Regular dental check ups and cleans are recommended every 6 months to help prevent and detect decay and gum disease. That’s two visits to the dental clinic a year to ensure that your oral health is in optimal condition. A teeth cleaning appointment (also known as a ‘scale and clean’ visit) involves the removal of dental plaque and tartar. After the check-up, the dentist, oral health therapist or hygienist will conduct a thorough scale and clean and polish. The scaling component is done using a dental scaler, which effectively “vibrates” the tartar off the tooth surface and flushes the tooth and gums with water. This is often followed by a polish and an application of a fluoride varnish, gel or foam (depending on what is most suitable for you). If you have gum disease and have not been for a check-up and clean recently, it is normal to expect some sensitivity and bleeding during the procedure. However, we want your experience to be as comfortable as possible. We can apply numbing gel to the sore area or numb areas of the gum to enable thorough cleaning in the pockets surrounding the teeth.
We will work together with you to ensure good oral hygiene is also maintained well at home.
Gum Disease Treatment
Gum disease is an inflammatory condition involving the gums, bones and other supporting tissues of the teeth. It is mainly caused by the build-up of plaque (a thin, sticky film of bacteria) on teeth. It can affect people of all ages but is more commonly seen in adults. Despite being a very common condition, there are many individuals with gum disease who are unaware that they have it. Frequent dental assessments are an important part of the prevention and detection of gum disease.
Periodontitis
While gingivitis can be reversed (with appropriate treatment) leaving no permanent damage to the gums and bone, long standing gingivitis can turn into periodontitis, if left untreated. Periodontitis can result in: - worsened symptoms of gingivitis, - receding gums and deeper pocket formation around the tooth, - bone loss or resorption, - wobbly teeth and even tooth loss. The damage to the supporting structures of the teeth is permanent and accrued over time. However, damage from periodontitis often occurs episodically, where stages of active destruction are followed by periods of rest i.e. when the disease is stable. Treatment is aimed at prolonging the periods of rest to try and stop further destruction of the gum and bone supporting the teeth. Individuals who smoke or have systemic conditions such as diabetes are at greater risk of periodontitis. Your dental professional will assess your overall health along with your dental health to form an appropriate treatment program for you.
Mouthguards & Nightguards
Dental trauma is frequently experienced by individuals who take part in contact, combative and some non-contact sports. To prevent and minimise dental and facial injuries, mouthguards should be worn to help absorb the impact of a collision to the teeth and mouth. Sports which have a reasonable risk of a causing injury to the mouth (as recommended by Sports Medicine Australia) are listed below:
Football
Rugby
Martial arts
Hockey
Basketball
Netball
Baseball
Squash & Soccer
MBX bike riding
Skateboarding
In-line skating
Trampolining
Cricket (wicket keeping)
Water skiing & Snow ski racing
A nightguard (or an occlusal splint) is a custom fitted plastic cover which protects the teeth from moderate to severe wear caused by teeth grinding and clenching. Excessive teeth grinding, and clenching is also known as bruxism. This condition is known to cause extreme teeth wear, sensitivity, fractured teeth, stiff or painful jaw joints, sore jaw muscles, tension headaches, etc. Please speak to one of our friendly dentists who will advise you of available treatment options and tailor them to your specific needs.
