Claire Rath BDS « Find Other Dentists in Cork

When decay has developed to the extent that remineralisation cannot treat it, air abrasion may be used to remove the decay and prepare the tooth for a sealant or filling. Air abrasion is similar to sand blasting at a microscopic level and involves directing a stream of tiny particles under pressure to remove small areas of dental decay. In most circumstances an anaesthetic is not required.

A dental bridge (fixed partial denture) is used to fill in the gap left by one or more missing teeth by creating an artificial tooth for each tooth and anchoring them to either one tooth adjacent to the gap or the two teeth either side of the gap.

Same day crowns and porcelain restorations such as inlays and veneers can be made with the revolutionary Cerec 3D system and achieve cosmetic dentistry of the highest quality. This is an inhouse Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing system that enables a dentist to prepare teeth for porcelain restorations as normal but instead of sending impressions to a laboratory and waiting for a few weeks to have the restoration made, the dentist can design the restoration and have it manufactured on a small computerised milling unit in the practice. The patient has all the work done in a single appointment without the need to wait a few weeks wearing a temporary restoration.

Same day crowns and porcelain restorations such as inlays and veneers can be made with the revolutionary Cerec 3D system and achieve cosmetic dentistry of the highest quality. This is an inhouse Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing system that enables a dentist to prepare teeth for porcelain restorations as normal but instead of sending impressions to a laboratory and waiting for a few weeks to have the restoration made, the dentist can design the restoration and have it manufactured on a small computerised milling unit in the practice. The patient has all the work done in a single appointment without the need to wait a few weeks wearing a temporary restoration.

A dental crown is used to rebuild a tooth that has substantially broken down by encasing the remaining healthy portion of the tooth with a prosthetic designed to replicate the original external surface of the damaged tooth. The reason for the failure of the original tooth may include dental decay, trauma or grinding when teeth are worn down over time. Crowns may also be used to provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance for patients with mis-shapen or rotated teeth. Crowns can be made from metal such as gold or precious metal for strength or from porcelain or porcelain boded to metal which offer both tooth-like appearance and strength.

A dental implant is an artificial prosthetic, normally a titanium screw, that is used to replace the root of a tooth and to support a dental restoration such as a crown, bridge or denture. Implants may be used to replace one, some or all teeth. Planning for implants is an involved process but can achieve success rates in excess of 90% and a lifetime of more than 20 years. Key factors in the success of an implant procedure are the health and quality of existing bone, periodontal condition and occlusion (how the opposing teeth come together).

Digital Imaging is the use of digital techniques to record x-rays. The advantages are that radiation levels are significantly lower than conventional systems, x-rays can be viewed almost instantly without waiting for development and images can be viewed and analysed on a computer screen. The result is safer levels of radiation for patients, improved means of diagnosis for dentists and faster work practices resulting in higher levels of customer service.

Teeth may require extraction for any reasons; perhaps they have decayed or broken beyond repair, be periodontically involved or have to be removed to accomodate orthodontic adjustment.

We adopt atraumatic extraction procedures that are designed to minimise the damage caused to bone, diminish pain and shorten the healing period.

The extraction process can range from straightforward extraction to surgical extraction where teeth are impacted or have complex root structures.

The traditional choice for restoring a tooth that suffered from some destructive factor, such as decay, was to place either an amalgam ("silver") or composite ("white") filling in the tooth. Advances in dental materials offer a significant range of options when restoring a tooth. There are several composite materials available which differ in their physical properties (strength, fracture resistance, etc) and their aesthetics (ability to emulate the appearance of natural teeth).

Composite fillings can be obtained in a range of shades so that a good match can be made with the shade of the tooth being repaired and they can be bonded to the underlying tooth structure. The result is a restored tooth that looks substantially more natural.

Flouride treatment can be used to strengthen the enamel, decrease sensitivity and improve the periodontal condition. Protective coatings can be applied to decrease sensitivity to hot and cold.

An inlay is an indirect restoration that is fabricated outside the mouth to fill in a hole left by a cavity or old filling. Traditionally, inlays were made from metal but increasingly they are made from porcelain to achieve superior aesthetics. Unlike a filling which is created and hardens in the mouth, an inlay is made either in a laboratory or in-surgery using the Cerec system. An inlay is recommended where a substantial amount of a tooths structure has been lost and a filling is unlikely to be strong enough to withstand the normal forces within the mouth.

An onlay is used to refer to this type of restoration when it covers one or more cusps of a tooth. A major advantage of an inlay/only over a filling is the increased strength and durability. Consequently, inlays/onlays can last for ten years and more.

We use the VELscope is an Oral Cancer Screening Light that illuminates a patients oral cavity with light of a specific frequency which shows up suspect tissue as being more markedly different from normal tissue than can be seen under normal lighting. Abnormal tissue typically appears as an irregular, dark area that stands out against the otherwise normal, green fluorescence pattern of surrounding healthy tissue. VELscope technology looks deep within the tissue to where oral cancer and its precursors begin. The VELscope System creates a reaction that can make unhealthy tissue easier to differentiate from healthy tissue, and it is particularly sensitive to the early signs of disease.

The following warning signs may indicate the presence of periodontal disease:

- persistent bad breath

- red, tender or swollen gums

- gums bleed when brushing, flossing or eating

- loose or seperating teeth

- receding gums

- pockets developing between the gums and teeth

- pus in the space between teeth

- change in the fit of partial dentures.

The initial appointment with a hygienist involves a periodontal assessment to identify a patients oral health. This includes an examination of the periodontal condition by visual observation of the health of the gums, checking for the presence of plaque and calcalus, recording the depth of any periodontal pocket and extent of recession, checking for bleeding and suppuration. The Florida Probe can be used to provide patients with a detailed written report showing the current condition of their oral health. Various reports can be provided and used to chart the change in periodonatal condition over a number of appointments. this allows patients to monitor their periodontal condition and motivate them to take preventive action before their oral health deteriorates.

Depending on the circumstances a root canal therapy may completed in one visit taking not much more than an hour. However, a few visits may be required depending on the amount of infection, anatomy of the canals and the sensitivity of the tooth. In the absence of toothache, root canal therapy is not normally painful but the root-filled tooth may be tender for a number of days after the procedure.

Contour (Composite) bonding is a cosmetic dentistry technique that can correct minor imperfections and transform a smile in just one visit. Among the cosmetic procedures where it is used are the following:

• Closing gaps between teeth
• Repairing chipped and broken teeth
• Smile makeovers (direct composite veneers)
• Reshaping teeth

If you wish to have a brighter smile then we have the perfect gift for you. Our new whitening for life programme will help you take years off your smile and help you keep it bright for life. When you come into our office for your initial comprehensive exam,x-rays, and cleaning, we will provide you with handmade whitening trays. Then, every six months when you return for your preventive hygienist visit, you will receive a touch up kit of bleaching gel absolutely FREE for life! This amazing offer will help you achieve and maintain a beautiful smile! Whitening for Life is available for a one-time enrollment fee of just €199.

Please note that we provide home (tray) bleaching only - we do not provide laser whitening

Our approach to investgating TMD begins with a detailed history in order to obtain a sound understanding of the patients primary complaints and concerns, factors that may affect the condition and how it has manifested itself over a period of time.This is followed by clinical examination that includes observation of any signs of occlusal disease, palpation of the masticatory muscles, load testing of the TMJs, checking for occlusal interferences and an x-ray investigation. It is not uncommon for a person to experience one or more of the TMD symptoms for a period of time and for these to clear up without any treatment. The TMJ has a good capacity to adapt and to recover without intervention. Accordingly conservative treatment based on proper diagnosis is preferred before proceeding to irreversible procedures such as equilibration, orthodontics or surgery. It is possible to classify every type of TMJ disorder and to verify each classification by examination. Furthermore, improved understanding of the adaptive capacity of the components of the TMJ has improved our ability to identify problems not only within the joint but also in the connected tissues.

Dental veneers are thin pieces of plastic or porcelain that are cemented to the front of anterior (front) teeth. They can be used for a wide variety of cosmetic reasons including closing the gaps between teeth and changing the colour and shape of teeth.

Veneers are resistant to staining and because of their thinness can emulate the translucency of the underlying teeth giving a very natural appearnce. Conventional veneers require that approximately 0.5 - 1mm of a tooths surface is removed to accomodate the veneer. Lumineers are an ultra-thin veneer that require minimal preparation of the teeth and are bonded directly onto the surface of the tooth.