Dental procedures explained

You might need it if

• It's been more than 6 months since your last check-up
• Your gums bleed when you brush
• You notice stains, tartar or bad breath

What happens

1. The doctor checks every tooth, your gums and your bite
2. A digital X-ray is taken only if something needs a closer look
3. Tartar is removed with an ultrasonic scaler, then teeth are polished
4. You get advice on brushing and cleaning between teeth

Signs of a cavity

• Food keeps getting stuck in one place
• Sensitivity to sweets or cold
• A dark spot or small hole in a tooth

What happens

1. The area is numbed if needed
2. Decay is removed and the tooth is cleaned
3. Tooth-coloured filling material is placed in layers and hardened with a blue light
4. The filling is shaped and polished to fit your bite

You might need it if

• Pain to hot or cold lingers after the drink is gone
• The tooth hurts when you bite
• There is swelling or a pimple on the gum near the tooth
• Decay has reached deep into the tooth

What happens

1. The tooth is numbed with local anaesthesia
2. The infected nerve is removed
3. The canals are cleaned and shaped with rotary instruments, with digital X-rays to check each step
4. The canals are sealed, and the tooth is built up
5. A crown is usually placed to protect the tooth

You might need it if

• A tooth is too broken or decayed to repair
• Gum disease has made a tooth very loose
• A wisdom tooth keeps causing pain, swelling or food trapping

What happens

1. An X-ray shows the roots and nearby structures
2. The area is numbed with local anaesthesia
3. The tooth is removed; wisdom teeth sometimes need a few stitches
4. You get written aftercare instructions and medicines if needed

Used for

• Teeth after root canal treatment
• Badly broken or heavily filled teeth
• Replacing one or two missing teeth (bridge)

What happens

1. The tooth is shaped to make room for the crown
2. A digital scan or impression is taken
3. A temporary crown protects the tooth meanwhile
4. The final crown or bridge is fitted and adjusted to your bite

Types

• Complete dentures replace all teeth in a jaw
• Partial dentures fill gaps between your natural teeth
• BPS dentures use precise impressions and bite records for a better fit and easier chewing
• Implant-supported dentures clip onto implants so they don't move (see Dental implants)

What happens

1. Impressions of your gums are taken
2. Your bite is recorded
3. You try the teeth in wax to check fit and look
4. The finished denture is fitted, with follow-up adjustments

Signs of gum disease

• Bleeding when you brush or floss
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Bad breath that doesn't go away
• Teeth that feel loose or look longer

What happens

1. Deep cleaning above and below the gum line (scaling and root planing)
2. Medicated mouthwash or gel if needed
3. A review visit to check that the gums have healed
4. Minor gum surgery only for advanced cases

What we offer

• Friendly first visits to help children feel comfortable
• Fluoride application to strengthen teeth
• Pit and fissure sealants to protect back teeth from cavities
• Fillings and treatment for milk teeth
• Advice on thumb-sucking and other habits
• An orthodontic check around age 7