At Westside Dental Care our cosmetic dentists will tailor your porcelain veneers and crowns to best compliment your expectations, age, gender and surrounding facial features. We take great pride in our work and use one of Melbourne’s best local master dental ceramists to ensure that your porcelain veneers and crowns are of the highest quality and craftsmanship.
Porcelain veneers
Veneers are a thin shell of porcelain that is permanently bonded to the tooth surface. Veneers may be used to improve the position, shade and shape of your teeth and, in turn, the overall aesthetics of your smile.
Veneers are a cosmetic alternative for a variety of dental issues, including:
Aged veneers needing replacement
Crooked Teeth
Spaces between teeth
Broken down or badly chipped teeth
Permanently stained or discoloured teeth
Porcelain crowns
A porcelain crown is a cap-like structure that is permanently bonded to a particular tooth to provide superior aesthetics and function. Sometimes crowns are referred to as caps. Porcelain crowns are a very effective way of providing patients with their desired cosmetic result, while at the same time strengthening the tooth structure. A crown fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape of a natural tooth. Crowns can be used on almost any teeth and, if properly maintained, can last 15+ years.
Crowns can be used, both aesthetically and functionally, in restorations with:
Heavily repaired or broken teeth
Badly discoloured large fillings
Protecting the physical integrity of a tooth after a root canal procedure.
Services \ Laser Dentistry
Laser gum surgery
Most soft tissue procedures that would normally be carried out with a scalpel and local anaesthesia can now be carried out more quickly and effectively with laser. Often no local anaesthetic (injection) is required as the laser is virtually painless. No stitches are required and therefore healing can happen up to 5–6 times more quickly.
For example, a cosmetic gum lift across the front six teeth using laser would require you to spend less than half the time in the dental chair with minimal cost compared to conventional gum surgery. You can achieve a predictable outcome with little or no bleeding and no stitches, and you are unlikely to need post-operative painkillers. You can also have your teeth whitened or prepared for veneers within a week – not the obligatory 6–8 weeks' healing required after conventional gum surgery.
Services \ Teeth Whitening
Home Whitening
Our home tooth whitening system uses a mild bleaching gel in a custom-fitted tray that is worn over your teeth. You can whiten your teeth comfortably at home while you sleep by using our Night Whitening System or for half an hour per day by using our Day Whitening System.
Under our supervision this technique is safe for your teeth and gums, and results are visible within several days.
For those who want more immediate results, our one-hour Zoom 2 Advanced Power whitening system can be used.
One Hour In-Chair Whitening
We use the Zoom2 Advanced Power whitening system.
Our tooth whitening procedure can whiten your teeth in one hour with immediate results.
Lie back and relax while you listen to music, or watch TV, while having your teeth whitened by 6 to 8 shades.
Services \ Dental Implants
Conventional Implants
Dental implants have been used to permanently replace teeth since the mid-1960s. They look and feel like your own teeth. All dental implants have three main components: a titanium screw fixture, an abutment, and a crown that is either all ceramic or porcelain fused to precious metal.
Step 1
The first stage of this procedure involves placing the small titanium screw into your jawbone. Titanium is an extremely biocompatible material and therefore integrates (via osseo-integration) with the bone tissue to form a new, stable tooth root. The implant fuses with the bone to form a solid structure over three to six months.
Step 2
Once the bone has healed around the implant, the abutment is ready to be attached to the implant fixture. This is a ceramic or titanium component that ensures a secure fit between the dental implant and the crown.
Step 3
Once the dental implant and the abutment are in place, we fit the porcelain crown up to the edge of the gum line to replicate a natural tooth. The dental implant is now complete. In most cases, it is virtually impossible to see the difference between your own natural teeth and the new implant tooth.
Immediate Implants
What do ‘teeth in an hour/immediate teeth’ dental implant procedures entail?
This procedure involves placing the implant and replacement tooth all at the same time, rather than waiting for three to six months between the first and second stages. Known in dental terminology as ‘immediate loading’, this instant process means that you can have your new tooth in around an hour.Generally only patients with ample jawbone density and with no other predisposing risk factors are appropriate candidates for immediate loading.
However, there can be disadvantages with this procedure, the greatest being the higher risk of implant failure where adequate bone integration does not take place. This can happen if the jawbone doesn't have enough time to fuse properly with the implant.
To avoid any likelihood of implant failure, our team of registered specialists will discuss the pros and cons of this procedure with you in the context of your individual presenting conditions and circumstances.
Services \ Orthodontics
With conventional external braces the brackets are mounted on the front of the teeth surfaces.
They can be one of two kinds:
Clear braces, usually made from porcelain, where the arch wire is still visible but it is normally not detectable from 2–3 metres
traditional braces, usually made from stainless steel, sometimes in combination with nickel titanium.
Our braces usually eliminate the need for elastic or metal module 'ties' to hold the wire in place. This makes them discreet, comfortable and easy to keep clean. Having braces without elastic ties can reduce the amount of plaque that is usually attracted to the elastic, making dental hygiene easier during orthodontic treatment and resulting in fresher breath.
Internal Lingual Braces
Internal lingual braces allow you to have orthodontic treatment without anyone even knowing you are wearing braces. As the name suggests, internal braces are fitted on the back of the teeth surfaces (on the tongue side), making them completely invisible to other people. Many patients find these braces more comfortable as the braces are unable to rub on the inside of your lips as conventional braces do. This treatment is excellent for patients who want undetectable treatment with superior orthodontic results.
Invisalign® No Braces
If you are looking for a flexible orthodontic solution, Invisalign® No Braces may be the answer.
Invisalign® treatment comprises a series of clear aligners that are individually made for your orthodontic requirements. Invisalign® gradually moves your teeth into alignment by changing aligners every 2-3 weeks until your teeth are in their correct position.
You can easily remove the aligners throughout your treatment to allow you to brush your teeth and eat as normal.
Invisalign® treatment is virtually undetectable by others, providing the wearer with a discreet orthodontic treatment while achieving great results.
Services \ Wisdom Teeth
What are they?
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt into your mouth, usually at 16–23 year of age. Frequently there is not enough room for normal eruption and these teeth therefore become ‘impacted’.
Why do they need to be removed?
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause:
infection of adjacent gum tissue
dental decay of adjacent teeth
crowding of front teeth
(in rare cases) cysts.
When should they be removed?
It is well documented that removal of wisdom teeth in young adults (below the age of 25) is associated with less after-operation pain and swelling than in older adults. Therefore, if it is determined that the wisdom teeth are likely to cause problems, your dentist will usually recommend that you have them removed earlier rather than later.
Will you be awake or asleep during the procedure?
This will always be your choice, although recommendations will be made during your consultation appointment and your options will be assessed.
How much will it cost?
You will be given an itemised quotation during your consultation appointment. This will include an estimate of hospital and anaesthetic fees if required. You may then wish to contact your health insurance fund to assess your out-of-pocket expenses.
Are there any risks?
As with all surgical procedures there are general and specific risks associated with removal of wisdom teeth. The risks associated with your particular case will be discussed in detail during your consultation.
Services \ Childrens Dentistry
We advise parents to introduce their child to professional dental care from the age of three. This may include watching a parent have their teeth cleaned, or having their own baby teeth counted and polished with a soft brush. The experience is a positive one and is encouraged with each subsequent appointment.
This process of familiarisation allows your child to grow with little or no anxiety towards the benefits of preventative dental care. Having a bad experience at the dentist at a young age often results in a fear of dental care in later years.
Services \ Root Canal Therapy
Inflamed Teeth
A damaged tooth that has inflammation of the pulp (nerve) can be acutely painful for the patient and can only improve with professional treatment.
How we can help
Often, the patient can be distressed and in considerable pain. By ensuring a prompt response from one of our board registered root canal specialists, we can relieve the stress for both the patient and the referrer.
What we do
Treatment is geared towards removal of the inflamed tissue, full preparation of the canal systems and full obturation, ensuring that, combined with a good crown or filling, bacteria can be prevented from multiplying in the canal spaces. Prognosis in this instance is usually very good and success rates of 95% are not unusual.
Technology is very much a part of modern dentistry
We utilise technologically superior equipment and systems that our clients can benefit from. One example is our digital OPG system which offers immediate analysis of the teeth and jaws.
Does Westside Dental Care recommend removing amalgam fillings and what are the alternatives?
Many clients now request removal of their old amalgam fillings, on aesthetic and health grounds. The safe, biocompatible alternatives to silver amalgam fillings include composite resins and ceramic (porcelain) restorations. Porcelain is, in our opinion, certainly superior in terms of aesthetics as the fillings look natural and mimic tooth material beautifully. Ceramic porcelain restorations also have higher strength and longevity than white resin fillings, which are principally plastic.
Services \ Emergency Dentistry
Our friendly staff can cater for unexpected emergency dental visits at short notice. Our clinicians are skilled at handling all emergency situations such as toothache, chipped or broken teeth, infections, denture repairs, impacted wisdom teeth and more.
With all the latest dental technology at our fingertips any emergency treatment can be accommodated.
Services \ Mouthguards
You should wear a mouthguard if you play a contact sport or any sport where your mouth may get knocked.This applies to training as well. A fitted mouthguard from your dentist offers the best protection. Many different colours are available.
Services \ Dentures
A denture is an appliance which replaces lost or missing teeth with artificial teeth. Dentures can be made of an acrylic or metal substructure with acrylic or porcelain teeth.
In order to make a denture we need to take an impression of the jaw and any remaining teeth using a special flexible material. Colour and shape of artificial teeth is determined and the relationship between the upper and lower jaws is also determined. ie how they fit together.
