Your Questions Answered!

At NQ Surgical Dentistry we are committed to exceeding your expectations and ensuring you understand what we can do for you!

At NQ Surgical Dentistry in Townsville, we know our surgical treatments and procedures can seem a bit daunting, confusing and even intimidating. This is why we try to make sure that all our patients understand exactly what is involved with their treatment and what we are aiming to achieve for them with all of their surgical dentistry questions answered in full.

When everything is understood, the fear of the unknown is eliminated and our patients can relax knowing we will carry out their treatment to the highest possible standard without discomfort in a caring and empathetic manner. We have asked around the practice for your most frequently asked questions regarding treatment, dental conditions and our practice – and have decided to answer them here!

Why should I replace missing teeth?

It is often vital to replace teeth that have been lost in a timely manner, particularly those in the visible area of the mouth as missing teeth can be detrimental to your appearance, oral health and even general wellbeing! Not only can the adjacent teeth shift in an attempt to close the gaps left by missing teeth, but an incomplete arch of teeth containing gaps is more difficult to keep clean. The result is a heightened risk of gum disease.

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is present in many adult mouths and extensive medical research data is showing a clear relationship between gum disease and a number of general health issues including diabetes, respiratory disease, stroke, coronary artery disease, premature birth, low birth weight babies, and dementia!

What will my first visit to NQ Surgical Dentistry involve?

After you have been welcomed into our tranquil and homely practice, you will meet Dr Priestland who will sit with you for a friendly consultation to discuss your concerns and needs for treatment. Your first visit will be to identify your clinical problems and then to determine treatment goals. It is at this consultation that you can raise any questions or concerns so you can get a clear idea of what you need, why you need it and how the treatment can alleviate your condition. Your treatment will then be planned with you for a future date and a printed estimate will always be provided at this stage. Generally your informed consent is obtained and all the required post-operative instructions and information is given to you in the form of printed practice leaflets. A prescription is also provided for your post-operative medication.

In some cases patients require further investigations or radiographic imaging before treatment can be planned, if so normally a short second consultation is arranged to discuss the results before planning your treatment.

What do you offer patients in terms of treatment options?

At NQ Surgical Dentistry in Townsville, we focus primarily on those areas of dentistry requiring oral or dental surgery including the extraction of teeth such as wisdom teeth/third molars. People may need teeth removed for various reasons such as infection, space creation for orthodontic treatment, the removal of impacted or buried teeth including wisdom teeth, and the removal of pathology or lesions that have developed in the soft tissues of the mouth and the bone of the jaws.

We also focus on providing treatment for gum disease. Dr Priestland is a former UK Specialist in Periodontics (Periodontist) and has many years of experience in this area of dentistry.

The other significant focus of our practice is Implant Dentistry. We cover all areas of implant surgery including where necessary, bone grafting, the re-shaping of jaw bone and the creation of a suitable environment and anatomy to allow for the ideal replacement of teeth to achieve the best appearance and function possible.

All surgery can be provided in the practice under local anaesthetic (oral injections), or under intravenous sedation as we are an approved sedation facility and Dr Priestland is an Endorsed Sedationist under the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency. More extensive procedures are performed under general anaesthetic either in the Mater Hospital or at a Day Surgery Unit.

In summary

We take special interest in gum disease treatment, dental surgery and dental implant surgery, and provide the following treatments for our patients:

• Gum disease treatment
• Dental Surgery – as outlined above
• Wisdom Teeth Removal and Surgical Extractions
• Apicectomy – Endodontic surgery
• Temporo-mandibular Disorders
• Facial Trauma
• Oral Pathology
• Osseous Tissue Surgery – bone surgery
• Bone Grafts – to replace missing bone or to support implants
• Implant Dentistry
• Intravenous Sedation

We are always happy to answer any and all questions pertaining to dental health and treatments we offer to our patients. We want you to be as informed as possible so you can understand the importance of your dental health and help you achieve a healthy mouth, maintain your general health and optimise your appearance.

For more information on our treatments, services or to book a consultation at our Townsville dental practice, please do not hesitate to contact the friendly team at NQ Surgical Dentistry today on (07) 4725 1656 or call in to see us at 183 Kings Rd, Pimlico QLD 4812