Jaw Problems

Some of us suffer a click in the jaw. This is usually not painful, and usually not too serious. It is just an inconvenience. We feel we would be better off without it. Our jaws are meant to function as a balanced system. But if they are asymmetrical then we may have problems. The jaw may click when we chew or yawn. Usually, the problem is stable – it will not grow worse over time. On rare occasions, a misaligned jaw might be part of a serious problem.

Jaw habits

We can suffer a misaligned, clicking jaw if we chew incorrectly. If we habitually chew on one side of our mouth we can end up with a clicking jaw on the other side. It is not a difficult matter to start chewing on the other side of the mouth. This will fix the alignment problem, often only in a few months. It can help to chew gum on the side of the mouth that we usually don’t use. Occasionally we might have poor chewing habits because of our teeth. If our teeth do not align well we may find we are chewing asymmetrically or favouring one side of our mouth. In cases like this, jaw alignment problems will steadily disappear once the teeth are set right.

Braces

Braces can do more than align individual teeth. They are often used to align the lower jaw to the upper jaw. Having braces as a teenager will decrease the chance of suffering jaw alignment problems later on. Some of us are born with slightly or noticeably misaligned jaws. Braces can often remove, or at least reduce, this problem.

Speak to us regarding Jaw Alignment Problems

Occasionally we may suffer an injury to the jaw or face that puts the jaw out of alignment. Alignment problems may also stem from neck injuries because the head no longer sits correctly with the spine. Serious jaw problems, especially anything that follows an injury, should be seen by the dentist. If you need further assistance with Jaw problems visit our dentist at Baulkham Hills.

Jaw Alignment – Dentist Baulkham Hills

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The content of this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered a source of professional advice, recommendations, or endorsements. It is not a substitute for seeking expert guidance or making well-informed decisions based on individual circumstances. Although we strive for accuracy and reliability, we cannot guarantee the information’s completeness or suitability for all situations. Readers are urged to verify facts, consult experts, and consider their own context before taking actions or decisions based on this content. No warranties, explicit or implied, are provided regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the presented information. Relying on this information is at the reader’s own discretion and risk. We encourage readers to consult relevant professionals or experts for advice tailored to their specific needs. Neither the author, publisher, nor any affiliated parties will be held responsible for errors, omissions, or damages resulting from the use or reliance on the information in this article.

Inlays and Onlays

Kellyville Dentist
Badly damaged or malformed teeth can be replaced by implants, or restored with complete crowns. These procedures are two of the great advancements of modern dentistry. But sometimes a damaged tooth does not need such complete replacement. A partially damaged tooth can be satisfactorily restored with a partial replacement. In these cases we uses, overlays, inlays and onlays. For front teeth we might use veneers.

Inlays – Glenhaven Dental
Inlays are used to replace the top centre part of a molar tooth. This is the part of the tooth that is used for chewing. It is prone to damage both because of the chewing action and because food debris that gets stuck in the tooth’s indentations can lead to decay.
Inlays only replace the grooved section at the top of the molar. The rest of the tooth can be retained.

Onlays – Castle Hill Dental
Onlays are like inlays but they replace more of the tooth’s upper surface.
Onlays and Inlays must be custom made to fit the individual’s tooth. This is achieved by making a model of the original tooth and using computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD and CAM) at a dental lab.

Overlays – Dentist Baulkham Hills
An overlay is more than an inlay or onlay and less than a complete crown. It replaces the whole top of the molar tooth while keeping the base and inner part of the molar.
Like inlays and onlays this requires making a model of the tooth and producing a computer manufactured replacement part.

Bella vista Dentist
Inlays and onlays will often now be used where we once used fillings. Instead of filling the tooth we replace the damaged section with the inlay/onlay. This replacement material is much harder than the filling, and therefore longer lasting. It also looks far more natural. It is the same lithium disilicate or zirconia material that is used for crowns.

Dental Inlays and Onlays – Baulkham hills dentist

Information Disclaimer
The content of this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered a source of professional advice, recommendations, or endorsements. It is not a substitute for seeking expert guidance or making well-informed decisions based on individual circumstances. Although we strive for accuracy and reliability, we cannot guarantee the information’s completeness or suitability for all situations. Readers are urged to verify facts, consult experts, and consider their own context before taking actions or decisions based on this content. No warranties, explicit or implied, are provided regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the presented information. Relying on this information is at the reader’s own discretion and risk. We encourage readers to consult relevant professionals or experts for advice tailored to their specific needs. Neither the author, publisher, nor any affiliated parties will be held responsible for errors, omissions, or damages resulting from the use or reliance on the information in this article.

Electric Toothbrush

Toothbrushes – Baulkham Hills Dentist
Toothbrushes have remained a staple tool for cleaning teeth. They are simple and effective, and we are foolish if we neglect to use them.
The basic concept of the toothbrush remained the same up until the mid-20th century. There were improvements, with nylon bristles replacing animal fibres, but the devices were manual brushes on a short handle.
Electric tooth brushes appeared in the 20th century. Early models were bulky and mains powered. This made them difficult to use, all the more so because they were initially designed for people with limited dexterity – those with arthritis or hand injuries. Toothbrushes in the mind 1960 were battery powered, and proved to be more practical.

Electric Toothbrushes – Winston Hills Dentist
Electric toothbrushes do most of the cleaning action for us. They clean at least as well as a regular manual toothbrush, but with less effort.
There are several type of electric toothbrush.

Regular electric toothbrushes, also called sonic toothbrushes, have a strong physical movement of a few hundred times per second. They clean by physically rubbing plaque, bacteria and food debris off the tooth surface.
Some of the toothbrushes use a side-to-side action, others have oscillating heads. Or alternate rows of bristles may move back and forth in opposing directions. It is matter of personal preference in choosing a particular type of cleaning action, though some type of brush may clean better in some circumstances. A back and forth actions is probably better for braces than an oscillating head.
A few electric toothbrushes have interchangeable heads, so one can vary the type of cleaning actions according to the head.

Ultrasonic Toothbrushes use very rapid vibrations to clean teeth. The term ’ultrasonic’ refers to the fact that the vibration is higher than human hearing.
The vibration of these ultrasonic toothbrushes seems slight compared to other electric toothbrushes, but this is because they work on a different principle. The rapid vibration above 1 MHz will cause bacteria and plaque to break up and not adhere to the tooth surface. They can achieve this even if the toothbrush does not directly contact the plaque. Anything within half a centimetre of the ultrasonic brush head will benefit from the ultrasonic vibrations.

Castle Hill Dental
Electric toothbrushes have a positive psychological value – they tend to encourage people to brush their teeth because people like the novelty of the device. This is especially true of children.
Timer lights on the brush, making sure that we clean for at least 2 minutes, and a good feature.

Electric Toothbrush

Information Disclaimer
The content of this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered a source of professional advice, recommendations, or endorsements. It is not a substitute for seeking expert guidance or making well-informed decisions based on individual circumstances. Although we strive for accuracy and reliability, we cannot guarantee the information’s completeness or suitability for all situations. Readers are urged to verify facts, consult experts, and consider their own context before taking actions or decisions based on this content. No warranties, explicit or implied, are provided regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the presented information. Relying on this information is at the reader’s own discretion and risk. We encourage readers to consult relevant professionals or experts for advice tailored to their specific needs. Neither the author, publisher, nor any affiliated parties will be held responsible for errors, omissions, or damages resulting from the use or reliance on the information in this article.

Modern Diets
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Baulkham Hills Dental
We’re more health conscious than ever these days. So going on a diet to improve our health, which usually means losing some weight, is often a good idea. But occasionally we might not be aware of the side effects that some diets produce.
Diets can affect our dental health, including our breath. More than a few modern diets have been known to give us bad breath.

Dental Baulkham Hills
A few modern diets include Keto, Atkins and Paleo. These have something in common, they all limit or remove carbohydrates. This is because removal of carbs forces the body to burn fat, hence the steady weight loss. In a way these diets are the opposite of modern; they try to return us to the type of eating patterns that our distant ancestors followed. The idea is that this type of food intake is what our bodies were originally designed/evolved to eat. So these diets actually remove modern processed foods.
This downside is that low carb diets can cause bad breath. Burning fat causes the production of some harsh chemicals like acetone, so our breath smells harsh.
We can deal with bad breath a few ways:
• Take a teaspoon of chlorophyll, this deodorizes our body to some degree.
• Chew some parsley
• Super free gum will help reduce bad breath
• Green tea reduces bad breath
• Drink plenty of water
• Be super diligent about brushing, and use mouthwash.

Alternate diets – Dentist Baulkham Hills
It might be a good idea to follow a different diet if the bad breath persists. Or if we suffer other health problems like fatigue or poor memory.
• Limit or remove processed foods
• Get rid of trans fat
• Reduce or limit fired food.
• Limit sugar. Find substitutes like Stevia or Xylitol
• Get rid of anything that stick to the teeth, like crackers or chips

Consider super healthy diets like the Mediterranean diet. These are easier to maintain that other diets and are effective for long term health and weight loss. They also avoid problems with bad breath.

Modern Diets

Information Disclaimer
The content of this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered a source of professional advice, recommendations, or endorsements. It is not a substitute for seeking expert guidance or making well-informed decisions based on individual circumstances. Although we strive for accuracy and reliability, we cannot guarantee the information’s completeness or suitability for all situations. Readers are urged to verify facts, consult experts, and consider their own context before taking actions or decisions based on this content. No warranties, explicit or implied, are provided regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the presented information. Relying on this information is at the reader’s own discretion and risk. We encourage readers to consult relevant professionals or experts for advice tailored to their specific needs. Neither the author, publisher, nor any affiliated parties will be held responsible for errors, omissions, or damages resulting from the use or reliance on the information in this article.

Dentists look after the whole mouth, not just the teeth. This includes the gums which, along with the jawbones, hold the teeth in place. These gums can become infected.  Infections in the gums are caused by the same problems and habits that lead to tooth decay. Failure to brush, floss and use mouthwash will lead to a build-up of bacteria, plaque and tartar which damage teeth and lead to gum infections.

Baulkham Hills Dentist – Gum Infections

Types of Gum Infections

Gingivitis is a moderate form of gum infection, characterised by gums that are sore, dark in colour, prone to bleeding and suffering inflammation. The teeth will also tend to be sensitive to hot and cold temperatures. Bad breath is also common. Gingivitis is fairly serious and certainly unpleasant, but it can be cured by diligent brushing, flossing and the use of mouthwash. A healthy diet and the use of probiotics will also help.
Failure to treat gingivitis greatly increases the risk of developing the more serious gum infection known as periodontitis.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a serious gum infection. It usually develops from the less threatening gingivitis, with the infection including other types of bacteria.
Periodontitis can lead to the loss of teeth and bone. It literally breaks down the materials that hold the teeth in place (the periodontal ligaments, and jawbones). Left untreated it can be life-threatening. Periodontal infections have been linked to the later development of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related memory problems. Gum infections also raise the risk of coronary problems and some cancers.  Periodontal disease can only be cured by professional dental treatment. Often y a specialist dentist is called a periodontist. And individuals who have suffered periodontal infections must be monitored by a dentist due to the increased risk of re-contracting the disease. There is often a need to repair the damage caused by periodontal disease, restoring lost gum and bone structure.

Looking for dental care near Kellyville?

Regular dental visits can address any gum problems before they become too serious. Visit our dentist at Kellyville.

Information Disclaimer
The content of this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered a source of professional advice, recommendations, or endorsements. It is not a substitute for seeking expert guidance or making well-informed decisions based on individual circumstances. Although we strive for accuracy and reliability, we cannot guarantee the information’s completeness or suitability for all situations. Readers are urged to verify facts, consult experts, and consider their own context before taking actions or decisions based on this content. No warranties, explicit or implied, are provided regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the presented information. Relying on this information is at the reader’s own discretion and risk. We encourage readers to consult relevant professionals or experts for advice tailored to their specific needs. Neither the author, publisher, nor any affiliated parties will be held responsible for errors, omissions, or damages resulting from the use or reliance on the information in this article.

Mouthwash Precautions – Castle Hill Dental

There was some controversy a few years ago over mouthwash. Some mouthwashes were linked to increased rates of oral cancer, and anecdotal evidence suggested that these same mouthwashes increased decay and gum problems by making the mouth dry. These problems were real, but they only occurred with mouthwashes that contained alcohol.

Mouthwashes that contain alcohol do dry out the mouth, at least with continual use. This dry mouth will soon lead to an increase in bad bacteria that cause tooth decay, bad breath and gum infections. These same alcohol mouthwashes will increase the risk of oral cancer if used on a regular basis.

The highest incidence of oral cancer was not found in people who used alcohol mouthwashes. Smokers had the greatest rick of oral cancers, followed by those who rarely brushed their teeth. Alcohol consumption and alcohol mouthwash gave a much lower risk than smoking or negligent dental care.

Mouthwash that is free from alcohol does not have these issues, and is quite beneficial for oral healthy, significantly reducing the risk of cancer. We recommend good mouthwash at least once, perhaps three times, per day.

Advice on Mouthwash Baulkham Hills Dentist

There are several types of good quality mouthwash, all free from alcohol.

General / antiseptic mouthwash

This is the most common type, and it does a good job of killing bad bacteria if used after brushing. They are also pretty good at freshening breath.

Fluoride Mouthwash

These are beneficial for individuals with sensitive teeth (sensitive to hot and cold). They help to re-calcify weakened enamel and prevent further decay, though they cannot repair decay that has already occurred.

Cosmetic Mouthwash

These will freshen breath, but do little else. Other mouthwashes are preferable.

Prescription Mouthwashes

This is an extremely strong mouthwash. These are given to patients with severe gum infections and only used till the problem is completely removed.

Advice Dentist Kellyville

• Individuals with braces will benefit from mouthwash as braces make the teeth hard to clean.
• Chewing sugar free gum helps keep the mouth clean. Gum with xylitol is the best option as this ingredient helps fight bad bacteria.

Information Disclaimer
The content of this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered a source of professional advice, recommendations, or endorsements. It is not a substitute for seeking expert guidance or making well-informed decisions based on individual circumstances. Although we strive for accuracy and reliability, we cannot guarantee the information’s completeness or suitability for all situations. Readers are urged to verify facts, consult experts, and consider their own context before taking actions or decisions based on this content. No warranties, explicit or implied, are provided regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the presented information. Relying on this information is at the reader’s own discretion and risk. We encourage readers to consult relevant professionals or experts for advice tailored to their specific needs. Neither the author, publisher, nor any affiliated parties will be held responsible for errors, omissions, or damages resulting from the use or reliance on the information in this article.

Difficult Brushing Baulkham hills Dentist

Some parts of the mouth are hard to clean. The top surface of the molar teeth are one example of this. This top surface is indented, often will small grooves and pits. It is easy for food debris, sugar and bacteria to get trapped in these small spaces, with toothbrush bristles being too course to reach these areas. This problem with cleaning can lead to tooth decay.

Sealants Dentist Baulkham Hills

One way to help protect the surface of molars is to apply a sealant. This is a clear or white coloured coating that is difficult to see. It fills in the tiny gaps on the surface of a tooth, so no food debris can get trapped there.  These sealants are often applied to children’s teeth.

When a sealants is applied it requires the surface of the tooth to be slightly roughened, but this is preferable to the tooth suffering damage from decay. The sealant only fills in the small gaps in the tooth surface, so the surface will still has larger groves that assist with chewing.

Sealants Kellyville Dentist

Dental sealants last for several years, after which time they are simply replaced. They offer considerable protection at minimal cost. However, they are only suitable for rough surfaces like back teeth, and cannot be used on smooth enamel surfaces like front teeth.

Ask the dentist about protecting back molars with sealants.

Information Disclaimer
The content of this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered a source of professional advice, recommendations, or endorsements. It is not a substitute for seeking expert guidance or making well-informed decisions based on individual circumstances. Although we strive for accuracy and reliability, we cannot guarantee the information’s completeness or suitability for all situations. Readers are urged to verify facts, consult experts, and consider their own context before taking actions or decisions based on this content. No warranties, explicit or implied, are provided regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the presented information. Relying on this information is at the reader’s own discretion and risk. We encourage readers to consult relevant professionals or experts for advice tailored to their specific needs. Neither the author, publisher, nor any affiliated parties will be held responsible for errors, omissions, or damages resulting from the use or reliance on the information in this article.

Baulkham Hills Dentist Treatment

Few of us have naturally neat teeth. Most of us have at least some form of dental restoration or orthodontic at some point to improve our teeth, perhaps a combination of both. But some combinations of dental alterations and orthodontic work are not possible. Or more correctly, any combined work must be done in the right order.

Orthodontic work, braces that align teeth, is usually carried out in our late teens. This gives us the benefit of improved teeth for the rest of our lives. Other dental restoration work, like crowns or implants, are usually carried out after the orthodontic work is complete.

Kellyville Dentist Crowns

Braces can be put on the teeth after some of the teeth have been crowned. These braces can be used move any of the teeth for a neater, better functioning mouth.

The crowned teeth can be moved by braces because the crown only coverers the visible surface of the tooth, the part above the gum line. The root of the tooth, below the gum line, can be moved by the braces.

A dentist will use a different type of adhesive on a crowned tooth when attaching braces. This prevents the crown surface from being damaged. The technique used with braces on a crowned tooth is a little different to the technique used with natural teeth, but the procedure is still possible.

Invisalign, a series of clear alignment mouthguards, is another option for straightening crowned teeth. 

Castle Hill Dental Implant

Braces cannot be used on implanted teeth.

Implants are an artificial tooth with a metal post in place of the tooth root. This metal post is permanently bonded to the jawbone, and cannot be easily moved. Braces and other orthodontic alignment work are ineffective on implant teeth.

Of course, braces can be used to align other natural teeth in the mouth, just not the implanted teeth. Braces can still be used to move natural teeth relative to the implanted teeth.

It is still best to have the orthodontic work done before receiving any implants or crowns.

Bella Vista Dentist

Orthodontic work give us the benefit of better teeth for the rest of our lives. Crowns and implants can also be used to fix damaged or poorly formed teeth. Your dentist and orthodontist will be able to determine the best combination and order of treatments to give you the best mouth possible.

Information Disclaimer
The content of this article is meant for informational purposes only and should not be considered a source of professional advice, recommendations, or endorsements. It is not a substitute for seeking expert guidance or making well-informed decisions based on individual circumstances. Although we strive for accuracy and reliability, we cannot guarantee the information’s completeness or suitability for all situations. Readers are urged to verify facts, consult experts, and consider their own context before taking actions or decisions based on this content. No warranties, explicit or implied, are provided regarding the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the presented information. Relying on this information is at the reader’s own discretion and risk. We encourage readers to consult relevant professionals or experts for advice tailored to their specific needs. Neither the author, publisher, nor any affiliated parties will be held responsible for errors, omissions, or damages resulting from the use or reliance on the information in this article.