Gum disease, and periodontal disease is an inflammatory gum condition caused by accumulation of bacteria (dental plaque) on the teeth. The inflammation can cause destruction of soft tissues that support your teeth and can lead to destruction of the bone.

Airflow Therapy is a hygiene treatment is a combination of warm water, compressed air and fine powder particles. These three components are combined in a high-powered jet which gently removes persistent stains, discoloration and plaque biofilm – which are bacteria that grow on surfaces within the mouth. The innovative spray technology can access all of those hard to reach areas and effectively removes the damaging biofilm that develops above and below the gumline with the aim of improving your oral health and achieve a better, brighter and healthy smile. The Airflow also provides a comfortable and effective way to maintain surfaces around crowns, veneers, fillings, orthodontic appliances and implants.

Tooth coloured composite resin restorations are now used to restore smaller cavities due to decay in teeth where strength is less required, replacing amalgams of the past or previous fillings that are leaking, chipped, discoloured or broken, and are bonded to tooth structure to restore the appearance and function of a tooth.

Root canal therapy is performed when patients wish to try to retain a tooth a little longer after deep fillings, decay, cracks and/or pain have lead to compromise of the integrity of the tooth – in particular, the pulp. The pulp tissue inside the roots of the tooth can become irritated, inflamed and infected requiring removal – this is the first stage of root canal therapy and involves numbing the tooth and removal of the pulp, disinfection and placement of an intracanal medication followed by a temporary filling. This initial stage is both the initial determinant of success and removes pain. However, although the pain goes away, the tooth needs to be completed with second stage root canal and often a crown; to seal the tooth from further bacteria ingress and protect the brittle tooth structure from fracture. Second stage root canal therapy involves re-entering the canals of the tooth, disinfection, and shaping of the canals to receive a root filling material, a natural rubber material known as gutta-percha.

Here at Mahurangi Dental we have cutting-edge technology in-house to provide porcelain, ceramic and zirconia crowns, bridges and veneers in one visit. No messy impressions, we scan the teeth with a special camera that stitches thousands of images together to produce a digital reproduction of your teeth. The resulting 3D reproduction is then used to design your prosthesis, be it a crown, veneer or bridge at chairside. The final design is then sent digitally to our in-house mill, which produces the initial crown for example, this is then adjusted and polished, characterised and glazed by hand and finished in the furnace. The prosthesis is then tried-in to check fit and appearance, and then cemented into place.

Dental implants are artificial “roots” installed surgically into your jaw bone. As such they can be used for a variety of purposes, as a more permanent and natural solution than bridges or dentures and help replace single missing teeth to securing loose dentures.

Given the very wide range of implant procedures please see us to find out if implants are right for you.

Dr Christian Blaschke is a general dentist with a special interest in dental implants. Christian has a MSc ( Master of Science) degree in Oral Implantology ( Dental Implants) from the Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany

Christian often provides care on a referral basis for other clinicians as well. If you think dental implants are right but would like your usual dentist to place the dental prosthesis (E.g The crown, bridge or denture) please ask for a referral.

Nervous about dental treatment? Sedation might be a good option for you. It can help you feel more relaxed during your dental treatment.

It’s common to feel a little anxious about visiting the dentist. One of the most useful ways to relax and feel comfortable during dental treatments is with sedation. Patients often choose sedation from normal dental restorations to very complex dental treatments or surgery, including wisdom tooth removal or dental implants.

Here at Mahurangi Dental we are equipped and trained to provide a wide range of sedation procedures from simple single drug sedation to advanced target controlled infusion sedation (TCI).

Target controlled infusion sedation in particular creates deep feeling of relaxation and in the majority of cases you will usually have little memory of the treatment.

Currently Mahurangi Dental is the only provider of TCI sedation in the wider Matakana area.

Here at Mahurangi Dental we can offer solutions to all x-ray needs, from simple routine x-rays to complex Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans.

X-rays have been a very useful diagnostic tool in dentistry, and they continue to improve. Digital x-rays are now more helpful, faster, and safer than ever.

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans help capture 3D X-ray models of the mouth, teeth, and other structures.

CBCT’s are in particular helpful prior to wisdom tooth removal and implant placement.

Currently Mahurangi Dental is the only provider of CBCT scans in the wider Matakana area and your current clinician might have referred you to us for imaging services.

At Mahurangi Dental we are trained and equipped to deal with a wide range of oral surgery services including wisdom teeth removal.

Wisdom teeth are developing as the last teeth in our mouths and hence often don’t have the required space available to fit. This often makes the removal of these teeth necessary to avoid future problems.

We use advanced imaging to assess and assure a safe removal of wisdom teeth. To make the process more comfortable, you might choose to have procedural sedation.

Here at Mahurangi Dental we make great dentures! Our denture technician, Karen Williams, has over 35 years of experience bringing her professionalism and expertise to our practice. We can provide services such as full dentures, partial dentures, emergency repairs and relines as well as single tooth dentures. Our range of dentures are crafted and manufactured with a high quality of care. Make an appointment with us today for your free no obligation quote! We look forward to seeing you.

Tooth whitening can be used to lighten the shade of natural teeth, but not fillings or crowns. There are two ways to do this for natural teeth – the first is ‘in-house whitening’ using hydrogen or carbamide peroxide and an activating light source to lighten the appearance of teeth in 1-2 visits. The second method is ‘home whitening’ where we provide custom made trays and carbamide peroxide gels for use at home. The latter method is preferred for generalised sensitivity of your teeth, and maintenance of the shade once attained. With either method; coffee, tea, red wine, curry etc will bring down the lightened shade requiring either further whitening applications or consideration of other treatments e.g. veneers.

Night guards help to protect teeth from the rigours of clenching and grinding your teeth, often in the night. If you are chipping, splitting teeth vertically requiring extraction, notice a short flattened appearance of your front teeth or discomfort in your jaw muscles in the morning you may require further investigation of your condition.