Treatment

First Appointment

Tell us what you want!

Except in cases of emergencies, your first appointment will involve a thorough examination of your mouth, including teeth, gums and all surrounding oral tissues.

Depending on your needs the dental team will take various records including a charting of all your teeth, x-rays and study models and will often recommend an initial scaling and cleaning of your teeth.

The appointment will normally take between 30 – 45 minutes.

Restorative Work

Normal “fillings” can be restored using a number of different materials. Modern technology and the higher demands for aesthetic dentistry dictates that composite resin and ceramic restorations are far more popular for most people these days.

Crowns and Bridges

Crowns and bridges are designed to provide improved function and aesthetics especially for heavily restored and missing teeth.

Porcelain ceramic, porcelain fused to metal and metal (gold) crowns and bridges provide a range of choices to the discriminating patient and the team at PHDC will advise you to the best choice for your individual need. PHDC prides itself on our achievements in this area of dentistry.

Orthodontics

In most circumstances the practice refers our patients to a specialist orthodontist. Although having completed the course in orthodontics in 1983. Dr Lindsay believes that is in the patients best interest to seek specialist care in this area.

Snoring Devices

A number of devices are available on the market. Patients are advised to have been medically tested for sleep apnoea and breathing difficulties at night prior to utilising this type of device.

The practice will work with the medical team where possible to achieve a successful result.

Cosmetic Dentistry

See the amazing changes to many different smiles in our waiting room “Smile Book” that have been achieved through bleaching and porcelain veneers.

The practice favours home bleaching due to the patients control over the result and the definitive cost savings over “in house” bleaching techniques in the longer term.

Veneers often follow a bleaching treatment and provide the ultimate aesthetic result for many patients.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers reshape, recolour and redefine our teeth. They are thin shells of tooth coloured porcelain that are placed over the front surface of the teeth. They are ideal over stained, chipped and darkened teeth and can also be used in some cases to straighten crooked teeth. It is one of the most requested procedures in cosmetic dentistry as it provides dramatic changes to your teeth. Many happy smiles from our patients have been created using this technique.

Root Canal Therapy

Teeth that are painful to hot, cold and pressure may be fractured, infected or inflamed to such an extent that to save the tooth the nerve canal must be treated.

Root canal therapy enables us to keep the tooth. The procedure is normally carried out in 3 appointments depending on the type of tooth and the number if canals the tooth has, which can vary from 1 to 5.

It has a 85-90% success rate providing that the tooth is well restored on completion of the root canal therapy. This will often involve a porcelain or gold crown to brace and support the structure of the treated tooth.

Implants

This exciting and relatively new area of dentistry enables patients to replace missing teeth where otherwise only a bridge or removable denture were the alternatives. Unlike a bridge it allows for tooth replacement without involving the teeth either side of the gap.

Not all patients and not all situations are appropriate for implants. The team is able to assess your requirements to provide implants.

Dentures

Many patients still have a removable denture, which has been successful for many years. In many instances a partial denture will be now replaced by a bridge or implants.

The dental team at PHDC still retains the “old fashioned” skills of denture making including the introduction of sophisticated precision attachments to reduce the need for unsightly clasps on front teeth.

The Village Dentist

Dr Lindsay has had a particular interest in dentistry for the over 65’s and operates a special care clinic “The Village Dentist” at the Anglican Retirement Villages at Castle Hill.

Special Care

The dental team at PHDC through their association with the ARV Castle Hill has provided special care, advice and treatment for patients in hostel and nursing homes throughout the Sydney area.

Elderly patients suffering from dementia, Parkinsons disease, stroke etc. have specific treatment and long term care requirements. Ask our team for assistance.

Children’s Dentistry

The practice prides itself on being able to offer a full range of treatment for children including exams, minor restorative work, fluoride and preventive therapy.

Early familiarity with dental environment at PHDC and the encouragement for the young children to have fun and choose a gift from our “treasure box” provides confidence for future treatment.

Fear of Dentistry

For a significant small percentage of the community, dental treatment involves a sense of fear that prevents them from seeking regular treatment. This may have been caused by a poor childhood experience in an uncaring situation or typically from unrealistic medial hype.

Today’s dentistry, utilising modern sedation techniques and informative counselling sessions is able to help a lot of people overcome this fear and receive the dental treatment they require and deserve.