General Dentistry
What is General Dentistry?
General dentistry is treatment that aims to prevent, diagnose and treat common dental health issues. At Hartwell, we aim to keep your smile as healthy as possible by preventing oral disease where possible, and acting early if we detect any problems.
Hartwell Dentistry uses cutting-edge technology to aide our dentists, with X-ray machines in each room and a specialised Orthopantomogram machine on site. More info here.
Regular dental checkups are vital to provide early detection.
General Dental Services:
Dental Exams/Checkups
Regular exams with a dentist is an essential part of maintaining good oral health. At these exams, your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums for any signs of disease. During these appointments, X-rays may also be taken to assist the dentists in diagnosing any issues with bone levels.
Dental X-Rays
X-rays are an essential part of a Dentist’s toolkit, as it allows us to see below the gums where issues may not be as readily apparent. More information regarding when, where and how they are used can be found here.
Tooth Coloured Restorations (Fillings)
In the case your teeth have a cavity (hole), our dentists may recommend a restoration. Our composite resin fillings are matched to the shade of your individual teeth, are minimally invasive and can be placed in a single appointment. Made from a tooth-coloured synthetic resin material, they are a cost-effective option.
Root Canal Therapy (Endodontics)
Root canal treatment, also referred to as Endodontic Treatment, is a dental procedure that replaces your tooth’s damaged, infected or inflamed pulp, with a filling. Your pulp comprises of dental cells, blood vessels and tissue fibres located in the hollow space in the central part of your tooth (the nerve). When the nerve is damaged, infected or inflamed, endodontic treatment is required to avoid further pain and infection. You may need root canal treatment if your nerve is inflamed or infected.
Snoring and Sleep Apnoea
If you are suffering from dry mouth, insomnia, low energy or fatigue, sleep issues may be the culprit. Over 30% of adults over the age of 30 years old snore, and up to 70% of those have the medical condition known as sleep apnoea.
Snoring occurs due to the vibration of the soft palate and tongue when sleeping. In contrast, sleep apnoea is when the airway is partially or fully blocked during sleep, causing low oxygen levels. This leads to worse blood pressure, and increased risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
A diagnosis for sleep apnoea can be determined in combination with a sleep study ordered by a specialist sleep physician. The two main treatments for sleep apnoea is a CPAP machine or Dental Sleep Appliance, depending on the severity. More information can be found here.
Mouthguards and Night Guards
Mouthguards are a soft, flexible protective device that surround the teeth to help prevent dental injury during contact injury. At Hartwell Dentistry, we custom make our mouthguards on site to make sure they fit well, and thus protect you or your children’s teeth well.
We also make night guards that help reduce teeth wear, muscle pain and headaches due to clenching and/or grinding. Also known as bruxism, clenching/grinding can occur during the day and night, and can result in tooth fractures.
Children's Dentistry
Hartwell offers a variety of children’s dental services. Click here for more information about children’s general and restorative dentistry, and here for orthodontics.
Tooth Extractions
While we prefer to maintain natural teeth, sometimes, a tooth that is beyond the point of repair due to advanced gum disease, decay and/or infection may need to be extracted. This helps prevent further damage and relieve pain.
Before any teeth are pulled, our dentists will go through restorative options and work with you to form a custom treatment plan to make sure that you are happy with your smile afterwards. Click here to learn more about our restorative dentistry.
Jaw and Muscle Pain
Do you suffer from jaw pain, clicking, headaches or difficulty closing/opening? These, and other signs can be indicative of an issues with your jaw joints, muscles or bite. The causes for these issues can be complex, and treatment will vary depending on the accurate diagnosis of your condition.
Hartwell Dentistry is experienced and extensively trained in helping treat patients that may be suffering from Temporomandibular Disorders and/or Bruxism (clenching/grinding).
