General Dentistry

General Dentistry

A catch all name for the standard/basic level dentistry is General Dentistry. General Dentistry is an important backbone and foundation of the dentistry provided at Robertson Dental Innovations. General Dentistry includes the treatments associated with Diagnostic Dentistry, Treatment Planning, Anaesthesia (numbing) and the most common known dental treatment; Restorative dentistry (including fillings).

Diagnostic Dentistry

Diagnostic Dentistry is a critical first step in any dental treatment. The idea is to identify (often using diagnostic tools) the problem or condition faced by our patients and design a solution. Some basic forms of diagnostic treatments and tools include:

• Exams:-

  Also known as check-ups, regular dental exams are the best way to maintain good dental health. At each exam the dental team will examine your mouth, gums and teeth, update those details on the computer and discuss any required treatments. Having these exams regularly enables any potential problems to be rectified quicker and easier, often with preventative measures, instead of all out treatments.

• Consultations:-

  Similar to check-ups, consultations are an in-depth examination about a particular problem or treatment option. Unlike an exam, a consult focuses on 1 issue at hand at a time, as part of an overall treatment plan.

• X-rays:-

  One of the most accurate diagnostic tools is that of X-rays. At Robertson Dental Innovations we have a long history of using low dose digital x-rays. We have been using digital X-rays for 20 years. These digital x-rays enable better and more easily viewed results for our dental team and a much lower dose for the patient. Each surgery has its own x-ray unit for taking small single tooth or bitewing x-rays. Each of our practices also have a Digital OPG machine capable of taking a whole mouth x-ray in less than a minute. Dental Innovations on Sternberg was the first dental practice in Bendigo with this technology, and the new unit at Dental Innovations on Condon takes this technology further with the ability to take X-rays in 3D, the first for regional Victoria.

Treatment Planning & Presentation

As part of any complex treatment, extra planning is undertaken by our dental team. Impressions are taken of a patient’s mouth and teeth from which Dental Models are made. These models enable the dental team to represent the treatment outcomes in a physical 3D model. Sometimes dental wax (creating a Wax-up) is used to provide further examples of the desired treatment outcome to be achieved. These models and impressions can also be used by the dental laboratories for the production of dental products, such as mouthguards, dentures, crowns and orthodontic aligners.

Anaesthesia & Calming Agents

Anaesthetics

Some treatments require an anaesthetic to numb the part of the mouth or tooth before the treatment is commenced. At Robertson Dental Innovations we have three levels of anaesthesia provided for our patients;

• Topical Anaesthetics :- Which numbs the immediate area around where the gel is applied,
• Local Anaesthetics:- The most common form of anaesthetic, a local anaesthetic numbs the area around the injection site. This anaesthetic is capable of numbing an entire side of the mouth.
• General Anaesthetic:- Working in conjunction with a local private hospital, some patients can have the treatment completed while “asleep” or “under”. This type of anaesthesia does incur extra costs.

Some patients are nervous about getting needles, so at Robertson Dental Innovations we do have a computer controlled delivery system for local anaesthetics, the Wand. This system actually numbs ahead of itself, providing a greater level of comfort for our patients.

Calming Agents

For those patients who are nervous about attending the dentist in general, Robertson Dental Innovations also provide calming agents to help settle those nerves.

• N₂O:- Nitrous Oxide gas (happy gas) has been around in Dentistry for decades and is now available at our Dental Innovations on Condon site. This gas provides a euphoric state via a nasal hood for older children and adults. It is also fast acting and can be controled by the patient or the dentist.

Dental Repairs & Restorations

Otherwise known as Restorative Dentistry, Dental Repairs are a group of treatments used to repair cracked and damaged teeth. The most common forms of dental repairs include:

• Fillings:-

  The most famous of all dental treatments. The team at Robertson Dental Innovations use fillings for a variety of treatment outcomes, including repairing cracked teeth, restoring worn teeth and to replace tooth lost (damaged) by a cavity. At Robertson Dental Innovations we mostly use the white (composite) fillings but can use metal (amalgam) fillings if required.

• Splinting & Tooth Stabilisation:-

  Another form of general dental repairs is Tooth Stabilisation and Splinting. Often used as a temporary measure, this treatment involves stabilising loose teeth to one another, so that healing can occur or further treatment can be provided. The teeth are held (splinted) together at the back by the use of a wire or filling material, which adds strength and support to the teeth.

For further information on General Dentistry at Robertson Dental Innovations, please see Our Services and Downloads pages, or contact our reception staff on (03) 5444 4924 (Dental Innovations on Sternberg) or (03) 5442 8647 (Dental Innovations on Condon).

We also have dental payment plan options from Smile Choice, ask the reception team for more details.