General Dentistry

Root Canal Treatment

Relieve pain and save your natural tooth

Root canal treatment (also called ‘endodontics’) is needed when the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected through tooth decay or is damaged by an injury to your mouth. Infection may spread through the root canal system and could eventually lead to an abscess, causing a great deal of discomfort. If root canal treatment is not carried out, the tooth may need to be taken out.

What to Expect During Root Canal Treatment

We use local anaesthetic so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
A small rubber sheet is placed to keep the tooth dry, then the dentist gently drills to reach the root canal.
The inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned to remove any infection.
The root canal is filled and sealed, usually with a temporary crown.
At a follow-up visit, we check the tooth and, once it’s fully healed, place a permanent filling.
Root canal treatment usually takes two or more visits to complete.

Benefits of Root Canal Treatment

Preservation of remaining healthy tooth structure.
Prevention of infection spreading any further.
Restoration of tooth to its natural look and feel.

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Wisdom Teeth Extractions & Oral Surgery

Safe, gentle surgical care for complex dental needs

In cases of advanced gum disease and tooth decay, teeth may need to be extracted. Some patients may also develop impacted wisdom teeth, which can cause intense pain and need to be removed. This is alleviated by having them removed surgically.

What to Expect During a Tooth Extraction

Before your extraction, you’ll need an x-ray to help your dentist plan the procedure.
You may receive a local anaesthetic to numb the area, and sedation can be offered if you feel anxious.
Dentists use special tools in a clean, safe environment to remove teeth carefully, and most patients recover quickly.
For some wisdom teeth, a CT scan may be needed to check for nerve risks before removal.
After the procedure, you might have some swelling or discomfort, which can usually be managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
If you have a large infection or facial swelling, antibiotics may be prescribed to help prevent further problems.

Benefits of Extractions & Oral Surgery

Reduced pain levels
Sustained good oral health

Emergency Dental Care & ACC Treatments

Prompt treatment when you need us most

If you have chipped or broken a tooth as a result of an accident or injury, it is very important that you see a dentist as soon as possible. The same goes for any teeth that may have been knocked out. The sooner you are seen by a dentist the better the chances that the teeth can be re-implanted, depending on the severity of your injury.

Unfortunately accidents can happen at any time. No matter how small or large the injury to the teeth or gums is, it is important to have the injury assessed and registered with ACC as soon as possible. This means that in the future if there is any problem relating to the injured tooth, treatment is covered mostly by ACC. We are registered provider for ACC dental treatments. Our team are highly experienced in dealing with all forms of dental trauma and emergency care. Treatment under ACC is often free of charge for children below 18 years except for complex treatments and adults can have an additional surcharge.

Here are some of the steps an emergency dental appointment will cover:

A thorough examination of the injured area will be undertaken. This may include dental x-rays to determine the extent of the damage.
Depending on the severity of the pain, the area will be numbed with local anaesthetic.
The injured area will be sterilised to reduce the risk of infection.
The damaged teeth will be restored temporarily or permanently, depending on the case.
In severe cases the affected tooth may require extraction and implant treatment will be discussed.

If you require emergency dental treatment, you should ask to see a dentist as soon as possible. At our practice we offer appointments for all dental emergencies from toothache to lost or broken crowns, chipped teeth and fillings to abscesses, trauma, avulsed teeth and facial swelling. We can take care of your injuries to ensure you heal quicker, helping to ensure that you avoid additional dental problems and complications in the future.

Benefits of Emergency Dental Care

Preservation of as much of the remaining tooth structure as possible.
Reduced risk of infection.
Improved long-term oral health overall.

Sleep Dentistry

Comfortable, stress-free dental care under sedation

Conscious sedation is a technique which makes treatment more pleasant for those patients who suffer from dental phobia or dental anxiety. A strong sedative drug (e.g. Midazolam) is injected into a vein in the arm. The drug induces a state of amnesia (forgetfulness). It is used before surgery or any unpleasant dental procedures. It causes drowsiness, decrease anxiety, and reduces your memory of the surgery or procedure. You will be awake, be able to talk, but more importantly will be very relaxed and happy. The onset of action is usually with in 5 minutes and may last up to 1 hour depending on the dose.

Our patients have chosen to have dentistry performed under sedation for a number of reasons including:

Have had traumatic experiences in the past and as a child
Hate the noise of dental drills and/or smells associated with dentistry
Dental phobia

It can be offered to most patients, however, if you are not in good health or are taking any medications we need to be aware of those so that the sedative drug and dosage can be altered.

On completion of the treatment the patient rests for a short while before being escorted home. While you may feel very much normal after treatment, the sedative agents are not completely eliminated from the body for at least 4 hours - so you must arrange for an escort to take you home. Driving is prohibited for the next 24 hours at least as you may feel drowsy. No food or drink should be taken for some hours before the sedation treatment session. Our team will provide you with detailed instructions upon seen by a dentist for a consultation appointment.

The major side effect is a drop in your respiratory rate. This is caused by relaxed state of the body caused by the drug. We will place a monitor on your finger which measures the level of oxygen in your blood and your heart rate. The monitor will indicate us immediately if your breathing rate is lowering than normal. This is simply corrected by asking you to take some deep breaths as you will remain very responsive to our verbal commands during the procedure.

IV sedation is a very safe procedure due to the nature of the drugs used and the monitoring systems in place. In the unlikely event of complications developing the sedative effects can be reversed by administering another drug (Flumazenil).