NHS Treatments - Are you eligible?

• Clinical examination, case assessment and report
• Orthodontic case assessment and report
• Advice, dental charting, diagnosis and treatment planning
• Radiographic examination, including panoral and lateral headplates, and radiological report
• Study casts including in association with occlusal analysis
• Colour photographs
• Instruction in the prevention of dental and oral disease including dietary advice and dental hygiene instruction
• Surface application as primary preventive measures of sealants and topical fluoride preparations
• Scaling, polishing and marginal correction of fillings
• Taking material for pathological examination
• Adjustments to and easing of dentures or orthodontic appliances
• Treatment of sensitive cementum

• Non-surgical periodontal treatment including root-planing, deep scaling, irrigation of periodontal pockets and subgingival curettage and all necessary scaling and polishing
• Surgical periodontal treatment, including gingivectomy, gingivoplasty or removal of an operculum
• Surgical periodontal treatment, including raising and replacement of a mucoperiostal flap, curettage, root planning and bone resection
• Free gingival grafts
• Permanent fillings in amalgam, composite resin, synthetic resin, glass ionomer, compomers, silicate or silico-phosphate, including acid etch retention
• Sealant restorations
• Endodontic treatment of permanent or retained deciduous teeth
• Pulpotomy
• Apicectomy
• Extraction of teeth
• Transplantation of teeth
• Oral surgery including surgical removal of cyst, buried root, unerupted tooth, impacted tooth or exostosed tooth and alveolectomy
• Soft tissue surgery in relation to the buccal cavity and lips
• Frenectomy, frenoplasty, frenotomy
• Relining and rebasing dentures including soft linings
• Addition of tooth, clasp, labial or buccal flange to dentures
• Splints (other than laboratory fabricated splints) in relation to periodontally compromised teeth and in connection with external trauma
• Bit raising appliances (other than laboratory fabricated appliances)

• Laboratory fabricated porcelain or composite veneers, including acid etch retention
• Inlays, pinlays, onlays and palatal veneers, in alloys containing 60% or more fine gold, porcelain, composite resin and ceramics crowns including any pin or post aids to retention:
- full or three-quarter crown cast in alloys containing not less than 33½% fine gold or platinum or palladium - full or jacket crown cast in alloys containing stainless steel or cobalt chromium or nickel chromium - crown in porcelain, synthetic resin and other non-metallic crowns - full or jacket crowns in alloys containing not less than 33½% fine gold or platinum or palladium, or alloys containing stainless steel or cobalt chromium or nickel chromium, with thermally bonded porcelain - jacket crown thermally bonded to wrought platinum coping - prefabricated full or jacket crown, including any pin or post retention
• Bridges including any pin or post aids to retention:
- bridges in alloys containing 60% or more fine gold with or without thermally bonded facings - bridges cast in alloys containing stainless steel, cobalt chromium or nickel chromium, with or without thermally bonded facings - acid etch retained bridges - bridges in other materials - provision of full (completed) or partial dentures, overdentures and obturators in synthetic resin or metal or both synthetic resin and metal, including any cast or wrought metal components or aids to retention - orthodontic treatment and appliances - other custom made applications excluding sports guards

 

 

What exactly are dental implants?

Dental implants are the latest treatment used to replace gaps in the teeth left when teeth are severely decayed or lost through injury. The implant is used to replace the damaged root of a tooth; it is fitted into the socket in the jaw bone and attached to a new crown. In some cases, the implant may be fixed to a dental bridge or a denture. Dental implants are manufactured using a special type of titanium alloy, which does not irritate the tissue in the gum.

 

How are the implants fitted?

Before the procedure the patient will be given local anaesthetic to ensure they don’t feel any pain during the treatment. The dentist will make a small hole in the jaw bone, in which the dental implant will be held in place. The implant is attached to a temporary crown for a period of around 3-6 months while the gum around the implant heals and the bone tissue develops around the titanium implant. Once healing is complete a permanent crown can be fitted.

 

How long does the treatment take?

Usually, the procedure to fit a dental implant takes between one and two hours. You will be required to attend follow-up appointments and your dentist will discuss this with you after the procedure. Some patients find it beneficial to take a couple of days off work after having an implant fitted.

 

What are the alternatives?

Patients with missing teeth may also consider having a dental bridge or a set of partial or complete dentures. However, dental implants are widely regarded as the best treatment as they last for much longer and do not cause any discomfort.

 

What are the benefits over bridges and dentures?

There are many advantages of dental implants over both dentures and dental bridges. The most attractive advantage is the fact that the implant lasts for a lifetime if it is carefully looked after, which will prevent having to have numerous dental appointments to replace or adjust restorations and dental devices. Secondly, dental implants are much more comfortable than dentures. Once the implant has healed fully, the tooth will work in exactly the same way as a normal tooth. Some patients find dentures are rather bulky and can cause discomfort; in addition dentures may limit what foods they can eat. Dental implants also discourage bone loss, which can cause problems and result in teeth being lost. Dental bridges can only be used when the teeth surrounding the gap are healthy and strong, while dental implants are supported by the jaw bone and will not affect the other teeth.

 

Are dental implants always a success?

In the vast majority of cases, dental implants prove to be an extremely effective treatment. Titanium implants have been used for many years now and the success rate has consistently been over 90 percent.

 

Are there any risks or complications involved?

Like all procedures, there are risks of complications; however, these are extremely rare. Possible complications include damage to the surrounding teeth and gum tissue and a lack of integration between the implant and the jaw bone (this may prevent the implant from fitting properly and will mean it is not fully supported by the jaw bone). The dental team at Portslade Dental Centre deliver excellent standards of care and will do everything they can to make your treatment as effective as possible.

 

Are dental implants suitable for everyone?

Dental implants are not suitable for everyone but they can be used on most patients. The success of a dental implant procedure is largely dependent on the bone density in the jaw; there must be enough bone and the bone must be dense enough to support an implant. Nowadays, dentists can perform bone grafts on patients that don’t have sufficient bone mass in their jaw; this involves using bone from other parts of the body to build up the bone mass in the jaw. The procedure is fairly straightforward and makes it possible for most people to have dental implants. Children are not advised to have dental implants because their jaw bones are not fully formed. Your dentist will be more than happy to discuss treatment options with you and help you decide which treatment is best for you.

 

 

 

Home tooth whitening

We will take a simple impression of your teeth which will be used to fabricate trays for your home kit which will be delivered 2 weeks after your appointment. These will be used with a home whitening kit consisting of 10 tubes of whitening gel. The gel is applied to the custom made trays that you wear when you want to; at night or any time during the day. To maximise results we can also provide you with further whitening material at a lower additional cost. Our team of expert practitioners will recommend the exact product to suit your teeth and lifestyle.

 

Enlighten Advanced Whitening System

Enlighten is the latest guaranteed teeth whitening system from the states. This system is so effective that it can also lighten teeth that have been stained by tetracycline antibiotics. This would involve taking a mould of your teeth first which is then used to manufacture special patented sealed whitening trays at Enlighten Smiles Laboratory. Approximately 10 days later you will be given your whitening trays and 14 days supply of deep bleaching Enlighten gel. You wear the trays with the gel overnight for 14 days. Following this you would visit the surgery again for our In-surgery enlighten power whitening session.

 

Advanced Stain Removal

We employ the sophisticated air abrasion system to lightly and effortlessly remove stains from your teeth. This technique lifts all those stubborn stains that cannot be removed by brushing and scaling alone. Whether you are a smoker or a coffee drinker, advanced stain removal will allow you to re-capture your healthy stain-free smile.

 

Download full information on teeth whitening as a pdf

 

 

Invisalign

Have you always wanted a perfectly straight smile, to close a gap between your teeth or correct your goofy teeth that stick out without the social stigma of wearing fixed metal braces? There is now a revolutionary new way to align your teeth using invisalign invisible braces. This invisible orthodontics system uses a series of clear aligners that are custom-moulded to fit your teeth and gradually apply gentle pressure to your teeth to reposition them over time.

 

The stages involved in your treatment include:

• Click here to view the official Invisalign step by step guide to how it works

 

Click here to visit the Invisalign website

 

 

 

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is a means of saving a tooth that may be damaged by decay, fracture or infection. The purpose of the treatment is to restore the tooth and surrounding tissues to health, relieving both pain and infection, as opposed to total tooth removal. Most root canal treatments are available under the NHS, but those that are particularly complex can fall outside of the ability of a general dentist. These are often referred to a dentist with a special interest in endodontics who employs techniques, equipment and skills that are able to improve the chances of success.

 

 

 

Why is hygienist treatment important?

Regular professional cleaning combined with looking after your teeth and gums well at home will help keep your mouth healthy. A clean and healthy mouth will improve your appearance, help you to keep your teeth and give you fresh breath.

 

Can a hygienist help prevent dental disease?

This is what the training of the hygienist is all about. By carefully removing the hard deposits of calculus (tartar) that build up on the teeth and teaching you how to prevent it reforming, the progress of gum disease is slowed.

 

By discussing your diet, and recommending other preventative measures, the rate at which your teeth decay can also be slowed down. Regular visits and advice will help build your confidence in maintaining your oral health and achieving a healthy mouth.

 

 

Composite fillings

Instead of an unsightly silver coloured amalgam filling, a specialised tooth coloured composite material is permanently bonded to your tooth using the latest dental adhesives.

 

Veneers

Dental veneers are wafer thin shells / laminates of porcelain that fit over the front surfaces of your teeth. Many people compare veneers to false fingernail for your teeth. The beauty of veneers are that they can be fabricated to any size and shape with surface characteristics that make them look natural and fit in with your surrounding teeth.

 

All ceramic Crowns

Dental crowns or “caps” are restorations that are custom fabricated to fit over your existing teeth to protect them or improve their cosmetic appearance. These crowns are matched up to the colour of your teeth, and do not contain metal, thereby offering an aesthetic alternative to silver or gold coloured crowns.

 

Porcelain Inlays

When a tooth has lost a significant amount of its structure one of the options for treatment can be an inlay or onlay. An inlay fits into the tooth whilst an onlay also covers the top biting surface of the tooth. Both inlays and onlays are usually manufactured in a dental laboratory using precision models of your teeth and are used when a dentist thinks a direct filling will not offer enough protection to the tooth for the long term. These are white in colour and often used as an alternative on back teeth for large amalgam fillings.

 

Private Dentures

Private dentures are made using the very latest methods and materials ensuring (under normal conditions) more durable, longer lasting, and importantly, natural looking, comfortable dentures.