Oral health assessments are the foundation of everything we do, checking your teeth, gums, soft tissues, bite, jaw joints and more to help prevent any issues, and making recommendations for home care or treatment if necessary.
Our dedicated dental hygienist, Brigitte, checks patients’ teeth and gums for signs of oral disease, skillfully removing plaque and stains to lower the risk of any problems and leaving your teeth looking and feeling their best.
Sometimes teeth do get damaged as the result of an accident or dental disease, but we are here to restore the function and appearance of your teeth with bridges, crowns and fillings, taking you through the process to find the right solution for you.
If you have a missing tooth or teeth, we offer a number of treatment options, including dental implants, bridges and dentures to restore your smile and your confidence. Our skilled team works with you to ensure you are comfortable and supported throughout the process, matching replacements to your real teeth and offering aftercare recommendations and long-term treatment plans to help make sure they last.
From keeping your teeth looking their best to helping to treat gum disease and tooth decay, as well as periodontal care for advanced gum disease, we offer a range of services and support from air-flow polishing and regular oral health checks to root canal treatments.
Improving both the appearance and the functionality, for many people correcting the alignment of their teeth helps to improve confidence and appearance, as well as supporting oral health. At Ivy Dental we offer a range of options for teeth straightening when it’s wanted or needed, including the Invisalign® clear alternative to braces, suitable for teenagers and adults.
We aim to make our approach and our fees as accessible as possible. Therefore, we have options for one-off treatments for non-members or membership programmes that provide continuity of care and best-value treatments, as well as features such as access to a global dental accident and emergency scheme. In addition, you can spread the cost of membership with interest free payments over 12 months via our finance provider, Practi, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Root canal treatment is a dental procedure designed to treat infection within the pulp of a tooth by removing the infected tissue and sealing the space to prevent further infection. It’s a method of treating the problem while preserving your natural tooth and avoiding extraction where possible.
Root canals are typically recommended when the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected or inflamed due to deep decay, fractures or an injury.
Common symptoms of tooth damage that may require a root canal include severe toothache, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold, pain when biting on a specific tooth, facial swelling or a pimple on the gums. However, only a dentist can confirm the need for a root canal through a combination of examination and X-rays.
Advances in dental technology and anaesthesia make the procedure relatively painless. Most patients report feeling more comfortable during and after the root canal compared to the pain they experienced before the treatment. At Ivy Dental we take your comfort extremely seriously and always aim to keep you as pain free as possible.
The duration of root canal treatment varies based on the tooth’s complexity and the severity of the infection. Generally, root canal treatment can take one or two appointments to complete, each lasting about 90 minutes.
Your dentist will remove the infected pulp, clean and shape the root canal, before filling and sealing the space. In some cases, a crown may be recommended to restore the tooth’s strength.
The primary alternative to root canal treatment is tooth extraction. However, preserving your natural tooth through a root canal is usually preferable as it maintains the integrity of your teeth and jaw.
Recovery time varies, but most patients can resume normal activities immediately after the procedure. Some may experience mild discomfort, which can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication.
As with any medical procedure, there are minimal risks. However, modern techniques and infection control measures have significantly reduced the likelihood of complications and root canal failure. If there is a problem, which is rare in our experience, you can rest assured that the team at Ivy Dental will take care of you and resolve it.
The best way to care for your teeth following a root canal is to maintain good oral hygiene practices, attend regular and follow-up appointments with your Ivy Dental dentist, and avoid chewing on hard foods until a permanent restoration (like a crown) is placed on the treated tooth.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is where the gums and tissues that support the teeth become inflamed, often leading to symptoms such as bad breath, pain when chewing, as well as gums being red, sore, swollen, or bleeding. If left untreated, it can ultimately lead to tooth decay or tooth loss.
Gum disease is usually caused by a buildup of plaque on the teeth, which is the result of bacteria. It’s best prevented through good oral hygiene, especially daily practices such as brushing and flossing. However, when it’s not removed, plaque can harden and cause irritation to the gums, which leads to gum disease. Some people are more genetically susceptible to gum disease than others.
The best way to treat gum disease is through preventative care, including regular dental appointments, hygienist appointments, and good habits such as brushing and flossing teeth. Once gum disease has set in, there are things we can do to help treat it, including scaling and polishing teeth, removing tartar and bacteria from the teeth and gums. In extreme cases, surgical treatments such as bone grafting may be necessary.
In the early stages gum disease is generally not painful, and some people aren’t aware that they have it. However, you may feel that your gums are sore at times, teeth are more sensitive or you may experience bleeding when you brush and floss. Some people also notice bad breath. As it progresses, gum disease will most likely become more painful.
If it’s caught early, you have a good chance of stopping gum disease and preventing further damage. Gingivitis is the early stages, when it’s still reversible with good oral hygiene and regular dental appointments. When it becomes more advanced, we refer to it as periodontitis, which can’t be revered, but it can be managed and controlled with the right treatment.
The team at Ivy Dental has been taking care of the long-term dental health of our local community in Stockport since 2003.
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