Dental Treatments at Wongan Dental on Ackland
Examination
At Wongan Dental on Ackland we understand that many dread a visit to the dentist and experience nerves and anxiety when their appointment comes around. We are here to make your experience as simple and stress free as possible by talking through all the steps of your care with you and offering you a variety of options. Before any treatment takes place we will ensure you are comfortable and any procedures required will be thoroughly explained.
Emergency Appointments
Emergencies can happen at any time and place and that is why we are available to provide same day/out of hours service to ensure you are looked after at all times.
We live in Wongan Hills at our practice and whether it’s a sport injury or a referral from our hospital or a lost crown or broken denture we provide emergency dental services for all ages. Our aim is to put our patients at ease by providing skilled and caring dentistry to help treat your emergency in a quick and relaxed manner.
Please contact 96711 822 or A/H & W/E: 047 677 4558 to request an appointment.
Preventive Care
Our aim is to ensure you teeth remain healthy and ideally untouched. Healthy teeth mean less invasive treatment is needed and this is why we focus on prevention..
During your examination Dr Morgan will look for any warning signs of decay or gum disease, for symptoms of oral cancer or other oral health problems and check for changes in your mouth. Regular examinations can help you save on future costs. It is always best to treat problems early and regular checks allow us to do this.
We will also go through how to maintain, look after and improve your oral health. A healthy mouth is unlikely to cause pain, decay and infection – which leads to brighter smiles.
Hygiene Cleaning
We firmly believe that prevention is better than cure and we actively promote oral hygiene. A healthier mouth makes a brighter smile.
Regular dental hygiene sessions are a proven method of preventing oral disease and give you smooth, shiny teeth and fresh, clean breath. We have treatment options designed to break down discolouration and stains caused by smoking and drinking red wine, tea and coffee.
Tooth Repair
There are many types of ways we can restore cavities in your teeth.
White Fillings / Cosmetics
We are a Mercury free practice as excellent modern substitutes are available.
Some patients ask for their perfectly serviceable silver/mercury fillings to be removed. We advise against this unless there is a proven medical condition that warrants it. Only if an old silver/mercury type filling has failed or is not aesthetic is there need for a replacement with a white filling.
Composites – These are white fillings made from plastic resin. They physically bond to the teeth and can restore the tooth to appear as its virgin structure. They are cosmetically pleasing and relatively inexpensive in comparison to ceramic glass.
Glass Ionomer – These are fillings which are used where resistance to further decay is of primary importance. Children and the elderly benefit as the fillings act as a fluoride release reservoir which is gradually released into the margins of the filling to resist decay. On biting surfaces they wear quite quickly and here they are only used as long term temporization.
Ceramic Glass – an aesthetic, strong and durable filling. They are however expensive to place and require slightly more loss of tooth structure than plastic composite. They are the gold standard for large white fillings in back teeth.
Veneers – This Ceramic Glass can also be used for placing new facings to the teeth with minimal damage. A Veneer. This allows reshaping and a lighter shade choice and is favoured by celebrities.
Crowns / Onlays / Inlays
These are an ideal way to repair teeth that have been badly broken, or have been weakened by decay, a very large filling or root canal treatment. They are constructed by our specialist Australian certified laboratory and completed within 2 visits. There are different types.
Ceramic Glass – these are very strong, have no metal component and have very good aesthetics.
Porcelain bonded to metal – similar in appearance to a full ceramic glass crown but these have a precious metal core for strength with a porcelain cover for aesthetics. Slightly old fashioned now because they are hand crafted and not made by computerized milling machines and thus are more expensive to produce. They give a deep variable reflective translucency and are very strong.
Gold – these are made from full precious metal gold and have a great advantage as they need minimal preparation of our teeth. Where there is no aesthetic concern, such as back teeth which are not visible, these may be the preferred option.
Root Canal Treatment
Tooth nerve therapy is commonly known as root canal treatment or Endodontics.
Root canal treatment is used to treat decayed teeth where the bacteria have reached the nerve and can often save teeth that have been compromised by infection. It is the pulp tissue which contains the blood vessels and nerves and when decay spreads to the pulp chambers and infects the pulp tissue the inside of the tooth dies but the hard outer root structure remains.
Root canal treatment is a procedure, which involves removing infected tissue from within the root and cleaning and sealing the root canals. We use the latest rotary and locator technology to produce the best possible outcomes. We recognise that many patients may be anxious about having this treatment and we do all we can to make you feel comfortable.
Once the dead tissue has been removed the root canals are filled with dental sealing material to prevent further infection. After an appropriate interval, when healing has been confirmed, a crown may be placed over the existing tooth structure to restore function and prevent future fracture and create a natural looking tooth.
Tooth Removal
Even though our permanent teeth can last us a lifetime there may be a need to remove a tooth. Before removal all treatment options are considered and if extraction is required then we will talk you through the process and will be able to carry out the procedure as comfortably and stress free as possible. This is done using topical and local anaesthetic which will numb the area. We are also well equipped to provide advanced surgery.
Once healed we have many ways to replace the gap left behind. Please see below for your options.
Tooth Replacement
If you have teeth missing, it can affect the way the rest of your teeth bite together. Your remaining teeth may tilt and drift into the gaps and food can get trapped in the spaces. This can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. If lots of your teeth are missing, your facial muscles can lose their tone and this can affect your speech and appearance.
Replacement teeth are made to match the colour of your natural teeth as closely as possible.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a small, screw-like dental device, which is placed into a pre-drilled socket in the jaw bone. It is designed to replace the root of the missing tooth.
Implants are usually made from titanium, which allows them to integrate into the jaw bone without interfering with or irritating the gums or neighbouring teeth.
Once the implant has fully integrated into the jaw bone, it can be attached to a single crown, a dental bridge or a denture to replace any number of missing teeth. We do not place implants here. We will refer you to an Implant Specialist. The choice of an Implant Specialist is important as statistics show that the success rate improves with the increasing number of procedures the specialist has carried out.
Implants are very expensive and the maintenance of meticulous oral hygiene is a necessity.
Bridges
A Bridge is a fixed replacement for a missing tooth or teeth. There are different constructions which include stick-on bridges, which are ideal for a minimal effect on the adjacent teeth, to extended constructions where precision stress breaker attachments may be included. If the support teeth holding the bridge are already heavily filled then this may be beneficial as minimal additional tooth structure damage occurs. If the teeth are sound we would look for alternative options. A bridge is usually created from precious metal and porcelain or ceramic glass and will be fixed in your mouth (unlike dentures, which can be removed).
Once you have a bridge fitted, you will have to take extra care with your daily hygiene regime to ensure it stays plaque/bacteria free.
Bridges are expensive.
Dentures
Dentures are removable false teeth made of acrylic (plastic) or metal. They fit snugly over the gums to replace missing teeth and eliminate potential problems caused by gaps.
Denture technology has, over the past few decades, become a fine art. Dentures today are “personalised” to suit you and look completely natural. During the process of making your new dentures, there will be a “Try-in”. The try-in is the stage where your teeth are positioned in wax so you and Dr Morgan can preview and discuss the appearance. Changes in appearance can be adjusted at this stage so that you will be happy with the end result.
Any loss of your natural teeth is a regrettable occurrence. Fortunately, it is one which can be remedied with excellent results. We will apply all our skill and knowledge to provide you with a substitute which perfectly suits both the shape of your mouth and your smile – one which, with the right care, you will learn to live with quite comfortably.
Broken or Damaged Dentures
We provide a Same Day Service for you to be without your dentures for the minimal time possible and they will be repaired here in our new fully equipped Denture Laboratory.
Gum Treatment
Our gums are like cushions for your teeth: they surround the teeth in the jaws and help to support them. Looking after your gums is just as important as looking after your teeth. Red and swollen gums that bleed when you brush them could be a sign of gum disease, also known as gingivitis.
When gingivitis is left untreated it can develop further into a type of infection known as periodontitis, which affects the entire area surrounding the tooth. A result of this could be losing your tooth and it’s vital to avoid if possible.
To keep your mouth healthy we recommend you come in for regular hygiene appointments and dental examinations which are an affordable way of prevention.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth can be stained by foods, drinks, smoking and certain medications. Tooth whitening is a safe procedure that can lighten the colour of your teeth by using a dental bleaching agent. Individual results vary and are based on your initial tooth colour and the nature of your tooth staining.
Whitening is not suitable for everyone as the condition of the teeth and gums have to be assessed. Front filling or crowns which are present can be a contra-indication, as is gum disease. A prior professional look at your individual situation is essential.
At Wongan Dental on Ackland we provide In Practice Zoom Teeth Whitening treatment for excellent instant results in 90 minutes, together with a take home maintenance kit, which includes personalized trays.
Teeth Straightening. Orthodontics
Straightening your teeth can improve confidence in your appearance, and help maintain good dental hygiene.
There have been developments in computer guided tooth straightening which allow simple straightening procedures to be carried out in a general practice, however at Wongan Dental we prefer to refer you to an Orthodontic Specialist who is trained to carry out these procedures to a very high standard.
When your orthodontics is complete it is essential to wear the retainers provided for the prescribed time or your teeth will move.