Frequently Asked Questions

Recent research has shown that your gums have a significant impact on your overall health, particularly cardiovascular disease. People with gum disease have a two to three times higher risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event compared to people without gum disease. Some research has suggested that gum disease might also increase the risk of certain forms of cancer such as kidney, pancreatic, and blood cancers however more research is required in these areas.

Scaling and root planing is a deep cleaning below the gumline done to treat gum disease. Gum disease is called by plaque, which can build up in your gums and become inflamed. When this happens, your gums pull away from the roots of your teeth and form spaces called pockets, getting trapped. You are unable to remove plaque from pockets with normal brushing, and left unchecked it can lead to bone and tooth loss. When you have gum disease, a process called scaling and root planing is done to remove the plaque and help restore your gum health. The process of scaling removes plaque and tartar from below your gum line, while root planing smoothes the tooth root and helps your gums reattach to the tooth. If you suspect you have gum disease and think scaling and root planning can help, contact us today.

Everybody, regardless of their oral health, has bacteria in their mouth. This bacteria naturally mixes with food byproducts and proteins, creating a sticky film called dental plaque. Plaque coats your teeth and gets under your gumne. Sometimes plaque that carries bacteria can damage your tooth enamel and cause cavities. If plaque is left too long on your teeth, it can harden into tartar. Tartar, also called calculus, forms above and below the gum line. It has been shown to lead to receding gums and gum disease, and requires removal by special tools in a dentist’s office. If you have a buildup of plaque and tartar, you should visit a dentist. Contact us today to book your appointment.

Gum disease is a condition which affects millions of people. There are a number of symptoms which can indicate gum disease, such as:

• Persistent halitosis
• Swollen or red gums
• Tender or bleeding gums
• Pain while chewing
• Loose & sensitive teeth
• Receding gums

If you are experiencing any combination of these symptoms, you might have gum disease and should visit a dentist. Contact us today to book your appointment.

Though periodontal disease is very common, there are a number of things you can do to prevent it. The most effective prevention is by following good oral hygiene practices such as:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Flossing or using a waterpik every day to remove plaque between your teeth
• Quitting smoking
• Visiting the dentist for routine checkups and cleaning

If you follow these simple steps, you are well on your way towards preventing periodontal disease.

Most people in good health are eligible for dental veneers. That being said, there are certain conditions which might complicate getting veneers, such as:

• If a tooth has decay this must be addressed before getting veneers
• If a tooth is in an area with periodontal disease the disease must first be treated
• If a tooth has little enamel left the veneer might not stick to the tooth
• If too much of the tooth is missing a dental crown might be a better option
• If a person grinds or clenches their teeth this can chip and damage dental veneers

Normal veneers are permanently attached to your teeth after removing or reducing some of the patient’s tooth enamel so that the porcelain veneers can be placed on the teeth. Prepless veneers are a less-invasive form of veneers which is similar to standard veneers but with several advantages. Unlike traditional veneers, your dentist does not need to remove enamel and the veneers can be placed directly on your teeth. Also, contrary to normal veneers, prepless veneers can also be removed. If you would like prepless veneers, contact Pretoria Bridge Dental to book an appointment today!

Anybody with a healthy mouth and clean teeth is a candidate for prepless veneers. That being said your teeth don’t have to be perfect, in fact they shouldn’t be! Veneers are for people looking to improve the appearance of their smile. If you have significant staining, cracks, chips, short, mismatched, or worn-down teeth, dental veneers are a great option to improve your smile.

Dental contouring is also known as tooth reshaping or enameloplasty is a cosmetic dental procedure which is done to change the shape, widge, or length of your teeth. Dental contouring is done by removing small amounts of tooth enamel to achieve the shape you want. Even a few millimeters of reduction in the right places can dramatically improve the appearance of your teeth. If you require only a few small fixes to your teeth, dental contouring is a great option.

Dental bonding also known as bonded restoration, is a way to make minor repairs to your teeth. Bonding uses a composite resin with the same colour as teeth to reshape teeth. Your dentist will place the resin on your tooth, shape it, and then harden it with light. Dental bonding can be used to repair a chipped tooth, fill in large gaps between teeth, or restore a broken tooth to size, so if any of these issues are affecting you dental bonding is a great treatment option. If you think dental bonding could be for you, contact Pretoria Bridge Dental to book an appointment today!

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. CEREC Crowns are the next generation of ceramic crowns. CEREC crowns are made with Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing to create a new tooth that perfectly fits on your damaged tooth and matches the rest of your teeth. CEREC crowns can be done in a same-day appointment, making them a popular convenient option.

CEREC crowns are an excellent option for a number of reasons. The most obvious advantage of CEREC crowns is that they can be installed in a day. Previously dental crowns took several appointments to be placed on the patient, but this is no longer the case. CEREC crowns are also made from a very strong ceramic or resin which is durable and long-lasting. CEREC crowns are also made with computer-aided design and manufacturing, so the crowns are produced to be a perfect match to the rest of your teeth – all in the dentist’s office.

A dental crown, sometimes called a cap, is an artificial tooth used to cover damaged, decayed, misshapen, or discolored teeth in order to protect and/or restore it. Dental onlays on the other hand are restorations that are used for teeth damaged by vacaties, decays, or fractures.

Your dentist is the best person to help you determine whether you should get a dental crown or an inlay. Contact us today to book an appointment to see if you should get onlays or crowns.

Like the name suggests, dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. If you have one or more missing teeth with healthy teeth around it, dental bridges are a great choice for replacing the tooth. Dental bridges serve a similar purpose to dental implants, with the advantage of being more affordable and quicker to install. While dental implants cost more and require more time to install, they last longer and have a more natural look, especially if they are at the front of the mouth. If you’re not sure whether you should get dental implants or a dental bridge, contact Pretoria Bridge Dental today to book an appointment. Our dentist can help you make the right choice to replace your missing tooth or teeth.

If you’ve just received dental fillings, you are probably wondering how you can take care of them. Luckily, the answer is easy – just keep up with a regular dental care routine. This means brushing and flossing twice a day, regularly seeing the dentist and keeping them informed of any changes or issues you notice. Over time, dental fillings do degrade and will eventually need to be replaced. When this happens, you might notice a number of signs such as sharp pains, or feeling jagged edges or cracks when you feel the area with your tongue. If you notice this, odds are your filling has cracked and you will need to have a dentist locate the problem and fix it as soon as possible. If you are having issues with your dental fillings, contact us today for an appointment. We can help you with your dental fillings!

Dental implants are recommended for people who are missing a tooth or teeth because of injury, disease, or tooth decay. When a patient has sufficient jawbone available and is in good general health, a dental implant is viable. Your dentist is the best person to evaluate whether or not dental implants are the best option for you.

The dental implant procedure consists of several steps. First, your dentist will examine your mouth and take x-rays to find out if dental implants are right for you. If your dentist determines that implants are suitable.

The actual surgery is often done in several stages to allow the jawbone to heal completely around the implant before the finishing work is done. In some cases, the jawbone must be grafted.

The next step is to place the tooth root implant into the bone socket of the missing tooth. The jawbone will heal around the root implant, keeping it securely within your jaw. This healing process can take between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the individual.

After you heal, the next step will be to place an abutment – which is a small connector post – to the implant. The new tooth, or crown, which is made based off of impressions of your teeth, is then installed onto the abutment. At this point, your implant will look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth.

Both dental bridges and dental implants are options for permanently replacing a missing tooth or teeth. The biggest difference between the two is how the new teeth are kept in place. An implant involves inserting a root implant into your jawbone and installing a dental crown on top. With a dental implant, the tooth stands alone and you can floss around it. Dental bridges on the other hand involves shaving off the enamel of surrounding teeth, and placing a dental bridge across the affected teeth. The bridge’s teeth are all connected, so you are unable to floss between them. This can lead to some complications down the line. Generally speaking, dental implants are more durable, easier to maintain, and have fewer complications down the line. If you are unsure whether to get dental implants or a dental bridge, contact Pretoria Bridge Dental today. We can help you decide.

While we don’t advocate smoking, smokers are eligible for dental implants. The most important factor for determining eligibility for dental implants is the patient’s general health. If you are in good enough health to have a tooth pulled, you are likely eligible to receive a dental implant. If you want to get a dental implant, contact Pretoria Bridge Dental today. We can help you.