Let’s talk baby teeth!

A young boy after losing two baby teeth, exfoliated in response to the permanent teeth beneath, which will erupt through the gums to take their place. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I just found a fantastic collection of resources on the Australian Dental Association’s website providing detailed info covering right from pregnancy, all the way up until your child loses their last baby tooth!  

Did you know that it’s quite common for people to be congenitally missing some adult teeth, and sometimes baby teeth are retained well into adulthood!

Primary teeth (baby teeth) are structurally and functionally a lot different to permanent adult teeth. Parents, teachers, and any other child-care workers should all be educated about the significance!

Decay travels faster through primary teeth, so it’s particularly important that children are getting check-ups every 6 months if they are taking good care of their teeth, and every 3 months if they’re not!  

I’ll never forget listening to a lecture from a specialist orthodontist when I was working in Tasmania on oral hygiene in children.  

She recommend:

Parents brush their children’s teeth EVERY DAY until their child is TEN YEARS OLD!!!

I was shocked when I heard that, but the specialist pointed out that children don’t have sufficient dedication to clean their teeth properly every day, and that it can even be considered negligent of a parent not to ensure that their children’s teeth are cleaned well and checked regularly.  Good to know, right?

The website covers the recommendations relating to oral hygiene from infancy, provides info about teething, and another really important issue that people often don’t ask about: the effects of THUMB-SUCKING on the development of your jaw bones, and the effect THAT has on the straightness of your child’s teeth, and their face shape!

The info is easy to read and understand, plus downloadable and printable, and I recommend that every parent with children less than 15 years old, and everyone working in the child-care industry should have a browse. 

http://www.babyteeth.com.au

Let me know what you think!

-Dr KT

“Early detection of oral cancer can save lives, so it’s important to know what you should be looking out for in your mouth. Ulcers or lumps in the mouth which do not health within two weeks should be treated with suspicion. Smoking, alcohol, poor diet, sun exposure and the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) all contribute to a person’s risk of presenting with oral cancer,” says Dr Alldritt.

The ADA has created fact sheets and a website to provide information on what to look for in your mouth, as well as the risk factors that can contribute to oral cancer. The ADA is also encouraging people to have a conversation with their dentist, family and friends about the health of their mouth and their teeth.

“What is more concerning is the incidence of oral cancers in non-smokers”, Dr Alldritt added. Checking for signs of oral cancer is a part of the regular check-up procedure carried out by your dentist, so it’s vital to visit your dentist regularly.”

Risk factors for oral cancer include:

-Smoking – more than 80% of oral cancers in Australia occur in people who smoke
- Alcohol – heavy drinking, defined as more than four standard drinks on a single occasion, increases your risk of mouth cancers
- Extended exposure of lips to sun
- Poor diet – consuming a diet low in or with no vegetables
- Exposure to HPV.

For more information on oral cancers and looking after your mouth, visit: www.oralcancerfacts.com.au

Source: Australian Dental Association (ADA)

 Injex is simple to use  – one click and it’s all over, there is no pain. The Injex cartridge is simply placed against the gums and the dentist presses the button.

Patients describe it like a little “flick” and within seconds the tooth is numb. The numbness is nowhere near as pronounced as a traditional dental needle and it wears off quicker.

For more information on Injex, please contact Railway Dental on (07)55 312 053

Bridges are used to replace lost teeth. Bridges are involve crowning the teeth on either side of the space created by tooth loss. The crowns are connected to teeth that occupy the space. Bridges are permanent fixtures and simulate the shape and contour of original teeth.

Implant Therapy

Implants are usually made of titanium cores that are embedded into the alveolar bone to replace a missing tooth. We work in close proximity with specialists to maximise the success of implants.

Orthodontic treatment

We liaise with expert orthodontists to provide optimal treatment for those cases that require orthodontic treatment.

Mouth guards

Sports mouth guards are specifically made for athletes.

Occlusal Splints

Occlusal splints are acrylic night guards used to treat bruxism. Bruxism is a common condition where patients grind or clench their teeth nocturnally or while awake.

Dentures

Patients that are missing numerous teeth can be rehabilitated by constructing dentures.

This includes the restoration of decayed or damaged teeth with mercury free white fillings.

Root Canal Therapy

The insides of teeth have nerves that allow for feelings of temperature and pressure. Root canal therapy is required when a tooth’s nerve becomes irreversibly damaged by either tooth decay or trauma. The procedure involves removing the contents of the nerve canal and providing a bacteriological seal. The procedure is relatively simple and in the vast majority of cases it is completely painless.

Treatment Of Periodontitis And Gingivitis

Gingivitis is inflammation of gums surrounding the teeth and when it progresses toward the deeper supporting structures of the teeth it becomes periodontitis.

Treatment depends on how far the condition has advanced and includes in chair and at home treatment. The dentist / hygienist will mechanically remove the bacterial load on the gums and allowing them to adequately heal.

We have a hygienist who specialises in treating both gingivitis and periodontitis.

Veneers And Lumineers

Veneers are thin layers of porcelain (approximately .5mm – 1mm) that are bonded to the face of teeth to enhance their appearance. Generally this involves the removal of a thin layer of tooth to allow for the thickness of veneer.

Lumineers are a patented form of veneers that are much thinner than traditional veneers. They are made of an extra strong glass ceramic called cerinate which allows them to extremely thin: approximately .2mm. This quality allows us to construct lumineers without drilling the face of the teeth. This also means that very minimal preparation is necessary. Anaesthetic can also be avoided.

We have a number of tooth whitening procedures:

Advanced ZOOM tooth whitening is the latest whitening system made by Zoom. It is an in-chair procedure that takes approximately 1.5 hours and has consistently reliable results with minimal post operative sensitivity. Generally, sensitivity does not last beyond 24 hours and in most cases resolves within 6 hours.

Take Home Whitening

Patients can whiten their teeth in the comfort of their own homes with the construction of special whitening trays. Gel is placed in the trays and are worn for approximately 1 hour a day for a period of 2 weeks.