A general check up (every 6-12 months) ensures your dentist detects any problems in their early stages, before they become more severe.
Your dental hygienist will recommend you have a professional clean every 3 -12 months.
Bonding is done to restore chipped or broken teeth, to fill in gaps or to shape and recolour your teeth.
A dental bridge is a false tooth or teeth that are fused between two porcelain crowns to fill in an area missing teeth.
Cosmetic dentistry combines a variety of techniques with the aim of giving you improved confidence and a better, whiter smile.
Tooth contouring or reshaping generally does not require anaesthetic and can usually be done within 1-3 dental visits to correct minor problems with crooked, chipped, cracked or overlapping teeth.
Dental caries (dental cavities, tooth decay) is the most prevalent oral disease.
Crowns cover the entire surface of your tooth. They are used to protect existing teeth and/or improve their appearance.
Crown lengthening involves removing excess gum and bone tissue to expose more of a natural tooth.
Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth made out of acrylic resin and sometimes porcelain to provide a more natural appearance.
There are two types of filling, direct and indirect restorations.
Molars (teeth at the back of the mouth used for chewing) often have grooves or fissures.
Inlays and onlays are similar to direct restoration/fillings, except that rather than the filling being placed in a single dental visit, the dentist takes a mould of your existing tooth and the inlays and onlays are created by a dental technician.
An impacted tooth is a tooth that is partially or totally trapped within the gum.
Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease characterised by red, swollen (inflamed) gums that may bleed when teeth are cleaned.
Visiting the dentist can be a source of anxiety. Your dentist may be able to provide sedation to help you feel calm.
During sport and other activities your teeth can be knocked out completely from your gums.
Periodontitis involves the gums and support tissues of the teeth.
The centre of a tooth contains connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves, collectively known as dental pulp.
Tooth extraction involves the removal of damaged, decayed or infected teeth.
Your general dentist may be able to provide a plate for your child to prevent a malocclusion (bad bite) from forming or to correct a mild malocclusion.
Although at home tooth whitening treatments are available from pharmacies it is better to visit your dentist to ensure an effective and consistent result.
Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic that are permanently fitted to the front of your teeth.
Wisdom teeth are the third molars right at the back of your mouth.