Services
Veneers
A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain or composite adhered to the tooth. The tooth is prepared and an impression or mould taken. The mould is sent to the dental laboratory when the dental technician makes a thin piece of porcelain to the correct shape an shade the veneer is required. The tooth is prepared minimally and only on the outside surface. This conservers tooth tissue but improves the appearance of the tooth. They are used to change the shape of teeth, and mask irregularities in the enamel. The can be used to straighten teeth.
Inlays
Are a filling made in the lab and cemented into the tooth. They can be made of gold,composite or porcelain
Crowns
Are used to restore teeth, with large filings or root treated teeth. They can also be used for cosmetic reasons to improve the appearance of teeth. The tooth is prepared to create enough space for the crown. Then impressions are taken and sent to laboratory. A temporary crown is placed on the tooth while the lab make the crown.
Crowns can be made of metal, precious (gold alloy) non precious
(alloy), metal and porcelain alone or porcelain and metal free ceramic and porcelain (Procera and Lava).
Metal crowns are the thinnest as gold alloy can be strong at only 0.5mm thickness. But gold is expensive and metal is not aesthetic.
Porcelain crowns look like teeth but due to loading are unsuitable for back teeth, the can be suitable in certain circumstances for anterior teeth and given a good aesthetic result as porcelain is similar to tooth. It is tooth coloured and light can pass freely through it to make it look more natural.
Porcelain and metal crowns (bonded crowns)
These are strong and tooth coloured. The metal core given strength and the porcelain gives a tooth colour. These are very suitable for back teeth. The crown will look and function like a tooth. At the front they can give a good result as again they are strong and tooth coloured. And if there is a strong bite these are very suitable. The metal core however reduces the natural appearance as light cannot pass through metal the way it can through tooth and porcelain.
All ceramic crowns
These crowns contain no metal. The are produced by CAD-CAM . The tooth is prepared and an impression is sent to the lab. The lab cast the impression. The cast is then scanned. The computer then sends the scan to the milling machine in either Sweden or the USA. The milling machine very accurately mills the core out of a solid block of ceramic( Procera) or zirconia (Lava). This is then sent back to the local lab where they build up the porcelain to make the core look like a beautiful natural tooth
Bridges
These are used to replace missing teeth. They are fixed at one end (cantilever) or both ends (fixed bridge). They are essentially a crown with a false tooth fixed to them. This is a conventional bridge. They can be made out of metal and porcelain or all ceramic for better aesthetics. The bridge is not removable and is fixed in permanently. They are cemented to the teeth next to the gap. The tooth or teeth next to the gap will need to be prepared (drilled) to have a bridge.
Bridges can also be a wing and a false tooth this is known as a Maryland bridge, the wing is bonded to the tooth next door. The preparation for this bridge is much less as it is minimal and only covers one surface of the tooth next door.
Dentures
These are used to replaced 1 to all missing teeth, as a partial or full denture
Acrylic dentures
These are made in the lab. There are several stages of making a denture depending on its complexity. The impressions are taken in the surgery and the work is sent to the lab. Each stage is comprises of a clinical and a technical part. Dentures can replace tooth and gum and give a very natural and reliable appearance. Acrylic is a very biocompatible and durable material. A well looked after denture would expect to last between 5 and 7 years.
Chrome Dentures
These are similar to acrylic denture as the have acrylic teeth and gums on them. But the major connector is metal. These means it can be much thinner. An upper chrome denture can have very little palatal coverage, for improved comfort and better tasting of food. Metal dentures often have claps rests on then so the are supported by the teeth not gums.
Valplast Flexible dentures
Flexible partial dentures are the comfortable, beautiful, and affordable choice. It was long thought that removable partial dentures had to be rigid to be effective. The innovation of the Valplast® Flexible Partial allows the restoration to adapt to the constant movement and flexibility in your mouth.
This is the underlying thinking behind Valplast's innovative flexible, removable partial denture. The flexibility, combined with strength and light weight, provides total comfort and great looks!
The preparation is relatively simple because your natural teeth don't need to be altered in any way. The Valplast® partial is virtually invisible because there are no telltale metal clasps and the material itself blends with the tissue in your mouth so that the only thing that shows is your beautiful smile.
When considering a removable partial, many people find the Valplast® Flexible Partial to be the most comfortable option, and the final restoration can be made very quickly! While the cost is often higher than a partial made with visible metal clasps, the results of the flexible partial are beautiful, and patient satisfaction is very high. The Valp® flexible partial involves only non-invasive procedures, and gives you confidence in your restoration while talking, eating, and most importantly: smiling!
Flexible partial dentures are the comfortable, beautiful, and affordable choice. It was long thought that removable partial dentures had to be rigid to be effective. The innovation of the Valplast® Flexible Partial allows the restoration to adapt to the constant movement and flexibility in your mouth.
This is the underlying thinking behind Valplast's innovative flexible, removable partial denture. The flexibility, combined with strength and light weight, provides total comfort and great looks!
The preparation is relatively simple because your natural teeth don't need to be altered in any way. The Valplast® partial is virtually invisible because there are no telltale metal clasps and the material itself blends with the tissue in your mouth so that the only thing that shows is your beautiful smile.
When considering a removable partial, many people find the Valplast® Flexible Partial to be the most comfortable option, and the final restoration can be made very quickly! While the cost is often higher than a partial made with visible metal clasps, the results of the flexible partial are beautiful, and patient satisfaction is very high. The Valp® flexible partial involves only non-invasive procedures, and gives you confidence in your restoration while talking, eating, and most importantly: smiling!
- Comfortable
- Non-Invasive
- Affordable
- Lifetime Guaranteed
- Virtually Invisible
- Comfortable
- Non-Invasive
- Affordable
- Lifetime Guaranteed
- Virtually Invisible
Denture stabilisation using dentures
The Straumann® Implant System has crafted a product that rises above other dental implants in the UK, making it the choice of Jones Dental Practice. The Straumann® Implant System's tapered titanium implant anchors to the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Because the body readily accepts titanium, the gum and jawbone heal quickly and bond completely with the implant. The Straumann® Implant System can be used as a fixed base for dentures and crowns, freeing you from the inconvenience of removable dentures.
Implants to replace missing teeth
Tooth coloured (composite) fillings. These are prepared the same way as a metal filling. The tooth is prepared. The white filling is bonded to the tooth and seals up the tooth. They can take a little longer to placed, but look like and function like natural tooth.
Endodontics (Root canal fillings)
The inside of a tooth is hollow in this space is a nerve. If the nerve becomes damaged either by having a hole in the tooth, or trauma it can die off. This can be silent (non painful) or very painful giving a severe toothache or pulpitis. If the nerve has died off the tooth becomes non vital. The tooth will need a root treatment. This is cleaning inside the nerve space or root canal. The dead nerve is removed and the canal cleaned and widened for the root canal filling. This consists of a cement and a rubber like material that can adapt to the shape. The canal filling is sealed and a filling or crown placed on top. Teeth can have a number of canals the more canals he more complex the root canal treatment.
Once a large tooth has a root canal treatment it is vulnerable to fracture and a crown is advised. This strengthens the tooth and seal up the root treatment
Periodontal treatment (treatment for gum disease)
Poor gum health has been linked to increased risk of chronic heart disease, stroke and poor general health. Good gum health is essential.
Gingivitis. This is reversible inflammation of the gums. Plaque builds up around the gum line or gingival margin and causes irritation around the gums. They become red swollen and bleed when brushed or probed. If your gums bleed when you brush them you have gingivitis. This is reversed by good oral hygiene, brushing thoroughly at least twice daily for at least 2 minutes, and floss to remove soft plaque around the gums and in between the teeth.
Periodontal disease.
This is where damage to the supporting tissues has occurred. this is not reversible. Teeth are attached to bone by connective tissue called the periodontal ligament . The ligament is destroyed and the supporting bone is lost. The space between the tooth and the gum becomes greater and forms a pocket. The pocket can trap bacterial and can get infected.
When enough bone is lost the tooth becomes mobile and is lost. 50 % of teeth in the UK are lost to gum disease. Smoking accelerates this process and smokers loose more teeth then non smokers through this process,
Children's dentistry
This is focused around prevention. No sugar = no cavities. Decay is preventable. However, making children have no sugar is very difficult. Sugar must be limited. For minimal damage sugar should be a treat an the best time is after a meal. The natural sugars found in food are already in the mouth and a lot of saliva is produced any way. Saliva washes sugar away and also contains a buffer- this helps neutralise the sugar. Dried fruit contains much higher levels of sugar and should also be limited to meals.
Sugary drinks also cause decay and some of the are packaged as healthy drinks watch out of flavoured waters. Choose the diet, low calorie no added sugar options. Packaging is much more clearly labelled and has become more easy to glance at.
Fluoride
Fluoride is proved to prevent dental decay. It is added to toothpaste. In areas with fluoridated water the decay rates are much lower. Toothpaste contains varying amounts of fluoride there is none in some herbal toothpastes, these have no benefit to teeth and are not recommended. Recommended toothpastes contain from 250ppm up to 1450ppm in normal toothpaste and as much as 5000ppm in prescription toothpaste. Swallowing of toothpaste is to be avoided as it has a topical effect on the tooth. Smaller amounts should be used on smaller children.
Fissure sealants
These are adhesive coatings that fill in the grooves of adult molars. The can help prevent decay in adult teeth and are a good confidence builder for young patients. It done not require local anaesthetic.
If there is a small amount of decay in the fissure or grooves this can be run out, and very rarely requires local anaesthetic as is superficial. Any decal can be removed a small filling placed and the coating placed over the top.
Oral Cancer Screening
This is done for all patients at their examination. It is done by looking and palpating the tissues.
Warning signs of oral cancer are ulcers which bleeds readily or are still there after 2 weeks, white or red patches on the mouth lining, tongue or palate, thickening or lumps in the mouth that don’t go away, pain in mouth or throat, difficulty swallowing.
The earlier the diagnosis of mouth cancer the better the outcome. If you have any of these or are concerned contact your dentist immediately. Most things in the mouth are not sinister and occur commonly if you are unsure contact us.
