17 South Burns, Chester le Street, County Durham DH3 3EZ
General Treatments

General Treatments in Chester le Street

Helping you smile with confidence

Book An Appointment

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) is needed when the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected through tooth decay or damaged by an injury to your mouth. This infection may spread through the root canal system and could eventually lead to an abscess, causing a great deal of discomfort. If root canal treatment is not carried out, the tooth may need to be taken out.

Root canal therapy involves the following:

  1. First, local anaesthetic will be administered to ensure no discomfort is felt during treatment.
  2. The tooth will be prepared with a drill, allowing access to the root canal system.
  3. The root canal system will be thoroughly cleaned out to remove all infection and pulp.
  4. The root canal system is then filled and sealed temporarily with a crown.
  5. The tooth is checked at a later visit and when all the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled.

Root canal treatment is a skilled and time-consuming procedure and most courses of treatment will involve two or more visits.

Life Benefits

Preservation of remaining healthy tooth structure.
Prevention of infection spreading any further.
Restoration of tooth to its natural look and feel.

Emergency Dental Care

If you have chipped or broken a tooth as a result of an accident or injury, it is very important that you see a dentist as soon as possible. The same goes for one or more knocked out teeth. The sooner you are seen by a dental professional the better the chances that the teeth could be re-implanted, depending on the severity of your injury.

Here are some of the steps an emergency dental appointment will cover:

  1. A thorough examination of the injured area will be undertaken. This may include dental x-rays to determine the extent of the damage.
  2. Depending on the severity of the pain, the area will be numbed with local anaesthetic.
  3. The injured area will be sterilised to reduce the risk of infection.
  4. The damaged teeth will be restored temporarily or permanently, depending on the case.
  5. In severe cases the affected tooth may require extraction and implant treatment will be discussed.

If you require emergency dental treatment, you should ask to see a dentist as soon as possible. At our practice we offer appointments for all dental emergencies from toothache to lost or broken crowns, chipped teeth and fillings to abscesses, trauma, avulsed teeth and facial swelling. We can take care of your injuries to ensure you heal quicker and more effectively, ensuring that you avoid additional dental problems and complications in the future.

Life Benefits

Preservation of remaining tooth structure.
Reduced risk of infection.
Improved long-term oral health overall.

Pregnant Women

Pregnancy can be an exciting time and while you have so much to plan for, your oral health may be one of the last things you're thinking about. However, it's particularly important to pay close attention to your teeth and gums in this time.

Here are some reasons why pregnant women should take extra care with their dentition:

  1. The hormone progesterone can be raised up to 10 times higher than the normal level in the body during pregnancy, affecting its response to toxins and making it more susceptible to developing periodontal disease, also known as pregnancy gingivitis.
  2. Some pregnant women also develop a growth on their gums known as a pregnancy granuloma: red nodules, usually found on the upper gums. While they are not dangerous, they can cause discomfort.
  3. Other oral health problems may include dry mouth and tooth erosion as a result of constant exposure to acid from severe morning sickness.

If you are pregnant we recommend that you come to the practice for a thorough check up so that we can help you to have a healthy and happy pregnancy.

Life Benefits

Healthy gums during pregnancy.
Improved health during pregnancy, which also improves the health of your unborn baby.

Jaw Problems

The way your teeth meet when your top and bottom jaws close down on top of each other is known as your 'bite'. If your teeth don't fit together properly, you could have malocclusion or 'bad bite', which can cause problems with your teeth, gums, the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) and the muscles in your face.

This misalignment, often referred to as TMJ disorder, can also cause some people to clench the jaw and grind their teeth at night. This can lead to facial pain, headaches, discomfort and clicking when biting or chewing, migraines as well as neck and shoulder pain, and even back pain.

If you recognise any of these symptoms or suffer with these on a daily basis, you will need to see a dentist to treat your problems or to refer you to a specialist if necessary.

Treatment can include the following:

  1. Impressions of your teeth are taken to create a customised plastic appliance that fits over your teeth and is worn at night.
  2. When the device is worn, your teeth are in a position where your facial muscles are relaxed, preventing grinding and taking the pressure off your TMJ.
  3. The device also protects the teeth, preventing them from becoming worn down by grinding.

Depending on the origin and severity of your problem, you may need orthodontic treatment or maxillofacial surgery. Other solutions may include replacing missing teeth or adjusting any ill-fitting bridgework that you may have. The most important thing to do is to see your dentist as soon as possible so that your problem does not become worse over time and require more drastic measures to correct.

Life Benefits

Alleviated facial and TMJ pain, including a reduction in headaches.
Prevention of extensive tooth wear.
Enhanced quality of sleep.

Snoring

Do you or your partner suffer from breathing difficulties during sleep such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea? You might be pleased to know that dentistry may have a solution for you. A variety of oral devices or mouthpieces are now available that will address your snoring problems. By preventing the lower jaw from dropping back during sleep, these devices can prevent the closure of your airways, which will stop you from snoring. Your dentist can fit one of these for you.

Here is how the treatment works:

  1. A custom-made mouth piece is made from impressions taken of your teeth to ensure they fit you comfortably.
  2. Made from a hard wearing plastic, the mouthpiece is worn at night and works by holding the bottom jaw in a slightly forward position.
  3. This position opens up your airway significantly, allowing you to breathe better and as a result sleep better too.

Life Benefits

Better quality of sleep due to undisturbed breathing.
Improved overall health due to better quality of sleep.

Extractions / Oral Surgery

In cases of advanced gum disease and tooth decay, teeth may need to be extracted. Some patients may also develop impacted wisdom teeth, which can cause intense pain. This is alleviated by having them removed surgically. One area in which it is possible for dentists to specialise is oral surgery, an umbrella term for all dental procedures involving surgery, such as the extraction of teeth or wisdom teeth. It is always important to get the advice of a dental professional if you are worried about any of your teeth. Never attempt to pull out your own tooth at home as this could cause a more serious problem for you.

Tooth extractions typically involve the following:

  1. Before the procedure you may require an x-ray of your teeth.
  2. Depending on your particular case and the severity of your problem, you may be given a local anaesthetic and offered sedation if you are anxious.
  3. Dentists have the right equipment and sterile environment to extract teeth with the utmost care and your recovery can be surprisingly quick.
  4. In the case of wisdom tooth extractions, you may have some swelling after the procedure and discomfort that can be eased with over-the-counter painkillers. In cases of advanced gum disease or periodontitis, antibiotics will be prescribed to reduce the risk of further infection.

Life Benefits

Safe and sterile procedure.
Quick recovery and healing time with reduced infection risk.
Sustained good oral health.
Virtual Consultation

It’s Good
To Chat!

Schedule a
Virtual Consultation With Us

Arrange a time that suits you for us to discuss your treatment options, from the comfort of your own home.

Schedule My Call
imgAlt

Book a virtual consultation in 3 simple steps

  1. Send us your smile selfies
  2. Tell us what you're hoping to achieve
  3. Discuss your smile plan with us today
Get Started!

Contact Information

Address

17 South Burns, Chester le Street, County Durham DH3 3EZ

Call us today: 0191 388 2939
| Email: [email protected]

Opening Hours
Monday 8.00 am to 6.00 pm
Tuesday 8.00 am to 6.00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thursday 8.00 am to 6.00 pm
Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
(Appointments maybe scheduled outside of these hours with prior arrangement)

Contact Us

Fields with (*) are required.
Please contact us via this website or email without disclosing confidential information.