Scaling & Polishing
Post Crowns
Bleaching
Veneers
Bridges
Crowns

Once calculus has formed on the surfaces of our teeth, they become virtually impossible to remove by normal brushing.  If left alone, the rough surfaces of tartar will attract even more plaque. This will lead to gum disease, which usually starts off as bleeding gums, gradually progressing to gum shrinkage, and finally loosening teeth and gum infections. Deposits of plaque and calculus may also make our teeth more prone to decay.

Scaling is the procedure used to remove calculus. It is usually completed with polishing to smoothen the surfaces of your teeth and to remove stains. Unless otherwise advised, you should have scaling and polishing done once every 6 months.

The most durable solution for restoring badly damaged teeth is to prepare the tooth for a crown; usually a porcelain cap which not only protects the remaining tooth structure, but also restores the original appearance of the tooth.

Crowns cannot be constructed in one visit. The dentist must first take impressions of your mouth. This is followed by tooth preparing, a second impression and the prepared tooth is fitted with a temporary crown. When the permanent crown is completed in the laboratory, the crown is fitted and permanently cemented on the final visit.

Like crowns, bridges are made from porcelain and metal and can be made to look very natural.  Strength, biocompatibility, and the lack of a plastic plate that covers much of the mouth make them a much better alternative than dentures.

It is not a good idea to delay extraction until pain is experienced. This is because local anaesthesia will be rendered less effective in an area of infection. If your dentist advises an extraction, you should get it done before the pain becomes unbearable.

Another reason for extractions is when teeth are crowded and squeezed out of alignment. If a tooth is completely squeezed out of alignment, then extraction may be the most convenient way of dealing with the cosmetic problem.

Teeth that are squeezed out can also trap food in the awkward spaces that they create. This not only contributes to bad breath and hygiene problems, but also the decay of adjacent teeth and gum problems. Extractions of these teeth serve as preventive treatment to protect properly aligned and functional teeth.

Tips:

1. Have a good meal before the extraction.
2. Relax and breathe deeply through your nose during the procedure.
3. After the extraction, bite firmly on the gauze provided for 15 minutes.
4. Avoid spitting or rinsing your mouth. Swallow your saliva.
5. Do not smoke, drink very hot drinks or alcohol.
6. Do not exert yourself. Rest at home.
7. Take care not to bite your lip when it is numb.
8. When bleeding has stopped, eat soft food and keep the wound clean.
9. If pain persists after three to four days, see your dentist.

When there is insufficient space in the jaw for the tooth to emerge fully, it may get trapped under gum and bone. Partial eruption makes the tooth susceptible to gum infection, which may result in recurrent bouts of pain and swelling. Left alone for long periods, gum problems may emerge.

In certain cases, the tooth may be slanted against the next tooth - the second molar. The resulting gap between the two teeth traps food and promotes bad breath as well as decay.

Wisdom tooth surgery is usually carried out to save the second molar or stop the recurrence of gum swelling. Most wisdom teeth in the upper jaw can be extracted without surgery. Wisdom teeth in the lower jaw are usually more troublesome. Either local or general anaesthetic can be used. However,  for relatively simple cases, especially when only one tooth is removed, local anaesthesia, delivered by injection, is usually sufficient.

After surgery, the wound is closed with sutures. You may be given antibiotics and painkillers. Expect some pain, swelling and difficulty opening your mouth for the next few days.

Tips:

1. Have a good meal before the extraction.
2. Relax and breathe deeply through your nose during the procedure.
3. After the extraction, bite firmly on the gauze provided for 15 minutes.
4. Avoid spitting or rinsing your mouth. Swallow your saliva.
5. Do not smoke, drink very hot drinks or alcohol.
6. Do not exert yourself. Rest at home.
7. Take care not to bite your lip when it is numb.
8. When bleeding has stopped, eat soft food and keep the wound clean.
9. If pain persists after three to four days, see your dentist.

Though the benefits of wearing dentures are obvious and many, a person wearing dentures for the first time will often realise the importance of the teeth he had lost. This is because no matter how comfortable, dentures are almost never as strong and stable as the patient's healthy natural teeth. Adapting to a new set of dentures will take time and patience.

As a person ages, the jaw without teeth  will shrink and originally well-fitting dentures may start to get loose. A new set of dentures may have to be made every seven to ten years and the inconvenient process of adaptation starts all over again.

The procedure for denture construction takes three to four weeks, over four to five visits, depending on the complexity of the case. It is also advisable to delay denture construction until extraction sockets have healed completely. Otherwise, the patient must be prepared to do a second set when the gums have changed.

In situations where a tooth needs to be extracted and the patient does not want to go around without a tooth, an immediate denture can be done. In this case, no extraction is done on the first visit. A denture including the artificial replacement for the tooth to be extracted and issued immediately after extraction. Ideally, the denture should be a temporary measure prior to bridge construction.

Full denture construction for patients with less than ideal gums and bones will pose serious challenges for the dentist. Unfortunately, few options are available.