“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”
Phyllis Diller
Dr Portia specialises in prosthetic dental rehabilitations – dentistry that goes beyond having fillings done and makes a massive impact on someone’s smile and therefore – their life.
Studies have shown that there could be a direct link between gum disease and heart attacks, with people with gum disease having two to three times the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular event (ref). There may also be a direct link between gum disease and mental health issues like anxiety and depression, while misaligned teeth can lead to a huge number of issues, including social issues, and physical problems like trouble breathing, eating and drinking (ref).
Dental Consultations
Dr Portia consults on a variety of complex dental issues that require specialist work. Whatever the challenges you are facing in relation to chewing, drinking or talking; missing teeth or teeth that are worn down, she will work with you, with empathy and understanding, to find just the right solution.
Endodontics
Endodontic treatment, otherwise known as root canal treatment, is a procedure used to treat an infection in the soft pulp tissue inside the tooth. This treatment makes it possible to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth that might otherwise have to be removed completely.
Veneers
Dental veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain that are bonded to the front surfaces of teeth to improve their appearance. These custom-made “shells” fit over the front of your teeth to conceal cracks, chips, stains, misshapen teeth and other imperfections.
Crowns and bridges
Crowns and bridges are both fixed prosthetic restorations. A crown is a cap that is placed on top of a damaged tooth to protect, cover and restore the shape, while a bridge consists of a false tooth (called a pontic) that is held in place by the abutment teeth on either side of the gap.
Implants
A dental implant is a metal post or frame, most often a titanium screw, that is surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath your gums to function in a similar way to a natural tooth root. Once in place, a replacement tooth (implant crown) can be mounted onto the implant. The aim of implants is to replace missing teeth, and as a result improve the appearance of your smile, but also improve your health and chewing function.
Maxillofacial prosthesis
This subspecialty of prosthodontics involves the rehabilitation of patients with defects or disabilities that they were either born with, or that developed due to illness or trauma. Prostheses may be needed to replace bone or tissue, and restore or improve oral functions like chewing, talking and swallowing, or for aesthetic reasons.
Conventional complete dentures
A complete denture replaces all the teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw. It sits on top of the gums that cover the jawbone.
Implant-supported dentures
Implant-supported dentures are like a hybrid of dentures and dental implants, combining these two modern prosthetics. They are designed to be removable, so that the patient can take them out at night for cleaning.
Partial dentures
Partial dentures are removable dentures that can replace multiple teeth in the upper or lower portion of your mouth, but not an entire upper or lower set of teeth. For partial dentures, you must have some healthy teeth remaining in the upper and lower parts of your mouth.
Full mouth rehabilitation
This is the process of bringing your whole mouth back to health, and may include cleaning, and any combination of veneers, crowns, bridges, implants or dentures to restore a smile to its best.
