Frequently Asked Questions
Visiting the Dentist
Many patients are reluctant to have x-rays because of the risks associated with radiation exposure; it’s also the reason why many dentists only choose to get x-rays when absolutely essential in your diagnosis or treatment.
X-rays provide your dentist with additional important information about the condition of your teeth and will reveal any hidden decay, problems with the roots of your teeth or issues with your jaw and your facial bones. Things that they can’t get to view any other way without serious undertakings that are very costly to you.
Depending on the amount of build-up the dentist discovers on your teeth. Your dentist will use different tools. They will also have different processes for cleaning your teeth too.
There are a number of specialised dental instruments to gently remove build up without harming your teeth. Let’s go through the ones your dentist might use so that you can be familiar and know what to expect at your next check-up.
An ultrasonic scaler uses vibrations to dislodge larger pieces of tartar/calculus deposits loose. At the same time as vibrating it sprays a mist of water. This washes away the debris to stop it re-sticking to your teeth and keeps the area from heating up and being uncomfortable.
This dental instrument often makes a humming or high pitched whistling sound. That sounds very loud to you as the sound gets amplified by being inside your mouth. In the same way an electric toothbrush sounds really loud to you when it’s inside your mouth when brushing your teeth.
Experiences in the past, including when you were a child can, cause all sorts of anxiety for patients when it comes to dentistry. Often these experiences become wildly distorted over time and then reinforced negatively by scare stories from others and the media.
Firstly, talk openly about your fear with your dentist, dental nurse and hygienist so that they can accommodate your situation and do what is necessary to eliminate anything that might add to your anxiety. Often one good dental appointment where there has been no pain or triggers that remind you of your earlier bad experience can help you get a better feeling when it comes to visiting your dentist.
Avoiding your dentist because of your fear is actually dangerous, because it means that you’re missing out on getting information and advice that would stop you from needing intensive treatments. In fact overcoming your reluctance to go to the dentist for regular check-ups would mean that you could get help to avoid needing any of the horrible treatments you imagine you need.
Looking After Your Teeth
The best way to brush your teeth is to hold the toothbrush at an angle of 45 degrees, with the bristles aimed at your gum line. The tiny area between the teeth and the gum is a great spot for bacteria and plaque to accumulate, so it is important to brush this area well.
When the brush is at the correct angle, it’s just a gentle little jiggle back and forth, brushing only one or two teeth at a time. There is a fine line between brushing too hard and not brushing hard enough.
Flossing has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of gum disease.
You would ideally floss your teeth every day; if possible, before you brush your teeth. If you eat out, take some floss with you, take a trip to the bathroom, and clean the gap between your teeth where bacteria grow and plaque builds.
The key to flossing is in the way you hold the floss. Take a decent length and wrap the floss tightly around the middle finger of each hand; it should be locked onto each finger. Use a gentle sawing motion against the side of each tooth, moving the floss backward and forward. If this is tricky for you, talk to your dentist and get him to give you a practical demonstration. Your dentist will suggest the best oral hygiene methods for you, and will show you how to use them.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring ion that comes from Fluorine.
The benefits of Fluoride where discovered when research was done into why it was that people who had naturally 1ppm fluoridated water were found to have much healthier and stronger teeth than everyone else.
Since this early discovery there have been over 30,000 studies into the effects and safety of fluoride and no evidence has ever been found been found that water fluoridation causes any health side effects.
The reason your Dentist likes fluoride is because it has been shown to reduce the number of cavities a person will develop over their lifetime by around half, by making your tooth enamel resistant to the acid plaque bacteria produce.
Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Whether you call it Periodontal Disease, Pyorrhea, or just Gum Disease, it is a major cause of tooth loss in our population. But gum disease is largely preventable.
Your gums are called the supporting tissues of your teeth, and actually consist of what can be seen in the mouth, as well as the bone, the root surface and the ligament that connects the teeth to the bone.
Gum disease is a form of infection in the supporting tissues of your teeth and because it is often painless most people are unaware that they have it.
Bacteria is the cause of most gum disease; which form a ‘plaque’ on and around your teeth, especially around the gum line. Plaque is sticky and colourless. There are other bacteria, that thrive deep in the ‘pocket’; the gap between the gum and the tooth.
One of the major risk factors for developing gum disease is smoking. Other contributing factors are conditions such as diabetes, stress, pregnancy and a variety of medications.
Yes. With appropriate care, to which most cases respond well to oral hygiene therapy. However, the more advanced the disease, the more difficult it is to treat. Make sure you have pay regular visits to your dentist to check for the possible presence of gum disease.
To manage gum disease, the level of bacteria in the mouth must be reduced a level which is manageable by the body’s own defence mechanism.
To avoid periodontits/gum disease, follow these simple steps:
- Apply the very best home care methods.
- Professional cleaning by your dentist who can remove the plaque and calculus/tartar.
- Regular dental review.
- Removing risk factors such as smoking.
Because gum disease causes permanent damage in some cases, the aim of treatment is to control the bacteria. This is a daily, lifetime activity.
Your dentist is trained in managing gum disease and will probably refer you to a dental hygienist for a daily management plan. If your dentist feels your condition needs more care, you will be referred to a Periodontist.
Prevention is better than cure. See your dentist regularly, because gum disease can be prevented by good oral hygiene and early intervention
While bleeding gums are common, it is not OK.
When you have healthy gums they will not bleed, so bleeding gums mean that you have an infection or inflammation of some type.
There are several different possibilities why your gums may be bleeding:
You have traumatised the area with excessive or harsh treatment.
The wrong type of toothbrush or being too aggressive with brushing technique can be a factor here. Also, if you’ve just been to the dentist to have your teeth cleaned your gums may be inflamed from the process temporarily. A knock to the mouth that causes swelling (even if you are wearing a mouthguard) will also make your gums inflamed and vulnerable for a while afterwards.
You have an inflammation caused by bacteria.
If you have bacteria on the surface of tooth that isn’t being cleared away with tooth brushing or the right oral hygiene habits, this will cause inflammation of the neighbouring gums to cause bleeding. This type of inflammation is called Gingivitis and can be treated easily and prevented by using the right cleaning techniques.
You have other health issues.
Certain serious medical conditions or medications you take as part of treatment will cause your gums to bleed.
How to tell if you are damaging yourself with teeth grinding?
Teeth grinding is also called bruxism.
If you experience of these complaints, you might be grinding your teeth-
- a rhythmic contraction of the jaw muscles,
- make a grinding sound at night,
- have tight or painful jaw muscles,
- you temporal mandibular joint clicks,
- you suffer from occasional swelling on the side of the jaw,
- or notice damaged teeth, broken fillings or injured gums,
Teeth grinding is also called bruxism.
If you experience any of these complaints, you might be grinding your teeth:
- a rhythmic contraction of the jaw muscles,
- make a grinding sound at night,
- have tight or painful jaw muscles,
- you temporomandibular joint clicks,
- you suffer from occasional swelling on the side of the jaw,
- or notice damaged teeth, broken fillings or injured gums,
The solution for teeth grinding is to get a professionally made night guard that you wear when you are sleeping to prevent your teeth from scraping against each other.
While you are asleep is when most teeth grinding occurs. Which is why a night guard is the most common way for your dentist to treat your condition.
The way that teeth grinding tends to happen when you’re unconscious is one of the more frustrating parts of this condition. It’s hard to stop doing something when you’re asleep and don’t even know you’re doing it
Dentistry for Children
If you can see the permanent tooth coming through and trying to push the baby tooth out of the way, it is a good idea to see your dentist. They will examine your child’s mouth and may take x-rays to work out whether the baby tooth is going to damage the adult tooth or cause problems with alignment.
Your dentist may recommend that the baby tooth be extracted to help the permanent tooth come through into the right position and without unnecessary contact with the baby tooth.
By you setting the example and showing that this is something grown up and not so awful (even fun) to do, your children will follow your example.
If you are enthusiastic about brushing your teeth, your children will also be enthusiastic. Children want to do the things their parents do. If your children see you brushing your teeth and displaying good dental habits, they will copy.
Each child is different so dentists advise that the first appointment be six months after all of your child’s baby teeth have come up. This is usually when they are around three years old.
In this first visit the dentist is checking to see that their development (mouth, gums and teeth) is normal and detect any potential problems that can be managed before serious conditions occur.
Dental Treatments
The term root canal describes the process of cleaning the canals that comprise the tooth’s root.
A root canal treatment is a procedure that enables the patient to keep a tooth that otherwise would have to be taken out. This kind of treatment is necessary when the pulp tissue (nerve) inside the tooth has become diseased and irreversibly damaged. During a root canal the dentist makes an opening in the top and cleans the necrotic (dead) or diseased tissue and bacteria inside the root of the tooth. The space left after cleaning is filled with an inert filling material in order to prevent future leakage of bacteria into the void from saliva. After the cleaning and filling of the tooth has been finished, the dentist will put in a new filling or crown the tooth.
The need for a root canal is caused by trauma to the tooth, dental caries (tooth decay) and coronal cracks.
A dental implant is structured on a thin, metal rod, usually made from titanium; this is buried in the bone and acts an artificial tooth root by forming an attachment for a replacement tooth.
Following insertion into the bone, it is left in the gum tissue to heal. When healing is complete, it is uncovered; a small metal post is connected and that is what secures and supports the artificial tooth.
The length of time it takes for dental implant treatments depends on the type of bone and the location of the tooth; it can take from a few months to over 9 months. The time-frame will be lengthened if bone grafting or bone growth is needed.
Dental Hygienists are trained to work with patients to help them with their dental care and oral health. They clean teeth, examine you for things like gingivitis and provide other preventative dental care treatments. Dental Hygienists also help patients with dental education to give them ways of improving as well as maintaining good oral health.
Dental Hygienists are registered practitioners who perform dental clinical procedures that prevent dental disease. They work under the supervision and prescription of your dentist, and may treat you with out your dentist being present.
This is a relatively new approach to teeth straightening that has been popularised by Hollywood celebrities. Often called invisible braces, the Invisalign teeth straighten system makes use of a series of transparent, clear retainers (you can think of a retainer as being like a snug fitting mouth guard).
The way it works, is that each of the retainers moves your teeth a tiny amount, as your teeth settle into their new position and become stable, you move on to the next retainer, until your teeth have been positioned to exactly where you want them to be.
The Invisalign system is best suited to adults where the teeth are all fully formed.
Unfortunately, the Invisalign is not able to address all teeth straightening situations, so you’ll need to consult your dentist or orthodontist to find out if this option is available for your situation.
Specialising in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities, orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that deals with problems relating to your ‘bite’ or ‘malocclusion’. If your teeth are crooked or misaligned or if your mouth is overcrowded by your teeth, you need some form of corrective device; an appliance, such as braces, to move the teeth and/or jaws into an ideal position. Your own dentist will refer you to an orthodontist.
A dental bridge is a replacement for missing teeth. If you have lost any teeth, you may have been left with a series of unsightly gaps. If the gaps are not filled with replacement teeth then there is a risk of bone loss ( ‘bone resorption’), which can impact your facial appearance.
A bridge acts as an anchor for two crowns and consists of a false tooth called a ‘pontic’ which sits between the two crowns. The ‘pontic’ is inserted into the gap made by the missing tooth, and is flanked on either side by the two crowns. The crowns fit over your natural teeth on either side of the gap. The two anchoring teeth are called ‘abutment teeth’.
Whether they are called dental crowns, dental caps or tooth caps, damaged, broken or worn down teeth are covered by a crown, as a way to strengthen the teeth and improve the cosmetic appearance. Your dentist will make moulds of your which are then sent to a dental laboratory where the crown/s are made.
Dental crowns are made from a wide range of materials, including ceramics, porcelain, gold or a combination of metals which have been fused to a porcelain shell.
Teeth Whitening
ZOOM! is one of the most popular tooth whitening treatments available from your dentist. This in-dental office teeth whitening solution can only be administered by a qualified professional dentist.
Commonly known as Zoom whitening, the process takes a 2 hour appointment at your dentists office. You attend your dentist’s practice for the teeth bleaching session and leave with a whiter, brighter smile.
Yes, at-home teeth whitening can be just as effective as in-dental clinic whitening, and is better for patients that have extremely sensitive teeth.
For some patients their best choice for teeth whitening will be an at-home whitening kit provided by their dentist. One that has properly moulded mouth trays and professional active gel solutions. This is because the amount of staining on their teeth needs a lot of attention, or because of teeth sensitivity.
The at-home option allows you to get a lovely white smile by regularly applying the tooth bleach and whitening treatments in a way that causes the least amount of sensation to your teeth
Whitening toothpastes contain ingredients that help remove stains on the surface of your teeth by containing a gentle abrasive. This means that they lightly polish the surface and so are unable to change the natural tooth colour.
Your tooth enamel is naturally white and shiny, however as the enamel becomes thinner, to becomes more transparent and the inner layers of your teeth begin to show through. In this case it’s the dentin that is showing through and your dentin is naturally more yellow in colour that the enamel that covers it.
Sadly as we age the enamel layer of our teeth naturally becomes thinner. This is the main reason why as we get older our teeth begin to look increasingly yellow.
There is a long list of different types of problem foods and drinks that will cause teeth yellowing. Here we list the worst offenders.
- Black Tea – You can think about how spilling black tea on your white shirt or tablecloth can easily cause a stain that’s difficult to wash out, as doing the same thing to your teeth.
- Soft Drinks, Sodas & Sports Drinks – Soft drinks and sodas not only contain a lot of acidic sugar, they often have citric and phosphoric acids that wear through tooth enamel.
- Boiled Lollies & Lollipops – Hard lollies like boiled lollies and lollipops are a serious problem when it comes to discolouring and damaging your tooth enamel, not just because of their high sugar content, but because of the long amount of time they are in your mouth.
- Wine – Just like black tea, wine is full of tannins. To be clear both white wine and red wine contain teeth staining tannins, so thinking you’re out of danger if you stick to white wine is actually untrue.
- Curry, Sauces & Condiments – Highly pigmented seasonings such as curries, mustard, saffron, soy sauce, chilli and tomato sauce are able to coat your tooth’s enamel and when left for too long start the staining process. The acidic nature of these items adds to the problem by thinning your enamel, so your teeth are under attack from two sides.
- Vegetables, Fruits & Fruit Juices – Brightly coloured vegetables and fruits like beetroot, pomegranate, cherries, red grapes, currants, cranberry and most berries will stain and discolour your teeth.