Articles - MB Dental NSW Parklea

How Do I Fit and Care for My Dentures?

Magdi General Dentistry September 20, 2021September 23, 2021Denture

Complete or partial dentures remain the gold standard for replacing most or all of a row of teeth. Modern technology has given us the ability to create more realistic, better-fitting, stable and more functional dentures than any point in the past.

Types of Denture

Different types of dentures are employed depending on the needs and budget of the patient.

Partial denture

Partial dentures fill the space left by several, usually adjacent missing teeth. They’re secured in place with clasps that attach to nearby natural teeth. There are two types available Metal and plastic base dentures,

Complete (Whole) denture

Complete dentures replace an entire arch of missing teeth. They can replace either the upper or lower teeth, or all of your teeth together.

Immediate denture

An immediate denture is placed during the same appointment where the teeth are extracted. These allow the patient to avoid a period without teeth, and are often used as temporary dentures.

Over-denture

Over-dentures are dentures that fits:

Over the top of remaining teeth
Over tooth roots that have been treated by root canal
By connecting to dental implants.

The remaining teeth or dental implants act as the anchor points to secure over-dentures.

Making and Fitting Dentures

Dentures are made of artificial teeth bonded to a plastic base designed to blend in with the gums. Different materials are available depending on the patient’s budget and the exact restoration needed. Regardless of the type of denture or the material used to make it, the process for creating and fitting the dentures is much the same.

To create the dentures, the dentist first makes an impression of your dental arch and remaining teeth, if any. This impression is sent to a lab where the dentures are fabricated to the dentist’s specifications. The shape and colour of the artificial teeth can be closely matched to any remaining natural teeth you might have.

After the denture is made, there will be an initial fitting. This fitting is to make sure the denture sits properly in the mouth. If any adjustments need to be made to ensure a better fit, the denture is sent back to the lab. Once the final version is made there will be a period of adjusting to the dentures. It might feel uncomfortable, or feel that it’s crowding your mouth. You may notice increase saliva production. Some patients will find they have difficulty talking, while others find their speech improves with the presence of more teeth. All of these discomforts are normal and will pass as you wear the dentures more and get used to them being in your mouth.

Cleaning Your Dentures

As much as your natural teeth, dentures should be cleaned either after each meal, or at least twice a day. Remove the denture and rinse away food particles in warm or cold water. Do not use hot boiling water, as it can make the denture warp and become unusable.

Brush the inside and outside of the denture with a soft brush and an unperfumed, mild soap or other approved denture cleaning product. Avoid toothpaste, as many brands are abrasive and can deteriorate the denture over time. For partial dentures, take extra care when cleaning your remaining natural teeth. Your dentist can provide information on how best to brush and floss remaining teeth to keep them healthy.

Along with hot and boiling water, please avoid the following when cleaning your dentures:

Detergents
Bleaches
Methylated spirits
Strong chemicals

Living with Dentures

Your dentist will show you how to place and remove your dentures when you receive
them. Make sure you feel comfortable doing this yourself before you leave the
appointment.

Whether you’ve had dentures before, or are getting your first set, there will always be an adjustment period where the dentures may feel uncomfortable. Your mouth needs time to adapt to the dentures. That being said, while discomfort is normal, soreness is not. If you develop soreness under the denture, arrange an appointment with your dentist. Your denture may need to be adjusted to better sit over your gum.

Eating and Speaking

Eating and speech are predictably the two things most people will find affected by their new dentures. Learning to eat with dentures will take some time and practice. You will be placed on a soft food diet to begin; gradually, you’ll be able to eat more varied foods, starting with small cut up pieces and slowly introducing larger and larger portions. Sharp or hard foods, such as nuts and raw carrots, should be avoided, as should sticky foods like caramel and toffee.

Many denture wearers find that speech seems to sort itself out after one to two weeks as your mouth adjusts to the dentures. If you notice your
dentures “clicking” when you talk, you may need to speak slower. If your dentures slip when you speak, gently bite down on them and swallow to bring them back into position.

Oral Hygiene

Even patients who have no teeth remaining need to continue to care for their oral hygiene. This is best done with a wet cloth or face washer gently rubbed over the gums where the dentures sit. This will prevent build ups of food that may feed bacteria.

Protect against Breakages

Dentures are delicate and can break very easily; it’s important to be careful when handling them to keep them safe.

When handling and cleaning dentures, do so over a towel, cushion, or other soft surface to protect them should they fall. Brush them gently with a soft-bristled brush. Should your dentures break, contact your dentist immediately. Do not wear broken dentures, and do not attempt to mend them yourself.

Overnight Care

Ideally dentures should be removed at night to give your gums a chance to rest. After cleaning them at night, place the dentures in water or a cleaning solution. Do not allow the dentures to dry out, as this can make them warp and require adjusting.

Regular Check Ups

It’s important to attend regular check-ups with your dentist when you have dentures. They will check the health of any remaining teeth, your gums, and whether the denture requires any adjusting. They can also give you advice if you’ve had any troubles with your dentures since your last appointment.
The frequency of your check-ups will be determined by your dentist based on your situation.

MB dental NSW can assess your case and provide you with quality dentures.

Brushing and Flossing – As Simple as ABC?

Magdi Preventative Dentistry September 19, 2021September 26, 2021Oral Hygiene

Brushing

You’ll no doubt be aware that brushing your teeth, which removes the plaque that causes tooth decay and gum disease, is important. What you may not know is that how often you brush, how long you brush for, the kind of technique and toothbrush you use all matter too.

To gain the maximum benefit from brushing your teeth, you should be brushing for at least two minutes morning and night, spending roughly 30 seconds on each quarter of your mouth. Think that sounds like too much hard work?

Firing up your streaming service, playing your favourite two-minute pop song – think the likes of Blur’s “Song No.2” or “Mr. Zebra” by Tori Amos – and brushing until the end is one fun way to make sure your teeth get all the cleaning they need.

It’s all in the technique

If you’re like most people, you probably don’t give too much thought to how you brush your teeth, beyond squirting on some toothpaste, and brushing back and forth.

But as your dentist will tell you, how you brush your teeth matters a great deal. You should be cleaning your teeth systematically, starting at the back with the toothbrush bristle at the gumline or at a 45° angle, brushing gently in a circular motion, and finishing with a spit, not a rinse. If you have an electric toothbrush, you should be guiding the moving brush head slowly from tooth to tooth following the contours of the tooth and the curve of the gums.

Regardless of the brush you use, try to avoid brushing with too much force as this can damage the surface of your teeth. And as for the toothpaste? You only need a pea-sized amount to get the job done.

Tools of the trade

You are always best using a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head and a flexible neck because this will most effectively remove plaque and debris from your teeth, without damaging your teeth and gums and drawing blood. Try to replace your brush at the first sign of wear-and-tear or every three months, whichever comes first, and if you’ve just had a cold, replace your toothbrush so you don’t get reinfected by the germs in the bristles.

If you have braces

It’s recommended that you brush after every meal, preferably using a toothbrush with a soft head to regularly clean away the food debris and plaque that can accumulate in the brackets. The best technique is to hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums, much like a standard brushing technique, before moving on to brushing downwards to clean the top of the brackets and brushing upwards to clean the bottom section.

Flossing

Here’s something you may not know – nearly half the surface area of your teeth lies between them. And no, we’re not telling you this so you can ace the next dental trivia contest you attend.

Why that particular information is important is because if you’re solely relying on brushing you’re not cleaning a large portion of your teeth, which in turn can affect how healthy your teeth and gums are. By removing the plaque from between your teeth, you’re helping to prevent gum disease, tooth decay and halitosis, otherwise known as “bad breath”.

So flossing, or interdental cleaning as it’s officially known, is an essential part of caring for your teeth and gums, and not some kind of “nice to have” added extra.

It’s all in the technique

It’s one thing to make flossing a part of your dental health care routine, quite another to do it properly. Your dentist is the most qualified person to instruct you on flossing correctly but there are some basic tips you can follow:

Tip 1: Wind about 45cm of floss around your middle fingers and rest it across your thumbs and index fingers.

Tip 2: Use a gentle up-and-down motion that goes down one side of the tooth, just under the little collar of gum and then back up the other side (think of it as an on-the-side “c”).

Tip 3: If you’re not sure about the right technique, have a chat to your dentist who can show you all the right flossing moves.

If sticking your fingers into your mouth with a cord of thin filaments strung between them isn’t your idea of fun, then consider using either a less invasive floss threader or floss pick to do the job.

And finally, your dentist might also recommend using other items such as bottle brush-shaped interdental cleaners, if you have large gaps between your teeth, or interdental tips (flexible rubber tips) and irrigators (electrically-powered water-pumping devices) to compliment your flossing regimen.

Make flossing a routine

Flossing should be an integral part of your dental health routine along with brushing. You should be flossing once a day, either in the morning or night, or even after lunch, for at least two minutes.. But it’s not just adults who need to floss. Kids should start cleaning between their teeth as soon as they have two teeth in contact but until the age of 10, it’s best if the parent does the flossing as younger kids don’t have the manual dexterity needed to floss effectively.

If you have braces

Flossing is more important than ever in tis instance, playing an integral role in clearing out food particles and plaque. Using the usual flossing tape can prove to be a bit of a challenge, so you might find something like a floss threader and interdental brushes will work better for you. Always floss gently and slowly since too much pressure and speed can damage your braces

Do I Really Need Dental Sealants?

Magdi Preventative Dentistry September 19, 2021September 24, 2021Oral Hygiene, Sealants

What are dental sealants?

Dental sealants (also called dental fissure sealants) are a protective layer applied on the chewing teeth (the molars) to reduce tooth decay. Applying a sealant is quick and painless and can be done by your dental practitioner.

Sealant is most commonly applied to the grooves, known as fissures, and pits of the back molars. These are the most common locations for cavities in the teeth. The procedure can be done by a dentist, a dental hygienist or an oral health therapist.

Fissure sealants are a white or clear composite resin, similar to a white tooth filling. The sealants provide a barrier against bacteria that can cause plaque. They are designed to prevent tooth decay and cavities.

When might someone need fissure sealants?

Your dentist might advise you to have fissure sealants if you have large grooves or pits in your teeth. However, you should discuss with your dentist whether or not they are necessary. Not all teeth with fissures need sealants.

Some dentists will recommend sealants for the first molar teeth, which appear at around 6 years old. The back teeth (second and third molars) emerge at around 13 years and should be checked to see whether sealants might help. Some adults also get sealants. Your dentist might recommend a sealant if there is already some tooth decay. The sealant can help limit future decay.

What happens during a dental fissure sealants procedure?

Having fissure sealants applied is a quick and painless procedure. It usually takes a few minutes per tooth and is less complicated than having a cavity filling. There is no need for anaesthetic and usually no drilling. Your dental practitioner will:

clean and dry the tooth
prepare the tooth surface so that the sealant bonds well
paint on the liquid sealant, which will flow into the deep grooves and pits
bond and harden the sealant with a strong light
check your bite and polish off any excess sealant

What to expect after a dental fissure sealants procedure?

Sealants are a simple and effective means to reduce tooth decay. They provide extra protection from decay, even to those who drink fluoridated water and brush with fluoride toothpaste. The fluoride in water and toothpaste doesn’t easily reach into deep grooves or pits. Even the bristles of a toothbrush might not reach that far.

Complications are rare but may include an allergic reaction to the sealant, or a change in your bite if the sealant layer is thick.

How much does it cost to get fissure sealants?

Fissure sealants cost around $40 to $90 per tooth.

What are the alternatives to fissure sealants?

Fluoride varnish can be applied to the teeth by a dental practitioner. However, fluoride varnishes are mostly used in young children at high risk of developing of cavities. They need to be applied 2 to 4 times each year.

How Do I Help My Children Look After Their Teeth?

Magdi Children's Dentistry September 19, 2021September 24, 2021Kids Oral Health

It’s never too early to begin teaching good oral hygiene to your children. Behaviours learnt when they’re young tend to stick with them throughout life. The need for this is increasingly important with tooth decay among children on the rise, with more than half of all 6 year-olds having some decay in their baby and adult teeth, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The good news is that tooth decay is completely preventable.

How to establish good dental health and hygiene for your child?

You should start caring for your child’s oral health from when they’re a baby and into their toddler years so by the time they reach 3 years of age or so, they are well-versed in what it takes to keep their teeth healthy. They will require assistance from you until about the age of 7 or 8 but even then, it’s a good idea to supervise them when they’re brushing and flossing their teeth.

There are a number of key things to keep in mind when it comes to keeping your kids’ teeth in tip-top condition.

Baby Teeth

Specialist Paediatric Dentist Bella Vista

Yes, they eventually fall out to make way for adult teeth but that doesn’t mean cleaning them isn’t important. If decay causes them to be removed, it can cause crowding problems with their adult teeth emerge. So ensure they brush their teeth twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste, which they shouldn’t swallow, remembering to brush for at least two minutes at a time. Try using an egg timer to make keeping time fun for your child. Flossing, with parental assistance until the age of 10 or when they are deft enough to do it themselves, should start as soon as children have two teeth in contact.

Regular Dentist Visits

Kicking off at the age of 1 at the latest, or within 6 months of the first tooth appearing, your child should see their dentist regularly and understand that visiting them is an important part of growing up. If you receive benefits such as Family Tax Benefit A payments, you can take advantage of government programs such as the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Children are especially vulnerable to tooth decay because their teeth as not as developed and resilient as adult teeth often are. Children also tend to eat a lot of foods high in sugar, which accelerates tooth erosion. It is important for parents to start taking care of their children’s oral health right from the start when their first teeth start growing as toddlers. Regular dental checkups and children’s dental hygiene appointments can slow down tooth decay and even prevent further problems from developing.

Good Eating and Drinking Habits

To develop strong teeth, your children need a healthy, balanced diet made up of fresh foods such as vegetables, cheese and lean meats, minimal high-sugar foods such as biscuits and muesli bars, and fluoridated tap water.

Do Kids Get Free Dental Care?

Magdi Children's Dentistry September 19, 2021September 25, 2021Child Dental Benefits, No-gap Dental Care

The Scheme

As a parent, making sure your child is as healthy as possible is understandably one of your highest priorities. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) has been introduced by the federal government to make that task a little easier if you receive benefits such as Family Tax Benefit A payments. The CDBS helps you keep your kids’ teeth in great shape by providing you with up to $1,013 that you can use over a two calendar year period on a range of dental services including examinations, routine cleaning, fillings, and root canals. What the CDBS doesn’t cover, however, are orthodontic (the straightening of crooked teeth), cosmetic dental procedures (the restoration or replacement of damaged or missing teeth), or any work that might need to be done in a hospital. If you aren’t sure what’s covered, just ask your dentist.

Your child’s eligibility

Your child is deemed eligible for the CDBS by Medicare, who administers the program, if:

they’re within the applicable age range for at least some of that year
they qualify for Medicare; and
you receive either Family Tax Benefit Part A, Parenting payment or Double Orphan Pension payments for at least some of that year

Your child can still access CDBS services throughout a particular calendar year regardless even if your circumstances change. Even so, it’s still worth confirming with Medicare that your child still qualifies for CDBS before phoning your dentist to book an appointment. Keep in mind that not all dentists perform services under the CDBS; it’s best to check with your dentist if they do prior to booking in for treatment.

Using your $1,013 allocation

To ensure that you’re aware of the costs upfront, your dentist will explain all probable expenses and get your consent in writing before treatment begins. If there’s any additional work needed following the initial examination, the costs will again be outlined and your consent obtained. This means you can then decide how quickly or slowly you use your $1013 allocation; you can use it all at once if you need to, or spread the spending out over the two calendar years. If you’re not sure how much of your allocation you have left to use, your dentist can look that up for you, and let you know if you’ll be up for any out-of-pocket expenses.

Urgent Help Needed! My Child Broke a Tooth!

Magdi Children's Dentistry, General Dentistry, Preventative Dentistry September 7, 2021September 24, 2021Dental Mouthguard, Dental Trauma, Kids Oral Health

“Accidents happen” is one of those phrases we casually throw around without thinking. But the reality is that accidents can have quite serious consequences for our teeth. The good news is that the trauma of dental injury can be minimised if you know what precautions to take and what to do in the unfortunate event you suffer damage to your teeth.

Don’t assume anything

Teeth can become cracked, chipped or loose from accidents and failure to get them checked by your dentist may result in otherwise avoidable long term damage. In cases of dental trauma, check if your usual dentist handles emergency treatments; if not, try to locate a dental practice to assist you. If you or your child experience trauma to the teeth, follow the below advice before you reach the dentist.

Knocked out teeth

Deciduous (baby) teeth

If your child knocks out a ‘baby’ tooth, remain calm and follow the steps listed below:

Find the tooth, and hold it by the crown only, not the root.
If it is a baby tooth, do not reinsert back into the mouth. If you are unsure, place the tooth in milk or saliva to transport it to your dentist.
See your dentist straight away.

NOTE: The crown is the part of the tooth visible inside the mouth while the root anchors the tooth to the jawbone and is not normally visible. Depending on your child’s age, the baby tooth may not have much root structure remaining. This is because the root resorbs for the tooth to become loose before falling out.

Permanent (adult) teeth

Remain calm and act quickly, ideally try to see your dentist within 30 minutes

Find the tooth and hold it by the crown only, not the root surface.
If the tooth is dirty, rinse it in milk or tap water very briefly. Do not scrub it.
Place the tooth back in position inside the mouth – Make sure it is facing the right way around; Gently bite down on soft cloth or tissue or use aluminium foil or your mouthguard to hold it in place.
If you can’t replant the tooth, transport it to your dentist in milk or saliva. Do not store in water.

NOTE: The crown is the part of the tooth visible inside the mouth while the root anchors the tooth to the jawbone and is not visible normally.

Do NOT:

Do not wrap the tooth in paper towel or a serviette.
Do not store the tooth in water when transporting it to the dentist.
Do not scrub the root surface of the tooth when rinsing it.
Do not delay seeing a dentist, the sooner you do, the better the long-term outcome may be.

Dental injuries

Alternate forms of trauma to the teeth can include injuries causing a tooth or multiple teeth to become:

Moved from their original position (e.g. pushed backwards) – Try to move the teeth gently back to their original position and close the mouth with a soft cloth or tissue between the front teeth.
Cracked, chipped or fractured – If you find the fractured tooth fragment, take it with you to the dentist.
Loose/mobile
Pushed up into the gums and bone – the tooth may no longer be visible

For any of these types of trauma, it is best to visit your dentist as soon as possible.

If your child develops a toothache, book an appointment with your dentist straight away. In the meantime, rinse your child’s mouth with salty water and/or use paracetamol for pain relief. If facial swelling is present, your child needs to see a dentist as soon as possible. These recommendations do not apply to babies who are teething.

Prevention

It is recommended that children, teenagers and adults wear a custom-fitted mouthguard made by a dentist. Mouthguards act to absorb and spread the impact of a blow to the face, which may otherwise result in an injury to the mouth or jaw/s.

Mouthguards should be worn during training and on game day.

A custom-fitted mouthguard works by absorbing and spreading the impact of the damaging blow, and is fabricated based on an impression of your teeth and jaw taken by your dentist.

A mouthguard that is custom-fitted by your dentist is far superior to an over-the-counter mouthguard because it’s specially designed to fit the exact contours of your mouth, is resilient, balances your bite and allows speech and normal breathing. If properly used, stored, and checked by your dentist every year, a custom-fitted mouthguard should last several seasons. In contrast, self-fitted, over-the-counter mouthguards, which include what are commonly known as boil-and-bite mouthguards, should not be used. They do not protect the teeth, are loosely fitted, impede breathing and speaking, and can even wedge in the back of the throat at impact which could be life threatening.

Wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard

Custom-fitted mouthguards, by virtue of their exact fit, let you talk normally, don’t restrict your breathing and stay firmly in place, allowing you to concentrate on playing the sport you love. You should consider it a mandatory part of your sporting equipment, no matter your age or experience.

To keep your mouthguard in tip-top working order, you’ll need to keep it out of the sun, wash it in cold water after use, keep on the supplied plastic model cast and get your dentist to make sure it’s still OK when you go in for your regular check-ups.

Only dental professionals can design and manufacture a custom-fitted mouthguard that provides adequte protection.