Dental Services

Prevention is very important in dentistry. It may be self-evident that it is better to avoid dental problems than to have to deal with them again and again. If dental problems can be recognized at an early stage, the treatments can remain relatively simple.

Your teeth and gum health are intricately related your overall health , so a healthy mouth is the foundation for a healthy You.

In our young patients the dentist will assess the child’s facial and dental development and detect any aspects that can contribute to orthodontic problems like tongue tie or mouth breathing . The diet and oral hygiene will be discussed together with the parents.

It is pertinent that patients work closely together with the dental team and adhere to a good home care oral hygiene routine and complement this with regular 6 monthly dental check-ups. Especially if a patient has received extensive restorative dentistry in the past by our dental team , the bi annual checkups are part of the conditions of the center’s guarantee of the restorative dental work.

Our dental team may recommend a course of treatment to get your mouth into good condition, and then work out a ‘maintenance plan’ to help you keep it that way.

In our practice, the following preventive measures are standard procedures. Of course, other additional measures can be taken outside these procedures.

Half-yearly preventive check

Periodic preventive checks are necessary to identify early dental problems. These can be very diverse. Common problems are dental caries, dental wear, and gum problems. In addition to identifying dental problems, our dentist will also give you feedback if you have insufficient control of your plaque and give advice about dental caries risk factors in your diet.

X-ray examination

X-rays are indispensable sources of information in dentistry when making a correct diagnosis. The dentist will use X-rays for the detection of caries , periodontal breakdown, root canal problems and positioning of wisdom teeth. Our centre advocates X-rays to be taken every two years however, for patients with a high caries risk annual X-rays may be needed.

Oral hygiene

Education in efficient brushing and flossing as well as a maintenance scale and polish are part of the bi annual check up and involves:

Our integrative approach to oral health includes the advice on oral care products that are free from harmful chemicals and are enhancing a healthy micro flora.

Modern dentistry has allowed us the pleasure of combining beauty as well as strength when filling teeth. Our restorative materials are biocompatible to the body and long lasting.

The last time Dr van Amerongen placed a mercury amalgam restoration was when she was in training in the dental university more than 30 years ago. She became mercury sensitive, which lead her to investigate the biocompatibility of restorative materials and stopped the use of mercury amalgam even before she graduated as a dentist. Dr van Amerongen takes pride in “restoring” teeth to as close to their original strength and beautiful contoured appearance with composite resins and ceramics.

When existing metal restorations need replacing a strict IAOMT approved safety protocol will be used so safeguard the patient from contamination.

Several protective measures are provided during your appointment.

After the teeth have been numbed patients receive photon wave light therapy to help mobilise toxins from the head. Liposomal Vit C and binders will be given on the day of the treatment to support the detox pathways of the organs of elimination.

High velocity suction with an attachment called the ‘Clean-Up” is effective at vacuuming most of the particles. For your reassurance, the particles are filtered into a ‘trap’ to prevent them from going into our sewage system. A dental rubber dam may be placed over the teeth to form a water tight seal and is an extremely helpful way of preventing the swallowing of amalgam particles. A small ‘saliva ejector’ suction is placed in your mouth under the rubber dam to vacuum away any mercury vapours that may penetrate through the rubber.

Large coloured protective spectacles are placed over the eyes to protect and sooth the patient.

A large air filter is placed near your mouth to vacuum away the mercury vapours. This is a 3-stage filter with a pre-filter, a hepa filter and a 4-inch carbon filter. Medical grade oxygen is provided via a ‘nasal’ cannula. A silver  impregnated face cloth will cover the operating field. Medical grade Essential oils will be used to help relax the patient.

Magnification using magnifying loupes or a dental operating microscope ensures all amalgam is removed from the tooth and particles are rinsed away from around the teeth. Special burs are used to chunk out the restorations and  to prevent the fillings from turning into dust. Mechanical engines are used instead of high speed engines to minimise an aerosol and heat during drilling.

It is strongly advised that you consult with your health practitioner with regards to your heavy metal levels, especially mercury. We suggest appropriate measures be taken with your health practitioner to help your body detoxify before, during and after your dental treatment to remove your amalgam fillings. Depending on your present health condition, it may be recommended that the fillings be removed over a short period of time such as a few weeks or may be prolonged over several months.

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth. The main reason for the need of a crown is when the ratio of the tooth and the cavity to be filled is such that a filling is contra indicated. The cap restores the tooth’s shape and size, strength, and appearance. The crown, once cemented into place, covers the visible portion of a tooth.

A dental crown may be needed to:

The ISHSKO Dental Centre provides metal free crowns.

Emax, Zirconia or all-porcelain dental crowns provide a better natural colour match than any other crown type. They are also an excellent choice for people with metal allergies.

In most cases our standard metal free crowns (Emax) are suitable in the molar area. Where the appearance is of high priority (Smile line) our aesthetic crowns are the best option. (Zirconia or All-Porcelain).

A dental bridge is a common, affordable, time-tested, treatment for missing teeth. The dental bridge literally bridges the gap created when teeth are lost. The typical bridge comprises one or more artificial teeth, known as pontics, which are held in place by two dental crowns called retainers or abudments. The materials used at the ISHSKO Dental Centre are Emax or Zirconia, depending on the length of the gap to be bridged.

To make a bridge, the dentist will prepare the teeth either side of the gap for crowns, take impressions and sends this to the laboratory for the design and manufacturing of the bridge to fill the gap with natural looking teeth. A temporary bridge will be placed while the prosthetic work is carried out in the dental laboratory.

Once ready the dentist will secure the crowns to the teeth on either side of a gap, and show the patient how to maintain good oral hygiene with interdental brushes and Super floss. Cleaning underneath the bridge is vital for  the longevity of the bridge. The result is a smile that is fully restored in terms of function and appearance.

No matter what type of bridge a patient receives, the restoration will have significant aesthetic and practical benefits. The new teeth will restore dental functionality and oral health. Additionally, thanks to new dental technology  and aesthetic advances, today’s dental bridges are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Porcelain veneers are thin pieces of porcelain used to recreate the natural look of teeth, while also providing strength and resilience comparable to natural tooth enamel.

It is often the material of choice for those looking to make slight position alterations, or to change tooth shape, size, and/or colour. Porcelain lacks porosity once it’s glazed (as all porcelain veneers are) therefore they are incredibly resistant to chipping and staining and reflect light like natural teeth so they match the surrounding teeth incredibly well.

The veneers are always made indirectly. This means the teeth need to be prepared by slightly reducing them, which ensures the veneers will sit naturally when cemented to the outside surface of the teeth and not be prominent in the mouth.

An accurate impression of the teeth will be taken on your first visit, then the porcelain veneers will be hand crafted in a lab. A second visit will fit them to check for colour match and shape, and if you’re happy, they will be bonded to the teeth to complete the process.

In cases where the existing dentition is unpleasing to the patient, heavily restored with metal fillings, and/or several teeth are missing a more extensive treatment plan is needed to make the patient dentally fit.

Extensive treatment in the past could have altered the occlusal function which can cause stress upon the the remaining teeth with the risk of cusps fracturing.

The jaw function can become dysfunctional which can lead to facial pain, migraines and structural misalignments. One should never underestimate the value of every tooth in terms of beauty, function and interconnectedness with the rest of the body even those in the back of your mouth. Gaps and poorly restored teeth can often cause a variety of chewing problems, collapse of facial features and premature ageing.

Damaged teeth can be saved and repaired to look and feel like the real thing or perhaps even better. In order to restore the dentition it is vital to study how the teeth interconnect, where the problem areas are and how to rectify an imbalanced occlusion.

Patients who choose to undergo a full mouth rehabilitation will be scheduled for a functional and occlusal analyses where intra oral and extra oral photos and X-rays will be taken The dentist will take impressions of the teeth to make study casts. A set of measurements will be taken , followed by face bow registration. The face bow registration allows the dentist to transfer all the measurements and study casts onto an a articulator with exact parameters.

This allows proper planning of any treatment requirements. The dentist will discuss with the patient their needs and desires regarding the colour and shape of their teeth. All this information is communicated to the dental laboratory and a wax-up of the new teeth in their ideal position will be made. Once this is completed the patient is scheduled for an appointment to discuss the treatment plan , time frame of procedures as well as the fees.

There are several treatment options available, including ; fillings, onlays, porcelain veneers , ceramic crowns, ceramic bridges. In case of replacement of missing teeth with zirconia biocompatible metal free implants, a referral to our preferred oral surgeon will be made.

When looking for replacement teeth, there are a lot of factors to consider. Due to increasing interest in holistic dentistry and the concern of putting anything synthetic in our bodies, more and more patients are asking questions about the makeup of dental implants. For most patients, getting dental implants is a big step towards improving their oral health and so we understand that they want to make sure that they do the best thing for their bodies.

At the ISHSKO Dental Centre we offer 100% metal free biocompatible Zirconia implants.

Advantages of Zirconia ceramic implants:

If the time comes that you need an extraction, you can trust that the dental team have your comfort in mind.