Tooth Whitening :: Snoring Appliances :: Veneers :: Crowns, Inlays & Onlays :: Fillings
Root Fillings :: Orthodontic Treatment :: Replacing Missing Teeth :: Dentures :: Partial Dentures
Full Dentures :: Getting used to Dentures :: Bridges :: Implants

TREATMENTS

Tooth Whitening

Your dentist makes small delicate rubber mouthguards which fit your teeth precisely and will give you a bleaching gel to use either overnight or for a minimum of 2 hours during the day. Natural tooth colour is either yellow, brown or grey and this treatment aims to lighten that colour and the results are very successful.

Snoring Appliances

These devices have been developed at the Glasgow Dental Hospital over the last 10 years by Dr Lyons who Mr McCallum worked alongside. There are many different designs of these appliances but the one used at Levengrove is the only one to be clinically proven as successful. It is also the simplest, and therefore the cheapest. The device works by holding the lower jaw forward whilst the patient sleeps which allows a better passage of air and reduces vibration thus reducing the noise. Many patients find they also have a better sleep and this can reduce their daytime tiredness.

Veneers

If a front tooth is chipped, damaged or discoloured, a thin layer (veneer) of porcelain, can be made to fit over it, or tooth-coloured composite material can be placed on the tooth. In some cases, if you have one or more teeth that are crooked, veneers of varying thicknesses can be fitted to help them appear straighter.

Crowns, Inlays and Onlays

If a tooth has been broken, or weakened by a lot of decay or a large filling, a crown (or cap) can be fitted. Crowns are shaped like natural teeth. For teeth near the front of the mouth crowns are usually made of porcelain-like materials. Crowns on back teeth may be made of porcelain or gold.

Inlays and onlays are similar to fillings. However, like crowns, they are made in a laboratory and then cemented to the tooth with special adhesive. The process of fitting crowns, inlays and onlays requires two visits to the dentist.
Inlays and onlays are very strong and, in some circumstances, may be more durable than ordinary fillings. They are suitable for the grinding surfaces of the back teeth and can be made out of gold, porcelain or composite material.

Fillings

These can be done with amalgam (silver) material or white fillings. White fillings are used routinely on front teeth. Either filling material can be used on back teeth.

Some people have concerns about the safety of amalgam fillings. Extensive research has been done to investigate the effect of amalgam fillings on general health. No harmful effects from amalgam fillings have been shown and the World Health Organisation supports the continued use of amalgam fillings.

Root Fillings

Teeth have a core of blood vessels and nerves at their centre, in a space called the root canal. Very deep decay or injury to a tooth can destroy this living tissue. A "dead" tooth is prone to infection. The root canal needs to be cleaned out thoroughly before a restoration can be placed.

Afterwards, the tooth is sealed by placing a special filling into the root canal. A restoration can then be placed on top.

Root fillings are complicated to perform, and may take two or more appointments to complete. A number of X-rays need to be taken during root canal treatment. When completed, a root filling should feel no different to an ordinary filling.

Orthodontic Treatment

This usually involves wearing an appliance (brace). This puts gentle pressure on specific teeth to move them into the right place. It can take between six months and two years, depending on the severity of the problem.
There are different kinds of appliances. Some can be removed while others are fixed in place.

We will refer you to a specialist centre for orthodontic treatment as this is a specialty which is not carried out in this practice.

Replacing Missing Teeth

Replacing missing teeth can radically improve a person's smile and the shape of their face. As well as boosting self-esteem, there are important dental health benefits too.

Missing Teeth

Having gaps where teeth are missing affects the way the rest of the teeth bite together. The remaining teeth may tilt and drift into the gaps, and food can be trapped in the spaces, increasing the risk of decay and gum disease.
Before you have a tooth taken out, it is worth discussing with your dentist how it could be replaced.

There are usually four options:

• Do nothing - accept the space and leave it empty
• Dentures (false teeth) - removable plastic or metal plates carrying artificial teeth
• Bridges - artificial teeth cemented onto adjacent natural teeth
• Implants - metal "pegs" attached to the jawbone, with dentures or bridges clipped or screwed on top

Dentures

If you do want to replace the missing tooth, the first step is usually to have a denture fitted. This can be done straight after the tooth has been extracted.

When teeth are removed it takes several months for the bone and gums to form a stable shape. During this time, a plastic "temporary" or "immediate" denture is often made.

As the healing tissues shrink, the temporary denture will start to become loose and may need adjustment. After six months or so, when the tissues are stable, your dentist will be able to start making the long-term denture or bridge.

Partial Dentures

A partial denture can be used to replace one or more missing teeth. This type of denture must be removed for cleaning and should be taken out at night.

There are a variety of types, but they usually include a metal and/or plastic base carrying plastic or porcelain artificial teeth. Metal clasps are usually used to keep the denture in position. Where possible, these are hidden so that they can't be seen during smiling and talking.

Full Dentures

Full dentures are needed when there are no teeth left in the upper or lower jaw. Full dentures must be removed for cleaning and should be taken out at night.

Full upper dentures cover the roof of the mouth. A very thin layer of saliva between the roof of the mouth and the denture creates suction, which keeps it firmly in position.

Full lower dentures can be more difficult to keep in place. This is partly because the floor of the mouth is very muscular, and may push the denture out of place. However, over time the tongue and cheek muscles tend to get used to the shape of the denture and adapt to keep it in place.

Getting used to Dentures

It is very important to have realistic expectations of dentures. They should help you to eat, speak and smile confidently, but even the best dentures won't feel the same as natural teeth.

After having new dentures fitted, it's normal to produce more saliva than usual for a few hours, and for your mouth to feel a bit irritated for a few days.

Bridges

If only one or two teeth are missing, a bridge may be used to replace them. If there are suitable teeth on either side of a gap, it may be possible to use them to support one, or sometimes two, artificial teeth.
Bridges at the back of the mouth are often made of gold, but if the bridge is visible during smiling, tooth-coloured materials may be used.

Bridges are cemented in place, so they cannot be removed for cleaning. To keep the teeth healthy, the gap under a bridge must be cleaned daily using special dental floss - an ordinary toothbrush will not do the job. Your dentist will demonstrate how to use floss under your bridge.

Implants

Implants are commonly made of titanium, a metal that is well-tolerated by the body. Over time, the jawbone becomes firmly united with the implant. A small attachment at the top of the implant emerges through the gum. Crowns, bridges or dentures can then be attached to the implant by screws or clips.

• Implants are an alternative to conventional bridges and partial dentures.
• If you find that your full dentures move around a lot, implants will help to anchor the denture in place.
• When teeth are lost, the jawbone may start to shrink. Implants can help slow this process down.
• Your dentist may recommend using implants to support a bridge rather than cut into healthy teeth either side of a gap.