Experts in Dental Fillings and All Manner of Treatments
in Bristol
Research has proved beyond doubt that when it comes to caring for your teeth and gums, preventive dentistry is the best way of avoiding any potential problems. Based in Bristol, the team at Coly House Dental & Implant Centre focuses strongly on helping you to keep your mouth healthy though regular visits to us and a good daily oral healthcare routine. However, we’re also experts in providing dental fillings and crowns, as well as a range of other treatments if required.
Nervous Patients
At Coly House Dental & Implant Centre, we understand that many people are anxious or nervous about visiting the dentist. We welcome nervous patients, and have been very successful in helping them through treatment simply by being compassionate and understanding.
We also appreciate, however, that some people still need an extra helping hand to get them through a dental appointment, and so we offer intravenous sedation. This involves a small injection, usually in the back of the hand. This is not uncomfortable, and will quickly make you feel sleepy and calm. You will be conscious throughout the treatment and will be able to co-operate with the dentist. Usually our patients remember nothing at all about the procedure, and are more than happy to have sedation again if they need further treatment.
Preventative Care
The key to having a great smile is to have healthy teeth and gums. We focus very strongly on helping you to achieve and maintain a high level of oral healthcare. Our hygienist plays a key role in this, helping you to combat gum disease. This condition is very common; in its early stages it can cause sore or bleeding gums and bad breath. If left untreated, it can eventually lead to tooth loss.
Regular visits to the dentist are also important, so we can keep a close eye on what is happening in your mouth and treat any potential problems at an early stage. Early diagnosis of oral cancer could save your life. We offer a free screening as part of your regular check-up examination. If we do spot any potential problems, we will let you know immediately and advise you to see an oral surgeon.
Fillings
Fillings are probably the most basic restorative treatment we offer. They do exactly what their name suggests; they fill a hole in your tooth that has been caused by decay.
If you need a filling, we will numb the tooth and surrounding area so you do not feel any pain, and then remove all the decay from your tooth. We use a strong, long-lasting, tooth-coloured material to fill the hole. Often we will need to apply this in layers, and will set each layer with a special light. After your treatment, you will be left with a tooth that looks good and is strong and functional once more.
Crowns
A dental crown fits over the remaining part of a tooth, helping to strengthen it and making it look like a whole, natural tooth once more. Modern crowns are much less bulky than older ones, making them feel more natural, and they also do not have the old-fashioned metal edge at the gumline.
There are a number of reasons why we may recommend them. Your tooth may be very decayed and not strong enough to be filled any more, the top part of the tooth may have been accidentally damaged, or you may need one following root canal treatment. Crowns are also sometimes needed to help support a dental bridge.
We will need to prepare your tooth first, and will usually numb the tooth and the surrounding area with local anaesthetic. At this stage, we also take an impression (mould) of the area. This is sent to our dental lab, who create a crown that will be a perfect fit, and will match your other teeth.
For the couple of weeks while the crown is being made, you will be fitted with a temporary one. Once your new crown is ready, we will fit it and bond it in place with a special dental cement.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is usually recommended when the pulp of the tooth becomes infected, either through decay or injury. The pulp is the soft bit inside the tooth, and runs right through the root, carrying the nerve supply and nutrients. When it becomes infected, that infection can spread throughout the root canal system of the tooth, and can cause an abscess which is usually extremely painful.
If left untreated the infection can lead to damage around the bone of the tooth, and the tooth is likely to have to be removed. Root canal treatment can be quite lengthy. The area we are treating is very small, so it takes a great deal of skill and patience. This, combined with the need to let the infected tooth settle down before we complete the treatment, means you are likely to need two or three appointments with us.
During the first visit we will need to remove the infected pulp. We numb the tooth and the surrounding area first so that you do not feel any pain, and then use special tiny tools to take the pulp away. We also shape the root canal so it is easier to fill.
The tooth will need to settle down, so we will give it a temporary filling. Sometimes this filling will include medication to help to destroy any germs and prevent further infection.
On your next visit we will examine the tooth to ensure that the infection has cleared properly, and will replace the temporary filling with a permanent one. Sometimes a filling will be all you will need, but often the root canal treatment weakens the tooth and it will need strengthening with a crown.
Bridges and Dentures
Bridges and dentures are used when one or more teeth are missing.
Bridges are used when there is a gap with natural teeth at each side. The bridge is created in our dental laboratory to look and feel natural. Most often, the two neighbouring teeth (one on each side) will need to have crowns fixed onto them. The two crowns are then joined together by placing the false tooth between them and cementing them in place.
Dentures are used when bridges are not suitable or when there are a larger number of teeth missing. Modern dentures are a far better fit and look much more realistic these days thanks to modern materials and techniques. Denture wearers are increasingly looking at having dental implants fitted to support their dentures, as the implants hold them firmly in place, allowing denture wearers to eat and speak with confidence.
Tooth Extractions
Many people have to have a tooth removed at some time in their lives. This can be for a number of reasons. Some people have over-crowded mouths and have some teeth removed as part of their orthodontic (teeth straightening) treatment. Sometimes teeth become too badly decayed or damaged to be repaired and need to be extracted. Gum disease can, in its later stages, cause teeth to become so loose that they have to be taken out. And some people have to have their wisdom teeth removed, usually because they are growing in the wrong direction and are causing problems.
The procedure for removing a tooth is relatively simple from a patient's perspective however we do appreciate that some patients may be a little concerned. We can offer sedation for those that need an extra helping hand.