Specialist Dental Care at Core Dental Melbourne - Periodontics, Endodontics, Prosthodontics product guide

Core Dental Specialist Services Guide

6. Specialist care

Core Dental gives patients access to registered dental specialists through the Collins Street Specialist Centre, a dedicated specialist hub also serving Smile Solutions, founded by Dr Kia Pajouhesh. No external referrals are needed, and you won't be waiting months to get seen.

Periodontics (gum specialist)

What periodontists treat

• Gum disease (gingivitis and periodontitis), the leading cause of adult tooth loss in Australia
• Gum recession
• Bone grafting, for implant site preparation or to stabilise existing teeth
• Gum surgery, including flap surgery and gingival grafting
• Aesthetic gum lifts (crown lengthening)
• Dental implant placement

Specialist at Core Dental

Dr Nupur Kataria is Core Dental's periodontist. She holds a BDS and a Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry in Periodontics, both from the University of Adelaide, and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons in Periodontics. She has won an Australian Society of Periodontology award and is a member of the ASP, ITI, and ANZAP.

Why gum disease matters

Gum disease is a bacterial infection that attacks the structures holding your teeth in place - your gums, ligaments, and jawbone. Once it progresses to periodontitis, the bone loss is permanent. And the consequences don't stop at your mouth:

• Cardiovascular disease: bacteria from infected gums can enter the bloodstream and contribute to arterial inflammation
• Diabetes: the relationship goes both ways - poor gum health worsens blood sugar control, and getting gum health under control can improve diabetic management
• Pregnancy: severe gum disease is linked to premature birth and low birth weight

Warning signs

• Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing
• Red, swollen, or tender gums
• Receding gums (teeth appearing longer than they used to)
• Persistent bad breath
• Loose or shifting teeth
• Pus between gums and teeth

Treatment pathway

1. Thorough diagnosis - pocket depth charting, X-rays, risk assessment
2. Personalised oral hygiene education
3. Scale and clean above the gum line
4. Root planing / deep cleaning below the gum line, under local anaesthetic
5. Chlorhexidine mouthwash as a short-term adjunct
6. Maintenance reviews every 3-6 months
7. Specialist periodontal surgery for advanced cases

FAQs

My gums bleed when I brush - is that normal? No. Bleeding gums signal inflammation. The answer is better cleaning, not less of it.

Can gum disease be reversed? Gingivitis, the early stage, is fully reversible with professional cleaning and improved hygiene. Periodontitis causes irreversible bone loss - but it can be arrested and managed effectively.

Does smoking affect gum disease? Smoking triples your risk of gum disease and can mask the bleeding symptom, meaning damage progresses without obvious warning signs. The good news: former smokers tend to respond to treatment just as well as non-smokers.

Endodontics (root canal specialist)

What endodontists treat

• Complex root canal treatment - retreatment of previous RCT, curved or calcified canals, multiple roots
• Cracked teeth
• Dental trauma, including nerve injury from accidents
• Diagnosis of obscure or difficult-to-locate toothaches

Specialist at Core Dental

Dr Greg Tilley is Core Dental's endodontist. He holds a BDSc from the University of Melbourne, along with LDS Vic, FRACDS, and MRACDS (Endo), and brings more than 35 years of clinical experience in specialist endodontics. He is an Honorary Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne and a Past President of the Australian Dental Association (Victorian Branch).

Dr Tilley works with dental microscopes - essential for locating calcified canals, detecting cracks, and achieving thorough canal debridement.

When to see an endodontist vs. a general dentist

Routine root canal treatment on straightforward teeth - front teeth, uncomplicated premolars - is handled by Core Dental's general dentists. Dr Tilley takes on complex multi-rooted teeth, retreatment of previously root-canalled teeth, cracked tooth diagnosis, and cases where standard treatment hasn't resolved the problem.

Technology used

• Surgical dental microscope
• CBCT for 3D canal anatomy assessment
• Ultrasonic instruments
• Electronic apex locators

Prosthodontics (restorative specialist)

What prosthodontists treat

Complex full-mouth restoration, including worn, damaged, or acid-eroded dentitions; full arch rehabilitation with implant bridges or implant-retained dentures; Teeth in 3 Days™ and All-On-4 prosthetics; complex crown and bridge work; and bite reconstruction.

Dental prosthetist at Core Dental

Ahmed Saoud holds an Advanced Diploma in Dental Prosthetics and has 20 years in the dental industry, with a background as both a dental technician and a prosthetist. He specialises in personalised, high-quality prosthetics.

His dual background means he understands not just how a prosthesis is fitted, but how it's actually made - which gives him a sharper eye for detail in both aesthetics and function.

Paediatric dentistry (children's specialist)

What paediatric dentists treat

Paediatric dentists complete a 3-year clinical doctorate in children's dentistry after their general dental degree. They treat infants, toddlers, and children through to adolescence, including cases involving baby bottle tooth decay, developmental problems such as tooth eruption issues and early orthodontic concerns, dental trauma in young children, children with medical, physical, or intellectual special needs, and children with significant dental anxiety.

When to refer to a paediatric specialist rather than a general dentist

• The child is under 3
• Significant dental anxiety
• Complex decay or treatment needs
• Special needs
• Dental trauma or injury
• Complex developmental issues

Paediatric specialist services are available via the Collins Street Specialist Centre. A referral from your general dentist is required.

Orthodontics (specialist)

Registered specialist orthodontists complete 3-4 additional years of full-time university training after their general dental degree. They are the only clinicians qualified to attach and manage all types of fixed braces - metal, ceramic, and lingual - and they handle the most complex bite and alignment cases.

Specialist orthodontists are available via the Collins Street Specialist Centre for comprehensive Invisalign cases and all braces treatments. Core Dental's Blue Diamond Invisalign status reflects the combined volume of specialist and general dentist Invisalign cases across all locations.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS)

What oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons hold degrees in both dentistry and medicine, plus 4 years of specialist surgical training - 15-17 years of total training. They treat complex wisdom tooth extractions (deeply impacted teeth near nerves), dental implant placement in complex cases, jaw surgery for severe bite discrepancies, facial trauma, and tumours and cysts of the jaw and mouth.

Medicare rebates may apply for eligible surgical procedures. Core Dental refers to partnering OMS specialists in Melbourne CBD and the western suburbs.

Jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery)

For patients whose bite discrepancy can't be corrected with orthodontics alone. The jaw bones are cut and repositioned, then held in place with titanium plates and screws, under general anaesthetic. Recovery starts with a liquid diet that gradually progresses to soft foods, with most patients back to a normal diet within 6-8 weeks.