Does it hurt?

The feedback we consistently receive from our patients is that “there was much less pain than they ever thought”. And that it hurt more to have a tooth removed.

 How Do I Care for My Dental Implant?

Like natural teeth, dental implants need to be flossed and brushed twice daily, consistently. This ensures healthy gums and bone around them. You also have to attend the dentist 6 monthly for routine checks and cleans as required and to avoid harmful habits like using your teeth as tools.

How Long Does It Take?

The actual placement/ insertion of the implant into the jaw bone takes just under an hour.  This procedure is preceded by a pre-treatment visit where we take a 3D xray (CBCT) and optical scans of your teeth to determine the amount of bone you have, the location of important structures like nerves and sinuses, and even fabricate a special stent to help place the implant in an optimum position. At the time of implant insertion, its stability is tested, and checked again three months later before connecting a crown.

How Much Do They Cost?

Their long-term value far exceeds that of other tooth restoration methods, and there is no question that they are a worthwhile investment. The cost of dental implants varies according to individual need and the extent of correction required. If you have dental (extras) health insurance, some of the insurers may cover a portion of the expense. Dr Joseph Tidimane will be happy to provide you with a detailed price quote during your personal consultation. Our reception staff will be able to talk you through the option of an interest free payment plan, which may help make this dental treatment accessible.

Book an Appointment

Thinking of getting a Dental Implant? We can look after you and thoroughly explain what’s involved and what kind of solution we can achieve!

Or call us at 0262472240

It is recommended that you brush your teeth for a minimum of two minutes, twice a day spending at least 30seconds on each quarter of your mouth. Flossing is recommended once a day. Toothbrushing and flossing remove dental plaque, which if not removed, causes dental cavities and gum disease. A common question is, which is better an electric or manual toothbrush?

Electric toothbrushes were first introduced in 1954, initially created for patients with limited motor skills and for orthodontic patients. They make rapid automatic rotating-oscillating or vibrating motions of the bristles to clean the teeth. They require minimal input from the person using them to keep the teeth clean. The manual toothbrush movements depend on the actions you perform as you clean to ensure removal of plaque and food debri. You would think that since a person cannot match the speeds of electric toothbrushes, an electric toothbrush is a more efficient choice. Whilst studies have shown that electric toothbrushes are slightly more efficient than manual toothbrushes, this is clinically insignificant. This means both the manual and EB are effective at removing plaque, if used properly.

It is perhaps best to look at the pros and cons of each method to determine which one is best for you

Your oral health will remain at optimum levels as long as you consistently and correctly brush your teeth for a minimum of two minutes (despite the type of toothbrush you use) twice daily. Toothbrushes or brush heads need to be replaced every three months or before if the bristles are flared. If you are sitting on the fence about whether or not buy an EB, talk to one of our dentist at your next dental visit.

4 Reasons why athletes should wear custom mouthguards

1. A properly fitted mouthguard protects the soft tissues of the lips, cheeks, gums and tongue from tearing during impact.
2. It cushions the teeth and jaw joints from impact.
3. Allows breathing and speaking, making it easier for athletes to wear it during training and games.
4. The cost of a custom mouthguard is low compared to the cost of any treatment associated with injury sustained by not wearing a mouthguard.

What are mouthguards?

A mouthguard is a soft plastic that helps to cushion the teeth, jawbone and gums during a traumatic event (e.g. a blow to the face during sports). They help to significantly reduce the risk of broken or knocked out teeth as well as injuries to the jaw, gums, lips, cheeks and the tongue. They also help to reduce injuries to the jaw joint (TMJ). They cover the top teeth because they are usually the ones that receive the initial blow. The bottom teeth are normally set behind the top teeth, this naturally gives them a bit more protection.

When should they be worn?

They ideally, should form a part of protective gear during all sporting activities, including team practice. They are typically worn when playing contact sports like rugby union, rugby league, AFL, hockey and boxing. Children and adults involved with non-contact sports like soccer, skateboarding, touch football, netball, basketball and trampolining which also carry a risk of accidental collision, which may result in injuries to the mouth, might also consider wearing a mouthguard.

What are the different types of mouthguards available?

1. Custom Fitted Mouthguards
They are individually designed and made in our dental clinic. The dentist will take an impression/mould of your teeth. The mouthguard is then moulded over the model of your teeth. Because it is custom made for your teeth, it fits well, and is very comfortable. You can breathe and speak with it in the mouth. It provides the best protection for you or your child. The Australian Dental Association recommends the use of custom fitted mouthguards.

2. Stock Mouthguards
These are preformed and come ready to wear. They can be bought at sporting good stores. They are ill-fitting, bulky, make breathing and talking difficult. They provide very limited protection, our dentists do not recommend them.

3. Boil and bite mouthguards
They can also be bought at sporting good stores. They offer a slightly better fit than the stock mouthguards. They do not confer as good protection as the custom mouthguards.

How do I care for my Mouthguard?

• Rinse the mouthguard with cold water or a mouthwash before and after each use.
• Clean the mouthguard with cool soapy water and a soft bristled toothbrush and rinse it thoroughly before storage.
• Place the mouthguard in a firm container to store or transport it.
• Protect the mouthguard from high temperature eg water or direct sunlight, to minimize distorting it’s shape.
• Keep the mouthguard out of reach from pets, dogs can eat them!
• Bring your mouthguard to your routine check up appointments so that the dentist can examine it.

Is one of your new years resolutions better health? What about your oral health as part of your overall well-being? Or your children’s oral health? It is imperative to establish healthy habits in your children, of any kind, from early on to be able to maintain them for life. By introducing children to the correct way of tooth brushing, flossing and taking care of their teeth and mouths, they will generally grow up seeing oral health care as an easy and fun way to establish a confident smile.

1. Your baby’s teeth 
Before your baby’s first tooth comes through at about 6 months after birth, you should clean their gums with a moist gauze or cloth. After the first tooth comes through, you should use a very soft bristled, child appropriate tooth brush, to brush their teeth. At this stage, toothpaste is not required as the baby will swallow instead of spitting it out.

2. Tell, show & demonstrate
Have your young child make open mouth faces on the mirror to start developing awareness of how clean, or not, their teeth are. Show them where food is stuck before they brush, and how clean their teeth are after brushing their teeth, gums and the tongue. Demonstrate to them, on the mirror, the correct way of brushing their teeth.

3. Gradually handover
From their third birthday, your child starts to develop the manual dexterity to brush and spit out. At this stage, most will have a full set of their deciduous teeth. You can now start to gradually hand over the responsibility of keeping their own mouth clean. Pea sized amounts of children’s toothpaste can be placed on the toothbrush and encourage the children to spit out. Encourage the child to have their teeth cleaned twice a day.

4. Model good dental habits
Children learn by copying what they have observed. Invite your child to watch you brushing your teeth and tongue, and flossing. When you are done, flash a big smile on the mirror and say your mouth feels fresh and clean.

5. The value of good nutrition
What a child eats and drinks also significantly impacts their oral health. Instead of constantly portraying sugary foods and drinks as ‘bad’, encourage ‘good’ healthy foods and water. It helps to mainly have healthy snacks available for them during the  day, and in their school lunch boxes. 

6. Dental visits
Always talk about the dental visit in positive  terms, your own personal unpleasant experiences, if any, should not be mentioned as it models their behaviour. Talk about the friendly staff, the cool chair they get to sit on. Ensure that the child views dental cleans as part of a normal dental visit. Some procedures are not enjoyable, and these should be viewed as an exception, not the rule to associate dental visits.

7. Share the excitement of all their visits.
Announce the good news about your child’s dental visit to your friends and family. Be it a great check up or excellent behavior during treatment. It may even be worth it to take a picture of them being fantastic at the dentist. It’s all worth sharing to build the child’s confidence. Prime those friends and family members to ensure that they only have positive, raving feedback. 

The 4th of February is World Cancer Day. According to Cancer Australia, the estimated number of new cancer cases diagnosed in 2017 was 134,174. The aim of this article is to provide dental guidance for our patients to help them through this difficult phase in their lives.

Cancer treatment does not only affect the targeted cancer cells but normal cells throughout the body including the mouth. Some of the resulting oral side effects are significant and include:

1. Oral Mucositis which is  characterized by mouth pain, ulcers,  bleeding, difficulty swallowing and breathing. The presence of these symptoms can be debilitating, and may affect eating and therefore nutrition leading to a decline in health. In it’s worst form, mucositis may lead to delay of cancer therapy, which may affect treatment outcomes.

2. Xerostomia or dry mouth characterised by ropey saliva, sticky sensation, less saliva, chapped lips, bad breath, to mention but a few.

 3. Oral thrush or Fungal infections which result in red or white patches throughout the mouth- these are painful too and eating may be affected.

4. Neurosensory changes which result in altered taste.

5. Rampant tooth decay

6. Trismus or limited jaw opening as a result of muscle spasm.  This is more associated with head and neck radiation therapy. 

Recent advances in cancer therapy has significantly increased the survival rates in some cancer types, necessitating the need to maintain optimum oral health before, during and after cancer treatment.

Once a cancer diagnosis has been received, a consultation with the dentist for assessment of dental health and implementation of basic oral care prior to commencement of cancer treatment is recommended. Treating clinicians (oncologists and dentists) should remain vigilant to recognize oral complications in their early phases.
 
Prior to commencing cancer treatment, patients should have their teeth professionally cleaned, which may help to reduce the severity of mucositis. Small decay lesions may receive fluoride and temporary fillings until definitive treatment can be completed. Extraction of teeth with poor prognosis due to periodontitis (advanced gum disease), those causing pain or infection, and those at risk of causing infection should be done about 2-3weeks before commencement of cancer treatment.  

Basic oral care includes preventing infection, treating active infection, controlling pain, maintaining oral function, managing oral complications, and improving quality of life.

Basic oral care guidelines:

• Brush twice daily, with an ultrasoft toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste.
• Rinse with a fluoride containing mouthwash. Avoid alcohol-containing mouthwashes. Alternatively make-up your own mouthwash: 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, 1litre of water. Discard the solution at the end of the day.
• Floss gently, before tooth brushing and avoid using wooden toothpicks.
• Rub a high fluoride containing gel eg neutrafluor 5000ppm gel paste onto the teeth, and don’t rinse it off
• If xerostomia is present, sip tap water (contains fluoride) through the day and chew xylitol, sugar free gum. If xerostomia is severe, the dentist will recommend other products, including Biotene products readily available in most pharmacies.

Once cancer treatment is complete, more frequent professional cleaning visits are recommended.