Restorative Dentistry
Restorative dentistry focuses on repairing and restoring the function and appearance of your teeth. Whether you need fillings, crowns, bridges, dental implants, veneer or dentures we are skilled in bringing back your smile's natural beauty and functionality. With our expertise and advanced techniques, we can help you regain confidence in your smile and enjoy improved oral health. Say goodbye to dental issues and hello to a restored, radiant smile with the help of restorative dentistry!
Dental Crowns and Bridges in Westleigh
Durable Dental Restorations
At Dentist @ Westleigh, we also place an emphasis on restorative dentistry, including high-quality dental crowns and bridges. Both of these options are perfect for restoring the look, feel, and function of your smile – whether you’ve lost a tooth entirely, or have one that is suffering from a lack of structure due to injury or decay.
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What is a Dental Crown?
A dental crown is often likened to a ‘cap’, as it is a protective covering placed over the tooth’s surface. The crown is made from trusted and durable materials, such as tooth-coloured porcelain or composite, helping it to seamlessly blend-in with your natural teeth.
Dental crowns are ideal for patients suffering from the following:
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Large fillings
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Cracks or fractures
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Lack of tooth strength and structure due to root canal therapy
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Dental trauma or injury
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Tooth erosion
Generally, a dental crown strengthens a tooth’s internal structure and protects it from further damage.
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What is a Dental Bridge?
While a crown is placed over an existing tooth, a dental bridge is actually used to replace one or more missing teeth in a patient’s mouth. A ceramic tooth (pontic) is fused between two or more porcelain crowns on either side of the missing tooth, literally “bridging the gap”. A bridge is then bonded securely over these teeth for additional strength, as well as to help a patient’s mouth feel and function like normal.
Both of these restorative procedures are very straight-forward and can be completed within as little as 1 – 2 appointments at our practice. To determine if a dental crown or bridge is right for you, our dentist will thoroughly examine the site through a check-up and by obtaining digital imagery (such as x-rays).
Veneers in Westleigh
If you’re dreaming of a more beautiful and confident smile, but don’t wish to go down the path of traditional braces, then there may be an easier way. Our high-quality porcelain veneers are another popular cosmetic dentistry option that can help you achieve a straighter, brighter, and more stunning smile in as little as a few appointments.
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What Are Veneers?
If you’ve ever wondered how Hollywood stars have such perfect smiles, then this may be it. Veneers are thin, tooth-shaped sheets of porcelain which are placed over the front of your teeth to give them an enhanced appearance. Not only do veneers give your teeth a whiter and brighter look, but they’re also great for remedying the following issues:
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Crooked teeth
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Unevenly shaped teeth
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Gappy smiles
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Speckled teeth
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Chalky teeth (i.e. misshaped enamel)
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Uneven biting edges
It’s important to note that veneers are only applied to the teeth which are visible when you laugh or smile (i.e. your 6-10 front teeth). If you’re experiencing crooked, gappy, or crowded teeth throughout your entire mouth, other forms of orthodontics (such as ClearCorrect or Smile Fast) may be more suitable treatment options.
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The Veneer Process
Obtaining veneers begins with an initial consultation, where our dentist can assess your mouth and discuss what results you hope to achieve with this treatment. Next, the preparation for your veneers will begin, where your teeth will have a thin layer of enamel removed to allow the veneers to sit flush with the adjacent teeth. An impression and specifications of your veneers will then be sent to our lab, where each one will be custom-made to perfectly suit your smile.
Once your veneers are back from the lab (usually up to 2 weeks), our dentist will bond them permanently to your teeth. You’ll then be walking out of our practice with a stunning new smile!
Dentures in Westleigh
If you’re in need of full mouth rehabilitation, then our custom-made dentures are a perfect solution. Dentures (also known as “plates”) restore your missing teeth, giving you a confident and more functional smile. Not only do they allow you to enjoy your favourite foods once more, but they also prevent your facial features from sinking in – a common side-effect of missing teeth.
At Dentist @ Westleigh, our oral health care professionals are highly experienced at fitting dentures, so you know you’re in safe hands.
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How Do Dentures Work?
When it comes to fully-restoring your smile with dentures, there are three types available: custom full arch dentures, partial dentures, and implant supported dentures.
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Custom full arch dentures replace all of your upper and lower teeth at once. The denture rests directly on top of your gums, which creates a seal to hold them securely in place.
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Partial dentures are suited to those with some natural teeth in their mouth. They replace only your missing teeth by fitting around them.
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Implant supported dentures are a fixed solution to dentures, and unlike full and partial dentures, they do not need to be removed each night. Affixing the denture on top of implants allows them to be more secure and stable.
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The Denture Process
Obtaining dentures is a simple and straight-forward process that varies depending on the type of dentures you’re having fitted. Generally, our dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth first, before taking digital imagery and impressions. In some cases, teeth may have to be removed, however our professional team will walk you through all of the steps required.
In the case of an implant-supported denture, our dentist will fit you with an implant – a process that can take up to 2-3 months to allow for the implant to fuse with the surrounding bone and gum tissues.
Our dentures are custom-made at a trusted lab to perfectly suit your mouth. The finished prosthetic is then fitted to your mouth, before our dentist will advise you on how to best care for your new restoration.
Root Canals in Westleigh
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Endodontic Therapy
Root canal therapy is another form of general dentistry offered here at Dentist @ Westleigh. Its aim is to remove the damaged, infected or dying pulp of a tooth so that the natural tooth may be saved. Our professional dentists are highly-skilled at performing this procedure and are able to do so in a gentle, effective, and comfortable way.
Gone are the days of lengthy root canal surgery or several appointments. Thanks to modern dental technology and equipment, root canal therapy can now be completed within just one or two appointments at our practice.
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What Causes the Need for Root Canal?
Root canal therapy is required when the nerve (or pulp) of a tooth begins to die. This can be caused by several situations, including:
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Decay that has deepened into the tooth’s nerve chamber
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Decay under a loose filling
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Trauma or injury to the tooth
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Severe grinding or erosion of the tooth
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Some types of gum disease
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The Root Canal Process
Our dentist will begin by assessing the site of the tooth, as well as obtaining necessary digital imagery (such as x-rays). If root canal is required, then the area will be numbed thoroughly for a comfortable and pain-free procedure. Special instruments are then used to remove the damaged pulp and clean out the root canal. Once treatment is complete, the root canal is sealed using materials including gutta percha and a special sealer.
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Are You a Candidate for Root Canal?
Like some dental concerns, root canal can sometimes pose no symptoms to the patient at all and may only be detectable with an x-ray. Other times, however, patients might experience the following signs to indicate that treatment is required:
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Severe dental pain and discomfort (especially when chewing)
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Sensitivity when eating or drinking something hot or cold
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Swelling of the tissue surrounding the tooth
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A large cavity
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An abscess
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Excessive tooth decay
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Loss of structure due to trauma or injury
Dental Implants in Westleigh
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What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a metal screw that is used in place of the root of your missing tooth. The dental implant is attached to the bone in your jaw where the roots of the missing tooth sat. The implant is usually made of a metal called titanium.
A dental implant can support a bridge, crown or denture. Over time, bone grows around the implant, which helps to hold it in place.
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Procedure
A dental implant procedure is usually done in stages over a few months. First you will need to have scans and x-rays to give us a clear picture of where to place the implant. We will put the dental implant into your jawbone in a minor operation. We will give you a local anaesthetic so that you don’t feel pain during the surgery. Over about 3 months your bone grows around the implant, which helps to hold it in place. Whilst the implant site is healing, your artificial tooth (crown) is made in a laboratory. The crown is fixed to the metal implant to fill the gap in your teeth.
Dental Fillings
Composite resin is a tooth-coloured filling material. It can be used for fillings in both the front and back teeth. It is commonly used to fix broken or decayed teeth and for cosmetic dental treatments, such as veneers.
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