Here at Balmoral Dental Centre, we have the latest imaging technology to provide you with the best treatment.

What is a cone beam image and how is it different from normal xrays?

Common dental xrays such as bitewings and OPGs provide us with 2D images of your teeth and the surrounding structures. These are used routinely for diagnosis during your regular check up and clean appointments.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) produces a 3D reconstruction of a selected area. This type of imaging provides extra information that ordinary xrays cannot, such as the 3 dimensional shape of your jaw bone and the location of nerves. This is essential for some complex procedures such as placement of dental implants, removal of wisdom teeth, and even root canal treatment.

But how much radiation is involved?

This all depends on the size of the area that needs to be scanned, but typically the amount of radiation would be less than 50 microsieverts. This is less than ¼ of the radiation in a chest xray, and you’re likely to be exposed to more radiation during a 10 hour plane flight! We use the lowest dose possible to acquire the information that we need for a procedure.

What’s involved in taking the xray?

For your convenience, we are the only clinic to have a CBCT machine in the area! Usually it takes a few minutes to set up for your individual needs, and then about 30 seconds to take the xray. Your dentist will then discuss the results of your 3D cone beam image with you. Patients who have a sensitive gag reflex and bitewing xrays challenging often find a CBCT much easier to take.

This adorable little 2 year old patient was such a superstar! Dr Tish did a check up, clean and floss for her.

Did you know the recommended age for your child’s first dental visit is within 6 months of their first tooth? That’s as young as 12 months old!

“There is no way my 1 year old would ever open their mouths for a stranger!” You might be pleasantly surprised (and we have our little tricks to keep them entertained while we take a quick look at their mouths). The best way to get your child used to the dentist is to bring them with you to your regular check up and clean. We can give them a ride on the dental chair, and get them used to the sights and sounds at the dentist. Bringing children to the dentist at the early age is also important for creating positive dental experiences and reducing dental phobia.

The kinds of thing we check for at an early age are: normal development of the jaws, the right number of teeth and positions, and of course any signs of dental decay or gum problems. Early detection and prevention will aid in reducing complex dental problems later in life.

Here are some of our oral hygiene tips for infants and children:

• Start wiping the inside of the mouth with a soft damp cloth before any teeth erupt.
• When there are 2 or more teeth, start using a soft baby sized toothbrush with tap water.
• Start using children’s toothpaste at 2 years of age and introduce flossing. Usually at this age there are still gaps between the teeth, but flossing at an early age will help to create good habits.
• Switch to adult toothpaste at 6 years of age. Kids still need parental assistance in brushing their teeth until about 8 years of age!
• Avoid sugary food and drink, and frequent snacking.

Every child is different and receives tailored advice from our dentists at their check up.

Our friendly team at Balmoral Dental Centre looks forward to taking care of you and your family!

Here at Balmoral Dental Centre, we can provide a custom made Mouthguard to help protect from dental injuries.  While over the counter products are available, these are often deficient due to the ‘one size fits all’ philosophy used.  Our teeth are as individual as our finger prints so it stands to reason that mouthguards should not all be the same.  Our custom made mouthguards meet all recommendations ensuring the best available protection.

A recent incident with a hockey player in Tasmania showed the deficiencies of cheap over the counter devices. See article here.

A custom made mouthguard can potentially save thousands in dental reconstruction, not to mention the pain and time needed.  Health funds will usually give a rebate and if you are a HCF fund member, you may be entitled to up to two mouthguards a year with no out of pocket expenses through their More For Teeth program.

The Australian Dental Association confirm the dangers of over the counter products following hockey incident.  The warning is available by following this link.

So give us a call and make an appointment for a custom mouthguard for you or your sporting children today!

With images of Hollywood actors with a beautiful white smile assaulting our senses on television every day it is no surprise that questions about tooth whitening are common.  We all want that perfect white smile.

So who can get whitening?  There is no generic answer to this question.  In order to determine if it will work for you, the cause of the discolouration needs to be assessed.  There are a diverse range of causes which include foods or drinks, tobacco use, medications, disease, poor dental hygiene, the natural ageing process, trauma, dental materials, disease, genetics and environment to name a few.  Your dental professional can assess the cause and give some guidance on what whitening method will work for you.

What will the dentist look for?  The dentist will look for both the cause of the discolouration as well as factors that may influence the success of your treatment.  This will include the thickness of the tooth enamel, any receding gums, existing crowns, fillings and veneers, oral diseases as well as your history including any past trauma or medications, which may have had an impact.

So will whitening work?  Depending on the cause of the discolouration, results can range from impressive to disappointing.  Your dentist should be able to give you a better expectation once the cause has been assessed.

What can go wrong?  When done as per manufactures recommendations after appropriate diagnosis, there is no serious risk.   You may experience some sensitivity which your dentist will give options to manage.  Other less common side effects which are also associated with inappropriate treatment include reduction in the hardness of enamel, damage to gums such as inflammation or blistering, severe tooth sensitivity and multi coloured teeth due to existing fillings, crowns or veneers.

What types of whitening are there?  There are two basic types of whitening.  In office whitening will offer the fastest result with treatment completed in a single session.  Take home whitening will require daily use of the product and can take from a couple days to several weeks to achieve a noticeable difference.

How can I get whitening?  At Balmoral Dental Centre, our staff will be happy to provide you with further information on this topic.  An assessment can identify the most appropriate method for you to whiten your smile as fast as possible with the minimal amount of sensitivity or other reactions.

If you are interested, please call us for a consult on (07) 3399 6288.

Sources:

‘Tooth Whitening: What we now know’   J Evid Base Dent Pract 2014;14S: [70-76], http://www.jebdp.com/article/S1532-3382(14)00049-9/pdf, accessed 20 June 2015.

“How much do we really know about tooth whitening?”, Australian Dental Association, http://www.toothwhiteningfacts.com.au/index.htm, accessed 20 June 2015.

While Greg will now be able to enjoy some time out, Jamie will be continuing his work and endeavouring to provide the same level of service that Greg’s patients have come to know as well as adding some new treatments to the practice.

Balmoral Dental Centre will continue to provide all the dental services it is known for. Any care that cannot be provided onsite will be referred to our network of specialists with the coordination remaining in house to ensure the best outcomes.

We welcome new patients to the practice and will continue to provide comprehensive ethical dentistry for all.

Grow Up Smiling! Contact Medicare on 132 011 to find out if your child/children are eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Scheme.

The Scheme Provides $1 000 (over 2 calender years) per child aged 2-17 years for basic dental services (excludes orthodontic and cosmetic dentistry). We bulk bill the services at time of treatment.

Give us a call on 33996288 if you would like to make an appointment.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule

www.humanservices.gov.au
Financial support for basic dental services for children aged 2–17.

Australian Government Department of Human Services
www.humanservices.gov.au
The Australian Government Department of Human Services is about people and the services they may need at different…

While we are not at the practice 24 hours a day, the phone is always answered and if you call after hours one of the dentists will call you back when they reasonably can, and see what can be done. Just call the same number 33996288 any time any day - and listen to the prompts.