General Dentistry

General Check-up 

A general check-up involves a full oral assessment looking at your…

• Teeth and the way you bite.
• Existing state of your fillings, crowns etc.
• The health of your gums and bone around each tooth.
• Your tongue, throat, cheeks & lips for signs of oral cancer.
• Jaw joint evaluation, clicking noises or pain.
• Digital X-rays will generally be taken at your first visit as a diagnostic aid and updated every 2 years.

At Floss Dental, we have the latest in Digital X-rays that have reduced radiation compared to conventional X-rays. Bitewing X-rays will be taken to detect decay inside the tooth or between the teeth. An OPG X-ray for assessment of any pathology of your jaw, infections of the roots of your teeth, teeth and root positions, and any bone loss.

Once the examination is complete, Dr Leo will discuss his findings with you. He will then provide all the available options for your dental needs, including all the benefits and risks of each procedure and the costings. Then together you will create a treatment plan that can be spaced over the desired time to fit in with your schedule.

Gingivitis and Gum Care

Gingivitis is commonly referred to as bleeding gums. This is a reversible process caused by buildup of plaque/bacteria, but will resolve with good oral hygiene and regular cleaning by your dentist. We recommend every 6 months to come for your professional clean to remove the tartar buildup.

Periodontal Disease is when gingivitis progresses to gum disease. This is when the bacterial infection under the gums progresses deeper and affects the bone and tissues supporting the tooth creating pockets that harbour bacteria.
Common signs include;

• Gums are red swollen, tender and bleed when brushing or flossing.
• Bad Breath.
• Teeth become loose.
• Pus may be seen in the pockets around the tooth.

Periodontal disease is irreversible, but you can slow down the progression by regular visits to the Dentist and improving your oral hygiene at home.

Fillings

When a tooth becomes decayed, the decay must be removed to avoid infection of the nerve within the tooth.

In the past, teeth were most commonly repaired with amalgam (commonly referred to as silver) fillings. Thanks to advances in modern dental materials and techniques, teeth can be restored with a more aesthetic and natural appearance using white filling materials.

White fillings most commonly use a material called Composite Resin. It is made up of a composite quartz resin that sets hard after being exposed to intense UV light. These light cured composites are extremely cosmetic and most often bonded into place in one appointment. These materials come in a variety of shades so there will be one to match different coloured teeth.

Patients commonly ask “ When can I eat?”. These fillings are instantly hardened by the light so you may eat straight after your appointment being aware that you may still be numb. Often it is better to wait until the numbness wares off. Your teeth may experience some degree of temperature sensitivity for a few days to a week, every person reacts with differing degrees of sensitivity.

Extractions

Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from the mouth. Extractions can be simple or surgically done.

Simple extractions are usually performed when the there is still adequate tooth structure remaining or when the tooth is already loose.

On the other hand, surgical extraction involves the removal of teeth that cannot be easily accessed because they have not fully errupted, they have broken under the gums or have hooked roots. This requires an incision and frequently the tooth will be split and removed in pieces.

Teeth may require extraction for multiple conditions including:

• Teeth that are rotten which cannot be repaired to prevent infection.
• For orthodontic treatment, a tooth needs to be removed to create space.
• Damaged teeth brought about by injuries such as trip or falls and sports accidents.
• Gum disease that affects the bone supporting the tooth, making it to become loose.
• Overcrowded teeth which is the result of having a smaller jaw.
• Eruption of wisdom teeth which can affect the positioning and spacing of other teeth.

Dr Leo will always outline your dental options to replace the missing tooth.

Simple extractions can be managed with common analgesics such as Panadol or Neurophen. Surgical extractions may require something stronger, but you need not worry about the pain because we will take care of it.

Certain medications and conditions may cause complications during and after tooth extraction. The main areas of concern are prolonged bleeding, infection and impaired healing. Medications such as Aspirin, Warfarin, will increase our bleeding and will need to be managed before the procedure. People who have had artificial joints or certain heart conditions may be prone to infection and other complications and will need Antibiotics before the procedure. Diabetics will have slower healing and may need antibiotics after the procedure. Please make sure you let Dr Leo know if you may have any of the above medications or conditions.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding (dentally referred to as Bruxism) is a surprisingly common occurrence and often happens whilst asleep. Hence patients are often unaware that they are grinding and cannot control the problem. Common signs of grinding include; Chipped and worn teeth, clicking and pain of the jaw joint, facial pain and sensitivity to hot and cold.

There are many theories as to why people grind their teeth such as stress, imperfect bite, breathing difficulties or it may be a combination.The most common treatment is the use of a mouth guard/splint during your sleep to prevent the grinding. This helps reduce the pressure of tooth grinding and helps prevent further damage to your teeth.

Dentures

Dentures have been a long standing treatment option in replacing missing teeth. 

Dentures are removable appliances fabricated using either acrylic or cobalt chrome to which false teeth are added. They help with speech, chewing, support your lips and chin, as well as improving the appearance of your smile. Dentures are kept in place by either using clasps which anchor around neighbouring teeth or by the dentures’ natural suction. On occasions, a denture fixative or glue is recommended to aid in keeping the denture in place.