| Comprehensive Preventative Dental Care
Our philosophy at Donnybrook Dental Surgery is that prevention is better than cure.
We also believe that early intervention in the disease process is a better option than “letting things go” until the problem becomes painful or compounded.
We are a family practice and care for all age groups.
We provide a wide range of modern diagnostic, preventative and treatment options using state of the art equipment, materials and treatment modalities at affordable prices.
We take the long term view of any treatment carried out and aim for long term functional and aesthetic results for our patients.
We strive to provide Functional Cosmetic dentistry.
Fillings
Donnybrook Dental Surgery is an amalgam/mercury free practice.
We only place white fillings to restore decayed or broken teeth.
White restorations look natural and have significant strength making them ideal for restoring both front and back teeth
Donnybrook Dental Surgery has the state of the art “Diagnodent”, a laser diagnostic machine which helps is the early detection of tooth decay. This often indicates early intervention, hence minimal tooth loss.
Gum Disease
Periodontal or gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among Australian adults and is the most common disease in the world with estimates suggesting that 3 out of every 4 people unknowingly have some form of the disease.
Gum disease causes bad breath, gum bleeding, tooth mobility and eventually tooth loss
Gum disease has been linked to uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease, strokes and low birth weight babies.
Gum Disease is a transmissible, bacterial infection that can destroy the attachment fibres and supporting bone that holds teeth in your mouth.
It is caused by plaque, a colourless film of bacteria that forms on teeth. A person’s reaction to the bacteria determines the severity of the resulting disease. Our ability to fight this infection can vary from day to day and week to week, depending on what else is going on with our life and health.
Plaque is most harmful when these bacteria form colonies, which takes about 24 hours. If not removed daily, plaque mixes with sugars and starches in the diet to form acids and other by-products in saliva. Plaque irritates the gums causing them to become red, tender and swollen. If not removed, the plaque hardens to form calculus (tartar) around the necks of the teeth.
Eventually, the tissue that attaches the gums to the teeth is destroyed by the irritants in the plaque, the gums pull away from the teeth and small pockets form between the teeth and gums. These products become filled with more plaque. Finally, the jawbone supporting the teeth is destroyed.
Fortunately, periodontal infection can now be detected and treated early! Periodontal infection is not curable but it is controllable. Each time you see the dentist he/she will do a periodontal evaluation to detect early signs of this infection. With early detection of the infection it can be controlled non-surgically. If the infection has progressed, surgical intervention may be necessary to control it.
We are excited about our ability to detect this infection early and to be able to offer you non-surgical therapy.
The single most important factor in slowing or stopping the disease’s progression is the control of bacteria. This is often accomplished by the removal of plaque. We use the latest instruments and medications to reduce the bacteria levels and toxins to a point where your immune system can control the infection. Our dentists will assist you with specific instructions on your home care, as your active participation with removal of bacteria at home is critical to the control of the infection.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is a procedure where the nerve and blood supply of the tooth is removed followed by placement of a special filling in the canal space.
Reasons for performing the procedure include but not limited to:
Tooth infection due to decay causing an abscess.
Heavily filled teeth where the pulp of the tooth dies.
Tooth fracture due to trauma, or occasionally elective root canal treatment may need to be carried out prior to other procedures.
Contrary to common belief, root canal treatment procedure is no more painful than having a filling placed in your tooth.
Most root canal treated teeth need to be crowned after the treatment is completed.
Bleaching
Tooth whitening or bleaching can be carried out in the dental chair or as a take home kit in order to brighten dull coloured teeth. An assessment needs to be carried out by the dentist in order to establish suitability and choose the best treatment modality to achieve the desired result.
Crowns, Bridges and Veneers
In dentistry, crown and bridge (Restorative Dentistry) refers to the restoration of natural teeth that have been damaged, decayed, lost or aesthetically compromised. Once your dentist has examined your teeth and has evaluated your dental and medical history, he/she will be ready to provide a diagnosis, and treatment options. A crown may be constructed to restore an individual damaged tooth to it's original form and function, while a bridge may be utilized to replace one or more teeth. These restorations are cemented onto the teeth and are referred to as "fixed" dentistry as opposed to a restoration of missing teeth with a removable appliance or partial denture.
A crown is fabricated using an indirect procedure. The tooth is modified and prepared by using special instruments, and a copy of the tooth preparation is made is made by taking an impression. The crown is then "permanently" cemented onto your tooth preparation. A fixed bridge refers to a prosthesis that will span the area of a missing tooth, known as a pontic. The procedure involves a local anaesthetic and the preparation of two or more abutment teeth. Once this has been accomplished, an impression is made and sent to the dental laboratory for fabrication of your new tooth. This procedure will require more than one appointment.
A veneer is a composite or porcelain facing that is constructed directly or indirectly on the tooth surface to change the visual appearance of the shape or colour of the tooth.
Implants and Dentures
Implants or Dentures can be a fact of life if you've lost your teeth through injury, tooth decay, or gum disease.
We can rebuild your smile and get you to where you can eat, talk, and enjoy yourself just like you used to.
Our dentists will discuss appropriate treatment options if you have missing teeth that you wish to replace.
Dentures
New Dentures
There are three ways to have dentures made:
A new denture can be made to replace an old denture or to replace previously extracted teeth where no denture is constructed.
An 'immediate denture' can be made while you still have some of your teeth, and inserted on the day your teeth are taken out. Changes to the bone may cause the denture to become loose and mean that, within a year, the dentures may need to be relined to improve the fit, or
A denture can be made two to three months after your teeth are removed. This allows time for the bone to change and heal, and means that the denture should be a better fit from the start.
The option chosen depends on the number of teeth missing, personal preference and maybe medical issues which can be explained by the dental team.
Either way our team will be able to advise you in the best way forward to get the best smile in your own situation. We'll also give you the best advice on cleaning your denture, and caring for both the denture and the mouth it goes in.
Denture Relines
We all change as time passes. Your dentures are inanimate and they don't change the way your body does, so there will be times you may want to have them modified to maintain best fit for both aesthetic and health reasons.
Our team are expert in ensuring the fit and the health of your mouth.
Implants
In many situations, a dental implant is the most aesthetically pleasing or appropriate treatment option for replacing the missing tooth. A dental crown or dental bridge, secured to a dental implant, provides a complete and beautiful solution for improving your smile.
The procedure involves placing one or more titanium fixtures (implant) into the bone and after a healing period a crown or bridge is constructed and attached to the fixture, replacing the missing tooth/teeth.
The procedure is often less traumatic than having a tooth extracted.
The gold standard for replacing a single front missing tooth is an implant. Implants do not involve drilling healthy teeth in order to replace a missing tooth.
Donnybrook Dental Surgery has the state of the art Nobel Guide System (computer guided software) which allows the dentist to assess, select and palace the best possible implant with accuracy.
Implants can also be placed to stabilise loose dentures or as a denture alternative.
Patients who are interested in having implants are assessed both clinically and with the aid of CT scans in order to determine their suitability for dental implants.
Emergencies
Emergency treatment
We care about our patients and about the outcome they will get from dealing with us. We are open from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and keep emergency spaces available in our roster to ensure you can get vital when it becomes urgent.
Evenings and Saturdays can be arranged by appointment, but please remember that once we've gone home, there's no one to answer the telephone and book you in.
An emergency involving the teeth or gums is a medical emergency. Pain involving these parts of the mouth, even when minor, can indicate a severe underlying problem that could worsen with time.
It is important to contact a dentist as soon as possible for a professional evaluation to minimize damage to the teeth, gums, and supporting bone. Short-term action can be taken to relieve oral pain, which can be very severe. If you have a dental emergency contact our surgery as soon as possible to discuss your emergency and to make an appointment.
If the emergency involves a tooth that has been knocked out by trauma, please handle the tooth as little as possible and store it in a container of milk (not water). Bring this with you when you come to the surgery. Please do not rub or attempt to wash the tooth as this may damage it.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth often require to be removed due to infection caused by overcrowding or decay.
At Donnybrook we competently and routinely carry out surgical wisdom tooth removal as well as other required surgical procedures under both local and oral sedation.
Medically compromised patients may require admission to hospital for treatment under general anaesthetic.
Children's Dentistry
Children’s early dental experiences help form a lifelong approach to dental hygiene and care – why should your child hate a trip to the dentist?
Our careful and gentle staff will teach your child the importance of looking after their dental health and will monitor your child’s oral development, ensuring that their teeth align and function correctly for optimal health and appearance. Any treatment required is carried out in a fun and relaxed manner.
In some cases treatment under general anaesthetic might be called for. This is done in order to minimise any traumatic experiences associated with dental treatment. It is also indicated for children who are too young to cooperate or make the dental treatment possible in the dental chair.
We have sessions available at St John’s of God hospital in Bunbury.
Snore Appliances, Mouth Guards and Splints
We are able to provide appliances which aid in reducing snoring whilst sleeping.
We also construct protective mouthguards for our sporting patients.
We make splints which are often indicated for people who grind or clench their teeth causing long term wear or tooth fracture.
Velscope Oral Cancer Scanning
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