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Crowns

To conceal and strengthen vulnerable teeth.

A crown is a natural-looking, hard-wearing way to disguise and strengthen damaged and unsightly teeth. Sometimes referred to as ‘caps’, crowns are skillfully crafted by dental technicians to fit over an affected tooth, restoring its shape and functionality. They blend in well and look as natural as your surrounding teeth.

You may require a crown for the following reasons:

• Your tooth is severely discoloured and whitening will not effective
• You have extensive decay or a large filling
• Your tooth has broken
• You have had root canal treatment

Crowns can also be used to support a gap-filling bridge, keeping it firmly in position.

Your treatment journey

Your dentist will painlessly remove a layer of tooth structure which will allow the crown to fit neatly alongside the surrounding teeth. We then take impressions and record the colour of your natural teeth, so the resulting crown will blend in when finally fixed in place.

After crowns have been placed

To ensure their longevity, it’s important to take care of your crowns by maintaining an efficient oral hygiene routine. It is also sensible to see your dentist for regular examinations so they can keep a close eye on any crowns and the underlying teeth.

Even though a crown helps to protect a weakened tooth, it is vital to keep the site free from bacteria to guard against decay and gum disease.

Dentures

For practical, natural-looking smile restoration.

Our removable dentures offer a good-looking, functional solution to tooth loss. Whether you are missing just a few teeth or need to replace the whole set, we can provide well-fitting replacement teeth crafted from high-quality, advanced materials.

As well as boosting your confidence, dentures can help address any problems that may arise from losing your teeth. They can support facial muscles, keep existing teeth in place and ensure your mouth works normally again.

We can provide partial dentures to fill the gaps left by just a few teeth or full dentures to replace all your upper and lower teeth.

At Infinityblu, we make sure to offer you only the best quality dentures and your dentist will run through your options. We recommend the use of high impact acrylic and provide durable teeth which have a blend of over 16 different shades to give you a desirable natural look.

Your options

• Acrylic – this is a cost-effective type of denture that consists of a removable acrylic base with natural-looking teeth. They are held in place over the gums through suction or they can be secured with metal clasps.
• Cobalt chrome – this is a particularly durable denture as the realistic-looking teeth are attached to a metal alloy frame which is secured to natural teeth. As this kind of denture base is relatively thin, it is a more comfortable choice.
• Valplast – this revolutionary, extremely wearable partial denture is becoming a very popular choice for our patients at Infinityblu, as it is made from a lightweight, flexible material that just snaps into place.

The treatment process

We thoroughly assess your teeth, take impressions and create a wax model, which we use to check how your dentures will eventually fit.

Your dentures are manufactured by skilled technicians and, when they are ready, you will come back to us for a fitting appointment.

Denture stabilisation

If you wear dentures, you may find that, over time, your gums start to recede and your replacement teeth will not fit as snugly as before. This means they can start to move around in your mouth, causing problems when eating or speaking.

However, we can keep dentures firmly in place by attaching them securely to dental implants.

At Infinityblu, we consider dental implants to be the number one way to replace missing teeth or stabilise dentures. Our Principal Dentist, Chris Barrowman has over ten years of experience in placing and restoring implants. He can use them to provide retention and support for dentures, or you can have a full arch of teeth fixed permanently in place and wave goodbye to dentures.

After dentures are fitted

Dentures can feel odd when you start wearing them, especially if you have a full set. Your mouth will need to get used to functioning with your new teeth, and this may affect how you eat and speak. During this adjustment period, it’s best to start by eating soft foods and to talk out loud as often as you can. With plenty of practice, you’ll soon get used to being a denture wearer.

Extractions and oral surgery

Although our chief focus is preventive care, we may occasionally have to remove teeth that are severely damaged or to make more space in your mouth.

Your teeth may have been affected by gum disease or decay, or you may have a painful impacted wisdom tooth that is stuck stubbornly under your gum. We may also have to make more room if you are having a brace fitted or you need dentures.

If you do need an extraction, please try not to worry – we will do everything we can to make the procedure as stress-free and comfortable as possible. We routinely use the strongest local anaesthetic available and always ensure you feel in control. If you need a little break, we’ll always stop treatment until you are ready to continue. And it’s worth remembering that by extracting a painful tooth, we can help to eliminate pain and prevent the spread of infection.

Your treatment journey

First, we take an x-ray to check your teeth and determine the best method of removal. A ‘simple’ extraction is performed on a tooth that can be seen above the gum line and a ‘surgical’ extraction is carried out on a tooth that has broken off at the gum or not emerged.

A ‘simple’ extraction involves numbing the area, carefully loosening the tooth and removing it with special forceps. A ‘surgical’ extraction involves making a small incision in the gum before the tooth is taken out.

After an extraction

You should encourage healing by eating softer foods and chewing on the opposite side of your mouth. It’s also best not eat very hot foods and to avoid smoking and alcohol.

Keep the extraction site clean by rinsing gently with warm, salty water but only do this 24 hours after the procedure. Also, let us know if you experience severe pain 3-5 days after an extraction, as the clot may have failed to form or become dislodged – a condition known as ‘dry socket’.

Inlays and onlays

For tough, imperceptible repairs.

We can use bespoke inlays or onlays to repair teeth with cavities that may be just too large to fix with a conventional filling. They are made from materials, such as porcelain and composite resin, which are not only hard-wearing but also blend in with your natural teeth. We can also provide gold inlays and onlays but these are usually placed on the back teeth.

Inlays and onlays are created by skilled technicians in a dental laboratory and then fixed firmly in place by your dentist. An inlay is placed within the cavity, and an onlay covers more of the tooth and extends over the biting surface.

Your treatment journey

First, we remove any decay, then clean and prepare the area to be filled. The inlay or onlay will be produced from an impression taken of your teeth, so it fits the cavity perfectly.

Finally, your natural-looking restoration is placed in or on the cavity with a strong dental adhesive.

After inlays and onlays have been placed

Inlays and onlays are a particularly effective way to repair large cavities as they fit the tooth exactly, providing superior protection. If you keep your inlays and onlays clean and attend regular check-ups, they will keep your teeth safe and sound for years.

Root canal treatments

Ensuring teeth are infection-free.

This treatment may be required if the inner part of your tooth (the pulp) has become infected through decay or injury. If this infection is not addressed, it can spread through the root canal system and may lead to an abscess. If this happens, the tooth may need to be taken out, leaving a space. It is always preferable to retain natural teeth, and root canal treatment can help you do just that.

Your treatment journey

As root canal treatment involves expertise and time, you will normally require two or more appointments. Although root canal therapy is often thought of as being a rather painful procedure, it should feel no different to having an ordinary filling because we use a local anaesthetic.

We remove the infected pulp and flush out the root canals with an anti-bacterial solution. We carefully shape the canals with tiny, flexible instruments and wash again to remove any debris. These freshly cleaned root canals are then filled with a rubber compound.

Finally, we top off the tooth with a protective filling or crown so it is safely sealed and its shape and functionality are restored.

After root canal treatment

Look after a root-treated tooth just as you would any other. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and clean between them too. It’s also wise to limit your sugar intake and, if you do fancy a sweet snack, save it for mealtimes.

In the past, a root-treated tooth would often darken, but more advanced techniques mean this now doesn’t usually happen. However, if it does discolour, we can use a variety of treatments to give it a whiter appearance.