Welcome to Seymour Dental – The treatment plan

The treatment plan is a bit like building a house. The foundation has to be sound before the walls are built. With dental treatment plans the following stages are usually followed:

Initial phase

1. Urgent fillings and/or remove infections by starting root canal treatment, removing teeth or scale/treat any gum problems.
2. Ensure proper cleaning has started and diet is under control.
3. Start doing fillings from the most urgent or in groups where the same anaesthetic will numb a number of teeth to be treated. This will help to determine early on if modifications to the treatment may need to be done. Often it’s not until we start treating large decay do we know the extent of the problem. This may lead to more complicated procedures.
4. Complete root canal treatments as well as their final fillings.

The mouth has now been stabilised. It’s important that proper home care is achieved, otherwise it will undo all the work that has been done. The dentist can only help you help yourself.

Rome wasn’t built in a day! Treatment can be staggered over time if the biology will allow us. Please discuss options with the dentist. At Seymour Dental we try our best to fit within with your life as best as nature will allow us! It may mean having a break and continuing with further comprehensive treatment later.

Comprehensive phase

This involves a reassessment with a view to improving function, appearance, maintenance and health.

This may involve putting crowns on teeth that need protection. This is especially important with root canal treated teeth, as cracks may develop that could split the root and cause its demise! Crowns may be needed to improve the shape, function and colour of teeth. Heavily worn teeth gain a benefit by being “crowned” to stop the bite collapsing from wear and tear.

Spaces in the arch of teeth can be replaced with teeth by using dentures, bridges or implants. Even orthodontics (braces) can be used to close spaces in certain situations.

The bite needs to be looked at once again as this can change as a person can function differently once the initial phase has been completed. It’s amazing how people get used to a “defective” mouth and then have to relearn how to use the “new” mouth. The dentist may have to do adjustments or suggest additional treatment that can improve the mouth further.

Deep grooves (or fissures) in teeth can be sealed to prevent decay from occurring and making the mouth more easy to clean. Sometimes fillings are replaced to make the shape easier to maintain.

Bleaching of teeth may be an option to improve appearances. However bleaching only affects the enamel and cannot be used on any exposed root surfaces or filings. Bleach on root surfaces causes sensitivity, and can damage fillings.

We also have to work within the constraints of people’s finances, time constraints, and private health fund rules and limits.

Maintenance phase

Regular check-ups, involving reassessment of the mouth and general health, scale and clean, fluoride application, and follow up x-rays assessments when necessary. It is also an opportunity to see if further help or advice is needed on cleaning, diet or any health changes (e.g. medications, allergies or operations).

We send out reminders notices every six months. Please check the website for information to help with the care or understanding any treatment. Please ring or email if you are uncertain of anything.

Please note
Treatment plans are valid for three (3) months and are only an estimate of costs. If you are not sure of anything the dentist has said please raise it with the dentist and staff. We are here to help!

If you decide to put off treatment then the treatment plan may become invalid as conditions will change over time. A new assessment will therefore need to be done incurring further charges.
If there are problems with timing or costs of treatment then discuss it with the dentist. Sometimes (not always) a compromise treatment may be available to gain some time before the recommended treatment needs to be carried out.

We will ring once to remind you of any incomplete treatment.

Next week: Hicaps, Health Funds, Medicare, Veteran Affairs, Finance and payments