Dental Treatments
Dentistry usually encompasses very important practices related to the oral cavity. According to the World Health Organization, oral diseases are major public health problems due to their high incidence and prevalence across the globe, with the disadvantaged affected more than other socio-economic groups.
The majority of dental treatments are carried out to prevent or treat the two most common oral diseases — dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal disease (gum disease). Common treatments involve the restoration of teeth, extraction or surgical removal of teeth, scaling and root planing and endodontic root canal treatment.
A dental examination in Guildford at Woodbridge Hill Dental Practice helps us check your teeth, gums, mouth, and overall oral health. During your visit, our dentist will look for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, wear, infection, and other concerns. It is also a good chance to discuss any pain, sensitivity, cosmetic goals, or changes you have noticed, so we can guide you towards the right care.
Explore our dental treatments below, from routine care and fillings to cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and restorative options.
A bridge is a fixed replacement for a missing tooth or teeth. It's made by taking an impression of the surrounding teeth, which will eventually support the bridge. A bridge is usually created from precious metal and porcelain and will be fixed in your mouth (unlike dentures, which can be removed).
A crown is a type of cap that completely covers a real tooth. It's made from either metal, or porcelain and metal, Zirconia or pure porcelain (E-max, Aesthetics Crowns) and is fixed in your mouth. Crowns can be fitted where a tooth has broken, decayed or been damaged, or just to make a tooth look better.
To fit a crown, the old tooth will need to be drilled down so it's like a small peg the crown will be fixed onto. It can take up to two weeks for the lab to prepare a new crown, so you won't have the crown fitted on the same day.
Fillings are used to repair a hole in a tooth caused by decay. The most common type of filling is an amalgam, made from a mixture of metals including mercury, silver, tin, copper and zinc. The adverse health effect of such fillings are not scientifically proven. Your dentist will offer the most appropriate type of filling according to your clinical needs. This includes white fillings, if appropriate.
Fillings are used to repair a hole in a tooth caused by decay. The most common type of filling is an amalgam, made from a mixture of metals including mercury, silver, tin, copper and zinc. Your dentist will offer the most appropriate type of filling according to your clinical needs — including white fillings, if appropriate.
If you require urgent or routine dental care, you can book your appointment online with our live booking system.
BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION NOW!Dental inlays and onlays are a medium between dental crowns and fillings. They are implicated on teeth at the back of the mouth that has suffered a moderate level of decay. Inlays and onlays can also be placed on teeth that have undergone some fracturing; more serious damage will probably be resolved with a dental crown.
The two main types of inlays and onlays are made from resin or porcelain. Gold versions also exist, but porcelain and resin are often more appealing because they can be coloured to look natural — making them a popular choice for replacing unattractive metal fillings.
Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) tackles infection at the centre of a tooth (the root canal system). When the blood or nerve supply of the tooth has become infected, if root canal treatment is not carried out, the infection will spread and the tooth may need to be taken out.
During treatment, all the infection is removed from inside the root canal system. The root canal is filled and the tooth is sealed with a filling or crown to stop it from becoming infected again. Root canal treatment usually requires two or three visits to your dentist.
It is recommended that the root filled tooth is covered by a full or partial crown (onlay), to prevent further damage or crack in the tooth.
This is when your teeth are professionally cleaned by the hygienist. It involves carefully removing the deposits that build up on the teeth (tartar).
The wisdom teeth grow at the back of your gums and are the last teeth to come through, usually in your late teens or early twenties. Most people have four wisdom teeth, one in each corner.
Wisdom teeth can sometimes emerge at an angle or get stuck and only emerge partially. Wisdom teeth that grow through in this way are known as impacted.
Impacted wisdom teeth can be removed at our practice. Your dentist may perform the procedure or may refer you to a dentist with a special interest or to a hospital's oral and maxillo-facial unit for more complicated extractions.
If you require urgent or routine dental care, you can book your appointment online with our live booking system.
BOOK YOUR CONSULTATION NOW!Implants are a fixed alternative to removable dentures. They may be the only option if the loss of teeth has caused the mouth to shrink so that it can no longer support dentures. You can use implants to replace just a single tooth or several teeth.
To fit an implant, titanium screws are drilled into the jaw bone to support a crown, bridge or denture.
Replacement parts take time to prepare to ensure they fit your mouth and other teeth properly, so they may not be available on your first visit.
More commonly known as false teeth, dentures are fitted in place of natural teeth. A full set is used to replace all your teeth. A part set is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Dentures are custom-made using impressions (mouldings) from your gums. They're usually made from metal or plastic.
They're removable so you can clean them, although part dentures can be brushed at the same time as your other teeth. A full set needs to be removed and soaked in a cleaning solution.
Dentures are important if you lose your natural teeth, as losing your teeth makes it difficult to chew your food, which will adversely affect your diet and may cause your facial muscles to sag.
Teeth whitening involves bleaching your teeth to make them a lighter colour. Teeth whitening can't make your teeth brilliant white, but it can lighten the existing colour by several shades.
Standard home teeth whitening involves sessions at home wearing a mouth-guard containing bleaching gel. The whole process takes a couple of months.
Veneers are new facings for teeth which disguise a discoloured (rather than a damaged) tooth. To fit a veneer, the front of the tooth is drilled away a little. An impression is taken, and a thin layer of porcelain is fitted over the front of the tooth (similar to how a false fingernail is applied).
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