THE ORAL NETWORK
Oral health, A–Z
A clearer understanding starts with a good question. Explore symptoms, treatments and everyday care.
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ORAL GUIDE
Bleeding gums
Repeated bleeding during brushing or cleaning between teeth deserves attention. A dental professional can assess gum health and other contributing factors.
TREATMENT
Braces
Braces use brackets and wires to move teeth and address some bite problems. Treatment is planned around your teeth, gums and jaw development.
ORAL GUIDE
Brushing and cleaning between teeth
A consistent routine helps remove plaque. Choose a technique and tools you can use comfortably every day.
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TREATMENT
Children’s dental care
Dental visits help children build comfortable care routines and give parents a chance to ask about development, cleaning and prevention.
TREATMENT
Clear aligners
A series of removable trays gradually moves teeth. A dental assessment is needed to choose an appropriate orthodontic plan.
TREATMENT
Custom sports mouthguards
A sports mouthguard helps reduce dental injury risk during activities where the mouth may be hit. Fit and the type of activity matter.
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ORAL GUIDE
Dental abscess
A dental abscess is an infection that needs urgent dental treatment. Do not wait for it to resolve by itself.
TREATMENT
Dental bonding
Bonding uses tooth-coloured resin for selected small repairs or changes in tooth shape. An examination helps separate cosmetic wishes from structural needs.
TREATMENT
Dental bone grafting
A bone graft may be considered when additional bone support is needed for a planned dental restoration or to manage a bone defect.
TREATMENT
Dental bridges
A bridge replaces one or more missing teeth using neighbouring teeth or implants for support.
TREATMENT
Dental cleaning and polishing
Professional cleaning removes deposits that your home routine cannot fully address. The approach depends on your gum health and individual needs.
TREATMENT
Dental crowns
A crown covers and protects a tooth that needs more support than a filling can provide. It may also form the visible part of an implant restoration.
TREATMENT
Dental examination
An examination brings your symptoms, health history and clinical findings together before a care plan is proposed.
TREATMENT
Dental implant maintenance
An implant-supported tooth still needs professional monitoring and daily cleaning. Maintenance focuses on the surrounding tissues and the restoration.
TREATMENT
Dental implants
An implant replaces a missing tooth root and supports a crown, bridge or denture. A careful assessment helps determine whether it is right for you.
TREATMENT
Dental sealants
Sealants protect selected chewing grooves on back teeth. They are one part of a cavity-prevention plan for suitable teeth.
TREATMENT
Dental X-rays
Dental imaging can reveal information that is not visible during a mouth examination. The type and timing should answer a clinical question.
TREATMENT
Denture relining
Relining adapts the fitting surface of a denture to changes in your mouth. Assessment determines whether adjustment, relining or replacement is appropriate.
TREATMENT
Denture repair
A cracked base, damaged clasp or detached denture tooth needs professional assessment. Repairability depends on the damage and the condition of the appliance.
TREATMENT
Dentures
Complete or partial dentures replace missing teeth. The fit, materials and support should match your mouth and daily needs.
ORAL GUIDE
Dry mouth
A mouth that often feels dry can affect comfort, eating and oral health. Medicines and health conditions are among the possible contributors.
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ORAL GUIDE
Missing teeth
Implants, bridges and dentures are different ways to replace missing teeth. The right choice depends on your mouth, preferences and budget.
ORAL GUIDE
Mouth sores
Many mouth sores have non-serious causes, but a persistent sore should be examined rather than identified from a photograph.
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TREATMENT
Oral soft-tissue examination
A soft-tissue examination checks the mouth for unusual changes. Often called oral cancer screening, it cannot by itself confirm or exclude every disease.
TREATMENT
Orthodontic retainers
Retainers help maintain tooth position after orthodontic treatment. Wear, fit and replacement need a plan tailored to your appliance.
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TREATMENT
Periodontal maintenance
Maintenance is ongoing follow-up after active gum-disease treatment. It combines monitoring, professional cleaning and support for home care.
ORAL GUIDE
Periodontitis
Periodontitis affects the tissues and bone that support teeth. Treatment aims to control disease and protect the remaining support.
TREATMENT
Porcelain veneers
A porcelain veneer covers the front of a selected tooth. Planning should consider tooth preservation, appearance and future replacement.
TREATMENT
Professional fluoride treatment
A professional fluoride application may be recommended to support cavity prevention when your individual risk calls for it.
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TREATMENT
Root canal retreatment
A previously root-treated tooth sometimes needs further care. Retreatment aims to address a problem inside the canals when preserving the tooth remains reasonable.
TREATMENT
Root canal treatment
Root canal treatment removes infected or damaged pulp from inside a tooth. The goal is to keep a tooth that can still be restored.
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TREATMENT
Scaling and root planing
This targeted cleaning below the gumline may be recommended for periodontal disease. It should follow an assessment of the tissues supporting your teeth.
ORAL GUIDE
Sensitive teeth
Short, sharp discomfort with cold, heat or touch can have different causes. A dentist can check for decay, exposed root surfaces or other problems.
TREATMENT
Single-tooth implant
A single implant and crown can replace one missing tooth without using the neighbouring teeth as bridge supports.
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TREATMENT
Teeth whitening
Whitening can lighten some tooth discolouration. An examination helps identify the cause of staining and whether whitening is appropriate.
TREATMENT
Tooth extraction
Extraction removes a tooth that cannot reasonably be kept, or that needs removal for another treatment plan. Ask about alternatives and replacement options.
TREATMENT
Tooth-coloured fillings
A composite filling restores a suitable damaged area using tooth-coloured material. The remaining tooth structure helps determine whether a filling is enough.
ORAL GUIDE
Toothache
Tooth pain can have several causes. An examination is the way to identify what is happening and choose appropriate care.