General Dentist
in Balcatta

• Prevention of dental problems
  One way to maintain your oral health is by seeing a dental professional regularly. When you go to the clinic, your dentist can check for signs of tooth decay, oral cancer, and other diseases that may cause irreversible damage. They can look for early signs and do preventative treatment and give you advice on how to keep your teeth clean.
  
  
• Restore a decayed tooth
  Losing teeth can be one of the most painful experiences, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. A routine checkup with the dentist can help you avoid compromising your dental health.There are instances when early signs of decay or gum disease are overlooked and only go to the dentist when it’s severely damaged, which may require tooth extraction. General dentistry services such as fillings and root canals may potentially restore a decayed tooth. You can enjoy the function of natural teeth.
  
  
• Promote healthy oral health
  General dentistry aims to help patients enjoy a healthy mouth by offering dental procedures that keep the teeth and gums in good shape. The dentist may also recommend certain dental products or giving you advice on how to improve your dental hygiene.
  
  
• Improved tooth function
  Having a dental problem such as losing a tooth, decay, and gum irritation may lead to difficulty chewing, eating, and maintaining oral hygiene. General dentistry may help patients avoid these issues through preventative care services such as routine dental checkups and professional teeth cleanings. If you have gingivitis, gum disease treatments may help control the infection and irritation, resulting in a better smile and enjoyment of your teeth’s function.

• Assessment of your oral health
  Your dentist needs to know about any medical conditions, existing treatment, and medication before performing a thorough checkup on your oral health. This way, they can avoid complications during treatments.
  
  Then, the dentist will do a visual exam of your teeth, gums, and tongue to see if there are early signs of infection or damage. If it has been a while since your last visit, dental x-rays may be necessary to see the structure of your teeth and jawbone underneath the jawline.
  
  
• Professional cleaning
  Your appointment may also involve professional cleaning or scale and clean, which removes built-up plaque, food debris, and tartar. Your dentist may use special instruments to clean between the teeth and gums to ensure they are adequately cleaned. If they notice early signs of gum disease, a deep dental cleaning may be performed or scheduled for your next visit.
  
  
• Follow-up appointments
  If you want to keep your mouth healthy, it’s a good idea to get regular checkups every six months. It may depend on your dentist’s advice.
  Suppose there’s a potential dental problem detected during a routine checkup. In that case, the dentist will recommend what needs the most attention first and how often those treatments should be done in between appointments.

When the tooth pulp becomes inflamed, it’s time for root canal treatment. This will be necessary when oral bacteria invades and causes an infection inside the tooth. Inflamed pulp usually happens when there’s an untreated cavity or cracks (hole) in your tooth. The treatment may save the pulp from being damaged even further, which may lead up to permanent damage or tooth loss.

Common signs that necessitate root canal therapy may go as follows:

• Severe or persistent tooth pain.
  The feeling of pain can be so intense that you might find it difficult to eat or speak clearly. You may feel discomfort across your face, jaw, or adjacent teeth.
  
  
• Tooth sensitivity.
  Pain when drinking hot beverages or eating ice cream could mean that you need root canal treatment. If it hurts and lingers for more than a few seconds, this may indicate serious dental problems and should not be ignored.
  
  
• Swelling of the gums.
  Pus may collect around the tooth area, resulting in tender and swollen gums.
  
  
• Blackening of the tooth.
  Your affected tooth may become discoloured, which appears like a greyish-black, due to an infection in the pulp (centre of the tooth). This occurs when the internal tissue experience trauma and damages the roots.
  
  
• Cracks or chips in the tooth.
  When you notice a rough feeling or cracks in your tooth, it may allow the bacteria to enter and reach the dental pulp.
  
  
• Loose tooth.
  The pus that develops around the tooth may soften or weaken the bone that holds your tooth.
  
  
• You feel pain when pressure is applied.
  If your tooth is sensitive when you touch it or eat it, you should see a dentist. This may indicate severe damage and possibly need treatment with root canals.

Wisdom teeth are the third molars found in the back of your mouth. They usually develop during adolescence to young adulthood. Often, when there is not enough space, they tend to emerge in an improper position, also known as “impacted.” Some people don’t have any problems with their wisdom teeth, even if they’re impacted. In most cases, they don’t need to be removed.

 However, there are times when the mouth is too small (or crowded) for these molars to grow normally, which can cause pain. For instance, a wisdom tooth that partially emerges occurs when the tooth is about to grow but does not have room to develop through the gumline fully. Since the area can be challenging to reach and clean, food debris may get stuck and attract bacteria resulting in oral infection. 

The following is a list of common problems that may require wisdom teeth removal:

• Emerge partially through the gums.
  Since the area is hard to see and clean, wisdom teeth that partially emerge may allow a passageway that can become a magnet for bacteria that cause gum disease and oral infection.
  
  
• It developed at an awkward angle.
  A wisdom tooth that grows horizontally or in other abnormal positions may crowd the adjacent teeth. This problem may damage the roots and decay the other teeth.
  
  
• It emerged beneath the gum line.
  Some wisdom teeth may develop underneath the gum line. This type of impaction may also cause infection and swelling of the gums.

The build-up of plaque around the wisdom teeth may lead to:

• Tooth decay
• Tooth abscess
• Gum inflammation
• Periodontitis

It is necessary to consult your dentist once you notice early signs of wisdom teeth developing. Only they can determine whether extraction is required to prevent future complications.

Bacteria from plaque is the primary reason for developing gum disease. While some other factors may contribute to getting an infection:

• Poor oral hygiene habits: 
  Plaque is a thin film of bacteria that constantly forms on the surface of your teeth when you’re not brushing them enough. Food debris left between the teeth and gums can develop into plaque later.
  
  
• Present gingivitis: 
  Gingivitis is a condition that causes irritation, redness, and swelling (inflammation) of your gums. This can lead to more severe forms like periodontal disease, which could cause tooth loss if left unchecked or without proper care.
  
  
• Tartar: 
  Unremoved plaque between your gums and teeth may harden and lead to tartar. When this happens, the bacteria present in this calculus can irritate the gum tissue.
  
  
• Medication: 
  The flow of saliva may be interfered with by some medicines, which could cause problems for your teeth and gums.
  
  
• Lifestyle: 
  If you have habits like using tobacco products or smoking, there’s a high risk of developing gum disease and other oral problems.

The dental team will make you feel comfortable and safe before removing your tooth. The type of anaesthesia that your dentist will administer may depend on the complexity of your case. Typically, they use local anaesthesia to numb the area.

Your dentist will use specialised dental tools to gently loosen your tooth and carefully pull it from its socket. If the affected tooth is broken or severely decayed, they might need to make incisions in the gum line to get access. Once the tooth is exposed, they may cut it into parts to gently extract it from its socket.

Finally, the dental team will clean and disinfect the area after the tooth has been removed. Your dentist may suggest a dental bone graft to prevent bone loss in some cases. Then, they will put stitches in the extraction site to promote healing.

Most dental professionals recommend bringing your child to the dentist by 12 months of age or when their first tooth develops. Their first dental appointment is straightforward and may last thirty to forty-five minutes.

The initial visit may involve a regular dental checkup or a visual check of the teeth, gums, tongue, jaw, and even bite. The main purpose is to make sure that the development of the primary teeth is normal.

If you notice any mouth sores, bleeding, or signs of dental problems, it’s best to contact a dentist immediately to receive proper dental treatment.

The goal of dental scaling is to remove the build-up of plaque and tartar from your teeth, which can lead to gum disease. Then, root planing is done to smoothen out the roots and help re-attach your gums to the tooth. Your dentist may recommend this procedure if you haven’t had routine cleanings in a while or have noticed signs that indicate possible problems like bad breath and inflammation in the gum line. It may help keep your oral health in an optimal state.

The use of local anaesthesia can help to minimise any pain during the procedure. However, you may feel minimal discomfort following the treatment and once the numbing agent has worn off. Once done, the dentist may recommend using a particular toothpaste to help with any tenderness and inflammation.