Dr Cliff Kushner
Dr Cliff’s dental practice, conveniently located on Main Road, Upper Walmer, provides patients with down-to-earth, straightforward, back-to-basics, dental service excellence; where it’s all about the patient in comfortable, relaxed surroundings! Treatment goals include preventive dentistry, restoration and maintenance of your oral health.
Seldom, do we have a clear idea of the actual status of our dental health. Until now, even with lights and mirrors, patients were unable to see what the dentist could see; for this reason, Dr Cliff uses intra-oral cameras. A pen-sized, camera-tipped wand, photographs the inside of your mouth and transmits the image to the large LCD screen mounted on the wall in front of your chair. Dr Cliff will point out problem areas and explain his recommendation for your treatment – you become an informed participant in your dental care instead of a bystander. Seeing your dental problems clearly projected is a step toward a healthier, fresher mouth and more confident smile.
Back-to-basics, dental excellence, practiced by Dr Cliff, focuses on quality, patient-centred dental care aimed at restoring your natural teeth so that they once again become functional and aesthetically pleasing. He would prefer that patients keep their natural teeth throughout their life and emphasises prevention and maintenance. Prevention rather than waiting for problems to occur is of paramount importance.
A comprehensive, thorough examination and careful, accurate diagnosis allows Dr Cliff to detect existing problems and concerns and plan an effective approach – the most suitable treatment option for your needs – that will help you to correct and restore your oral hygiene health and confident smile.
Diagnosis and Treatment Planning: Just as an architect draws plans, a patient might need a plan to restore his teeth. This often requires a team approach involving dental specialists such as a prosthodontist (specialist in restorative dentistry), periodontist (gum specialist), orthodontist (specialist who straightens crooked teeth) or a maxillo-facial surgeon (specialist in oral surgery).
Prosthodontics: The practice of prosthodontics includes all kinds of fillings, crowns to natural teeth and dental implants. Dr Cliff has been restoring implants since 1989. Treatment for most patients includes referral to a highly experienced periodontist or oral surgeon for dental implant placement. Afterward, Dr Cliff manages the restorative phase, which includes crowns, bridges or implant-supported dentures. Prosthodontics may also include bleaching for suitable candidates, veneers, root canal therapy and removable, partial dentures.
Paedodontics: The field of children’s dentistry, which involves fillings, extractions and preventative procedures such as fissure sealants. Should children be highly anxious or require procedures such as multiple extraction of teeth, concious sedation is provided by an anaesthetist, trained in the use of conscious sedation.
Periodontics: Successful treatment begins with healthy gums. Gum problems are managed by Dr Cliff or refered to a specialist periodontist where necessary.
- South African Dental Association
- International Team for Implantology (ITI)
- South African Society of Implantology
- Cape Society of Implantology
- South African Prosthodontic Society (General practitioner member)
- South African Periodontic Society (General practitioner member)
- South African Society of Paedodontics
Dr Cliff matriculated at Oudtshoorn High School in 1970 and studied dentistry at the University of Stellenbosch where he qualified in mid-1976. After completing his national military service, he did locums and then settled in Port Elizabeth where he opened his own practice in the Western suburbs in 1979. He built up a large practice and in December 2008 moved to 176 Main Road, Upper Walmer to fullfil his ambition of establishing a private practice dedicated to his fields of interest.