Treatments at Athy Dental Practice, the dental surgery of dental surgeon Patrick O\'Brien, located at

treatments

The chances of somebody suffering from gum disease are greatly reduced with regular visits to the dentist.

In some instances, however, patients will require more intense treatment to halt the process of tissue breakdown. These may range from cleaning under local anesthetic, through to small surgical procedures to remove infection, which allow patients to clean their teeth properly.

Each individual case will be assessed and treated accordingly by the dentist in conjunction with the hygienist.

Gum disease is the term used to describe the process of tissue breakdown that results in loose teeth, or at worst, lost teeth. Gum disease is a chronic infection and its presence can have a detrimental effect on the entire body. There are proven links between gum disease and other serious heart conditions, diabetes, and strokes for example

Preventative Treatments

Fillings

Tooth Whitening

Tooth bleaching or whitening is a popular and effective cosmetic dentistry procedure.

This very same procedure can be used to bring the glow back to stained enamel.

This procedure has been very successful in bringing the smile back on a lot of faces.

Tooth whitening can be done by yourself at your home or by your dentist at his surgery.

Before trying any do it yourself product, always check with your dentist and make sure that it is right for your requirements.

As the effectiveness of products change from person to person, it would be a smarter idea to undergo this treatment under a qualified doctor's watchful eyes.

Crowns

A crown is made up of a complete outer surface that replaces the original enamel. They apply to both front and back teeth but I’ll cover front teeth only here. The crown type varies and different standards are available. The first type is a pjc which stands for porcelain jacket crown. Thee look great but are very fragile. The second type are like a pjc except they have a metal lining. These are called bonded crowns. These are the most commonly crowns provided. They are very strong but often the appearance can often leave a lot to be desired. They can often have a black line at the gum line and a poor translucency. The newer type of crowns use an aluminium oxide lining and have a stronger porcelain. Their appearance is great. These are procera crowns. The biggest advantage is that not as much of the outer section of the tooth has to be removed to accommodate these crowns. CAD/CAM technology is now in use where a tooth can be mapped and a crown milled from a solid ingot of porcelain matched to the patients tooth colour. The last two types of crowns tend to be expensive for both dentist and patient and aren’t commonly used.

Veneers

A veneer is like a false fingernail. It’s a thin layer of porcelain that is colour matched to the remaining teeth and covers over the complete front surface of a tooth. These are often used to disguise teeth that that are discoloured or heavily filled. They are often the treatment provided that gives what’s known as the Hollywood smile. They would be a good treatment for a class 1 fracture. Their lifespan would generally be regarded to last five years. The often last considerably longer if looked after.

Bridges

A bridge is used to replace missing teeth. I will concentrate on a single missing front tooth. Depending on the tooth involved and the strength of the adjoining teeth a replacement plan is put in place. Typically the tooth on either side of the space is reduced to accept a crown. A bridge in this scenario would involve three units. A false tooth made up of porcelain spanned on either side by a crown. This three unit bridge is cemented into position to fill the space. This is known as a bonded crown .A different type of bridge is a Maryland bridge where the teeth on either side of the space are not ground down to accept a crown but instead has a false tooth supported by metal wings bonded to the inside aspects of the neighbouring teeth. This is also a good alternative although its lifespan wouldn’t be as long as a bonded bridge.

Implants

An implant is an artificial root made from titanium that is used to support a single tooth or more than one tooth and is placed in bone. It’s an ideal method of replacing a single lost front tooth as it stands alone and doesn’t rely on other adjoining teeth as a bridge does. It is a treatment that relies heavily on the skill of the operator. I refer this work to trusted colleagues as not every case is suitable . It tends to be an expensive option and one that shouldn’t be entered into lightly.

Dentures

There are two different types of denture. A plastic denture is often the first treatment option used in the event of losing a front tooth. It’s a denture made entirely of plastic where the arch of the mouth has a plastic covering and is used to support missing teeth. Hygiene is important as patients are prone to fungal infections and denture stomatitis. These are what most people associate with dentures. On the upper arch they tend to be ok but on the lower arch they tend to be a disaster. The second type of denture is a chrome denture. The roof of the mouth has a metal frame and the remaining teeth have clasps and stops designed around them and these support the new replacement plastic teeth. These are a good long term prospect but unfortunately more expensive.

Root Canal

Wisdom Teeth

Routine Extraction

Periodontal Disease or Gum Disease

The chances of somebody suffering from gum disease are greatly reduced with regular visits to the dentist.

Each individual case will be assessed and treated accordingly by the dentist in conjunction with the hygienist.

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