Our Treatments

The most effective restorative procedure available to dental patients today is CEREC (Chair-side Economical Restoration of Aesthetic Ceramics). The team at Mary Street Dental are excited to offer this innovative dental technology and are enthusiastic about the advantages this state of the art equipment provides.

A CEREC tooth restoration process is a convenient and healthy way to repair decayed or damaged teeth using "tooth coloured" ceramic materials, restoring teeth to their original strength, beauty and function.

CEREC enables porcelain ceramic inlay material to be produced while you wait. A process that once took several weeks and many visits to the dentist can now be achieved in a single appointment.

Procedure

The CEREC process utilises the latest computer technology known as CAD cam. This piece of technology is the most advanced tool currently available to dentists. CEREC's are inconspicuous and enable us to quickly repair your teeth to greater strength and stability.

The process starts with an electronic 3D scan taken of the area. The ceramic restoration is then designed and created in accordance to your tooth scan. After polishing, the restoration is fitted into place and appears and feels like a normal tooth. The process time will varies for each patient but generally takes between 1 ½ to 2 hrs. However you will not be in the dental chair for most of this time, this time is heavily for us to create you a porcelain restoration.

Benefits

• is the most cost effective restoration process
• provides support and increased stability to patients
• protects and preserves natural tooth structure
• is visually appealing and is virtually indistinguishable from the natural tooth
• only requires local anaesthetic once, making it less invasive and a healthier option
• behaves and feels like a normal tooth thanks to the porcelain material

Whilst this technology is new to general practices in Australia, universities in Germany have studied and used it for over 20 years. Long term studies done over this time have shown 90% of restorations are still there.

Porcelain crowns can help you achieve a healthy set of teeth and a stunning smile! A crown is a rigid cap which can restore teeth. The crown is virtually identical to the appearance of a natural tooth and will protect the underlying tooth. Crowns provide a whiter, natural smile and increase stability and support for a compromised tooth.

Crowns can be utilised in the following instances:-

• Repairing a cracked or broken tooth
• Replacing a large filling
• Covering a discoloured or misshaped tooth
• Replacing a cracked or leaking filling
• Covering a tooth that has been treated with a root canal
• Covering an implant

This modern, cosmetic process allows you to repair, re-shape and re-colour your teeth to give you a beautiful smile. This method utilises a tooth coloured composite resin filling to repair any defects.

Procedure

Composite resin will be applied to affected area and will be hardened by a high intensity light. Several layers of resin will be added and hardened to bond the material to the tooth. Once polished and sculpted to the fit the tooth, you will hardly be aware that it is not natural. Appointment times will vary but it will generally take about 1 hour per repair.

Benefits

• conceals discolouration or staining of teeth
• repairs decay
• repairs cracks in teeth
• closes small gaps in teeth
• aligns crooked teeth
• is visually appealing and virtually indistinguishable from the natural tooth

Root canal treatment is the replacement of an infected pulp (nerve) in a tooth with a specialist filling. The pulp comprises of mostly of nerves, veins and lymph vessels.

The causes of pulp damage are varied but include:-

• Deep decay
• Fractured tooth
• Blow to the tooth
• Severe grinding and wear
• Some types of gum disease

Root canal treatment is important as it can save a tooth that would otherwise need to be removed.  A lost tooth can be expensive and replacements are usually an inferior substitute.

Teeth can have up to 4 canals (roots) that need to be treated.

Procedure

With present anaesthetic and newer techniques the removal and treatment of an inflamed pulp is a comfortable procedure.
The pulp is removed and the canal is cleaned out.
It will usually take more than 1 appointment to completely clean and seal the tooth.

Whitening your teeth enables you to dramatically brighten your teeth and rejuvenate your smile. Here at Mary Street Dental we have different methods available to whiten teeth to suit each individuals needs.

Option 1 - At home procedure
You can choose to lighten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. Over a period of 3 - 5 nights a whitening gel is applied to custom made, individual teeth trays. This is inserted into the mouth and the gel is held close to your teeth while you sleep for the best effect.
There is an alternative method available for use at home that involves using the gel the teeth trays for an hour per day.
 
Option 2 - In-chair whitening procedure
The team at Mary Street Dental can help bring out your whitest, brightest teeth right here in the practice. You smile will be visibly whiter and vibrant once the appointment is over.  You will also be provided with the overnight trays to further enhance your smile.

Dental Bridges are an important aspect in the replacing teeth. They provide patients with a natural, discreet option to tooth loss. A bridge is essentially a false tooth. Bridges are utilised to span over an area where teeth are missing. Existing teeth are utilised as anchors to hold the bridge in place. Some bridges are able to be removed and others are permanent. Each case would need to be assessed individually to determine suitability.

The team at Mary Street Dental will ensure every action is carried out with your comfort a priority. We will be able to assist you in regaining the appearance of your smile and giving you back your self confidence.

Porcelain Veneers will enhance and completely transform the appearance of your teeth. Existing teeth can be repaired, re-shaped and restored using porcelain veneers.

The following conditions can be repaired using this technology:-

• Chips in teeth
• Cracks in teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Worn teeth
• Discolouration and staining of tooth surface
• Crooked and poorly shaped teeth

Created from ceramic materials, porcelain veneers look and feel like natural teeth.
The application of veneers is very conservative and minimally invasive. They are attached straight to the tooth's existing structure and are custom made to match the colour of your natural teeth. Veneers have a high resistance to staining and can greatly enhance your smile.

Regular hygiene visits are essential for prevention of dental problems and to maintain optimal oral health for our patients.

At Mary Street Dental our hygienists will evaluate the condition of your gums and identify potential risk factors for disease, dental decay and tooth erosion.

Regular preventive care visits are a cost effective way of maintaining good oral health as they reduce the need for complex dental treatment.

We understand that many patients can be anxious in a dental environment and we strive to always provide a welcome, friendly atmosphere for all our patients.

We look forward to looking after you and helping you to keep a healthy smile.

Hygiene tips

• Always rinse your mouth with water after consuming acidic food and drink and if possible allow 30 minutes before brushing your teeth as the acid in the food / drink softens the tooth enamel and makes it easier to wear when brushing.
• Use a softer toothbrush
• Brush for 2 - 3 minutes. Studies show that most people brush for less than 1 minute and this removes approximately only 40% of the bacterial deposits on teeth.
• Drink plenty of water to allow for an increased flow of saliva. Saliva has a protective role in the prevention of tooth decay.
• The absence of dental pain is not always an accurate indicator of good dental health. If decay is on the outer layer of the tooth there will not be pain associated with this as there is no blood or nerve supply to the outer tooth.