Comprehensive dental services for your healthiest smile

Regular dental examinations and x-rays are used to identify any potential dental problems. A typical dental examination includes two x-rays and checking the status of all teeth, fillings and prosthetic restorations in your mouth. Your examination is also a time for you to discuss any dental concerns or needs with your dentist. Catching small issues early can help to prevent the need for more complicated procedures.

If you require a more detailed x-ray, we have an OPG machine (panoramic) which is used to determine positioning of wisdom teeth and/or missing teeth.

There is nothing worse than a toothache. If you are in pain call us and we will see you as soon as possible. We try to make space available on the day for emergencies.
Severe pain, infection and swelling may indicate the need for a filling, a root canal treatment or perhaps an extraction. All these procedures can be carried out at Longhurst Dental.

There is no charge for emergency care of children 0-17 years at Longhurst Dental.

Dental fillings are a common procedure to fix teeth that have decayed or broken. If you have a sore or sensitive tooth, get it checked by one of our dentists to see if you require a filling.

We typically use white fillings to restore your teeth, your dentist can discuss filling material options with you at your next appointment.

High school students up to their 18th birthday are treated free here at Longhurst Dental. This includes examination, x-rays, fillings, root canal therapy and extractions due to dental decay. Please note orthodontic extractions, advanced cosmetic treatments, and hygienist care are not covered by the free dental service and involve a private fee.

The School Dental Services treat children free up to school year 8. Children that have been given a sedation referral from a community dental clinic can be treated at Longhurst Dental with nitrous oxide sedation (laughing gas). However, your child must first have a consultation with one of our dentists to determine suitability and develop a treatment plan. Please call us once you have a sedation referral.

Our Oral Health Therapist uses the latest technology for comfortable hygiene treatments. The EMS Airflow system utilizes Guided Biofilm Therapy for plaque and tarter removal. This machine has warm water to reduce sensitivity throughout the appointment.

Our hygiene treatments focus on prevention of diseases such as dental decay and periodontal (gum) disease. If you have bleeding gums or bad breath, our Oral Health Therapist can help!

At Longhurst Dental we offer a range of teeth whitening options, including: pre-formed whitening trays, personalized whitening trays made from impressions of your own teeth, and 90-minute in chair whitening. Depending on your suitability we can customize a whitening plan for you.

A root canal filling may be required once dental decay has spread to the tooth nerve, if a tooth is infected, or if a tooth has died after trauma. Root canals are done under local anesthetic (you are numbed up), and over two-three appointments.

Your dentist will provide you with all the information you need prior to starting a root canal treatment.

Extraction usually occurs when a tooth can’t be repaired due to decay, infection, or possibly crowding. Most tooth extractions can be done with our experienced dentists, but in some cases you may need to see an oral surgeon specialist.

Once you have had a tooth removed you may need to consider replacing the gap with a crown, bridge, implant or denture.

Crowns are often used to protect teeth that are at high risk of fracturing (for example a heavily filled, or root canal treated tooth). There are several materials that can be used to make crowns, your dentist will discuss options for the best type of crown to suit your needs. Bridges are typically 2-3 crowns in a row and can be used to replace a missing gap.

Once you have decided on your treatment plan, an impression of your tooth/teeth will be taken and the tooth can be cut down to size. You will be made a temporary crown/bridge while your permanent one is being constructed by the laboratory. Once your bridge or crown is made, you will get an appointment to have your shiny new tooth cemented into place.

Dental implants are a possible option for replacing a tooth that has been extracted. An implant involves a dental specialist to placing an implant screw into the jaw bone, followed by a dentist making a crown (tooth-shape part you see), to be screwed on top of the implant.

Dental implants can be a effective and atheistic long-term option for replacing missing teeth, book in a consultation to discuss implant options with one of our dentists at Longhurst Dental.

If you are missing a few or all of your teeth, full or partial dentures are a very economical way to replace them.

Partial dentures attach to existing teeth using metal or acrylic clasps. With full dentures, stability can be greatly improved with implant support.

It is very common to have fear or anxiety when you go to the dentist. Bad experiences in the past can be very difficult to overcome. We can offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation if you need some extra help relaxing at throughout your dental appointment. Call our friendly reception team to book a sedation consultation.

There are various Dental Specialists in Christchurch that offer dental treatment out of the scope of the General Dentist.
These include Orthodontists, Endodontists, Periodontists, and Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons. We will sometimes need to refer a patient to one of these specialists if we become aware that the treatment is complicated and needs to be done by a Specialist.