Stain removal/Cleaning
The regular removal of stain, plaque and tartar is absolutely essential to the long-term look and health of teeth and gums. The dental hygienist provides this service.

Tooth Whitening/Bleaching
Bleaching is a very effective technique for lightening teeth. It will not, however, alter the appearance of existing fillings and crowns.

Micro Abrasion
This can be used to remove blemishes on the surface of the teeth providing that the crevices that are holding the stain are not too deep.

Aesthetic Contouring/Bonding
This technique can be used to alter the shape of worn or chipped teeth - providing the damage is not too great. Composite materials are used to reshape defects and close spaces between teeth. The results are performed quickly, but the patient should be prepared to replace these restorations more frequently. Better long-term alternatives involve veneers or crowns.

Inlays
When the cavity is large, an inlay may be needed for strength. These restorations are fabricated by a dental lab and usually require two or more appointments at the office for insertion.

Veneers
These are thin porcelain surfaces that are bonded over the front tooth surface. Very little tooth reduction is needed in order to have a veneer. Veneers can be used to restore ageing teeth that are worn down, close spaces and change the colour of teeth or repair chipped teeth.

Crowns ('Cap')
These are used when a tooth is heavily filled or was previously treated with a root canal treatment. Crowns provide excellent strength to the tooth while improving overall aesthetics.

Bridges
Bridges are restorations designed to replace missing teeth. It involves reducing the size of the teeth next to the space that act as supports. There is a limit to the length which can be bridged and there needs to be a tooth support at each end for long term success.

Implants
This type of tooth replacement involves the placing of a titanium metal root within the bone. This artificial root is allowed to integrate into the bone for a number of weeks before a crown or bridge is attached to it. During the healing phase, a temporary denture restores your smile. The success rate for implants can be as high as 98 - 99%.

Cosmetic Dentistry
This is a category of dentistry that concentrates on having your teeth look the best that they can be as well as lasting longer. It may include veneers, composite or ceramic inlays, crowns bridges and tooth coloured fillings.

Root Canal Treatment
There is often damage to the nerves and soft tissues inside your teeth requiring the need to have a root canal performed. Essentially this is the process of removing this soft tissue from inside the teeth to end pain, sensitivity or recurring infection.

Wisdom Tooth Removal
When a wisdom tooth does not develop properly it may not come up through the gum or it may only come through part way. In both cases it is better for long-term results to have the wisdom teeth removed to avoid future health problems.

Grinding Teeth (Bruxing)
Bruxing is the unintentional grinding together of your teeth. Most people do not even know that they are doing it because they are sleeping or concentrating on some activity. There needs to be therapy to keep the teeth from being damaged by the constant grinding.

Sports guards
Sports guards are a must for protecting teeth from having teeth damaged by sports activities. A custom fitted sports mouth guard reduces the number of sports injuries to the teeth.

Preventive Hygiene
Going to the dental office for regular checkups will be one of the most effective ways to keep your teeth and gums healthy. By a close examination and cleaning your dental professional will be able to detect early signs of tooth decay or damage to the gums.

Periodontal Surgery
When there is damage to the gums often periodontal surgery is needed to restore the gums back to health. The damage that can be corrected depends on the type of damage and how extensive it is.

Orthodontic Treatment
Teeth that need to be straightened to create a more beautiful smile or teeth that need to be moved so that a patient can chew properly can be done through orthodontic treatments. Some treatments are more extensive and require a long-term commitment.

Sealants
Sealants are an excellent way to reduce the incidence of cavities in a young persons mouth. A sealant is simply a very thin layer of material that is bonded to the biting surface of the back teeth creating a barrier that protects the teeth from getting cavities.