From general dental work, to cleaning and teeth whitening - we offer comprehensive dental services.
Scaling and Cleaning
Preventative Dentistry
Dental Fillings
Mouthguards
Occlusal Splints
Crowns and Bridges Teeth Whitening
Root Canal Treatment
Tooth Extraction
Dentures
Children’s Dentistry Scaling and Cleaning
Scaling and cleaning involves removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) that accumulates on the teeth by a dental practitioner.
Dental plaque is a sticky layer of bacteria that forms on the surface of teeth. It can usually be removed by brushing and/or flossing. Calculus (also know as tartar) on the other hand forms when plaque has been solidified by saliva. The minerals in saliva enter the layer of plaque making it hard and prevent it from being cleaned by brushing and/or flossing.
We recommended our patients get scaling and cleaning of their teeth done every six months. In some cases, scaling and cleaning may need to be performed more often. Your dentist will let you know if this is the case for you.
Preventative Dentistry
“Preventative Dentistry encompasses a range of services such as oral hygiene instruction, dietary advice, fluoride treatment and fissure sealants Oral hygiene instruction (OHI) involves an assessment of your existing brushing and flossing technique and advice and tips on how to improve your existing technique as well as new ways of removing plaque (bacteria) from your teeth. We discuss products such as electric toothbrushes, water flossers, mouth rinses and high fluoride toothpaste which you can use to lower your risk of developing decay and gum disease.
Dietary advice begins with assessment of your existing diet. Following this assessment, advice is provided regarding changes that can be made to lower your risk of developing dental decay and gum disease. Fluoride treatment involves the application of a gel or varnish with concentrated fluoride that changes the chemical structure of your teeth and makes them more resistant to developing dental decay.
Fissure sealants area thin layer of dental filling material that are applied on back teeth to prevent them developing decay.
Premolar and molar teeth naturally have fissures or grooves. The fissures can sometimes be thin and deep which makes them hard to clean. Bacteria and food can get stuck inside the fissures and cause decay. The fissure sealant prevents food and bacteria getting stuck inside the fissures.”
Dental Fillings
Dental fillings are placed on teeth to replace natural tooth structure that has been damaged as a result of dental decay or fracture. There are three main types of dental fillings: composite resin, amalgam and glass-ionomer cement (GIC). Composite resin is the most common and is tooth coloured. Less drilling is generally needed for the placement of a composite resin filling as the material bonds to the surrounding tooth. The colour of the filling can be matched very precisely to the colour of your tooth making it very difficult for someone looking at your teeth to be able to tell if you have a filling.
Glass-ionomer cement (GIC) is also a white or tooth coloured filling material that is sometimes used. It is not as strong as composite resin but contains fluoride which helps repair the tooth structure underneath.
Amalgam is used less frequently these days compared to in the past. It is silver in colour and so can be easily seen by someone looking at your teeth. It has very good strength and longevity and so is still the material of choice in certain cases.
Mouthguards
Mouthguards prevent damage to teeth when playing sport. It is recommended that everyone playing a contact sport or a sport that involves a risk of injury to the teeth wears a mouthguard. Your dentist will take a mould of your teeth to make you a custom-fitted mouthguard. They will also check the fit of the mouthguard and that it protects your teeth well. This is better than the mouthguard available at pharmacies or stores which fits poorly and doesn’t provide much protection
Occlusal Splints
Occlusal splints or nightguards, are appliances made to protect the teeth and supporting structures from damage during clenching or grinding. Clenching or grinding of teeth, termed bruxism, can occur when patients are awake or asleep. Chronic clenching and grinding may eventually lead to temporomandibular disorders (TMDs).
Temporomandibular disorders are a group of conditions that involve the muscles controlling the lower jaw, the jaw joint (temporomandibular joint) and supporting structures. Your dentist may recommend a nightguard if you have wear facets on your teeth that indicate you may be clenching or grinding your teeth or if you are suffering from temporomandibular disorders
Crowns and Bridges
A crown is recommended for teeth that are broken down or have been weakened by dental decay, large fillings, root canal treatment or trauma. Once the tooth is prepared, the crown fits over the tooth and strengthens it to prevent breakdown. There are a number of different types of crowns such as porcelain bonded to metal (PBM) or porcelain fused to metal (PFM), e.max, full gold crowns and zirconia. Your dentist can talk to you about which is the best type of crown for you.
A bridge, on the other hand, is carried out to replace one or more missing teeth. It consists of an artificial tooth that is attached to the adjacent natural teeth.
The adjacent natural teeth are first prepared in order to receive the bridge. The bridge is then cemented, replacing the missing tooth. There are different types of bridges such as traditional bridges, cantilever bridges and Maryland bridges. An alternative to a bridge is a dental implant. Your dentist can talk to you about which is the better treatment option for you.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth can change colour as a result of age, diet, poor oral hygiene or trauma. Tea, coffee, red wine and smoking are the most common causes of tooth discolouration. Teeth whitening is a safe, effective and relatively inexpensive method of improving the colour of your teeth and removing any discolouration. There are two main options when it comes to teeth whitening: professional ‘in-chair’ whitening or at home teeth whitening.
Professional ‘in-chair’ whitening takes approximately one and a half hours and involves the placement of a strong teeth whitening gel by your dentist. Your teeth will be considerably whiter when you leave the appointment compared to when you came in.
At home teeth whitening involves construction of thin, plastic trays that are custom made for your teeth. A whitening gel is provided to you along with the trays. The gel is placed in the trays and the trays are worn every day. Your dentist will let you know how long to wear the trays for each day and how many days to wear them for.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment is treatment of infection or inflammation of the pulp. The pulp is located deep inside each tooth. It contains nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. The pulp can become severely inflamed or infected due to a deep cavity, extensive dental work to the tooth, breakdown of a filling or crown, a crack in the tooth, or injury. If left untreated, these teeth can cause severe pain and may lead to a dental abscess. In order to save such teeth, root canal treatment is needed.
In order to assess if a root canal is needed, the dentist will examine the tooth and take an x-ray. The dentist will then talk to you about the process, the cost and any alternate treatment options that you have.
If you decide to proceed, the dentist will administer local anaesthetic to numb the tooth. A sheet of latex, called rubber dam, will be placed over your mouth in order to isolate the tooth.
The dentist will then drill into the tooth, remove the pulp, clean and shape the root canals and seal the root canals. The procedure can take two to three appointments depending on the tooth and the complexity of the case.
Tooth Extraction
These days teeth are extracted less frequently as patients are increasingly choosing to have other treatments such as root canals and crowns. However, in some cases, extraction of a tooth is the best treatment option. A tooth may need to be extracted due to extensive dental decay, gum disease, infection, cracks or to improve appearance as part of orthodontic treatment (braces).
If your tooth needs extraction, the dentist will take an x-ray of the tooth and have a chat to you about the process. The dentist will then administer local anaesthesia to numb the tooth and the area around it. Once the tooth is extracted, the dentist will advise you on how to look after the area at home and provide you a list of aftercare instructions.
Dentures
As we get older, we tend to lose teeth because of dental decay and/or gum disease. In addition, older teeth tend to be more brittle and are susceptible to cracks and fractures. In cases where there are multiple missing teeth, a denture is a great option to improve the patient’s chewing, bite, speech and appearance.
Dentures are made of acrylic or metal. They can be partial dentures or full dentures and conventional dentures or immediate dentures. Each type having its advantages and disadvantages. Talk to your dentist about which option is right for you.
Children’s Dentistry
Our dentists carry out the same procedures on children that are carried out on adults such as scaling and cleaning, fillings, extractions etc. but with an in-depth understanding of child development and behaviour management. We often find that for many patients, their experience of going to the dentist as a child was traumatic which has resulted in them accessing dental care for relief of pain only. Therefore, we focus on ensuring a positive dental experience for the child and their family which encourages good dental habits and regular dental visits in the future.
Our clinicians are comfortable and skilled in talking to children and are gentle and patient in their delivery of dental care. This alleviates any anxiety or fear that the child may have of seeing the dentist. We are also able to refer children to a specialist paediatric dentist if they require sedation such as happy gas (nitrous oxide) or general anaesthetic.
We strongly encourage our patients to see their dentist every 6 months for a check-up and clean. Depending on your oral health needs, you may need to see your dentist less or more frequently. At the end of your first check-up and clean appointment, your dentist will advise you on how often you should see them
During the check-up, the dentist will check the health of the teeth, gums, lips and cheeks and assess your risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. Any signs of tooth wear as well as the alignment of the jaws, teeth and the bite will also be checked. The dentist will note any existing dental work that requires repair or replacement and will also take x-rays. The dentist will then have a chat to you about the findings and the treatment plan as well as your oral hygiene routine, diet, habits such as teeth grinding and smoking
Dental x-rays are carried out to detect conditions that not visible during a routine check of your teeth for e.g. dental decay between teeth or underneath fillings or dental infection or gum disease. For children, dental x-rays help monitor the eruption of their permanent teeth and detect missing teeth. They are also used to assess wisdom teeth that do not have sufficient space to erupt or need removal. Dental x-rays are completely safe and have much lower radiation compared to medical x-rays
Fluoride is present in drinking water (in trace amounts), in toothpaste, in some mouthrinses and is also applied by your dentist on your teeth during your check-up and clean appointments. It gets incorporated into enamel and makes teeth more resistant to decay. Teeth which are resistant to decay don’t need any dental treatment such as fillings. In addition, fluoride also helps prevent sensitivity and is applied on teeth that have hypersensitivity
A dental check-up should be carried out as soon as your child’s teeth first come through. We recommend that all children have a dental check-up before they turn one. A child with a low risk of developing dental decay may only need to see the dentist once a year while a child at a high risk of developing dental decay may need to see the dentist once every three to six-months. The dentist will inform the parents about any future appointments that need to be made as well as the frequency of future check-ups at the end of the first check-up appointment
The Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) provides eligible children aged between two to 17 years $1132 of dental treatment every 2 years. The amount is provided at the start of the year (in January) and resets in January two years after. The dental services that are covered under the CDBS include check-ups and cleans, x-rays, fillings, fissure sealants and extractions. The scheme does not cover orthodontics, cosmetic treatment such as veneers or teeth whitening, mouthguards and treatment under general anaesthetic. If your child is eligible, you will receive a letter in the mail from the Department of Human Services letting you know. Alternatively, you can check if your child is eligible by calling Medicare on 132 011 or visiting www.humanservices.gov.au. Your friendly receptionist at Vital Dental and Medical Centre can also check the eligibility of your child for the CDBS
Dental emergencies are conditions that require urgent dental care such as pain, infection, fractured or broken teeth, injuries resulting in knocked teeth or tooth avulsion and lost fillings or crowns. If not treated promptly these conditions can get worse and lead to further problems including illness
Teeth whitening is completely safe when carried out by a dentist. The dentist will assess the overall health of your teeth and gums and treat any existing conditions prior to whitening your teeth. During the whitening appointment, barriers are placed over your lips, cheeks and gums to protect them and a safe concentration of hydrogen peroxide is applied only to your teeth. Temporary tooth sensitivity and minor gum irritation can occur following the procedure and the dentist will discuss managing this with you during the appointment. Alternatively we also offer at-home whitening where we provide you with whitening trays and gel so you can wear the trays for a short amount of time daily for a few days and get the same result!
To make an appointment you can either call us on (03) 9123 4264 or click here.