At Horsham Plaza Dental Centre, it is our motto to try & save a tooth with as much effort as possible.

We keep extraction as the very last option available to us. However, there are a few conditions that make extraction necessary, namely:

• Severely decayed teeth & roots that are impossible to restore.
• Advanced periodontal disease, causing severe tooth mobility.
• Fractured teeth, especially vertically fractured teeth and teeth in which the fracture line extends for below gum level are indicated for extraction. Unlike bone fracture that heal by fusion, teeth fractures cannot be fused together.
• Impacted teeth, i.e. teeth that fail to erupt and are trapped in bone often need to be extracted.

Very often, third molar’s or wisdom teeth remain trapped fully or partly within the jawbone. They also form at varying angles and tilts making them impossible to erupt.

• When are impacted wisdom teeth to be removed?
• Impacted wisdom teeth quite often cause nagging pain in the jaw, headaches and earaches.
• In partly erupted wisdom teeth, very often a pocket forms between the second and third molars that is impossible to reach with your floss and tooth brush, that causes a collection of plaque in that region.
• This poses a threat of decay or gum disease for both the second and third molar teeth.
• Impacted wisdom teeth are known to cause a chronic worsening of crowding of the front teeth because of their passive eruptive forces.

COMMON APPREHENSIONS RELATED TO EXTRACTIONS

Pain: Contrary to popular belief, extractions are not as painful as one imagines them to be.

Bleeding: At our practice, we make every effort in minimalizing the incidence of excessive bleeding, both during and after extraction.

Dental Implants work by copying the structure of the natural tooth. Your natural teeth are stable biting and chewing surfaces because they are supported by the bone of the jaws. This is also true of a dental implant. A dental implant can be thought of as an artificial tooth root that is submerged into the jawbone. Successful implants become firmly embedded in the jaw (called osseointegration) providing a stable base for the artificial crown to be mounted on.

They feel more natural and secure than the traditional removable dentures, especially if these are loose fitting due to bone loss. Implants can also be used to “anchor” dentures into the oral cavity thereby giving denture wearers much more confidence and biting ability than they had with just their plates. Implant-Supported Denture: The implant-supported denture is stable, very retentive and enables most patients to eat and chew the kinds of food they haven’t eaten in years. In some patients biting into an apple is now the norm rather than a wish.

Dental implants allow for the replacement of a single missing tooth [without having to modify adjacent teeth] through to a complete set of missing teeth. These pictures show only a single replacement but multiple teeth can be replaced.

Stages of Implants

There are really three stages of placing implants although this depends upon the type of implant and what it’s specific function is.

Stage 1.

The implant root component is placed into the bone site. This is a surgical procedure involving opening the overlying gum to expose the alveolar bone. Making the implant socket in the bone and then either screwing the implant in on friction fitting it. The gum is then replaced and the wound closed with stitches. This procedure is done under sedation and local analgesia. After a week to ten days the stitches are removed and the buried implant is allowed to heal for about 20 weeks.

Stage 2.

This is usually a simple procedure and is done under local analgesia alone. The buried, secure implant is uncovered using a small incision in the gum tissue .A “healing coping” is attached to the implant and pokes up through the gum. The gum is allowed to heal around this coping for a period of about two weeks.

THIS COMPLETES THE SURGEONS PART OF THE PROCESS.

Stage 3.

The final post is screwed into the implant and the crown made and fitted

.

At Horsham Plaza Dental Centre we understand the impact a great smile can have on your personal and professional life.

If you are not comfortable with the colour, shape, or overall appearance of your teeth, it can affect your self-esteem, self-confidence and the frequency of how often you allow yourself to smile.

Do you think you may be a candidate for cosmetic dentistry services?

Ask yourself these questions:

Am I unhappy with the shape of my teeth?

Are there gaps between my teeth?

Are my teeth crowded?

Are you dissatisfied with the colour of my teeth?

Are my gums not as healthy and pink as I would like?

Am I unhappy with the number of teeth I show when I smile?

Am I generally self-conscious about my smile?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, Planet Dentistry can help.

We offer a wide range of cosmetic services, including professional teeth whitening that will provide you with the smile solutions you need for optimal oral health.

For more information on our cosmetic dentistry services, please contact us to book an appointment for a consultation and examination.

Searching for root canal therapy in Horsham? Is a tooth infection causing you pain and discomfort?

Horsham Plaza Dental Centre offers root canal therapy to restore badly infected or broken down teeth.

The procedure involves removing the nerve of the damaged tooth and replacing it with an inert seal to facilitate healing.

Why do I need root canal therapy?

The pain from root canal injury will not heal by itself. If left unattended it will deteriorate, causing worse pain as it progresses. The infection will spread, bone around the tooth will begin to degenerate and the tooth may fall out.

The next alternative is to remove the tooth, which will then require a bridge or implant to maintain your bite. The best solution for you in any case is to keep your original teeth wherever possible. Unless it is unviable, we will recommend a root canal as a first priority.

With a 90 percent success rate, teeth that previously needed to be extracted can now be saved and restored. Plus, the cost of root canal therapy is less than extracting the injured tooth and replacing it with abridge or denture.

Want to know if root canal therapy is right for you? Please contact us to book an appointment for a consultation and examination.

Concerned about periodontal (gum) disease? Need dental cleaning?

At Horsham Plaza Dental Centre, we aim to help you achieve and maintain optimum oral health for a lifetime. That’s why we promote routine dental cleanings for early detection of periodontal disease and preservation of healthy gums and smiles.

Since the number one threat to oral health is periodontal disease, and it affects 75 percent of Australian adults at some point in their lives, regular, professional teeth cleaning is imperative to people of all ages.

Is it time for your next cleaning? Please contact us to book an appointment.

Infant, toddler, adolescent or adult; your dental routine should represent the different stages in your life. Let our professionally trained dentist guide and educate you in the importance of good oral hygiene.

A check-up is more than an annual visit to the dentist.  Regular examinations and a scale and clean are important, and aid towards early detection of dental disease.  Our dentist will provide a detailed dental plan and work with you towards a healthier and happier smile.

General dentistry encompasses all procedures to prevent, diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions:

• Oral hygiene and diet instruction
• Children’s Dentistry
• Extractions
• Fillings
• Gum treatment
• Root Canal Treatment