The crown of a tooth is made up of hard layers to protect the pulp which contains blood vessels and nerves that extend to the tip(s) of the root(s). RCT involves the removal of the pulp often when it is infected or inflamed due to deep decay, cracked or fractured tooth from trauma or severe gum disease. Symptoms of possible pulp damage include pain, swelling or prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold. In a nutshell, RCT saves the tooth that would have been extracted otherwise. After RCT, the tooth will mostly need a crown to ensure that the tooth is strengthened. .

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth. Unlike dentures, dental implants are permanent fixtures. Each implant is made from titanium or titanium alloy which studies have shown these materials complement with our bone to provide long-term support for the missing tooth. The estimated duration for treatment completion for each dental implant is 3 months to a year.

Bad jaw habits (e.g. chewing on ice, nut-cracking) and subconscious night grinding (bruxism) or clenching of teeth often give rise to multiple problems. Tension headaches are a commonly underdiagnosed problem as a result of bruxism or clenching. Teeth and restorations (fillings) can be severely worn down, damaged or even cracked. Jaw joints may also be damaged resulting in joint pain. An awareness of the problem, changing of bad habits, night guards and sometimes medication can help alleviate the pain and prevent such problems from worsening.

Unhealthy gums, when overlooked, may sometimes lead to periodontal disease – a condition where the infected gum destroys the fibres and bone supporting the tooth or teeth. Bleeding and swollen gums, bad breath or loose tooth / teeth are common symptoms of periodontal disease. Regular visits to the dentist help prevent the problem from worsening. Medical science has shown a possible link between gum disease and heart problems, diabetes and may also affect pregnancies.

To restore means to replace what was lost. It is commonly termed as “fillings”. With traditional metal fillings, the material can only fill a cavity but do not strengthen the tooth. However, with new bonding materials and tooth coloured filling materials ranging from composite resins to high strength ceramics, teeth can be filled with improved strength. Restorations now mean strong and highly natural looking tooth coloured material placed in tooth cavities.

Wisdom teeth, when they erupt, may cause a variety of problems. They can become impacted giving rise to pain, food trap, crowding of teeth, sore gums and tooth decay which may even sometimes affect the neighbouring teeth. Our patients can choose to have their wisdom teeth removed under local anesthesia, sedation or general anaesthesia. Apart from wisdom teeth, severely damaged teeth, teeth with unusual root formation or position may also require surgery to remove them.

Braces are appliances used to bring the teeth and jaws into a harmonious position with the face. It deals with the alignment of teeth and the way teeth bite together. Teeth conditions that require braces include protruding teeth (i.e. “bugs bunny teeth”), buccal canines (i.e. “dracula teeth”), overcrowding (i.e. crooked teeth), deep bite (i.e. biting onto the gums), cross bite (i.e. a wrong bite which may cause deviation of the jaws), open bite (i.e. inability to bite the teeth together), spacing, bi-maxillary protrusion (i.e. upper and lower teeth sticking out) and jaw problems.

Depending on the patient’s need and problem, our orthodontist will advise on what is best and appropriate for the patient in terms of speed, comfort and value for money. Types of braces available include metal, ceramic (clear), lingual (hidden /invisible) braces. Duration of treatment for braces ranges from 1 ½ years to 2 ½ years depending on the related problem.

There are also instances of dental and facial abnormalities. With growing children / teenagers, adjunctive procedures like functional appliances (e.g. for small jaws) and interceptive orthodontics (e.g. for cross bites causing deviation of the jaws/teeth) help to alleviate the jaw or tooth problems which would otherwise require jaw or orthognathic surgery. This correction is usually started somewhere between 8 to 12 years of age.

In adults with such jaw deformities, our orthodontist will either camouflage the problem with braces alone (although there are limitations) or work with an oral maxillofacial surgeon to jointly carry out braces and orthognathic (jaw) surgery to ensure the best results, functionally and aesthetically.

At our dental centre, we offer two types of teeth whitening treatment. One is the take-home whitening kit and the other is the chair-side on-the-spot treatment. Our dental surgeon will explain to the patient the suitability for treatment and treatment option to achieving the best result by analysing the type of staining or discolouration.

Read on night guards above.