One of the first and most memorable things you notice about someone is their smile.

Positive self-esteem or how we feel about ourselves is vitally important to a healthy personality and happiness. It also helps us develop a positive attitude towards life, and in achieving our personal goals.

One aspect and self-esteem is how you feel about your physical presence, or more importantly, how you think you look to others.

The face, not surprisingly, is critical to one’s image. Skin complexion, teeth, and nose - in that order - are the highest “rated” facial features.

A healthy dazzling smile can make you look younger and lift your level of self confidence to new found heights - more so than all the post of cream, eyeliner, clothes and hair care products that are on the market.

What modern cosmetic dentistry can do for your self-esteem is just amazing.

Modern cosmetic dentistry has the materials and procedures to restore virtually any smile to health, youthfulness and symmetry.

Cosmetics? Sure it is. But you can call on dentistry to give you a beautiful smile that won’t wash off.

Veneers 

As the name suggests a veneer is a very thin facia made from porcelain, which is stuck on to the front of an existing tooth using extremely strong adhesives. Veneers are generally only used on our front teeth to enhance our appearance or correct the unsightly look of one or more teeth. Many of our favourite actors, models and media personalities have at some stage whisked off to the dentist to have their set of veneers fitted.

Veneers are individually made to suit the patients desired result and their aesthetic properties allow them to be indistinguishable from real teeth. In fact they generally look better than a person’s real teeth. By using veneers we can reshape your teeth to look longer, wider, rounder or squarer, even make them whiter. The choice is yours and of course we will help guide you with what look will enhance the rest of your facial features.

Crowns

A crown is an artificial cover that encompasses the whole tooth and can be used on any tooth. They are normally used to restore decayed or damaged teeth to their normal shape and size. Crowns are used to protect the structure of a tooth that is cracked or broken. They can also be used to change the shape of a tooth, to correct a bite or even fix a cosmetic problem. A crown can be made of gold or from other metals such as amalgam, but if you’re after that natural look you might opt for white porcelain matched to the same shade as the rest of your teeth.

Bonding

Bonding is normally used to repair tooth chips and fill small gaps between teeth. The technique of bonding uses special liquid composite resins that can be hardened in an instant by using high intensity light. This special characteristic of bonding material allows a dentist to pour and sculpt over a chipped tooth whilst in its liquid state and then when the desired effect and look is achieved, zap it with the high intensity light.

A quick polish and tidy up of the edges and ‘hey presto’, instant tooth in a can. We also colour match the bonding with the rest of your teeth, so no one can tell the difference.

Bonding works best on low stress areas of the mouth. It is not necessarily a cure all for every dental problem but in most cases it can improve your smile in almost no time at all, and with minimal expense.

If you feel that you have a dental condition that could benefit from a crown, veneers or bonding, call in and see us and we will advise you of all the options that would best suit your particular case.

 

Many people believe that orthodontic treatment begins when the braces go on the teeth. This is not the case. Thousands of children need early orthodontic care - some even as young as six years old. Early diagnosis and monitoring allows your dentist and orthodontist to take full advantage at a time when your child’s bone structure is easier to shape. If you think the odds of a young child having orthodontic problems are remote, you may wish to consider these facts:

• Very few people are born with “perfect teeth”
• 75% of people have orthodontic problems, which should be treated
• 25% of these problems are severe
• Orthodontic problems aren’t just limited to protruding teeth or under bites
• Often the problems relate to the overall structure of the mouth, face and bite characteristics.
• Frequently they don’t show up in a smile as crooked or uneven teeth at all

Therefore, if you feel that your child may need orthodontic treatment, right now is the time that you should seek professional opinion.

A Healthy Mouth Means Fresh Breath.

Social embarrassments can come in many shapes and sizes. But chronic bad breath is near the top of the list.

It affects those nearest and dearest to us and can quite often cause problems in relationships. Worse yet, a person with bad breath is normally unaware they have it until someone tells them. Bacteria, plain and simple, is the culprit. Not surprisingly our mouth contains millions of bacteria and when they get out of control they can quite simply get on the nose.

Plaque, tartar, gum disease, tooth decay, dentures, and your tongue are all places where bacteria can thrive, so much so that all the breath fresheners and mouth washes on the supermarket shelf won’t remedy the cause. They can only camouflage it temporarily - usually for only a few hours.

• Bad breath caused by tartar, gum disease and tooth decay can only be remedied at the dentist by having regular scale and cleans and check ups
• Brush your tongue. One study estimates 50% of oral bacteria can be eliminated by brushing your tongue with a soft brush every day. Some of us call it the “bottom of a cocky cage” syndrome
• If you wear dentures anything less than pristine clean will generally contribute to bad breath. Make sure that you clean them thoroughly and regularly using Sterodent or something similar.
• If you are a chronic “mouth-breather” also beware! More dry mouth means more bad breath.

If you are concerned about your own or your partner’s breath we can isolate and fix any oral causes.

If you want whiter teeth - just ask. In around 10 days you can have gleaming beaming pearly whites.

Continual exposure to substances such as tea, coffee, wine and cigarette smoke can cause yellowing and staining of teeth. Sometimes though people are just born with darker coloured teeth and would like to see them a shade or two whiter.

There are various methods available to whiten teeth but the only real effective way to whiten your teeth is to have them bleached professionally by a dentist. Bleaching is safe and the results are quite amazing. In fact many people look years younger and healthier simply by having their teeth whitened.

Teeth bleaching is generally done at home using custom made night time bleaching trays (very thin mini plastic mouth guards) fitted by your dentist. A specially formulated bleaching gel is applied to the tray, which is worn during the night over a 7 to 14 day period. You can begin to see the results after the first one or two nights.

The key to bleaching is the custom fit tray and the right concentration of bleach (carbamide peroxide) for your needs.

Most people choose the mint flavoured gel over the others that are available and we will “professionally colour match” your teeth as you go.

For the really “tooth colour” conscious person you can top up your whiteness and brightness once every 6 to 12 months by simply repeating the procedure over one or two nights.

Pain, time and cost. It’s all a myth. Yet only 20% of the population see the dentist on a regular basis.

Pain

It’s a fact, 90% of the time that your in the chair it doesn’t hurt at all. In fact many people only go to the dentist to get rid of pain. It’s only on the rare occasion when you need an injection that you might feel something and even then it really amounts to no more than a pinprick, and we have all done that at some stage or our life.

Time

Many of the new procedures take no time at all. In fact most people spend more time getting their car serviced each year than they do having their teeth examined and professionally cleaned.

Cost

Well it all comes down to what value is placed on your dental health.

Most scale, clean and check ups cost less than a car service. And if there is a problem that requires major treatment, you can now take advantage of dental treatment funding plans which allow you to spread the cost of treatment over an extended period. Furthermore, payments made for dental treatment and services qualify for the governments 20% Medical Expense Rebate which can sometimes amount to many hundreds of dollars.

That’s right, you can actually get many back from the government just for having your teeth fixed! So there it is - no more excuses!

 

Pain associated with hot foods and drinks usually implies that the nerve in a tooth is dying and an abscess may be forming at the tip of the root. It is not uncommon for a tooth nerve to die off and a number of reasons, including decay or trauma can bring it on - when you least expect it.

When the nerve of a tooth dies off, it starts to disintegrate and gasses are formed in the tiny nerve chamber within the root.

When hot foods and liquids are consumed the gasses in the nerve chamber expand with the heat, causing significant pressure build up, which results in pain.

It is very important that a proper diagnosis is made at this particular time and if so, the nerve in the tooth should be removed. If left untreated, a dying nerve will eventually cause an abscess to form at the tip of the root, which is excruciatingly painful. Some people have described the pain as being more severe than appendicitis.

Once the abscess has formed at the tip of the root it can be very difficult to treat. Complex root canal therapy through the tiny nerve chamber is often required to drain and clean the infection that can develop.

So if you start having any pain symptoms whilst drinking hot liquids it is advisable that we see you as soon as possible so that we can prevent the problem from getting worse and causing you further and unnecessary discomfort.

The average person should have a scale and clean at least once every six to twelve months.

Annual scaling and cleaning of teeth by your dentist removes plaque and calculus which builds up under and around the gum line of each tooth. Unfortunately regular brushing alone doesn't stop the build up of plaque and calculus altogether. If left untreated for too long it can lead to gum disease and eventually tooth loss. More than half of all people over the age of 18 have at least the early stages of gum or periodontal disease. After the age of 35 about three out of four people are affected. Early stages of the disease are persistent bad breath generally noticed by those who come into close contact with you followed by red and swollen gums and occasional bleeding after brushing.

The good news is that regular professional cleaning by your dentist will remove the plaque and calculus build up and that periodontal disease is treatable in early stages. What's more, you will also eliminate that "bad breath syndrome" and catch any decay in its early stages when it's cheaper and easier to fix.

Bruxism or grinding teeth is a very common habit yet most of the time we never know we're doing it. A partner's elbow to the ribs often wakes a person who is grinding because the grating sound resembles fingernails being dragged down a blackboard. Either stress or poor bite characteristics can bring it on. Both adults and children can suffer from grinding and if left untreated it can lead to:

 

• Worn down teeth and tooth sensitivity
• Broken, fractured, chipped or cracked teeth or fillings
• Loose teeth
• Damaged or sore jaw joints
• Headaches and neck aches

Ear and hearing problems When the cause is related to stress we often suggest wearing a "dental night guard" until the person has adjusted to the stress-causing situation. This appliance is a clear piece of plastic customized to fit over the biting surfaces of our lower teeth. When wearing a night guard patients feel relief from jaw tension and the protective nature of the appliance reduces tooth wear.

When the cause is related to poor bite characteristics such as protruding teeth or fillings being too high, simple smoothing or contouring is generally all this is required.

If you're curious about our approach to this common habit , let us know the next time you're in.

Sugar is the main cause of decay and it is found in many of the foods we eat and drink either naturally or as an additive.

Bacteria that have settled on a tooth thrive on sugar. They love the stuff and multiply themselves so that even more of them can have fun. Unfortunately when bacteria and sugar get together a chemical reaction occurs that produces acid which eats away at the enamel of the tooth. The more sugar we eat results in more bacteria which produces more acid which increases the chance of decay.



Fluoride helps strengthen tooth enamel making it harder for the acid to eat its way into the tooth but once the decay process has started it accelerates at a rapid rate. After eating through the enamel the decay then attacks the softer dentine. If left untreated, the decay will engulf the tooth eating its way further down to the pulp of nerve.

It is therefore important to try and limit the amount of sweet foods and drink that we consume and to brush our teeth shortly after every meal - including lunch.

 

Teeth don't fix themselves!

If you have had a toothache in the past but it seems okay now, it could be because you have the first stages of decay and the nerve of the tooth has retracted slightly to compensate. This is especially so if the original pain lasted only a couple of seconds whilst eating or drinking cold food. The problem though, is that if it's left untreated the worst is yet to come.

In any case, it's best to have it checked out early so as to stop any future pain and minimise the cost of getting it fixed.

If You're Happy With It Don't!

Ask yourself the following questions:

•   Do you ever put your hand over your mouth when you smile or laugh?
•   Do you feel that you photograph better from one side of your face?
•   Is there someone you believe has a better smile than yours?
•   Do you sometimes look at magazines and wish that your smile was just like the models?
•   When you read fashion magazines are you drawn to the models mouth and smile?
•   When you smile in the mirror are you conscious of any defects in your teeth or gums?
•   Do you wish that your teeth were whiter?
•   Do you feel that you show too many or too few teeth when you smile or laugh?
•   Do you show too much gum when you smile or laugh?
•   Do you feel that your teeth are too long or too short?
•   Do you feel that your teeth are too wide or too narrow?
•   Do you feel that your teeth are too square or too round?

If you answered "No" to all of the above questions you are content with your smile.

One thing is for sure - healthy gums don't bleed!

If your gums are bleeding after you have brushed your teeth you are showing the early stages of gum disease. Plaque that harbours bacteria can get in under the gum line of your tooth and can start weakening and softening your gums. Because it's under the gum line you can't always see it and unlike tooth decay gum disease doesn't usually hurt or cause pain. When you brush, the infected gums are irritated to the point that the weak membranes are broken causing slight bleeding. Pain is not always associated with bleeding gums as the moisture and saliva in the mouth have a natural numbing effect on the broken tissue.

The good news is that we can treat it fairly quickly and bring your mouth back to its normal healthy condition.

Count them. The normal person has 28 teeth plus 4 Wisdom Teeth.

Many people have gaps between their teeth and it is very common to have a gap between the upper two front teeth. There can be many different treatment options, and these options need to be individualised for each specific case.

For example, some people purely have very small teeth, in which case it is very easy to apply some bonding or veneers to the small teeth increasing their size and closing the spaces. Bonding can usually be performed in under one hour and the gap can be closed. Veneers may require two visits about a week apart but a better long-term result is usually guaranteed.

Some patients however, already have large teeth when a gap is present and any further increase in the size of their teeth might look too weird. In these situations it may be better to close the spaces using orthodontic treatment, either with braces or possibly removable plates.

If you have a gap that concerns you, talk to us about it and we will be most happy to show you the options that suit your particular case.

 
 

No-one is too old for orthodontic treatment. In fact, 25% of orthodontic patients are now adults, who undergo orthodontic treatment for many reasons. Some to improve the appearance of their teeth and others to correct bite problems.

Orthodontics have come a long way in the last 20 years and with the use of very light wire, discomfort is now minimal. Also, many adult patients feel far more comfortable in having orthodontic treatment with the advent of clear braces, and some patients may even want to consider the use of lingual braces, i.e. braces on the inside of their teeth which obviously can't be seen at all.

New techniques and materials have also seen an overall reduction in the required treatment times for orthodontic care. Depending on the severity of the condition most orthodontic treatment can be undertaken within six to twenty-four months regardless of age.

For those that can't wait that long, some problems can be overcome by using cosmetic dentistry techniques, i.e. veneers and/or crowns. Although not always the best physiological solution, cosmetic dentistry may be the best suited option for those that need more immediate results.

 

The life span of the average toothbrush is about 2-3 months. So change your toothbrush at the beginning of each season (summer, autumn, winter, spring). Toothbrushes just simply wear out after all the repetitive use morning, noon and night. The bristles breakdown and lose their effectiveness in getting into all those tricky corners around your teeth.

The other reason to change them regularly is that they are a breeding ground for germs, fungus and bacteria which after a while can build up to significant levels. They can also spread cold and flu viruses through families when stored together, infecting adjacent toothbrushes.

Toothbrushes also harbour the little bugs that cause cold sores and ulcers. If you are susceptible to ulcers and cold sores you should also change your toothbrush more regularly to avoid re-infecting other parts of the mouth and possibly other members of the family.

After using a toothbrush, shake it vigorously under tap water and store it in an upright position allowing it to dry out. Try and keep your toothbrush from touching others when it is stored.

 

For years, physicians have used various types of implants to replace damaged body parts such as hip joints. Today modern dentistry can replace missing teeth in much the same way. In fact, thousands of patients have had missing teeth replaced using dental implants.

A dental implant is simply an artificial device, designed to replace the root portion of a missing tooth. They are surgically placed into the underlying jawbone of the mouth. The implant is then allowed sufficient time to permanently attach itself to the jawbone after which time an artificial tooth or crown is attached.

Once the procedure has been completed and provided proper oral hygiene is maintained, an implant can last indefinitely. An implant can give the patient a result that is the next best thing to having their own natural tooth.

Different techniques allow dental implants to be used to replace either one missing tooth or more than one tooth. Dental implants can also be used to firmly secure dentures or whole rows of artificial teeth that normally suffer from a degree of movement and discomfort.

Implant recipients need to have healthy gums, sufficient bone structure in the jaw, and good oral hygiene habits.

To find out if an implant is right for you talk to us next time you are in and we will be happy to discuss your options with you.

 

Because of the introduction of fluoride in toothpastes and most water supplies, our children have achieved a dramatic reduction in tooth decay. But what about those back teeth where we still occasionally find problems?

There's a lot of talk about a simple and inexpensive way to help protect your child's teeth from decay. "Sealants", as they are known in the dental world, are risk-free, clear resin coating that actually bonds to the surface of the teeth, literally sealing out any chance of decay.

In a five-year study of 200 children, 59% of the uncoated teeth showed sings of decay, while 95% of the sealed teeth were perfectly intact after five years.

How do sealants work?

All teeth have natural pits and fissures (depressions and grooves) on the surface and these are the places that tend to trap bacterial plaque. This is where 84% of all cavities start. Sealants cover or fill in the pits and fissures eliminating the places that bacteria can congregate on the surface of the tooth.

Who is the best candidate for sealants?

All children are when their permanent teeth are beginning to erupt or come through.

Sealants are quick, painless, and they last for years. A check-up every six months will assure that no cracks have formed. Think about your child's dental health down the road and give them the best chance against fighting decay.

If there has ever been a bargain in dentistry, sealants are it!

Our third molar teeth or wisdom teeth, as they are commonly known, usually erupt between the ages of 16 and 26 years of age.

Back in the old days when we used to have much coarser diets, our back teeth would wear away leaving room for the wisdom teeth to come through. In modern times, with diets that are less coarse, very few people actually have enough room for their wisdom teeth to come through.

Some people believe that if wisdom teeth don't erupt, it's all right to leave them there. If you can't see them and they don't hurt why worry about them. One of the main problems concerning wisdom teeth is that they can become impacted - that is they only partially erupt or they get trapped or stuck in the jaw.

Fillings don't last forever.

There is no real guarantee on how long a filling will last. It is safe to say though that a small filling will generally last longer than a large filling, which is why it is important to detect decay as early as possible.

If you have had a large filling for more than 10-15 years you have probably done fairly well for yourself.

Modern dentistry has the ability to correct almost any tooth abnormality.

If you have a crooked tooth, braces are generally the best way to correct the problem. However there may be an alternative cosmetic procedure that may solve your particular situation. One way to change the appearance of teeth is by the use of crowns. Crowns are made from then but very strong tooth like materials. After preparing the problem tooth and by using special adhesives they are stuck on top of the original tooth - correcting its appearance. Many types of tooth abnormalities can be corrected using this technique, however every case is different and we will help guide you in your decision.

That's right! 4 out of 5 adults have periodontal or gum disease. Most people however don't even know they have it, mainly because it's almost always painless. The early stages of periodontal disease (gingivitis) largely go unnoticed and can only be diagnosed by a dentist. Sometimes there is slight bleeding of the gums when brushing or someone may tell you that you have got bad breath and you may pass it off to the garlic bread you had with your last meal.

As the disease (periodontitis) progresses, you may not notice the gradual changes that occur. You may think that the slightly longer look of your teeth and puffier gums are normal for your age. Late stages of the disease could result in so much bone loss that the teeth will eventually fall out.

People loose more teeth through periodontal diseases than from all the other reasons combined.

The good news is that periodontal diseases can be treated and the progression of the disease can be halted.

If someone tells you that you've got bad breath or you notice bleeding, no matter how slight when you brush your teeth, don't ignore it. Come and see us as soon as you can.

 

First things first. Find the tooth!

Don't handle it by the delicate root and resist the temptation to clean it off with water. The root membrane is delicate and is needed intact to encourage re-attachment. If the tooth is clean, place it gently back in its socket immediately and apply slight pressure. If the tooth is dirty try and rinse it using milk and then place it back in its socket. Otherwise kept the tooth moist by placing it in a class of milk or tuck it into your cheek.

DO NOT USE WATER.

Make fast tracks to a dentist. If you can be there within 30 minutes, there's an 85% chance the tooth will survive.

If someone snores excessively they may be suffering from "Sleep Apnea" and should consult a sleep apnea specialist for diagnosis and treatment. However….

One of the more typical causes of common snoring is when the lower jaw relaxes during sleep and moves backward reducing the air way passage in the throat. This reduction in the airway passage causes certain membranes in the upper throat to vibrate erratically. This erratic vibration is what we call snoring. The more someone snores the more irritated the membrane becomes which results in swelling, reducing the airway passage even more and the problem compounds.

If you snore you are not getting the rest you should from your sleep. You may also be at risk of sleep apnea, hypertension, heart disease and stroke. You most certainly will be grumpy at times and feel lethargic during the day and may have a diminished sexual potency.

Factors that can contribute to snoring include being overweight, smoking, diminished fitness and excessive alcohol consumption.

A simple solution to this particular cause of snoring is to stop the jaw moving backwards when it relaxes during sleep. A dentist is able to custom fit a simple and comfortable night-time appliance that will stop the backward movement of the lower jaw during sleep. This will allow you to sleep more efficiently and in many cases most people find that they need fewer hours sleep and wake up feeling refreshed and full of energy.

The real challenge for you is getting your partner to come in and see us - Sweet dreams!

All our teeth balance on each other. Likewise upper teeth reply on lower teeth for something to chew against.

When a back tooth is lost, there may not appear to be any immediate problems with the rest of your teeth. However over time, problems can develop that can lead to the loss of several other teeth.

The reason is, when the lower back molar tooth is lost, the teeth next to it can tip over into the space left by the missing tooth. In addition, it is very common for the upper opposing tooth to overgrow and once this happens there is now way of pushing that tooth back into its correct position and it usually needs to be removed. In other words, by losing one back molar tooth and not replacing it, a domino effect usually begins, causing the ultimate loss of several other back teeth.

Over time, other problems such as increased spacing between front teeth, abnormal bite characteristics, increased incidence of gum disease, increased decay, increased stresses on remaining teeth, headaches and jaw joint problems usually all occur.

Therefore, when back teeth are lost, they should be replaced. The use of a bridge or an implant can restore the bite back to its correct situation and avoid future problems. It is far better and cheaper to treat the situation early, rather than waiting for costly problems to occur - as some of these problems cannot be resolved.

Each tooth consists of two parts - the crown and the root. Only the crown is visible in the mouth. The root is in the bone under the gums. The centre of the crown and root is hollow and is called the pulp chamber, which extends further down the root forming the root canal.

The pulp, which is made up of living tissue and nerves nourishes the tooth and is contained in the pulp chamber and root canal. When the pulp becomes infected, either through decay or trauma, it needs to be removed to prevent the onset of jaw inflammation and extreme pain.

Root canal treatment is the process of removing the pulp and cleaning out all the infected tissue in the pulp chamber and root canal. This is done using tiny files until all traces of the pulp are gone. The first visit usually involves the removal of the infected pulp and cleaning out the infected chamber. Usually medication is left down the pulp chamber for a period of a few weeks to ensure that all the bacteria has been eliminated prior to sealing the tooth.



On the second visit, if all the bacteria has been removed, the tooth can be sealed with a pink substance called gutta-percha to ensure no bacteria can get down the root of the tooth again. On the other hand, if bacteria still remains, we will keep cleaning out the infected pulp chamber and replacing the medication until the chamber and root canal is totally free of all bacteria before performing the final seal with gutta-percha.

Because the tooth has no pulp to nourish it after root canal treatment has been done, it will become weaker than a normal tooth, turn grey in colour and be susceptible to cracking and splitting. For this reason it is recommended that a crown be fitted, so that the structure of the tooth is not compromised and its appearance remains the same.

Usually root canal treatment is painless and, if done correctly, there is usually a 95% long-term success rate with this procedure. This is far better than having the tooth removed as we can maintain the health of all the teeth in the mouth and maintain the correct bite characteristics with the existing teeth.

 

Some people suffer from what we call a “gummy smile”

This usually occurs when the appearance of the teeth are small or short and there is more than usual gum tissue visible when the person smiles.

One of the more common reasons for this condition is that during childhood development, the person’s gums simply grew a little bit more than the average. Hidden underneath that abundance of gummy skin though are healthy teeth, which have developed normally.

To correct this particular condition is quite simple and easy. All that is required is to re-contour the gum line, so that more of the teeth are visible.

If you have a gummy smile that worries you, ask us to discuss this with you, as some simple gum line contouring may correct your situation.
 
 

In most areas of life, we have several cost options. For example, when renovating a house, there are many different types of materials and appliances that can be used. Each material and appliance is chosen based on its functional properties, its expected life span, its aesthetic properties and ongoing maintenance requirements. The end cost will largely depend upon the quality of materials used and the quality of the ultimate finish.

Dentistry is generally no different. In dentistry, we have many different materials and many different treatment options. Obviously, the lower priced options generally have a shorter expected life span and might not look as good as other options, or be as functional - but we can usually organize a solution to fit within your financial situation.

At least once each day.

If you don’t, you are almost sure to have bad breath.

What’s worse, is that people with bad breath usually don’t know that they have it .

o if you don’t want to be embarrassed or offend anybody, floss each day!

Why is this so? Well we know that bad breath is the result of bacteria. Bacteria can be found in many places within the mouth and regular brushing can usually get rid of most of it. One place that brushing alone can’t get too is under the gum line. Apart from a professional scale & clean, flossing is the best way to remove bacteria from under your gum line.

Bacteria left under the gum line for too long can start the onset of gum or periodontal disease, which if left untreated can lead to the ultimate loss of several teeth.

If you are not 100% sure of the best way to floss, just ask us next time you are in and we will be happy to give you a practical demonstration.

If you suffer from sore or painful jaw joints, or jaw and face muscle pain, clicking or grinding noises during normal movement of your jaw, or you experience headaches or earaches, you may have TMD.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD) are a family of problems related to either one or both of your complex jaw joints. The lower jaw (mandible), is held in place by numerous muscle groups and ligaments, which also allow us to move the lower jaw forward and sideways so that we can talk, chew, swallow and yawn. These are all normal movements, which should occur without discomfort and limitation.

60% of the population experience TMD at some stage of their life. Sings and symptoms often first appear when people are in their in their 20’s. There are numerous causes of TMD and the effects of many of them can be corrected or minimized using dentistry based treatment options.

If you have any pain in the jaw and not in the neck, pop in and see us and we will advise you of the options available.

 

Dental Fees

Unlike Medicare, dental fees are not subsidised by the Federal Government and there is no recognised fee schedule.

Fees have to be set by the dentist to take account of individual costs of practice which will vary in different practices.

As a general rule, a dentist has to pay out approximately 70% of all fees received in the overhead costs of running the practice.

If this practice tries to cut these costs to lower the fees you pay, there is a danger that the quality of your treatment may be compromised.

The fees charged in this practice are kept as low as possible whilst still providing care of the highest quality.

There is no comfort in providing cheap dentistry if it means a lower quality of care for patients.

The best way to lower your dental costs is to prevent dental decay and gum disease in the first place. Regular check-ups are relatively inexpensive way to avoid higher costs.

When you take out health insurance to cover you for dental fees, you should be aware that:
Each health fund determines what level of rebates it will pay based on its own commercial requirements.

An important aim of some health funds is, quite appropriately, to make profits for their shareholders as well as to provide rebates for their customers

The rebates payable on dental fees are unlikely, in many cases, to cover more than 60% for common dental items and may cover less than half of the cost of complex and expensive procedures

For some people, these rebates may be of assistance in offsetting some of the costs of the more expensive procedures but some arrangements may not always represent value for money for routine dentistry for you and your family

Most large health funds now issue a member card, which can be used like a credit card to make a claim for refund at point of service (called "HiCaps"). So check you should have a card, and bring it with you to your next appointment for an instant refund.

If you have a problem with your private health insurance, you should contact the fund directly. If you are unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with your fund, contact the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman, an independent body formed to help resolve complaints and provide advice and information.

The Ombudsman can be reached on 1800 640 695 or by writing to Suite 1201, Level 12, St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Fax (02) 9261 5937. Email info@phio.org.au

Before paying premiums for dental benefits, or selecting a particular benefit table, you should ensure that these costs represent value for you and your family. Please ask us for advice on this matter.