, oral hygiene around the brackets on the teeth can be difficult to access. The risks of poor oral hygiene when you have braces are that you can get decay or brown spots underneath the brackets. The gums can also become inflamed and change shape and hinder or stop your orthodontic treatment. Bespoke oral hygiene will be shown and practised with you.

Useful Links

Adult and children's oral health information Irish Dental Association
American Dental Association