Our Dental Treatments

A smile makeover is any treatment which you can undergo to improve the aesthetics of your smile. This treatment could be Dental, such as veneers or orthodontics or both or just simple teeth whitening Cosmetic dentistry and surgery.

The extent of the dental treatment which is provided will vary on the individual’s choice – treatment could vary from a simple white filling, simple take home teeth whitening to a set of new veneers or orthodontic treatment. Treatment provided will depend on the symptoms you present with and the options available to you.

Here are a few examples of what we can do for you:

• Teeth Whitening
• Take Home Teeth Whitening
• Veneers

If the staining on your teeth or tooth is extensive, and teeth whitening has not been able to help treat the staining, then veneers would need to be consider as an option for treatment.

Orthodontic aligners:

• Invisalign 
• Suresmile

The dentist would assess just how crooked your teeth are, and then offer you the option that will best suit your teeth, your financial situation and time frame.

Veneers

This treatment involves preparation and interaction between the Dentist, the Laboratory technician and yourself. It is always important that your input is well considered, as different people will expect different things from their smile make-over, so make sure your Dentist and Technician understand fully what it is you would like to achieve. A porcelain veneer is a small wafer-thin laminate which sits over your tooth. The material is made of porcelain, composite or ceramic bonding material. The veneer will be fitted onto the tooth using a dental adhesive, thus giving the tooth a new shape and colour.

Composite Bonding Veneers

A composite bonding is an alternative to veneers using tooth coloured filling materials which can be bonded over the whole tooth or on worn biting edges of teeth and in between to fill gaps and alter shapes.

If you are looking for a quicker solution, then Veneers may be the option to choose, but always bearing in mind that the procedure will be more destructive to your tooth tissue. This option should only be considered if the teeth are not severely crooked.

What are the options available for treatment?

Cosmetic bonding

Tooth coloured filling material is used to build up your tooth to make it look as good as new. They are more useful if the tooth has only a small chip. There are so many shades of filling materials available, that the Dentist will find a shade which best suits the shade of your teeth.

Veneers

This can be used to allow a badly broken-down tooth to have a new structure, shape, colour and size to match the surrounding teeth.

1. After the consultation, the CEREC Primescan or CEREC Omnicam scanner captures the area to be treated. 

2. The restoration is then created as a 3D model on the computer. 

3. The restoration is then quickly milled from a block directly in the practice. 

4. The finished restoration is seated in your mouth just a little while later. 

Time-saving treatment in one visit 

With CEREC you can have high aesthetic restorations made by your dentist in a single visit, without follow up appointment. 

Comfortable intraoral scan without unpleasant impression material 

Say goodbye to biting on impression material for several minutes and having a numb mouth and jaw ache. Your dentist now has a scanner that can capture your full dentition in seconds and then transfer the data to the computer. 

Your final restoration without temporary prosthesis 

Temporary restorations are exactly what the name suggests: temporary. With CEREC the final restoration is designed, manufactured and placed in your mouth directly without any temporary compromises needed. 

Long-term stability 

More than just a theory: With CEREC you can rely on quality that has been proven millions of times. Your smile will remain the same for many years! 

People lose teeth all the time, either through trauma (when teeth are knocked out) or due to decay, gum disease or old age. Whatever the reason for losing your teeth, they need to be replaced, both for aesthetic and functional reasons. The most common treatments for missing teeth are either a denture or a fixed bridge. However, dental implants are now becoming a more popular treatment to replace missing teeth, as they provide a longer-term solution, slow down bone loss and preserve nearby healthy tooth tissue. 

A dental implant is an artificial substitute/replacement for the root portion of your natural tooth and is anchored into a pre-drilled socket in your jaw-bone to support a crown, bridge or secure a denture firmly in place. Implants are made from titanium, a material that is well tolerated by bone and integrates easily with bone tissue. During the placement of a dental implant, the goal is to achieve a close contact between the outer surface of the implant and the surrounding bone tissue so they can “fuse” together (osseointegration), creating a stable support for the new teeth.

Before any implants are placed, it is important for your dentist to assess the health of your teeth and gums. If there are any signs of gum disease or decay, these must first be treated. Thereafter, your treatment will be planned following several x-rays and, in some cases, a CT scan to assess that bone quality and check for nearby anatomical structures to avoid before any drilling. The procedure is usually carried out under local anaesthesia; IV Sedation is sometimes used if it is a long procedure or the patient is very anxious.

The gum where the implant is to be placed is cut and lifted and a small hole is drilled in the jawbone at the precise location of the intended implant. The titanium implant is tightly fitted into this socket and the gum is stitched back over the implant. If there is insufficient bone material to accommodate the implant, a bone graft may be required, or the dentist may use smaller-sized mini implants if suitable.

Once the implant has been placed, it is left to heal and integrate with the jawbone for between six weeks to six months. The bone tissue will grow and anchor itself into the microscopic rough surface of the implant.

During this “healing period”, patients are given temporary teeth (bridges) or continue to wear dentures. It is important that temporary teeth do not exert any force on the healing implant. After the healing period, the gum is again lifted and a post is attached to the implant with a temporary crown. Four to six weeks later, when the surrounding gum tissue has matured, the final permanent restoration can be fitted to the implant.

Reduced bone loss

Normally, the bone tissue surrounding the root of your tooth is maintained by your body’s natural renewal process. However, if you loose a tooth, you will be left with a hole where your tooth root used to be and the bone around this area will slowly begin to disappear (atrophy) which may change the shape of your jaw. 

A dental implant placed in that area can actually stimulate bone growth and production, preventing loss of valuable bone structure. In some patients where bone loss is substantial, a bone graft may be required before placing a dental implant. Bone loss is a problem for people who have dentures, and as the shape of the jaw slowly changes, the dentures need to be adjusted or re-made to fit the new shape of the jaw. Bone loss can also make a person look older, since the area around the mouth can sag as bone is lost

Improved function

Once dental implants are fully integrated into your jaw, they function just as well as your own natural teeth: you can eat the foods you want and speak with complete confidence. With dentures, eating hard foods such as an apple can be a problem: either the dentures come loose or patients cannot withstand the hard biting forces as they cause pain in the gums. Irritation and inflammation of the gums is a common problem amongst denture patients. Dentures can be supported by implants or mini-implants, which will greatly improve function, enabling patients to eat the foods they want with complete confidence and not having to worry about bone loss and loose dentures falling out. 

Improved dental hygiene

Unlike bridges and dentures, which require special cleaning instructions and extra attention, dental implants just need regular brushing, flossing and dental hygiene appointments, just like your natural teeth. 

No need to drill or remove any healthy tooth structure

When replacing missing teeth with dental bridges, the teeth adjacent to the gap need to be prepared and healthy tooth structure is removed to accommodate a crown or bridge abutment to fit over the top of the tooth. In the future, if one of the supporting teeth is damaged, the entire bridge restoration will also be compromised, whereas with an implant, the restoration is independent of any of your other teeth. By replacing lost teeth with an implant, no support is required of the adjacent teeth, and your natural teeth do not need to be prepared or altered in any way

Better aesthetics

If done correctly, a dental implant should be indistinguishable from your surrounding natural teeth. Dentures can come loose and look unnatural if they do not blend with your gums, and some bridges and dentures have unsightly metal clasps to hold them in place. Dental implants provide a much better cosmetic and functional end result. 

Traditionally, an implant placed into your bone supports a single crown and this is known as a “single tooth implant”. However, if you have several missing teeth, you do not necessarily need an implant for every missing tooth: one implant can support several teeth via a bridge or denture. The number of implants required depends on the volume and density of bone tissue available at each implant site. Often, smaller-sized “mini implants” are used to secure dentures in place.

In the case of full-mouth reconstructions, where an arch of several teeth (10+) needs to be supported in either the upper or lower jaw, a minimum of five to six implants in each jaw would be required. 

The exact number of implants needed would depend on the individual case and your implant surgeon would be able to advise you on the best solution after a thorough examination and assessment.

Dental implants can be placed in patients of any age (with fully developed jawbones), provided that they have a sufficient quantity and quality of bone tissue available. Most healthy individuals that maintain a good oral hygiene program are suitable candidates for dental implants. Circumstances where implants may not be suitable, or situations that have an increased risk of implant failure, include: 

⦁ Heavy smoking – this slows down and hinders the healing process. 

⦁ Excessive alcohol intake – disrupts healing of the gums.  

⦁ Periodontal gum disease – all active gum disease must be treated prior to any implant procedure to ensure the long-term success of any treatment. Periodontal disease is a major cause of bone loss, which would hinder the success of any implant procedure. 

⦁ Immuno-compromised individuals (steroids, auto-immune disease, patients undergoing radiation treatment). 

⦁ Teeth grinders (bruxism) – a night-time splint can be given to treat this. 

Using a combination of dental x-rays and a CT scan, your bone density and volume can be assessed, and information about nearby anatomical structures to avoid (such as nerves) can also be gathered. 

The alternatives for replacing missing teeth include dentures and bridges. However, there are various bone-grafting and tissue-regeneration procedures that can be carried out to enable treatment with dental implants:

• Sinus augmentation – if you need to replace missing teeth at the back of the upper jaw, a sinus augmentation, whereby new bone in the sinus is created, can increase the height of the bone available for the placement of implants in this area.

• Onlay grafting – this is where a piece of bone is taken from somewhere else and secured over an area that is deficient in bone; over time, the newly placed bone will fuse with the underlying bone creating a better environment for an implant to be placed.

The best source of bone for your graft is your own bone tissue from elsewhere in your body. Bone can be grafted from the chin, the back of the lower jaw, the hip and the tibia. Bone taken from your own body is the most viable and has faster healing times when compared to alternatives. In many cases, a combination of artificial bone substitutes and your natural bone is used. In any bone grafting procedure, the grafted bone provides an anchor and stimulus for the existing bone to grow onto, eventually providing an environment suitable for the placement of implants.

Dental implants have been used for over 30 years to replace missing teeth and they can last a lifetime depending on how well you look after them. Like any other restoration, your implant-supported teeth can still be damaged by trauma and affected by gum disease and poor oral hygiene. 

The price of dental implants tends to vary considerably and depends on several factors, including the level of skill of the surgeon, the type/quality/brand of implant used, the clinic where the treatment is carried out, the level of aftercare service provided, the amount of work required (i.e., bone grafting) and the number of implants required. In the UK, the costs of a single tooth implant can vary, which the dentist will discuss with you.   

Tooth whitening is a non-invasive procedure that is designed to lighten the colour of your teeth. The active ingredient most commonly use is Hydrogen peroxide or Carbemide peroxide in a glycerine base. Significant lightening can be achieved in the vast majority of cases. It is safe, effective and results are stable. In general yellow or brown teeth are easier to whiten but grey or bluish teeth and striated or mottled teeth are more difficult to whiten. Factors such as the type of discolouration and overall condition of your teeth have a direct bearing on the level of whitening, which can be achieved. However, bleaching can only be done in a healthy mouth; people with significant periodontal disease (gum disease) or with fillings with cavities in their teeth, pregnant women as well as heavy smokers are not suitable candidates.

In Surgery Whitening - This process can be done in one visit or may require

multiple visits depending on how your teeth respond to the whitening gel. Each

appointment takes approximately one to two hours.

Home Whitening - This process, involves wearing a custom-made whitening tray

filled with a mild whitening agent for optimal results. You should wear the gel-filled

tray from 2 hours per day to overnight depending on the strength of the whitening

agent.

We provide the latest Enlighten teeth whitening, Pola Day/Pola Night and Boutique Whitening Treatment in our friendly, state-of-the-art dental practice, as well as home whitening kits. 

Enlightens Evolution professional teeth whitening treatment is the only system in the world that will whiten up to 16 shades easily and safely and will give you a dramatic look. Guaranteed Shade B1.

The system uses state of the art materials which are so good that even the highest concentration of gel used is safe on the gums. Other major professional teeth whitening systems use much higher concentration gels and therefore need to place a barrier on your gums and lips to protect them from being burnt.

Bleaching can only be done in a healthy mouth; people with significant periodontal disease (gum disease) or with fillings with cavities in their teeth, pregnant women as well as heavy smokers are not suitable candidates.

As with any treatment there are benefits and risks. These are seldom serious enough to discourage you from having your teeth whitened, but should be considered when making a decision to have the treatment.

Tooth sensitivity: solutions have been available for many years as an antiseptic in the mouth and it is widely used for its effect on teeth whitening. Some patients experience sensitivity during the first 24 hours. If tooth sensitivity develops, fluoride home care gels may be used to reduce sensitivity and frequent gargling/rinsing mouth with lukewarm water will ease sensitivity. Cases of permanent sensitivity are extremely rare.

Gum irritation: temporary inflammation or white spots on your gums can be caused by the whitening procedure. This should resolve within 5 days, if it persists contact your dentist.

Effect on existing fillings: the whitening procedure, can be very effective at whitening the teeth, but will not change the colour of the fillings or crowns already in your teeth. For aesthetic reasons, such fillings may need changing after the whitening procedures.

Acceptance of treatment means acceptance of the risks.

Dentures are removable false teeth. They are one of the options available to us to replace missing teeth. We offer natural looking acrylic (plastic) and chrome (metal based) dentures - carefully designed to optimise their fit, appearance, comfort and how they stay in place.

Understandably patients don't want dentures to look like false teeth and our patients comment on how pleased they are with the natural result. Their friends and family comment that they are ' looking well but are not aware why'. We use high quality life-like false teeth and 'gum-work' and work together with our patients on the layout of the teeth and amount of tooth showing to ensure this suits you. You may like to bring in photographs of your old teeth or ask a trusted family member or friend to attend your try-in appointments for a second opinion on your appearance (rest assured we respect your privacy and you will not be asked to be seen without teeth-in). 

A thorough assessment of the supporting gums and any remaining teeth is absolutely essential to ensure your new teeth last as long as possible and allow continued health of the rest of your mouth. We also need to know what your wishes and expectations are to ensure dentures are right for you.

Apart from very simple cases and temporary/immediate dentures, a series of appointments perhaps 5-6 visits, generally 1-2 weeks apart, are required to make high quality dentures. We don't believe in cutting corners and take the time to do things properly. The typical series of appointments are:

1.   Primary impressions - first impressions of your mouth in an off-the-shelf tray. Discuss the colour/size and  

     layout of your teeth - this is ongoing throughout the rest of the process.

2.   Secondary impressions - impression trays are made to the shape of your mouth to allow much more accurate 

    impressions which are vital for the fit of the denture.

3.   Occlusal registration - recording how your teeth bite together, generally done by asking you to bite in a 

    particular way into rims of wax prepared to sit in your mouth.

4.   Try in - to check the fit of the denture base and appearance. This is the crucial stage where you get to check         

    how your new teeth will look. Not until you are happy and 'sign this off' do we get the dentures finished.

5.   Fit and after-care instruction

6.   Review and adjustment appointments to check your comfort. 

The cost and design of dentures varies according to your specific requirements, your dentist will discuss this with you thoroughly at your assessment.

Adapting to new dentures can take some time. Particularly if you have had an old set for a long time- these will have slowly worn and deteriorated over years but at such a slow pace that your mouth is accustomed to it. The changed design of new dentures may feel very different and take some time to get used to the improved design and updated fit, this is normal. 'Teething problems' may include: feeling of slight looseness/movement, awkward eating particular foods, small change in your speech, sore spots. Dentures are partly held in by subconscious muscle control - it will take some time for the muscles of your mouth to grow used to the new dentures. We advise taking things slowly, eat soft foods to get used to chewing, if your speech of affected initially; talk to yourself at home to get used to them! Like new shoes, new dentures may rub at first. Don't preserve with sore spots too long however as they may cause ulceration, contact us to book an adjustment appointment, take your dentures out and only put them in the morning you come to see your dentist so they adjust the denture accordingly.

Complete dentures: For patients with no remaining teeth. These dentures are held in place entirely by suction against the gum and subconscious muscle control. They are generally made fully from acrylic (plastic), or have a metal 'palate' for strength /temperature sensation.

Acrylic partial dentures. These are plastic dentures which rest on your gum. They are generally best for patients with few remaining teeth or remaining teeth with a questionable outlook. Rudimentary metal clips may help secure the denture.

Cobalt Chromium dentures. These dentures have a chromium (metal) base which offers many advantages over acrylic dentures including strength, it can be made thinner so may be less bulky and is stronger for people whose dentures break frequently, the metal may rest on strong adjacent teeth which is healthier for your mouth, they allow more of your mouths palate to be exposed thereby allowing a greater sense of taste when eating, chromium, gold or white clasps can be attached to firmly secure your denture. It may be wise to considering crowning heavily filled remaining teeth to help support a new chrome denture.

If you're looking for a root canal treatment under local anaesthetic or sedation and affordable prices, our state-of-the-art clinic can help.

A root canal is a procedure designed as an attempt to save and retain a tooth that would otherwise be extracted.

Jay Mehta is part of our team at ALFA Dental and is a Dentist with a special interest in Endodontics.

In creating a relaxing environment for his patients is an essential factor in contributing to the best possible treatment outcome.

Jay usually sees his patients for an initial consultation visit in which he discusses various aspects of the treatment. However, this consultation appointment can be combined with treatment if it is more convenient to the patient. In house sedation can also be provided during root canal treatment if required.

Tooth nerve therapy is commonly known as root canal treatment or Endodontics. Root canal treatment is used to treat decayed teeth and can often save teeth that have been severely weakened as a result of decay spreading to the living tissue within the tooth. 

It is the pulp tissue which contains the blood vessels and nerves. When decay spreads to the pulp chambers and infects the pulp tissue, the tooth effectively starts to die. If the tooth is left untreated, decay can spread and may cause abscesses and severe dental pain.

Root canal treatment is a procedure, which involves removing the decayed tissue and both cleaning and sealing the root canals. We use the latest techniques to produce the best possible outcomes. We recognise that many patients may be anxious about having treatment and we do all we can to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

Once the decayed tissue has been removed from the tooth, the root canals are cleaned thoroughly and then filled with dental material to prevent further infection. A crown is then placed over the existing tooth structure to restore function to the mouth and create a natural looking tooth. 

Conscious sedation techniques are a way of making anxious people feel more relaxed about receiving dental care. There are several techniques to help you overcome your fears and anxieties. Not all are suitable for everyone. The dentist who sees you at your assessment appointment will discuss the different options and help you decide which is best for you.

If you are nervous of dental treatment and would prefer to be sedated whilst treatment is carried out, at our Practices we can offer you the option to have your treatment under Sedation. A registered anaesthetist performs the sedation while Surgeons who have been doing such dental treatment for several years carry out your dental treatment. To assist the anaesthetist and surgeon there are trained recovery and dental assistants. And all our equipment conforms to hospital standards. 

We not only treat our own patients under conscious sedation but are happy to accept referrals from referring dentists throughout East and West Sussex.