Regular Checkup
At Beyond Dental, we believe prevention is far better than a cure. That’s why general preventive dentistry is so important.
Going beyond brushing and flossing
Simply brushing your teeth and flossing daily at home will certainly help to keep your teeth healthy, but unfortunately can never fully prevent dental decay, cavities, plaque build-up and gum disease. If left unchecked, these small issues can become a little like the proverbial snowball, eventually turning into a large problem which will take significant time and money to treat. Instead, by attending regular 6-montly dental check-ups, it is possible for your dentist to keep these small issues in check and stop them in their tracks before they get out of control.
Let’s take a look at some of the things the humble check-up can achieve.
Prevent gum disease
When you attend your check-up and clean, your dentist will remove the plaque and tartar which have built up on your teeth. This is of utmost importance as, if left, the harmful bacteria which live in plaque can go on to cause gum disease. There are two stages of gum disease; gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis comes first and causes inflammation and irritation of the gum tissue. In this early stage of gum disease, if this plaque is removed professionally by your dentist then it can be reversed. However, if the plaque is not removed and pockets of plaque and calculus begin to develop below the gumline, then your gum disease has progressed to periodontitis. At this stage, you have sustained irreversible damage to the bone and fibres holding your teeth in place.
Whilst it is possible to prevent periodontitis from causing further damage at this stage, it is not possible to reverse the damage. Beyond this is advanced periodontitis; this stage can see your teeth become loose and start to shift. The bone and fibres which support your teeth will have been largely destroyed, and you may even end up needing your teeth removed, leaving you needing dentures. It sounds awful, doesn’t it? A simple check-up and clean at your dentist every 6 months can ensure you never need to face this problem.
Gum disease symptoms
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Red, puffy, swollen or tender gums
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Gums which bleed when flossing or brushing
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Gums pulling away from the teeth
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Teeth which appear longer due to receding gums
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Bad breath constantly
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Pus between your gums and teeth
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If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please request an appointment as a matter of urgency.
Improve the appearance of your teeth
When plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, it can contribute to them appearing yellow. As this is removed during your cleaning, and your teeth will be published, your teeth are guaranteed to both look and feel considerably better afterwards. If you’d like to achieve even further aesthetic improvements, talk to us about our cosmetic dental treatments at your appointment.
Save you money
When small issues are found and fixed before they become big issues, it’s going to save you a lot of money in the long run. A filling is always going to be cheaper and far less painful than a root canal or a dental implant later on.
Furthermore, if you have private health insurance, you may even find that you are entitled to free check-up and cleanings. You’ll need to check with your provider for the exact details of the benefits attached to your cover.
What happens at my check-up and clean?
When you attend your check-up and clean, the first thing your dentist will do is conduct a physical examination. During this time, they’ll be looking to see if you have any signs of decay, gum disease, or oral cancer. During this time, you’ll hear them give their assistant notes to make about your teeth so things can be monitored. It’s possible you may also have an x-ray taken.
Next your dentist will begin to remove the built-up tartar and plaque from between your teeth and around your gumline. Once all of this is removed, your teeth will then be brushed with a high-powered electric brush, and a professional toothpaste. This will gently and safely “scrub” your teeth, providing a deep clean and removing anything which the scaler might have left behind. Your teeth will then be professionally flossed before you’ll be asked to rinse your mouth out to clear away any debris.
Finally, your dentist will apply a fluoride treatment to your teeth to help protect them from cavities over the coming months.
CROWNS & BRIDGES
Porcelain crowns make it possible to restore a badly damaged tooth in such a way that many others will never realise it’s not your natural tooth. Porcelain bridges replace missing teeth.
Crowns
Porcelain crowns can cover a tooth that is severely decayed, broken or brittle. They may be used for aesthetic reasons to improve the tooth shape, size or strength.
For many years, traditional metal-based crowns have been used to strengthen or rebuild teeth. Today, thanks to the latest advancements in cosmetic dentistry, porcelain crowns are now an effective aesthetically pleasing option. We can match your porcelain crowns to be the exact colour, texture and translucency as your natural teeth. This way they look and feel so natural and no one will even know you have them.
Porcelain crowns are a common procedure at Beyond Dental. It is a virtually painless treatment which can dramatically enhance the appearance of your smile.
Bridges
A bridge is a device used to replace one or more existing teeth. A bridge can fill a gap of up to four teeth if there are healthy natural teeth flanking the gap. The bridge will replace your missing teeth and will appear entirely natural.
When a lost tooth is replaced with cemented bridgework, the teeth on either side of the missing one may be prepared as crowns to serve as abutments, to hold the bridge in place. This procedure usually takes two appointments to complete.
Bridges are a long-term solution which can help prevent the cycle of problems that occur when just one tooth is missing, such as shifting and drifting of remaining teeth, decay and periodontal bone loss.
With CEREC a porcelain restoration can now be performed in one dental appointment!
No longer are messy impressions and laboratory work required for dental restorations, a process which usually takes up to several weeks and a series of dental appointments. CEREC restorations give teeth greater strength and stability and are very natural in appearance. This material is closest to the natural aesthetics of tooth enamel than any material on earth, which have been clinically proven for over two decades.
During your appointment the affected tooth is first prepared for treatment. An electronic 3D scan is taken of the area. The ceramic restoration is then designed in accordance with your tooth scan. Utilising the CEREC machine the ceramic restoration is created quickly and efficiently. It can then be applied to the tooth and polished to look and feel natural.
CEREC has helped millions of smiles around the world. Beyond Dental’s Dr Ayman Kleid and Dr Michele Kleid are both trained in CEREC technology.
Same day crowns Cranbourne
If you would like to find out more about dental crowns and bridges, or to request a consultation, contact us today.
INLAYS & ONLAYS
A conservative dental treatment, porcelain inlays and onlays are minimally invasive, meaning only the decayed area of the tooth is removed for this treatment. The only difference between these treatments is the area of the tooth to which they are applied.
Dental Inlays
Inlays fit between the rounded edges of your tooth, in the centre of the tooth’s surface. Inlays are generally used when we need to repair the chewing surface of one of your larger back teeth, or when you have an overly large cavity which a conventional filling wouldn’t be strong enough to repair.
Dental Onlays
Onlays are very similar to inlays, just slightly larger and will cover one or more of the cusps on the edges, as well as the biting surface.
Also used as an alternative to traditional Amalgam fillings, porcelain Inlays and onlays are healthier, more attractive and longer lasting. Porcelain inlays and onlays are able to be created to match the exact colour of your existing teeth.
Porcelain inlays and onlays fit perfectly into the affected tooth, meaning decay is less likely to occur once the restoration is completed. Created from ceramic material, porcelain inlays and onlays look and feel like your natural teeth, meaning your restoration will be almost invisible to others.
Same day inlays and onlays Cranbourne
Thanks to our CEREC machine, it is possible for us to create your dental inlays and onlays on-site, and in one appointment.
PORCELAIN VENEERS
Porcelain veneers are an ideal solution to cosmetically enhance a smile while maintaining and strengthening healthy tooth structure. As their name suggests, veneers are thin, tooth-coloured porcelain shells which are custom made to bond to the front surface of your teeth.
What do porcelain veneers treat?
If you have a chipped, cracked, discoloured or misshapen tooth or teeth, porcelain veneers could help you to restore the aesthetics and function of your smile. They are also an excellent option for improving the shape, length, size and colour of teeth, and can even serve as an alternative way to achieve a straighter smile if you don’t wish to undergo orthodontic treatment.
How do veneers work?
At your first appointment, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth. This will then be used to custom-make your porcelain veneers to perfectly fit your mouth. Once the veneers have been made, and you and your dentist are happy with their colour and shape, they will then be bonded to the outside of your teeth. In order for the teeth to not become too bulky, it is necessary for some of the enamel to be removed from the outside of the teeth onto which the veneers will be placed. This is not cause for concern; the very strong and durable porcelain will cover this area, protecting your teeth, and perfecting your smile.
If you have been considering teeth whitening, we would urge you to undergo this prior to having your veneers made. As your veneers are porcelain, they will not be affected by whitening treatments. Instead, undergo the whitening treatment first, and have your veneers custom matched to the brighter, whiter smile you have achieved.
How long will veneers last?
Once placed, the veneers are very strong and will resist most of the forces placed upon them by a normal diet. Given proper care, veneers should last for around 10 years, though there are cases where they have lasted even longer than this.
What do I need to do before I get veneers?
It is important that the teeth to be restored by Veneers are strong and healthy. If they are suffering from decay, or any other issues, it is essential that this is addressed prior to your veneers treatment beginning.
TEETH WHITENING
At Beyond Dental we provide a take-home whitening tray option for our patients. This option can help give your smile a sparkling new lease on life, from the comfort of your own home.
Take Home Whitening Kits
If it’s difficult for you to find an hour to spend in the dental chair, you can also choose to whiten and brighten your smile in the comfort of your own home with our range of home whitening systems. At your consultation, we will take an impression of your teeth. These impressions are then used to create customised trays which will perfectly fit your teeth, ensuring the whitening product goes where it is supposed to, and that you are comfortable. Each night for three to four weeks the patient places the required amount of bleaching agent on the trays and inserts it into their mouth. While it’s not nearly as fast as the Zoom! Procedure, this system is effective and will whiten your teeth gradually over the treatment time. It is important to note that the take home whitening kits we use provide a far superior result to store-bought kits. Not only is the whitening agent more powerful, but our customised trays ensure the whitening agent only ends up where it is supposed to, helping to minimise any discomfort.
How long does whitening last?
Unfortunately, your smile will begin to discolour again with time, meaning you will require subsequent treatments to keep your smile looking its whitest and brightest. This is simply a natural process and can be caused by a variety of things including age, medications, and highly pigmented foods. We recommend your ensure you are completing active maintenance at home and attending regular check-up and cleanings with your dentist to help make your whitening results last as long as possible.
What do I need to do before I whiten my teeth?
It’s really important that your teeth are strong and healthy prior to your undergoing any whitening treatment. Any cavities or decay must be dealt with beforehand, or you can risk causing other issues, and pain.
WHITE FILLINGS
Gone are the days when needing a filling meant you were likely to come home with a big, dark amalgam blob in your mouth; tooth coloured fillings enable you to maintain your beautiful white smile even if you require treatment.
What is a filling?
A filling is a restorative material used to artificially return the function and integrity to a tooth after decay. No longer is it necessary for unsightly amalgam (mercury) fillings to be used in dental treatment. Virtually invisible, tooth coloured fillings make your teeth appear whiter, brighter and healthier than before.
What are white fillings made from?
Modern white fillings are normally constructed of a composite resin material. The composite resin bonds well with your natural tooth structure, and also allows your dentist to retain more of your tooth than amalgam as only the decayed portion needs to be removed before the filling is placed.
Are white fillings suitable for all cavities?
Tooth coloured fillings are not only limited to new dental repairs, older restorations may also be replaced. These aesthetic materials will help give your smile a new lease on life.
In some cases where there is large amount of decay on one of your rear teeth, your dentist may suggest the use of an inlay or onlay instead of a white filling. Inlays and onlays are constructed of porcelain, and will also provide you with a very aesthetically pleasing result.
ROOT CANAL THERAPY
Also known as endodontics, root canal therapy is designed to save infected teeth with a diseased or injured nerve. The purpose of this treatment is to conserve a tooth that has been damaged by decay, fracture or an abscess and normal restorative procedures are no longer possible.
What are the symptoms that suggest I may need root canal therapy?
There are a range of symptoms which can point to you possibly requiring a root canal therapy. These include:
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Lingering tooth sensitivity to hot or cold liquids
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Tooth sensitivity to sweets
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Tooth pain to biting pressure
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Impulsive, constant or intermittent tooth pain
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Severe throbbing tooth pain
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Swollen face
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Tooth pain that may occur in response to atmospheric pressure changes such as when flying or scuba diving
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f you are experiencing these symptoms, please contact us as soon as possible to request a consultation! If left too long, you may not only loose the tooth, but also experience other subsequent oral and general problems.
Why have root canal therapy?
In the past, if a tooth had a diseased or injured nerve, the most common treatment would have been to extract the tooth. However, in modern dentistry, we now take every possible step to retain your natural tooth. There are a number of reasons for this, including that when a tooth is extracted, the jawbone under the missing root will begin to dissolve, which can then cause instability in the teeth around the extraction site. This can also eventually lead to your face taking on a sunken and prematurely aged appearance.
What is root canal therapy?
Root canal therapy is a process to remove the infected pulp on the inside of the tooth. After this diseased or injured matter has been removed, the tooth can then be filled, restoring its stability and function, eliminating your pain. Often your dentist may prescribe a course of antibiotics in conjunction with root canal therapy to ensure the infection is cleared completely. This process will take place over a series of appointments; the exact number of appointments will be dependent on the circumstances. Root Canal treatments generally need to be performed quickly, before the tooth’s structure is too far compromised.