Comprehensive Dental Services in Blackburn South
At Bellbird Dental, we offer comprehensive dental services for patients in Blackburn South, VIC and surrounding areas. Contact us for an appointment.
Your Child’s First Dental Visit
Our aim is to introduce dentistry to your children in a fun and positive way so that they are happy to visit the dentist and ensure they maintain optimal oral health for life!
It is recommended that your child has their first dental check-up by their first birthday. The following will be checked during your child’s dental visit:
- Oral hygiene, such as toothbrushing techniques and the use of fluoride toothpaste
- Risk and signs of tooth decay and health of gums
- Growth and development of teeth and jaws, and problems with bite
- Diet and feeding patterns
- Habits such as dummy sucking or thumb sucking
Whitening
Tooth whitening lightens teeth and helps to remove stains and discoloration. Whitening is among the most popular cosmetic dental procedures because it can greatly improve how your teeth look. Tooth whitening:
- Helps improve your smile and your appearance
- Boosts a person’s self esteem
- Helps make you look younger
Preventative Dentistry
We’re here to help you ensure your oral health for years to come. Our preventative dentistry services include regular dental cleanings, sealants, and any procedures used to slow and stop tooth decay or other oral diseases in their earliest stages. Our goal is to keep you and your mouth as healthy and clean as possible so you can maintain your natural teeth for life.
Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural appearance of teeth. To place a veneer, a thin layer of the original tooth enamel must be removed. Afterward, an adhesive layer is placed between the prepared tooth and the veneer. The adhesive is then hardened with the use of a specialized curing light.
Veneers can be applied to one or several teeth for any of the following aesthetic reasons:
- Correct gaps between the teeth
- Correct uneven lengths
- Correct slightly misaligned teeth
- Correct discoloration
- Restore chipped teeth
- Correct teeth that are slightly crooked
- Change the size or shape
Crowns
A crown is a dental restoration that completely covers the outside of a tooth that is cracked, broken, worn down, or severely decayed.
Dental crowns are usually completed in two visits. During the first visit, the tooth is prepared (shaved down) and an impression is taken. A temporary crown is placed while the permanent crown is fabricated. During the second visit, the permanent crown is carefully fitted and then cemented into place.
Crowns and Bridges
Similar to a crown, a bridge is a fixed dental restoration used to fill a gap left from one or more missing teeth. It joins an artificial tooth or more teeth definitely to adjacent teeth or implants. Unlike removable devices such as dentures which you can take out and clean daily, the dental bridge is a non-removable prosthetic device and can be only removed by a dentist.
A bridge may be recommended by your dentist if you are missing one or more teeth. Gaps that are left by teeth missing might cause adjacent teeth to shift and rotate into the gap which might change your bite. Moreover, the overuse of one side of the mouth for chewing will eventually lead to gum disease and temporomandibular (TMJ) disorders.
Bridges are usually made of porcelain, porcelain fused to metal-PFM or zirconia. Your dentist will advise you which to use, depending on the location of missing tooth/teeth, function, aesthetic consideration and cost.
Implants
Dental implants replace tooth roots in the mouth. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth and can aid in the prevention of bone loss in the jaw.
Dental implants are composed of three pieces: a small screw made of a biocompatible metal called titanium, an abutment which connects the screw and the final restoration, and the final restoration. The screw, which is placed in the jawbone, acts as a replacement for the tooth root, providing a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth. The screw begins to fuse with the bone over the course of a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, the abutment is inserted into the screw to allow for the permanent attachment of the restoration.
Endodontic treatment
Root canals are most often necessary when decay has reached the nerve of the tooth or the tooth has become infected.
When root canal therapy is performed, infected or inflamed pulp is removed from the tooth chamber. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned and disinfected before being filled and sealed to limit the possibility of future infection.
Soon after the root canal is performed, the tooth is restored with a dental crown or filling to protect the tooth and restore normal tooth function.
