Home › Posts tagged ashgrove dentist

ashgrove dentist

Why straighten my teeth?

Posted on by

Why straighten my teeth? Let’s get a few things straight!

There are various reasons why people chose the orthodontic route. These include:

  • Aesthetics
  • Function and speech
  • Periodontal
  • TMJ pain
  • Even wear
  • Pre – prosthodontic work

It’s important to remember that no one ever died from crowded teeth, so have a think about what’d you’d like to do if your crooked teeth aren’t impacting on your life.

Why straighten my teeth? (source: @jibaro foto via Unsplash)

Braces VS Invisalign

The traditional braces we are used to seeing every second teenager sporting originally started in the 1970’s, although back then they looked dramatically different to the modernized style that is used now. They work by gluing ceramic or metal brackets to each tooth that are connected along a wire by a series of rubber bands.

Invisalign came about around 1999. They are more often than not chosen by adults who don’t want an obvious indicator that they are undergoing orthodontic treatment. Invisalign works by a series of custom clear plastic retainers, each slightly different from the first. The aligners are worn for 22 hours a day and changed every two weeks.

Permanent VS removable

There are pros and cons to both options, it’s important to weigh both of these up before making your decision. Braces are permanently fixed to your teeth for the duration of the treatment, thus they are working around the clock, all the time, 24/7. The downside is that they take more time to clean and are quite visible.  Having braces involves monthly visits with the possibility of emergency visits such as a wire trying to murder you or a bracket has decided it wants to be free and fall off. And showing your last meal every time you smile if

Invisalign are removable and because of this it is much easier to eat and clean your teeth. Also, because they are clear retainers they are harder to see, the only people who normally notice are those in the dental field or fellow recipients of Invisalign. The downside is because they are removable, they don’t work if they are not in your mouth. If they are not in your mouth, they are no longer doing their job and you either lose all your hard work or dramatically extend your treatment time.

This being said teeth will move whenever a force is applied to them and are oblivions as to what that force is, braces or Invisalign. Theoretically the length of time for treatment should be the same but as braces are more reactionary and can’t be removed they are usually finished before Invisalign.  The factors that do come in to play are things such as:

  • Severe malocclusion (a fancy word for the teeth not sitting together properly)
  • Compliance
  • Complexity
  • Hygiene
  • Cost
  • Discomfort

After weighing up the pros and cons you can see that there are many similarities. If you feel self-conscious, then Invisalign might suit you better. If you are interested in straightening your teeth, book in for a complimentary Invisalign consult.

Maintenance is relatively simple, however it can be time consuming. Every time you eat or drink anything other that water the trays need to be removed and teeth cleaned and the aligners washed before putting them back in your mouth.

Uh Oh! Need an Emergency Dentist in Ashgrove?

Posted on by

Looking for an emergency dentist in Ashgrove? Please read on. In any case of dental emergency it is very important to contact the dentist as soon as possible to try and find out if the situation requires immediate treatment or if it can wait until morning. An emergency trip to the dentist can be required for many reasons including an aching tooth, trauma, a broken tooth or a facial swelling.

In cases of dental trauma, such as if you’ve tripped over and broken your front tooth, treatment is recommended within 60 minutes in case the nerve of the tooth has been exposed. Immediate dental treatment is also needed for teeth that have been pushed out of position, into the gums or knocked out completely. This is a true emergency and immediate treatment can help save your tooth or teeth.

A chipped or broken tooth is often a pain, like when you bite down on a fork by mistake or crunch on a nut and something extra crunchy comes out with it. This tooth or teeth will often need attention within a couple of days if its painful, or within a week if its not painful. Left untreated you can have food packing into the broken area, decay and gum swelling can develop. We can usually fix your tooth right up and prevent all these problems.

An aching tooth can be absolutely awful. It can keep you awake at night, making you tired and just feeling dreadful. Often aching teeth are the result of decay making its way deep into the tooth close to the nerve. This happens over time, and left unchecked can cause nerve pain or even an infection or abscess. The best thing to do is to get your tooth looked at by the dentist within a couple of days. It can be just a filling in some cases, but is usually something more involved and the sooner you get to it the easier it is to fix. To prevent these kinds of aches regular checks and cleans help to prevent cavities or treat them nice and early so its simple and easy.

A facial swelling in the lower face is often an abscess or infection of the gums or tooth that has spread to the cheek. This infection needs to be addressed quickly as the infection can spread beyond the cheeks below the chin and can become life threatening. Your dentist may need to drain the swelling, prescribe antibiotics, remove a tooth or start a root canal treatment to save the tooth.

In cases of dental emergency, don’t wait. Get in contact with the dentist as soon as possible to find out what you need to do. If you need an emergency dentist in Brisbane please click here to book online or call 3366 1737. 

Emergency Ashgrove Dental Studio
Emergency Dentist in Ashgrove (source: @ibrahimboran via Unsplash)

All About Tooth Sensitivity

Posted on by
Tooth Sensitivity (image via @relaxmarco on Unsplash)

Tooth sensitivity is experienced as a short sharp pain when consuming cold, sweet or acidic foods and drinks. It can also be experienced with an intake of cold air or by touching the tooth.

All About Tooth Sensitivity

Sensitivity happens when the dentine layer, the layer underneath the enamel, becomes exposed. The dentine layer of the tooth is composed of small tubules that move fluid in response to changes in the tooth’s external environment like when eating or drinking. These tubules connect directly with the pulp of the tooth which is where the nerve is located causing the sensation of pain.

Tooth Sensitivity (image via @relaxmarco on Unsplash)
Tooth Sensitivity (image via @relaxmarco on Unsplash)

The dentine layer can become exposed if the teeth have been brushed too hard causing the enamel layer to thin. Or if  brushing has caused the gums to recede away from the tooth, exposing the cementum or the root surface of the tooth. It can also become exposed if a diet high in acidic food or drink or even reflux causes the enamel to dissolve

Treatment of sensitivity involves addressing the cause. It may mean switching to a soft toothbrush, using a lighter tooth brushing technique, or re-evaluating your diet. We always recommend a toothbrush should look fresh out of the packet despite months of use. If it’s a little worse for wear, please change it! Poor/overzealous brushing technique leads to gum recession and enamel abrasion.

Sometimes the use of a sensitive toothpaste can alleviate the symptoms, or a small filling is required to block the dentine tubules and protect from further damage.

A trip in to see us is always recommended as other causes of sensitive teeth can be caused by decay, grinding or clenching, cracks in teeth or leaking fillings.

Any questions? Can the friendly team at Tooth Dental help you with a sensitive teeth issue? Please click here to make an online booking or give us a call on 3366 1737. If you’d like to use our contact form for your enquiry please click here.