Our Services

A ceramic bridge is used to replace any tooth that is missing or beyond repair. It is individually made to match the shade and contour of your natural teeth. There are two methods we use to replace missing teeth with a bridge, depending on your individual dental needs. In both cases the ceramic bridge looks and feels like a natural tooth. Bridge on natural teeth: A bridge to replace a gap in between your existing natural teeth consists of high strength dental ceramic. Built with natural looking replacement teeth, the bridge is anchored to the adjacent teeth. To secure the bridge the adjacent teeth must be reduced in size or prepared to accommodate the bridge structure. Certain conditions are required when this method is used and continued bone loss will occur under the replacement tooth. Bridge on implants: A bridge which is secured on to implants is used when natural teeth are not present or unsuitable. A durable, high strength dental ceramic bridge, with natural looking replacement teeth is securely positioned on to previously placed dental implants. Healthy adjacent teeth are left untouched. Dental implants are strong, biocompatible fixtures made of titanium, which act just like natural tooth roots.

Our dentists are always available to have a chat with patients to answer their questions, plan treatment, or relieve anxiety. Consultations are available either as stand-alone appointments, or as part of a longer appointments if you wish to complete your treatment immediately.

Endodontic treatment is carried out on a tooth when it has been badly damaged due to decay, disease or injury. The health of the pulp is compromised and an infection has resulted. The pulp is the soft tissue deep inside a tooth. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. Endodontic treatment or Root Canal treatment is carried out when a tooth can be saved by removing the pulp and the infected tissue from inside the canals of the tooth roots. If an infected tooth is left untreated severe pain and abscesses (infections at the ends of the roots) can occur. If an abscess is left untreated, infection can damage the bone surrounding the root. Root canal treatment is performed over a few appointments and a full treatment plan and information guide is provided to ensure you understand the treatment in full. Root canal treatment may not be appropriate in some cases, and extraction may be the best, or only, option. If this is the case then a review of the extraction area will be scheduled to make arrangements to replace the tooth with an implant.

Teeth are removed (extracted) when they are unable to be successfully restored, for orthodontic reasons or when a patient requests the removal of a tooth despite treatment being available. Extractions are performed under local anaesthetic in our rooms, including wisdom teeth. Radiographs are generally taken prior to an extraction; these allow us to see the roots of the tooth to be removed, their shape and relationship to adjacent teeth, nerves and the sinus. Postoperative care instructions are provided to ensure the healing of the extraction site. Each deciduous (baby) and permanent (adult) tooth plays a vital part to your oral health and the decision to remove one should not be taken lightly. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt through the gums and are also called ‘third molars’. Wisdom teeth generally push through the gums when people are in their late teens or early twenties. Most people will have four wisdom teeth however it is not unusual for people to have less or even none at all. Not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, however in a large number of people wisdom teeth should be removed as they can cause other dental complications such as infections of the gum, decay and tooth resorption. Wisdom teeth may need to be removed for several different reasons and if they do need to be removed it is best to get them removed earlier rather than later to prevent further problems. Possible reasons for the removal of wisdom teeth: •Impacted wisdom teeth can cause decay in the adjacent teeth. •The wisdom teeth are impacted, pushing on the teeth in front •The wisdom teeth have caused infection in the adjacent gum tissue. Wisdom teeth can either be removed in our rooms using local anaesthetic or under a general anaesthetic by an Oral Surgeon. During a consultation the level of surgical difficulty, tooth impaction and your personal preference, will be assessed to determine which options of removal and anaesthesia will be best used in your particular circumstance. If you have any questions or concerns about treatment these can be addressed at your consultation.

A custom made mouthguard is constructed using an upper model prepared from an impression taken of the upper teeth. A choice of colours are available to match your team colours or for individual preference. Mouth guards are recommended to protect the teeth and their investing tissues during contact sports and hazardous activities. A mouthguard should fit securely and comfortably and not hinder your ability to breathe and swallow. Over the counter mouthguards are generally ill fitting and don’t provide the complete protection required should you receive a knock to the face. By wearing a professionally fitted mouthguard the severity of an injury can be minimised or completely avoided.

Park Terrace Dental strongly believes in a preventative approach to dental care and provides information to each individual to suit their oral hygiene needs. This may depend on your age, whether or not you have had problems with your teeth and gums, or if you have braces, bridges, implants or false teeth. We have a comprehensive range of oral hygiene information and regularly provide the community with oral health care tips through our monthly advertorial in the Port Lincoln Times (see features). Cleans can vary from a simple polish of your tooth surface using a prophy paste to remove plaque and stains, to a more extensive scale and clean to remove a build up of tartar, also known as calculus. Once plaque hardens it becomes tartar, which cannot be removed by normal brushing. We can schedule an appointment for you during which we use special cleaning instruments to remove tartar from tooth surfaces. To make this process more comfortable we use an ultrasonic cleaner which easily removes the tartar using a combination of small vibrations and water. Left untreated a build up of tartar can lead to serious gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss.

Park Terrace Dental offers in-clinic orthodontic treatment with either traditional braces or clear aligners. We are also fortunate in our regional area to have the services of external Orthodontists, who consult in their rooms in Port Lincoln and provide services in Adelaide. During a regular dental exam we will discuss with you any needs for orthodontic treatment and arrange a referral letter and consult appointment if necessary either in Port Lincoln or Adelaide. Orthodontic treatment is used to realign teeth, correct your bite (occlusion) or to create spaces for implant placement. Often it is necessary to take an initial OPG x-ray which is also forwarded on to the orthodontist prior to your appointment with them. We continue with your regular exams and should you undergo treatment we receive regular updates on your orthodontic progress. While you are wearing braces, it is essential that you take extra care of your teeth and gums.

A composite filling is a tooth-coloured plastic and glass mixture used to restore decayed or broken teeth. Composites are also used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the colour of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth. We choose a shade that best matches your natural tooth colour or a shade that will change and improve the overall appearance of your teeth. Following preparation, the dentist places the composite in layers; each layer is cured, typically using a specialized light to harden each layer. During this process, the dentist will shape the composite to fit the tooth. The dentist then polishes the composite to prevent staining and early wear.

At Park Terrace Dental we recommend and supply Tray-based tooth bleaching systems. With this safe and tooth friendly whitening option, a comfortable, small, mouth guard-like tray is made for your upper and lower teeth for you to use at home. The trays are then filled with a peroxide-based bleaching gel and placed over the teeth for 30 minutes once a day for up to four weeks. These custom-fitted trays and a whitening gel kit will have you smiling your brightest smile in no time. We avoid the use of highly concentrated in-clinic bleaching systems as we deem them to be unnecessarily aggressive on teeth.

Ceramic crowns or inlays are recommended when a tooth requires a restoration that not only fills a cavity but also is needed to support the remaining tooth structure. The ceramic restoration is custom designed using state of the art Cerec CAD/CAM technology to perfectly match your tooth. This means that Cerec inlays and crowns, using Emax ceramic blocks are able to be completed in a single visit. Emax ceramic blocks are metal free and are three times the strength of commonly used ceramic. We eliminate the need for impressions, temporary crowns and follow up appointments. We also hand shade, glaze and crystallize your ceramic restoration in a porcelain oven. This added feature gives your tooth the look and feel of a natural tooth and increases its strength three fold. Crowns encase the entire prepared tooth and are commonly used on teeth that have been heavily restored in the past. The crown replaces the very outer enamel surface of a tooth to provide the remainder of the tooth with the strength to remain functional long term. Crowns can also be used on anterior teeth that have been heavily restored or misshapen to achieve a more desirable cosmetic appearance. Inlays are used when a tooth requires a long term restoration to support and strengthen the remaining tooth structure, whilst leaving as much healthy tooth as possible. The inlay is bonded to the tooth, whereas a typical restoration merely fills the cavity space, leaving the tooth susceptible to further breakage and damage. Ceramic inlays are commonly used to replace old amalgam fillings in back teeth that break down over time or if a large portion of the tooth has been broken.

Whilst dentures are slowly disappearing from our society, they will still play an important part of some people lives for some time to come. Dentures can be made to replace teeth when they are all missing or when only some of the teeth are. Where they are worn, it is important to maintain them regularly to make sure they’re not damaging the jawbones or remaining teeth. Regular exam appointments are still necessary to check the soft tissues in your mouth and the fit of your dentures. At Park Terrace Dental we construct your Dentures following digital records, providing strength and a comfortable and accurate fit More advanced techniques such as bridges and implants often eliminate the need to wear dentures at all.

During a dental exam an evaluation of all teeth, their supporting tissues and the oral tissues is done. The current condition of these structures is recorded and any treatment that is required is also recorded. Dental radiographs are taken if it is necessary to evaluate the condition of bone and teeth. Often we recommend a set of bitewing radiographs be taken at least every three years to check between the teeth and the level of bone supporting the teeth. A period of either 6 months or 12 months will be recommended for a periodic exam, this will help us to determine any changes that may have occurred to your dental health. We encourage our patients to keep to regular exams and we're happy to send reminders. Preventative dentistry allows us to detect and correct small problems before they become major ones.

Traditionally implants were placed during a general anaesthetic in hospital. Modern computer guided precision placement has allowed us to greatly reduce the time we need and the impact on our patients when placing implants. The surgery is a very gentle procedure as the area it is placed into has to be handled very delicately. We phone all our patients the day after and to date it has been extremely rare for anyone to have experienced any real discomfort. Before any surgery takes place, we must take a 3D Cone Beam x-ray to determine if you are suitable for the insertion of an implant. Depending on factors such as bone density, gum health, and general lifestyle, our dentists will determine if an implant is the most appropriate option for the replacement of your missing teeth.

Occlusal splints are individually designed to be worn by patients who have shown the signs and symptoms of Bruxism (tooth grinding and clenching). Often due to stress, anxiety and work / life pressure. Signs and symptoms may include: •Pain in the teeth and sensitivity to hold & cold •Chronic facial pain with tension headaches, caused by intense muscle contraction. •The noise, noticed by partners, friends or relatives, that occurs as the teeth are ground together •Flattened and worn tooth surfaces, which may reveal the underlying dentine layer •Micro fractures of the tooth enamel •Broken or chipped teeth •Loose teeth •Stiffness and pain in the jaw joint muscles; this can cause restricted opening and difficult chewing •Earache or pain in the jaw joint An Occlusal splint (also called a night guard) is an option for patients who experience mild to severe grinding behaviour. Worn at night, the splint is made from moulded hard plastic that fits over the upper teeth. It prevents further wear of the tooth surfaces.

At times, surgical procedures may be required to treat your oral health concerns. The three most common procedures where oral surgery is required are complex extractions, implants, and tissue grafts. Here at Park Terrace Dental, we offer local anesthetics during surgical procedures. If you believe you require a general anesthetic to complete the procedure, we are more than happy to organise a referral for you to the nearest clinic where that service is provided.

Park Terrace Dental uses digital X-rays. To take a digital X-ray, we will place a sensor on the tooth that looks like a piece of film. Once the picture is taken, we can adjust the contrast and brightness of the image to find even the smallest area of decay. Other benefits of digital X-rays are greatly decreased exposure to radiation and a removal of any waiting time for the results. What is apparent through one type of X-ray often is not visible on another. A Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scan is a 3D imaging tool that allows us to view teeth, bones, nerves, and tissues. These are used for procedures like implants, to assess anatomical suitability like bone density. A panoramic X-ray (OPG) will give us a general and comprehensive view of your entire mouth on a single film, which smaller X-rays cannot show. You might need close-up X- rays to show a highly detailed image of a smaller area, making it easier for your dentist to see decay between your teeth. You can be assured X-rays are not prescribed indiscriminately. Your dentist has a need for the different information that each X-ray can provide to formulate a diagnosis. Radiographic or X-ray examinations provide your dentist with an important tool that shows the condition of your teeth, its roots, jaw placement and the overall composition of your facial bones. X-rays can help your dentist determine the presence or degree of periodontal (gum) disease, abscesses and many abnormal growths, such as cysts and tumours. X-rays also can show the exact location of impacted and un erupted teeth. They can pinpoint the location of cavities and other signs of disease that may not be possible to detect through a visual examination.

We are proud to associate with SomnoMed, which is the company that supplies us with successful solutions to snoring and sleep apnoea. Snoring occurs when the soft tissues at the back of your throat become too relaxed and vibrate. The vibrations caused by your breathing results in the snoring sound. There are several other factors that could contribute to, or be the cause of your snoring: •A narrow airway-due to your natural build •Weight gain or a large neck-this puts pressure on your airway passage •Alcohol-relaxes the soft tissues in your airway •Age-muscle tone decreases as you get older •Sleep posture-sleeping on your back encourages the muscles at the back of your throat to relax •Obstructive Sleep Apnoea-which snoring is a symptom of Initially we arrange an appointment to discuss your concerns and if a device is something which is right for you we will take impressions of your upper and lower teeth and other records to send off to the SomnoMed laboratory to have an anti-snore device made for you.