LET US MAKE YOU SMILE

It is great to get children used to visiting the dentist from an early age. We recommend a first visit from 2-3 years old. For small children a short exam that we make fun will help them get used to the dental team and the environment, and parents get a chance to ask any questions they may have. Please bring children sooner if there are any concerns you have noticed.

Bad breath or halitosis is often caused by bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria can be found on the plaque between teeth and also on the furry surface of the tongue. Certain bacteria are worse than others at creating unpleasant odour as part of their metabolism. The best way to fix this is remove the bacteria causing the problem by brushing the teeth, gums and tongue. Calculus which is the hard plaque that forms on teeth cannot be removed with a toothbrush and protects bacteria from being brushed away, after a clean at the dentist to remove this there is usually a great improvement in the problem.

It is recommended that patients visit the dentist every 6-12 months. The reason for the difference in time depends on how likely dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease are progressing over time and need monitoring or treatment. 

The cause of bleeding gums is gingivitis. This is when plaque (the white sticky film) accumulates on teeth and isn't cleaned off well enough or often enough so when the gum is disturbed it is already swollen and irritated so it bleeds more easily. If the plaque on teeth is removed well especially next to the gums, it will heal and not bleed anymore when brushed. Over time plaque can turn into hard calculus which also causes gingivitis but needs to be removed by the dentist. The reason gingivitis is such a problem is it can lead to more serious gum diseases for certain people meaning their gums recede and if severe cases become loose and need to be removed. 

Teeth whitening is safe to do as long as you have a full check-up first. This is to make sure that there are no broken fillings or cracked teeth or decay where the bleach could leak into the tooth where it could cause a harm.

Our practice has full wheelchair access. If there are any concerns please give us a call to discuss any questions you may have. 

If your emergency involves an accident where you have been unconscious or have any severe pain from an accident or bleeding, please go to the hospital. For tooth pain or a broken tooth  please phone us straight away, we keep appointments available each day to be able to see people in this situation without delay. 

X-rays or radiographs in dentistry help us to collect valuable information about parts of the tooth that we can't see otherwise. X-rays are used sparingly and only when indicated and we are lucky that these images can be taken with very low radiation exposure. 

Rinse the tooth off very gently with water or milk and try not to touch the root surface as much as possible. Keep the tooth hydrated, milk is best, and phone the dentist straight away so it can be placed back in if possible. We don't replace baby teeth back in the mouth but if not sure, bring the tooth in anyway to your appointment and we can check. 

Only visiting the dentist when you have a problem means that you miss the opportunity to get treatment for disease that is not causing you symptoms yet. Decay when it begins is not painful, and so are many gum conditions. Usually the smaller the problem, the easier and more economical it is to treat, and waiting until a problem is big enough to cause you pain reduces the options available to fix it. 

Many people are anxious about the dentist so you are not alone. We are happy to give you the time it takes to work together in finding what is comfortable for you when it comes to getting dental treatment done. There are options out there to help you and if you are particularly anxious and just want to come in and have a chat about your situation we are more than happy to meet and answer any questions you may have. Please feel welcome and we will work to make your experience as pleasant as possible. 

Teeth break for many reasons, sometimes it is decay, sometimes a filling falls out, sometimes they crack or parts break off. it is best to get this checked and fixed as soon as possible as once the outside surface of the tooth is broken down, it is more vulnerable to sensitivity, decay and further breakage. The worst thing is ignoring the problem when it is able to be fixed, only to find out later down the track that the problem gets worse and leads to tooth loss or expensive treatment that could have been avoided.