TREATMENTS

What causes gum disease?

Our mouths are full of bacteria. These bacteria, along with mucus and other particles, constantly form a sticky, colorless "plaque" on teeth. Professional cleaning by dental professionals is necessary to remove tartar that brushing cannot address.

Gingivitis

This mild form develops when plaque and tartar accumulate. The bacteria cause inflammation of the gums that is called "gingivitis." The condition produces red, swollen gums that bleed easily but typically reverses with proper daily oral hygiene and professional cleanings, with no bone or tissue loss involved.

Periodontitis

When untreated, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis. Gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces (called "pockets") that become infected. The immune response and bacterial toxins break down supporting structures, potentially leading to tooth loss if left untreated.

Risk Factors

Key risk factors include smoking (a significant contributor), hormonal changes in females, diabetes, certain illnesses and medications, and genetic susceptibility.

Who gets gum disease?

People usually don’t show signs of gum disease until they are in their 30s or 40s. Men are more likely to have gum disease than women. Teenagers can develop gingivitis but rarely periodontitis.

How do I know if I have gum disease?

Symptoms include bad breath, red/swollen gums, bleeding, painful chewing, loose teeth, and receding gums. Dental evaluation involves medical history review, gum examination, and pocket depth measurement.

How is gum disease treated?

The main goal of treatment is to control the infection. Treatment involves deep cleaning and may include behavioral modifications.

Deep Cleaning (Scaling and Root Planing)

This procedure removes tartar above and below the gum line and eliminates bacterial growth sites. Laser technology can enhance results with reduced bleeding and discomfort.

Reasons for extracting teeth

• A crowded mouth. Sometimes dentists extract teeth to prepare the mouth for orthodontics.
• Infection. If tooth decay or damage extends to the pulp — the centre of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels — bacteria in the mouth can enter the pulp, leading to infection.
• Risk of infection. If your immune system is compromised (for example, if you are receiving chemotherapy or are having an organ transplant) even the risk of infection in a particular tooth may be reason to remove the tooth.
• Periodontal disease. If periodontal disease — an infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth — have caused loosening of the teeth, it may be necessary to extract the tooth or teeth.
• Impacted wisdom teeth frequently lack adequate space to emerge fully, complicating cleaning and increasing decay likelihood.

What to expect with tooth extraction

• Before removing the tooth, we will give you an injection of a local anaesthetic (or pain medicine) to numb the area where the tooth will be removed.
• For difficult extractions, the dentist applies careful technique using forceps. Post-removal, bleeding control involves gauze pressure, with occasional stitches applied.
• Sometimes, the blood clot in the socket breaks loose, exposing the socket — causing a painful condition called dry socket, which receives protective dressing treatment.

Indications for Crowns

• A previously filled tooth where there now exists more filling than tooth. The existing tooth structure becomes weakened and can no longer support the filling.
• Extensive damage by decay.
• Discolorations and compromised aesthetics.
• Fractures.
• Root canal treatment — after root canal treatment, teeth tend to become brittle and are more prone to fracture. They often need to be protected by a crown.
• Bridges — when missing teeth are replaced with a bridge, the adjacent teeth sometimes require crowns in order to support the replacement teeth.

Applications

• Root canal treatment: enhanced removal of bacteria and increased success rate for root canal treatments.
• Gum disease: lasers are used to reshape gums and remove bacteria during periodontal treatment procedures.
• Biopsy or lesion removal: lasers can be used to remove a small piece of tissue (called a biopsy) so that it can be examined for cancer. Lasers are also used to remove lesions in the mouth and relieve the pain of canker sores.
• Teeth whitening: lasers are used to speed up in-office teeth whitening procedures.

How Do Lasers Work in Dentistry?

All lasers work by delivering energy in the form of light. The mechanism varies depending on the application: as a cutting or vaporizing instrument for surgical procedures, as a strengthening agent when curing fillings, or as a heat source during whitening treatments.

What Are the Pros of Using a Laser in Dentistry?

• Potentially reduced pain and anesthesia requirements.
• Decreased patient anxiety regarding dental drills.
• Minimized bleeding and swelling during soft tissue work.
• Enhanced bacterial removal success in root canal and periodontal treatments.
• Superior whitening outcomes.

What is an Inman Aligner?

The Inman Aligner is a simple removable appliance used to align front teeth quickly and safely. It works as either standalone treatment or preparatory alignment before cosmetic procedures like bonding or veneers.

How does it work?

The device uses Nickel Titanium coil springs powering opposing aligner bows that gently guide teeth into new positions. The inner bow pushes forwards, while the outer bow pulls back on the front teeth, creating a squeeze effect for efficient movement across a large range.

How long is the treatment with the Inman Aligner?

Most cases are completed within 6–18 weeks. Individual timelines vary based on specific dental needs.

What's involved in Treatment with the Inman Aligner?

• Certification verification and suitability assessment.
• Custom impressions sent to certified labs.
• Initial aligner fitting.
• Daily wear of 16–20 hours.
• Check-ups every 2–3 weeks.
• Lifetime retention using bonded or Essex retainers to prevent relapse.

What causes discoloration of the teeth?

Tooth discoloration can be caused by genetics, ageing, cigarettes, food & drink e.g. tea & coffee.

Why do I need my teeth whitened?

Whitening enhances appearance and makes people look younger. It is considered the safest cosmetic dental procedure and eliminates bacteria that causes gum disease.

Is laser teeth whitening safe?

Laser teeth whitening is both 100% safe and effective, provided it's carried out by qualified technicians using quality systems.

What is the laser used for in laser teeth whitening?

Laser light activates and accelerates the oxidisation action of the whitening gell, for optimum results.

How long does teeth whitening treatment take?

A single 60-minute laser tooth whitening appointment is all it takes for years of built-up tooth discoloration to be removed completely.

How white will my teeth be after whitening?

Our teeth whitening system can lighten teeth on average up to 14 shades. Even minor changes of 2–3 shades create noticeable improvement.

Will laser tooth whitening hurt?

Most clients do not experience any discomfort during treatment other than mild sensitivity.

What are the side effects of laser teeth whitening?

There are NO side effects associated with laser teeth whitening, though reversible sensitivity may occur temporarily.

Procedure

• Examination and assessment with treatment discussion.
• Scaling and polishing.
• In-office 60-minute laser treatment.
• Optional take-home whitening trays for maintenance.

What is Botox®?

It's a simple, nonsurgical procedure that smoothes the lines between your brows. The natural, purified protein relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles. The treatment is a simple, 10 minute procedure that consists of a few tiny injections. The nurse or doctor decides where to administer Botox® for the best result. Most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite. Overall, the discomfort is minimal and temporary.

Is the procedure safe?

Botox® is a natural, purified protein that is administered at very low doses. The effects of Botox® are usually confined to the injected region. It does not travel throughout the body.

When will I start to see results?

You should begin to see a significant improvement within 3–5 days.

How long does the treatment last?

The effects of Botox® last up to 4 months.

Will I experience any side effects?

It's unlikely that you'll develop any significant side effects, but you may notice slight bruising where the Botox® was injected. This is only temporary and can be covered by make-up. The most common side effects are headache, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, temporary eyelid droop and nausea. Botox® should not be used if there is an infection at the injection site.

Will my facial expressions look unnatural?

Although the results are dramatic, it will not radically change your facial appearance. The muscles are simply relaxed, so you can still frown, smile or look surprised without the wrinkles and creases.

DERMAL FILLERS (HYALURONIC ACID)

• In youth, an abundance of two important substances, collagen and hyaluronic acid, keep your skin looking smooth and supple. Collagen is a protein that provides your skin with structural support. Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar found in all living cells that attracts and binds water, hydrating the skin and giving it volume.
• With time, sunlight and other factors, collagen and hyaluronic acid in your skin diminish, the skin loses structure and volume, and unwelcome lines and wrinkles appear.
• Dermal fillers are available for treatment of lips, wrinkles and folds.

How do dermal fillers work?

All products are based on a hyaluronic acid gel that is injected into the skin in order to lift up wrinkles or add volume to the lips.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that is found throughout the body. It gives, for example, volume to the skin, lubricates the joints and gives the eye its shape.

What kind of wrinkles can be treated?

Common areas are the glabellar lines (between the eyebrows), the nasolabial folds (from the wing of the nose to the angle of the mouth) and the wrinkles around the lips and around the eyes, but other sites can also be treated.

What results can be obtained from lip treatment?

The vermilion border can be accentuated and the lip can be given more volume.

What is the treatment like?

• Just think, in less than an hour, you can say goodbye to unwanted lines and wrinkles like the smile lines that appear between your nose and mouth, or the marionette lines that turn down the corners of your mouth.
• The treatment is a very easy and quick process. Since no pre-test is required, the treatment can be carried out immediately and takes between 15 and 30 minutes. The result is instant.

Is it painful?

This is very individual depending on how sensitive to pain you are. The injections may prick a little but normally no anesthesia is needed for the treatment of wrinkles. Lip treatment can be quite uncomfortable and therefore a freezing such as Lidocaine (dental freezing) may be injected prior to the treatment.

How long does the effect last?

Since dermal fillers are made of a substance very similar to your own skin, the same ongoing process (such as aging) that changes the structure of your skin will also alter the implant. Eventually the implant totally disappears from the body. How long the effect of the treatment lasts is very individual. It depends on many factors, such as the structure of the skin, lifestyle and ages as well as on the degree of perfection demanded by the individual. Most patients choose to have touchup treatments done within 6–12 months of the original treatment. For lip augmentation, new treatment is normally needed after about 4–8 months. If you choose not to do touch-up treatments, the correction will gradually disappear until your skin looks just as it did before the treatment.