healthy teeth
healthy body!
Teeth Scaling
Scaling is a treatment which cleans teeth by removing food particles (which are present in the teeth as well as the gums), tartar, external strains which are difficult to remove while brushing. Scaling is a regular procedure and it does not affect ones teeth, in fact it cleans teeth and maintains dental hygiene. No anesthesia is required in this process. Calculus/tarter gets deposited between the teeth and the gums which causes tooth fall and unhealthy gums over a period of time. Hence scaling helps to maintain healthy teeth.
Fillings
The concept of a “filling” is replacing and restoring your tooth structure that is damaged due to decay or fracture with a material. We will replace old, broken-down amalgam/metal fillings that contain traces of mercury with white fillings (composites) to restore your smile and teeth to a more natural look and feel.
With today’s advancements, no longer will you have to suffer the embarrassment of unsightly and unhealthy silver/mercury fillings or metal margins of the past. Eliminate the dark, black appearance in your teeth with new-age, state-of-the-art, tooth-colored resin or porcelain materials.
Crowns and Bridges
Dental crowns and tooth bridges are two of the most widely used dental restorations that are used to replace missing teeth in a patient’s mouth. Both are fixed prosthetic devices that are anchored onto existing teeth or cemented onto dental implants. Unlike removable restorations like dentures, dental crowns and tooth bridges do away with the troublesome routine of removing the restoration when not needed and putting it back in the mouth when necessary. At Lidcombe Dental Clinic, dental crowns and tooth bridges are often used in patients who require the replacement of multiple teeth, and the success rate for such procedures has been phenomenal.
Root Canal Therapy
Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with diseases of the tooth’s pulp. The pulp is found in the center of the tooth and in canals (called root canals) inside the root of each tooth. Pulp includes connective tissue, nerves and blood vessels. Pulp nourishes the tooth when it first emerges through the gum. Once the tooth matures, the pulp can be removed without destroying the tooth. That’s because each tooth also is nourished by a blood supply in the gums.
Removing the pulp is called endodontic treatment, but it is often referred to as root canal treatment or root canal therapy. Many people refer to pulp removal as “having a root canal.” Root canal treatments are quite common. In the United States, they save about 24 million teeth each year.
Dental Implant
The development of dental implants has created an alternative to dentures in replacing missing teeth. Dental implants are synthetic replacements for the roots of the missing teeth. They are attached to the jawbone and act as the basis for an artificial tooth or a dental bridge. Dentures can also be attached to implants in most cases.
Dental implants offer a permanent replacement for the missing teeth, and when placed properly will resemble and feel just like your natural teeth. Dental implants at Lidcombe Dental Care look and feel completely natural.
Frequently asked questions about General Dentistry
What is a filling?
A filling is a synthetic material that your dentist uses to fill a cavity after all of the tooth decay has been removed. Fillings do not generally hurt because your dentist will numb your mouth with an anesthetic. Fillings are made from a variety of different materials, including composites, gold, or ceramic. If you need a filling, be sure to talk to your doctor about what type is best for you and your teeth.
How often should I see the dentist?
Children, teens, and adults should all see the dentist for a regular checkup at least once every six months. Patients who are at a greater risk for oral cancer or gum disease may be required to see the dentist more than just twice a year. Your doctor will help determine how often you should visit the dentist for regular checkups.
Why do I need X-Rays?
Radiographic or X-ray examinations provide your dentist with an important diagnostic tool that shows the condition of your teeth, their roots, jaw placement and the overall composition of your facial bones. X-Ray can help your dentist determine the presence or degree of periodontal disease, abscesses and many abnormal growths, such as cysts and tumors. X-rays can also show the exact location of impacted teeth. They can pinpoint the location of cavities and other signs of disease that may not be possible to detect through visual examination (such as changes in the jaw bone structure as a result of systemic disease).
When should my child first see a dentist?
The ideal time for your child to meet the dentist is six months after their first (primary) teeth erupt. This gives your dentist a perfect opportunity to carefully examine the development of their mouth and catch problems such as baby bottle tooth decay, teething irritations and prolonged thumb-sucking early.
I have a number of black fillings, what can I have done to improve this?
The black filling material used in your teeth is amalgam. It has been used as a filling material for over a hundred years; it’s still one of the strongest materials available. However, these fillings can be highly unattractive and have a high mercury content. There are a number of other tooth-colored restorative materials currently available that can be used to replace old amalgams.
