Knowledge put into action
It’s often said that prevention is better than cure. And when it comes to your dental health, it’s a sound strategy to follow.
Considered to be the foundation of our care, our Preventive Care services are at the heart of everything we do and everything we believe about dental hygiene.
Through these services, we educate our patients on the importance of practising good dental hygiene. By making a simple commitment to attending two dental check-ups a year, you get to nip any dental issues in the bud. Taking this proactive action, you stave off years of restorative complications and benefit from a comprehensive cleaning and polishing twice a year that you can’t master at home.
Our dentists are all trained in Child Dentistry so we can help you start your little ones off on the right path to a lifetime of good oral hygiene. They’ll have a positive and fun introduction to the benefits of coming for that biannual visit to the not-so-little black chair.
ORAL HEALTH TIPS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
The best time to have dental work done (like cavity fillings) is during the second trimester of your pregnancy (between the 4th and 6th month).
CHILD DENTISTRY
Your child’s first visit to the dentist should be a positive one so that they learn to see visits to the dentists as a normal part of life from an early age. Our dentists are trained to provide a supportive and non-threatening environment for your child at every visit. We recommend that the first visit should be around three years of age when your child has all their 20 milk teeth.
We will keep this first visit short and aim to acclimatise your child to the strange environment. You can remain with your child at all times. We will perform a quick examination of the teeth and gums to check for any issues and will take an X-ray to view the progress of the permanent teeth under the gums. We’ll also review with you how to best maintain an effective dental routine at home.
Always speak positively about going to the dentist. If this is something you fear, you can pass this fear onto your child. Find a children’s book in the library about going to the dentist and explain to your child why looking after their teeth is so important.
Cavities are mostly caused by a diet high in sugar and carbohydrate, and poor dental hygiene. Cavities form due to the acid reaction when eating food. This acid reaction lasts for 20 minutes after eating and saliva can play a part in neutralising or increasing acid-producing bacteria in the mouth. The more sugary and carbohydrate food your give your child, the thicker the saliva and the greater the risk of the acid eroding the tooth structure and causing cavities.
Limit sugary and sticky foods and drinks and the frequency of snacks. Teach your child to brush their teeth and floss after every meal.
Your child’s baby teeth hold space for their permanent teeth to grow and while they have them, they need them to chew, bite and speak. It is important that they stay healthy throughout their short lifespan. In addition, start inculcating good hygiene practices with these teeth so that by the time they grow their adult teeth, they know and understand how to look after them.
FLUORIDE TREATMENT
Fluoride is a natural mineral found in many foods and also in water. It helps protect the tooth’s enamel layer from acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars.
Fluoride is lost through demineralisation when the tooth’s enamel layer is attacked by acids in the food and drinks that we consume. However, this lost fluoride can be replenished in the form of fluoride, calcium and phosphate in a process called remineralisation. This can happen through the foods and drinks we take also. For children under the age of six, fluoride is also important for the development of permanent teeth. Fluoride treatment helps to speed up the remineralisation process.
As well as in the food and water in your daily diet, fluoride can also be found in fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwashes. Over-the-counter mouthwash contains lower amounts of fluoride.
For stronger concentrations of fluoride, you would require a prescription from your dentist. Your dentist can also apply fluoride directly to your teeth in the form of a gel, foam or varnish. This method allows for a much higher amount of fluoride to be applied to your teeth than you would find in toothpastes and mouthwashes. Fluoride supplements are also available in liquid or tablet forms and must be prescribed by the dentist, family doctor or paediatrician.
REGULAR CHECK UPS
At this visit, your dentist will examine your teeth and gums to ensure they are healthy. Surface stains and deposits will be removed. We will also evaluate your current methods of dental care and provide suggestions for future care in order to protect you from complications such as cavities and gum disease. These check-ups also allow us to detect problems early so they can be fixed quickly and easily. If you require further preventive or restorative work, your dentist will let you know. You may need an X-ray for your dentist to gain a full understanding of your case.
Even if you feel nothing at the moment, this is not an indication that your teeth and gums are healthy. Bacteria builds to form plaque that can harden and lead to long-term ailments such as gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease, and periodontal disease if it is not removed. A good dental care routine and regular check-ups will keep your mouth healthy and prevent inflammation, infection, decay, and tooth loss. It also allows your dentist to treat infection or decay so that it doesn’t progress.
This depends on your personal circumstances. We generally recommend you visit every six months. However, we may like to see you more often if you smoke, have a history of cavities or a genetic susceptibility to tooth and root decay or gum disease.
Be sure to clean your teeth before you arrive at your appointment. Our team will be cleaning your teeth for you, but it is helpful to remove food and plaque beforehand so we can focus on the more difficult-to-clean areas. You also want to make sure you are prepared to share pertinent information such as your medical history.
Practise good dental care by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Be sure to schedule your next follow-up appointment at the end of your visit and take the time to attend.
SCALING & POLISHING
When you go for your bi-annual check-up, your dentist will perform a scaling and polishing for you. This removes the plaque (tartar or calculus) and staining that has built up on your teeth since your last visit and smoothens the surface of your teeth.
When plaque builds up, it leads to gum swelling and infection. Our professional teeth cleaning service will help to keep your gums and teeth clean and healthy and reduce the possibility of gum disease, swelling and bleeding. The benefits of professional teeth cleaning include:
Cleaner teeth. Even with the most well-intentioned home cleaning regime, it is impossible for you to remove all the bacteria and deposits from your gum pockets. Tartar can build up not only on the visible surface of the teeth but below the gum line and can result in serious periodontal problems. A thorough clean at your dentist’s office will reach the parts you can’t.
Whiter teeth. Stained teeth are not very flattering so a bi-annual clean can help brighten your smile once again.
Fresher breath. Bad breath (halitosis) can be caused by a combination of rotting food particles, maybe below the gum line, and gangrene from gum infection. A professional cleaning will remove plaque and bacteria and improve halitosis.
We use a device called an ultrasonic scaler, which consists of a wand with a small scaling tip that produces a soft ultrasonic vibration. These vibrations in combination with a water flow allow us to blast the plaque from your teeth quickly, efficiently and painlessly.
