Common Prosthodontic Procedures

Dental implants

Dental implants are an ideal restorative solution for missing teeth. Made from medical grade titanium, a dental implant is placed in your jawbone replicating a natural tooth root, becoming a solid foundation to support a single tooth, a dental bridge or full dentures. We strive to make dental implant restorations as identical to your natural teeth in feel, function and appearance as possible. To learn more about how a dental implant can benefit you, and more about the procedure for receiving an implant, click here.

Crowns and Bridges

A dental crown is designed to add strength to a single tooth that has been damaged, for example by fracture or by an extensive amount of tooth decay, or has undergone root canal therapy.

Whereas a crown is treatment to restore a single tooth, a dental bridge is one restorative option to replace one or several missing teeth. Held in place by crowns secured to natural teeth on either side of the space, a bridge can help you to retain your smile and prevent teeth from moving out of alignment.

To learn more about treatment planning and placement of crowns and bridges click here.

Denture Fabrication

The fabrication of a denture is a fine art as these new teeth must appear and function as closely to natural teeth as possible. It is essential both from a comfort and a self-confidence point of view that they remain securely in place for the wearer.

Dentures are still a choice for the replacement of missing teeth. They are made from tooth coloured materials on a high quality acrylic or acrylic fused with metal base, shaped to the contours of your gum-line.

Dentures

Dentures consist of replacement teeth secured to a gum-coloured acrylic or acrylic fused onto a metal base and a metal framework. Partial dentures have clasps that enable you to secure your denture to your natural teeth or to dental implants. Implants are a good way of stabilising dentures to stop them from moving around in your mouth if you do not have enough teeth left to hold the denture securely. A full denture replaces all of your teeth, upper or lower.

There will be occasions when it will be recommended that crowns should be placed on your natural teeth to improve the fit, and help secure, your removable partial denture. Dr Baetz will discuss this with you if this is your most suitable option. To read more about dentures click here.

Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD/TMJ)

One of the most complex, flexible and used joints in your body is your jaw joint, also called your temporomandibular joint or TMJ. When your jaw is out of alignment a range of problems can occur such as pain in the joint, headaches, earaches and sometimes neck and shoulder pain. .

Once diagnosed correctly, Dr Baetz, who previously had a long association with a major orofacial pain clinic within a teaching hospital, may be able treat this discomfort. No single treatment can resolve all TMJ disorders. As the condition often develops over time, so too the various treatments may take time to be effective. With the help of Dr Baetz and his team, you are more likely to have a healthier and more comfortable jaw and a substantial reduction or elimination of pain. To learn more about TMJ disorders click here.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry incorporates a range of treatment procedures that are utilised to enhance your smile as well as ensure that the muscles, joints and teeth work in harmony with one another.

From the placement of a single tooth coloured crown through to a complete smile rehabilitation plan, cosmetic dentistry aims to restore missing teeth, correct some tooth misalignment and within reason give you the smile that you desire. The difference cosmetic dentistry can make to your smile can be truly life changing. Dr Baetz prefers to not cut healthy teeth, purely for cosmetic reasons, except in the most exceptional circumstances. It is often possible to make truly wonderful cosmetic improvement in non destructive ways, such as by tooth whitening, or by orthodontic referral.

Prior to the commencement of any treatment, a thorough examination and review of your dental and medical histories must be conducted so that the most appropriate treatment for you can be planned.

Total Mouth Rehabilitation

Your smile is one of your unique features and it communicates instantly with everyone around you, but, despite having a lovely smile, some people are unlucky enough to have a dentition so debilitated that they cannot eat properly.

To learn more about a total mouth rehabilitation programme click here.

Please note any surgical or invasive procedure carries risk. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion by a suitably qualified healthcare professional.