Dental Whitening
Teeth whitening involves bleaching your teeth to make them lighter. It can't make your teeth brilliant white, but it can lighten the existing colour by several shades.
What happens during teeth whitening?
If you have your teeth whitened you'll need to make several visits to the dental surgery over a couple of months.
The dentist will take an impression of your teeth to make a mouthguard and tell you how to use it with a bleaching gel. Then, using your mouthguard at home, you regularly apply the gel for a specified period of time over 2 to 4 weeks. Some whitening gels can be left on for up to 8 hours at a time, which shortens the treatment period to 1 week.
Laser whitening, also known as power whitening, is another type of teeth whitening system that a dentist can provide. A bleaching product is painted onto your teeth and then a light or laser is shone on them to activate the whitening. Laser whitening takes about an hour.
Dental X Ray
OPG (Orthopantomogram) and Cephalogram are types of dental x-rays. An OPG produces a panoramic view of the jaw whilst a cephalogram is an x-ray of the facial structures. A lateral cephalogram produces a side profile image of the face, jaws and soft tissues to assess the relation of the teeth to the jaws, the jaws to the skull, and the relation of the soft tissues to the teeth and jaws.
What conditions can be diagnosed by a dental x-ray?
OPGs are commonly used during a general dental check up, but can also be conducted to monitor and diagnose:
- Teeth (general review)
- Teeth (cavities)
- Teeth impaction
- Fractures
- Dislocation
- Infection
- Tumours
- Sinuses
Cephalograms can help predict mandibular growth in children by allowing accurate orthodontic measurements to be made and can help determine the changes that have occurred with treatment.
Fluoride and dental health
Fluoride is a natural mineral that builds strong teeth and prevents cavities. It’s been an essential oral health treatment for decades. Fluoride supports healthy tooth enamel and fights the bacteria that harm teeth and gums. Tooth enamel is the outer protective layer of each tooth.
Fluoride is especially helpful if you’re at high risk of developing dental caries, or cavities. Cavities occur when bacteria build up on teeth and gums and form a sticky layer of plaque. Plaque produces an acid that erodes teeth and gum tissue. If the plaque breaks down the enamel layer, bacteria can infect and harm the nerves and blood at the core of the tooth.
Read on to learn about fluoride treatment benefits, side effects, cost, and what to expect.
Other Services
Cleaning
- Physical exam - The dental hygienist uses a small mirror to check around your teeth and gums for any signs of gingivitis (inflamed gums) or other potential concerns.
- Removing plaque and tartar - If they detect major problems with the small mirror to guide them, the dental hygienist uses a scaler to get rid of plaque and tartar around your gum line, as well as in between your teeth.
- Expert flossing - dental hygienist can get deep between your teeth and locate any potential trouble spots where you might bleed at the gums.
- Rinsing - you rinse out your mouth to get rid of any debris. Your dental hygienist will usually give you a rinse that contains liquid fluoride.
Abscessed tooth
a collection of infected material (pus) due to a bacterial infection in the center of a tooth
Aesthetic
the appearance of a person’s teeth, gums and/or bite
Alveolar/alveolus/alveoli
sockets in the jaw in which the roots of teeth are held
Apical surgery
procedure performed to remove an infection and seal the root end of a tooth
Biopsy
a brief procedure that removes a small piece of living tissue from an area of concern in the body
Bridge
a set of one or more false teeth supported by a metal framework, used to replace one or more missing teeth. Bridges may be fixed or removable.
Cavity
a decayed portion of a tooth
Crossbite
a dental condition in which one or more of the upper teeth are biting on the inside of the lower teeth
Crown
a tooth-shaped "cap" placed over a tooth to restore its shape, size, and strength cosmetically. When cemented in place, crowns fully encase the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.
Dental Pulp
the part of the center of a tooth made up of sensitive, living connective tissue and cells
Denture
a removable plate or frame holding one or more artificial teeth
Filling
a way to restore a tooth damaged by decay back to its normal function and shape
Fluoride
a sodium fluoride, or another fluorine-containing salt additive, that reduces tooth decay
Gingivitis
inflammation (redness or swelling) of the gums
Malocclusions
a misalignment (incorrect relationship) between the teeth of the two dental arches when they approach each other as the jaw closes
Maxillofacial
relating to the jaws or face
Open bite
a dental condition where only a few of the teeth of the upper and lower jaw make contact
Orthodontia
the treatment of irregularities in the teeth (especially of alignment and occlusions) and jaws that includes the use of braces
Overbite
a dental condition where the lower jaw is too far behind the upper jaw or a misalignment of the teeth
Periodontal
area surrounding the tooth
Periodontal Disease
inflammation (redness or swelling) and infection of the ligaments and bones that support the teeth
Plaque
sticky build-up on teeth in which bacteria rapidly multiply
Prosthesis
an artificial tooth
Radiograph
an image produced on a sensitive plate or film by x-rays, gamma rays, or similar radiation, and often used in medical examinations
Sealants
a preventative dental treatment in which a plastic material is placed in the creases of the chewing surfaces usually on permanent molar teeth at the back of the mouth
TAD
a temporary anchorage device (TAD) that is technically classified as an implant.
Tartar
a hard, calcified build-up that forms on teeth and contributes to their decay
TMJ
Temporomandibular Joint: the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull
Underbite
the projection of the lower teeth beyond the upper
Veneers
wafer-thin, translucent ceramic shells placed over teeth and applied with a special glue. Veneers are predominantly used on frontal teeth.