At Springhill Clinic, we are proud to offer a unique dental facility that reflects our commitment to excellence in dental care.

The Springhill Clinic is a large multidisciplinary clinic that has been providing top-quality treatment to Kilkenny for many years. Whether it’s general dental care or a cosmetic makeover, let us create your perfect smile.

We use only the most advanced dental techniques and materials available. We will welcome you to our dental practice, where our whole team is committed to providing you with the best treatment possible.

Dr Derek Cashen is the principal dentist at the Springhill Clinic. He is highly experienced and has built the Springhill Clinic into a leading centre of dental care in Kilkenny.

While part of the Clinic is dedicated to the dental treatment centre, there are six other consultants and therapists, which means you can access a broad range of treatment under the one roof.

Book a treatment

What we do

Our purpose is to provide you with a unique and comfortable dental experience in a friendly and relaxed environment. Using the latest technologies and techniques, we offer a full spectrum of treatments from routine dentistry to complete cosmetic transformations.

Is it painful?

No. A local anaesthetic is used and it should feel no different to having routine work done, but will take longer to do.

What treatment will the tooth need afterwards?

We recommend placing a crown on the tooth in order to provide proper support and strength, and reduce risk of fracture.

It’s safe, quick, and inexpensive. Just let us know at any appointment if you would like to whiten your teeth. You can lighten only your upper teeth, or both upper and lower, depending on how much you show when you talk and smile. In only a day or two your custom bleach splints will be ready for you to pick up.

When could my tooth need a crown (cap)?

A crown may be recommended if there is: substantial chips or broken teeth/fillings; deep tooth decay; root canal treatment; large fillings; severe tooth wear; cosmetic needs; and, sometimes crooked teeth can be improved with crowns. A crown fits over the existing tooth. Most crowns on front teeth are made of full porcelain and look almost the same as natural teeth. Other types of crowns, particularly on the back teeth, contain a high gold alloy and have porcelain fused onto the gold alloy. Our advanced dental technician often can make this type of crown look very similar to natural tooth.

Crowns and bridges are made from porcelain and gold alloy. On your first visit our dentist at the Springhill Clinic will reshape your teeth to make room for either crown or bridge and an impression is then taken. This impression is then sent to a dental technician who will make the crown or bridge.

A temporary acrylic crown or bridge is fitted during the intervening period.

We can create the perfect smile for you using a combination of the latest cosmetic techniques including teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, crowns, and cosmetic bonding. It is our aim to create the smile that you always wanted! No matter what you require, Springhill Clinic can accommodate your cosmetic smile makeover.

We are fortunate to have our chief ceramic technician for over twenty years who is based in Harley Street, London. The standard of his work is one of the highest and best available.

The experiences that a child has at the dentist can affect the way they feel about dental visits throughout their lifetime.

Some dentists specialise in paediatric dentistry, but a child can feel comfortable going to the same dentist as their parents. That way they are able to co-ordinate visits and develop an ongoing relationship with their dentist from an early age. Springhill Clinic dentists are used to working with children and can accommodate them.

At the end of the appointment, our dentists meet with the parents to give a detailed description of the work completed, provide after care instructions, issue prescriptions if needed, and answer any questions that the parent may have.

Highly effective in preventing decay on the biting surfaces of your chewing teeth, sealants are a simple procedure in which a tooth-coloured acrylic coating is painted onto the surface of the tooth. This effectively “seals” the deep grooves acting as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids.

Sealants protect the depressions and grooves of your teeth from food particles and plaque that brushing and flossing can’t reach. Easy to apply, sealants take only a few minutes to seal each tooth.

Dental examinations

Dental examinations help to diagnose oral disease before it becomes hazardous to your health and treat the ones that already exist. Regular examinations can save you money on dental treatment by alleviating problems while they are small.

Your dental examination generally includes the following: periodontal (gum) disease check; oral cancer screening; check for cavities and tooth fractures; and, evaluation of current restorations.

We cannot express enough how important it is to see your dentist regularly. Remember, preventing disease is always better than treating disease.

Professional cleaning

Professional cleanings (dental prophylaxis) performed by a dentist or hygienist form the foundation for preventing gum disease, gingivitis and tooth decay. In a professional cleaning, your dentist or hygienist will: remove plaque, calculus (tartar) and stains; and, polish your teeth.

Fees

Please find a list of our current fees here.

A proportion of the cost of some dental treatments can be claimed against tax. Routine dental treatment is not included, but 20% tax relief can be claimed on treatments such as crowns, bridges, root canal treatment and periodontal treatment using a Med 2 tax relief form, which can be endorsed at the dental surgery.

All accounts must be settled on the day of treatment. We accept most methods of payment including cash, cheque, and credit and debit cards.

Oral health

Looking after your oral health is just as important as any other part of your body. Below are some helpful tips that can help ensure you keep your smile for life.

Studies show that over 40% of children aged eight to 17 are eating too many sugary high fat foods. The modern diet, which may be high in sugary carbohydrates and fat, is not conducive to good dental health. This can cause dental decay and the erosion of the enamel.

Good snacks

Fruit, raw vegetables, yogurts, low-fat cheese, cereals (but not sugar-coated types) and milk, water and sugar-free squashes are suitable.

Our ethos here at Springhill Clinic is to encourage children and adults is to keep a healthy diet, with the odd treat or snack. We advocate the use of dental sealants to prevent decay in permanent teeth.

Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers today and has one of the lowest survival rates, with thousands of new cases being reported each year. Fewer than half of all people diagnosed with oral cancer are ever cured.

Warning signs

In general, early signs of oral cancer usually occur in the form of lumps, patchy areas and lesions, or breaks, in the tissues of the mouth. In many cases, these abnormalities are not painful in the early stages, making even self-diagnosis difficult.

Here are some additional warning signs:

  • hoarseness or difficulty swallowing;
  • unusual bleeding or persistent sores in the mouth that won’t heal;
  • lumps or growths in other nearby areas, such as the throat or neck; and,
  • if a tumour is found, surgery will generally be required to remove it. Some facial disfigurement could also result.

Prevention

Prevention is the key to staving off oral cancer. Some of the biggest culprits are tobacco and alcohol use. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is one of the best defences against oral cancer. Maintaining good oral hygiene, and regular dental check-ups, with oral cancer screening, is highly recommended.

Our practice

Our practice is continually searching to offer patients the utmost in comfort and care. we take pride in being able to offer the latest technology and procedures as they become available. The services we offer are aimed at preserving your oral health by using the most advanced yet conservative methods and technology currently on the market.

Digital X-rays

Dr Derek Cashin is pleased to provide patients with the latest in advanced digital radiography. Digital X-rays have made diagnosis of dental problems and treatment easy and quick. With digital X-rays, there is no need to wait for x-ray reports, it’s right there on the doctor’s monitor in a few minutes.

Intra-oral cameras

Intra-oral cameras have revolutionised the entire patient education process, as the patient can now sit comfortably in a chair and see live video of their tooth condition, and make an informed decision before the condition gets worse. The video is then transmitted via a cable to a TV screen and can be viewed by both patient and dentist.

Wi-Fi

Enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi during your visit with us.

A vast majority of teeth are lost due to the effects of gum disease, and research has shown that early diagnosis and efficient treatment will help resolve the problem. The two most common diseases can be minimised by thorough oral cleaning. These are dental cavities (or decay) and periodontal or gum disease. To help you achieve and maintain optimal dental health the hygienist provides thorough teeth cleaning, dental health education and oral health advice.

The hygienist is specially trained in the prevention of periodontal disease and dental cavities. They aim to re-educate patients with regards to the use of toothbrushes, electronic aids, dental floss and inter-dental brushes. Daily brushing and flossing will prevent most periodontal conditions.

Why is oral hygiene so important?

Adults over 35 lose more teeth to periodontal (gum) disease than from cavities. Three out of four adults are affected at some time in their life. Periodontal diseases can be accelerated by a number of different factors. However, it is mainly caused by the bacteria found in dental plaque. Other important factors affecting the health of your gums include:

  • smoking;
  • diabetes;
  • stress;
  • clenching and grinding teeth;
  • medication; and,
  • poor nutrition.

News

Genes that determine tooth shape identified

January 8th, 2025|0 Comments

Genes that determine tooth shape identified Genetic variants that determine the shape of your teeth have been identified by a team co-led by University College London (UCL) researchers. In a new paper published in Current [...]

Our partners

The dentists at the Springhill Clinic work with other health professionals, both at the Clinic and outside it, who can provide you with many other treatments that you may require.

Ormonde Osteopathy

Noel T. Sugrue

Northside Osteopathy, Dublin and Kilkenny, aims to treat people of all ages and background. The focus is on patient care, comfort and management, which is achieved by treating all conditions with a high standard of professionalism.
Click here to learn more.

Kilkenny Chiropractic

Dr. John Osbourne

Kilkenny Chiropractic Clinic was founded in 1994 by Dr. Mary Sheedy, Kilkenny’s first chiropractor. A dedicated and passionate practitioner, Dr. Mary provided chiropractic care to the community for over 30 years, until her very sad and untimely passing in June 2024. In September 2024, Dr. John Osborne became the new owner and lead practitioner of Kilkenny Chiropractic Clinic, bringing with him 24 years of experience and a long-standing membership with the Chiropractic Association of Ireland.

Contact

Address

Springhill Dental,
Waterford Road, Kilkenny, Ireland

Phone

056-775 3888

Email

info@springhillclinic.ie

Opening hours

Monday – Friday

9.00am – 17.00pm