Visiting the dentist regularly will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. Dental care is important because it:

• Helps prevent tooth decay
• Protects against periodontal (gum) disease, which can lead to tooth and bone loss
• Prevents bad breath – brushing, flossing, and seeing the dentist regularly will help reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth that causes bad breath
• Gives you a more attractive smile and increases your self-confidence
• Helps keep teeth looking bright by preventing them from becoming stained by food, drinks, and tobacco
• Strengthens your teeth so that you can enjoy healthy, beautiful smiles for the rest of your life!

Your teeth may feel fine, but it’s still important to see the dentist regularly because problems can exist without you knowing. Your smile’s appearance is important, and your dentist can help keep your smile healthy and looking beautiful. With so many advances in dentistry, you no longer have to settle for stained, chipped, missing, or misshapen teeth. Today’s dentists offer many treatment choices that can help you smile with confidence, including:

• Professional teeth whitening
• Fillings that mimic the appearance of natural teeth
• Tooth replacement and full smile makeovers

Choosing a dentist who “clicks” with you and your family is important, and you may wish to consider several dentists before making your final decision. During your first visit, you should be able to determine whether the dentist is right for you. During your appointment, consider the following:

• Is the appointment schedule convenient?
• Is the office easy to get to and close by?
• Does the office appear to be clean and orderly?
• Was your medical and dental history recorded and placed in a permanent file?
• Does the dentist explain techniques for good oral health?
• Is information about cost presented to you before treatment is scheduled?
• Is your dentist a member of the ADA (American Dental Association)?

• Always remember to brush your teeth at least two times a day, and floss at least once!
• Make sure to use toothpaste that contains fluoride, and ask your dentist if you need a fluoride rinse. This will help prevent cavities.
• Avoid foods with a lot of sugar (sugar increases the amount of bacteria that grows in your mouth causing more plaque and possibly cavities) and avoid tobacco (this can stain your teeth, cause gum disease, and eventually lead to oral cancer).
• Don’t be afraid to brush your tongue! By brushing your tongue, you will remove food particles and reduce the amount of plaque-causing bacteria. Tongue brushing also helps keep your breath fresh.
• Be sure to schedule your routine checkup. It is recommended that you visit the dentist every six months.

The first dental visit is recommended as early as six months of age and no later than one year of age. During this time, your child’s baby teeth will be coming in and your dentist can examine the health of your child’s first few teeth. After the first visit, be sure to schedule regular checkups every six months.

Simply call our practice! Our front desk staff will be happy to help schedule your next dental checkup at your convenience. If you are a new patient, please let us know and we will provide you with all the information you need for your first dental visit.

Intravenous sedation involves giving you a sedative drug through a plastic tube into a vein in your arm or hand. The sedative drug will relax you and make you feel sleepy during your treatment. Once you are sedated, you will be given a local anaesthetic injection which will numb your mouth before treatment begins.

What are the benefits?
Sedation will help you cope with dental
treatment and reduce your anxiety. Even people who do
not feel anxious about dental treatment choose to have
sedation for uncomfortable procedures such as
extractions (removing a tooth).

What are the risks?
Intravenous sedation can slow down your breathing. We overcome this by monitoring you closely and giving you oxygen (through a mask) if needed. Another possible complication is bruising to your hand or arm after the injection but this should only last a few days. We will speak to you about risks in more detail before you sign the consent form.

Your toothbrush will eventually wear out, especially if you are brushing your teeth twice a day for two to three minutes each time. Your dentist recommends that adults and children change their toothbrush every three months. If you are using an electric toothbrush, be sure to read the directions because you may not need to change toothbrush heads as frequently. Patients with gum disease are encouraged to change their toothbrush every four to six weeks to keep any bacteria from spreading. After brushing, rinse your toothbrush with hot water to kill germs and keep the bristles clean. If you’ve been sick, be sure to change your toothbrush as soon as possible.

You should brush your teeth at least two times a day. Brushing keeps your teeth, gums, and mouth clean and healthy by removing bacteria-causing plaque. It is also recommended that you use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride when you brush your teeth. You should spend at least a minute on the top teeth and a minute on the bottom teeth, and remember to brush your tongue; it will help keep your breath smelling fresh!

Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is mostly caused by plaque and bacteria buildup that is not treated in its early stage. Other causes of periodontal disease include tobacco use, teeth grinding, some medications, and genetics. Gingivitis is the beginning stage of gum disease, and, if detected, is treatable. Gingivitis left untreated may turn into gum disease. Advanced gum disease will lead to tooth and bone loss, and is a permanent condition. Brushing your teeth regularly and visiting the dentist every six months will help prevent gingivitis and more severe cases of periodontal disease.

Gingivitis – this is the earliest stage of the disease, Inflammation of the gums. If the plaque is not removed by daily brushing and flossing the bacteria can release toxins which irate the gum tissue – at this stage, the disease is reversable.

Periodontitis – At this stage, the bone and tissue supporting the teeth are damaged, forming a pocket which collects food and debris – This stage is irreversible, but by improving home care and proper dental treatment this can be maintained to prevent further damage.

Advanced Periodontitis – Final stage, bone and supporting tissue are destroyed, teeth can become loose, bite maybe effected, and tooth may need to be removed.

Most people get a form of gum disease, some are more susceptible to a more aggressive type. There are a few factors that put people at higher risk of getting severe gum disease. These include diabetes (especially if poorly controlled), smoking (possibly including e-cigarettes), stress, a  poor diet  lacking  in vitamins and minerals, obesity  and certain medications.

Treatment aims to reduce bacteria around your teeth and prevent the disease from getting worse. Generally, treatment cannot replace the support your teeth have already lost. You will be taught the best methods of cleaning your teeth and gums to remove dental plaque. Treatment will only work if you clean your teeth properly, twice a day, to a high standard.

You need to clean daily between your teeth with interdental brushes – or floss if the gaps between teeth are too tight for brushes. You should use a small headed toothbrush or a good quality power brush – your dentist can advise you. The tartar above the gum-line can be removed by your hygienist/ Periodontal specialist.

Any bacteria below the gum line can be removed by your hygienist / periodontal specialist deep  cleaning your teeth. You can ask for an injection to make your gums and teeth numb if you prefer. Mouthwashes may help with very mild gum disease but may mask more serious gum disease.

After treatment, your gums are likely to bleed more to start with – don’t worry and keep cleaning as this is normal and will improve as they settle down. As they become healthier your gums may shrink. Spaces may appear between the teeth and they may appear longer. As gums shrink, your teeth may become more sensitive to hot, cold or sweet things. Usually this gets better in a few weeks, but you might need to use a special sensitivity toothpaste or have other treatment to help with this.

Gum Disease Treatment benefits:

• Greater confidence of a fresher mouth gums not being sore or bleeding when you brush
• Teeth becoming less wobbly
• Less discomfort when you eat and ultimately, you will keep your teeth for longer

Success depends on how well you clean your teeth and how your gums respond. Cleaning thoroughly twice a day and regular dental visits are good habits to adopt for life.

Periodontal disease is usually pain free and you will be unaware until you are assessed by your Dentist or Hygienist.

Here are some symptoms you may experience or notice that should raise concerns.

1. Bleeding gums while brushing or eating
2. Red, swollen gums
3. Bad breath (halitosis)
4. Spaces appearing between teeth, or teeth moving position
5. Loose teeth
6. Receding gums
7. Sensitivity to hot or cold food or drinks

Smoking:

Smoking can very often mask the effects of gum disease, so after giving up you may experience symptoms that you didn’t previously have. This is normal.

If you smoke tobacco, you should do your best to give up there are many ways in which we can help you.

Smokers who continue to smoke:

You may find your gum disease gets worse quite quickly and you are more likely to have a recurrence of gum disease following treatment.

Although every attempt is made to improve the health of the gums, unfortunately Periodontitis effects are  irreversible.  So, in cases where the bone and tissues which support the teeth are damaged this is will not be able to be to be restored. But every effort will be made to address the condition to prevent further bone loss. It will not however make up for the bone lost prior to treatment.

You might be pleased to know that dentistry may have a solution for you. A variety of oral devices or mouthpieces are now available that will address your snoring problems. By preventing the lower jaw from dropping back during sleep, these devices can prevent the closure of your airways, which will stop you from snoring. Your dentist can fit one of these for you. Here is how the treatment works:

1. A custom-made mouth piece is made from impressions taken of your teeth to ensure they fit you comfortably.
2. Made from a hard wearing plastic, the mouthpiece is worn at night and works by holding the bottom jaw in a slightly forward position.
3. This position opens up your airway significantly, allowing you to breathe better and as a result sleep better too.
4. Do you or your partner suffer from breathing difficulties during sleep such as snoring or obstructive Sleep Apnoea? You might be pleased to know that dentistry may have a solution for you. A variety of oral devices or mouthpieces are now available that will address your snoring problems. By preventing the lower jaw from dropping back during sleep, these devices can prevent the closure of your airways, which will stop you from snoring. Your dentist can fit one of these for you.

If you or your bed partner has any of the symptoms of obstructive Sleep Apnoea you will need to be referred to a specialist sleep physician for more investigation and diagnosis before treatment is started.

Life Benefits

• Better quality of sleep due to undisturbed breathing.
• Improved overall health due to better quality of sleep.