General Dental

Oral Health Instructions

Brushing and flossing are one of the best ways to fight against plaque and bacteria to ensure good oral health. Maintaining oral hygiene prevents the onset of decay and gum disease.

Flossing is most effective when the floss is drawn in a C shape around the tooth to ensure all margins of the tooth are being touched. Floss reaches the parts of the teeth where the toothbrush cannot, between the teeth and under the gum line.

Dentures

A denture is a removable prosthesis that may replace one or multiple teeth. The colour and the shape of artificial teeth can usually be closely matched to your natural teeth. In most cases, making a denture requires multiple appointments to ensure that your denture has the best possible fit, function and appearance. A new denture can feel bulky, tight or uncomfortable, result in increased amount of saliva in the mouth or even cause difficulty chewing or talking. Please be aware that it can take some time to adjust to a new denture.

Types of dentures

A partial denture may be constructed to fill in spaces where teeth are missing. Artificial teeth are bonded onto a base material (metal or acrylic) and metal arms (clasps) are used to hold the denture in place by attaching to selected remaining natural teeth.

A full denture is made when all natural teeth are missing in the upper, lower or both jaws.

An overdenture is designed to fit over the top of features such as dental implants or remaining short teeth to help improve retention and stability of the denture.

Most of the time there is a delay between removal of teeth and the construction of a denture. In some cases this may not be acceptable due to problems with functioning or aesthetic concerns. In these cases a denture may be made before the tooth is removed, and fitted at the same visit as the tooth extraction. A follow-up visit is required after healing to adjust the fit of the denture.

Periodontal (gum) Treatment

Periodontitis (Gum Disease) is irreversible tissue destruction that can result in bone loss around the teeth/tooth which progresses over time.  If left untreated, teeth may become loose and eventually be lost. The main cause of gum disease is bacteria in the form of plaque and tartar. Other predisposing factors include smoking, osteoporosis, hormone alteration (eg. pregnancy), psychological stress and medical conditions such as diabetes or immunodeficiency. Signs of periodontitis include bleeding gums, gum recession, pus and inflammation, however the disease can often go unnoticed as there may be no pain or obvious signs.

Gingivitis is reversible tissue damage that can be managed by improved oral health and regular visits with your practitioner. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums noted by the change in colour, consistency and contour, mainly caused by plaque or calculus build up (often from inadequate tooth brushing and/or flossing).

We offer oral hygiene instruction, periodontal assessment, periodontal therapy in the form of deep cleaning (non-surgical periodontal therapy) and periodontal maintenance. In some instances, a referral to a periodontist may be required.

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is a procedure that treats a tooth with an infected or inflamed pulp (‘tooth nerve’). Pulp tissue is removed from the root canal space within the tooth, the root canal space is cleaned with small files and disinfected, and then a rubber material is used to replace the pulp.

A tooth may have one or more root canals depending on the type of tooth. For complex cases your dentist may refer you to a root canal therapy specialist (Endodontist).

In many cases it is preferable to save a tooth by performing root canal therapy rather than extracting the tooth. A tooth may need root canal therapy because of decay, fracture or other injury.

Root canal therapy is usually completed in stages and may require multiple appointments.

Fillings

A filling is a restorative measure taken to treat a chipped or broken tooth, or a tooth with a hole caused by decay. Generally, a dentist will use a local anaesthetic to ensure your treatment is pain-free. Any decay is then removed from the tooth to ensure the area is clean and free from decay before the tooth is built back up to a functional shape and size using a tooth coloured filling material. The same material can repair a chipped or broken tooth, even if there is no original decay present.

Sensitivity and pain can be present in the tooth. Can be sensitive for longer than 1 week after the filling has been placed, as it can take a while to settle.