Dental FAQ’s

The type of toothbrush you use can make a big difference to the overall health of your teeth. There is a wide range of manual and electric toothbrushes available. The team at Finesse will advise you about the most appropriate tooth brush to use.

The popularity of oral piercing is growing. It involves the insertion of jewellery into soft oral tissue – such as the lips, tongue and cheek. Oral piercings can cause serious health complications, including; tooth fractures, speech impediment, infection and allergic responses, blood poisoning and blood clots, damage to nerves and veins, loss of taste and permanent numbness.

Some sugar-free chewing gums contain Xylitol or Sorbitol which are cariostatic and help to prevent decay. The additional saliva generated from chewing the gum also increases the natural protection against tooth decay because saliva offers a natural buffer against the acid formed by bacteria.

Flossing is an important component in the overall maintenance of a healthy mouth as it removes harmful bacteria and debris from between the teeth where brushing tends to miss.

The problem with root filled teeth is not that they are weak; it is that without the nerve fibers within the pulp of the tooth we lose some degree of sensory perception. Vital teeth can detect instantly the presence of extra force if we bite on something we shouldn’t. We immediately flinch and search for the offending nut, shell or foreign material. Root filled teeth lack this reflex. Therefore they are often broken as a result. A crown adds protection against such a scenario.

 Another reason is that the main cause of root canal failure is through secondary bacterial recontamination through the top of the tooth. A poor filling that allows bacteria to re-enter the root filling contributes greatly to its demise. This can happen via recurrent decay or simply from the saliva. Once this happens it is only a matter of days before those bacteria has reached the apex of the tooth and a new abscess begins.

 It is for this reason that is it recommended that all molar teeth that have had root canal therapy be restored using a strong restoration that caps the tooth at the very least. In fact root filled teeth without crowns are lost at a six times greater rate when decay was the primary cause for the original treatment.

Anyone playing sport or training can benefit from custom made, correctly fitted mouth guards to protect teeth against injury. Over the counter mouth guards do not offer the snug, comfortable fit that a custom mouth guard can nor can they offer an adequate level of protection. Talk to us about creating a customized mouth guard for any sports enthusiast.

If you are not in any pain then ring the Dentist as soon as possible and make an appointment, but try and keep the tooth as clean as possible and avoid biting hard on that tooth. If you have pain, then you will need to go to your Dentist ASAP as an emergency.

The black filling material used in your teeth is amalgam. It has been used as a filling material for over a hundred years, it’s still one of the strongest materials available. However, it’s about as unattractive a filling material as you can get. There are a number of other tooth-colour restorative materials currently available that can be used to replace old amalgams.

A common problem is that teeth will crack, either due to trauma, grinding, clenching, decay or heavily filled teeth. “Cracked Tooth Syndrome” relates to a variety of symptoms and signs caused by a crack or many cracks in a tooth. Early diagnosis is needed to improve the chances of saving a cracked tooth. Symptoms include:

Sharp and erratic pain upon chewing or after release of biting pressure: not all cracks cause pain. Sensitivity to cold or hot foods/drinks, or sweets Difficulty in pinpointing which tooth hurts, either upper or lower If you suspect that you may have a cracked tooth, discuss this with your Dentist.

Fluoride is a mineral that is naturally present in varying amounts in many foods and some water supplies. It is also used in many consumer dental products. Fluoride strengthens teeth making it more resistant to decay. It is important to use fluoride containing toothpastes, mouth rinses, and gels topically to gain the added benefit of preventing sensitivity and tooth decay.

Soda tastes great; however, many people do not realise how it is for their teeth. The sugar found in Soda reacts with the natural bacteria in your mouth and forms acid. This acid can erode your tooth enamel and over time causes cavities. Sugar-free soda can also cause tooth decay. We recommend drinking soda in moderation.

Everyone is aware of how bad smoking is for the lungs, but many people forget about how much damage it does to your teeth. Smoking can cause serious long term damage to teeth and gums. The main concern for most smokers is the discolouration and staining of their teeth. Tobacco causes teeth to yellow and darken to a light brown colour. It promotes the build up of plaque which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Smoking will also cause bad breath, leave a bad taste in your mouth and make your gums pull away from your teeth. Seek help to quit smoking today. Your whole body will thank you for it!

Everyone’s teeth are different so sensitivity can occur for some people to varying degrees, but most new tooth whitening products have de-sensitizing agents added to the tooth whitening material, which helps to reduce side effects. Some patient’s may experience a “zinger”; “zingers” can occur during or after treatment and may last up to 24 hours. Panadol or Nurofen will help but its best to speak to our dentist if your teeth are normally sensitive.

Once the Tooth Whitening treatment has been completed you probably won’t have to have it done again. Teeth are porous and absorb stains and after a professional Tooth Whitening one normally uses tooth whitening trays at home for a few hours, usually every 4 – 6 months to touch up.

Previously, little could be done to attain the smile you always dreamed of. The treatments available to treat chipped, stained or crooked teeth were limited. Yet, today with the vast range of Cosmetic Dentistry treatments available, every smile can be aesthetically enhanced.

Cosmetic Dentistry is the ultimate mixture of art and dental science. These procedures endeavour to create beautiful, aesthetically pleasing smiles; utilising the latest restorative technologies and materials.

A healthy mouth means fresh breath! Bad breath can make you feel embarrassed and place strain on relationships. The main culprit behind bad breath is bacteria! Our mouths contain millions and millions of bacteria, which can quite easily get out of control. Plaque, tartar, gum disease, tooth decay, dentures and your tongue are all places where bacteria can thrive. To resolve your bad breath, we recommend:

Brush your tongue Approximately 50% of oral bacteria can be eliminated through brushing your tongue daily with a soft toothbrush. Use Breath Fresheners and Mouthwash Breath Fresheners and Mouthwash can also help to eliminate bad breath. Make an Appointment at Finesse Dental Attend a check-up to determine the cause of your bad breath (i.e. the cause may be tartar, gum disease, tooth decay etc). We will then be able to isolate and fix the cause of your bad breath.

Maintaining your teeth and gums, as you age is an important step in sustaining your general health and well-being. Whilst exercising, eating right and regular health checks are important – looking after your teeth and gums is also essential. Good dental health will help you to lead a long, happy and healthy life.

There are always bacteria in the mouth and on the teeth which change carbohydrates and sugars into acid, especially sweet food and drinks. Acid in the mouth dissolves tooth enamel, thus causing tooth decay and cavities.

Firstly call Finesse Dental ASAP! If you can see a Dentist within 30minutes of the incident, there is an 85% chance that the tooth will survive. The first step after you have lost a tooth is to find it. Once you have found your tooth handle it very delicately, not touching the fragile root as it will be needed intact to encourage re-attachment. You must also resist the temptation to clean your tooth off with water. If the tooth is clean, place it gently back into its socket immediately and apply slight pressure. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it using milk and place it back into its socket. Otherwise keep the tooth moist by placing it in a glass of milk or tuck it into your cheek until you can visit your Dentist.

It is very important to wear a mouthguard during all forms of contact sports, i.e. football, hockey, basketball, baseball, gymnastics and volleyball. It is your only protection against broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw. Finesse Dental provides state of the art custom made athletic mouthguards. These mouthguards are custom made to your individual requirements so that they are comfortable to wear and appropriate for the level of competition.

It is important to take your child to the Dentist as early as possible to avoid creating a fear of the Dentist. It may help to role play a visit with your child, and explain to them what they will see when they go into the room and what the Dentist does. Setting a date and telling the child when they are going will enable the child to prepare for the Dentist. It is important not to show that you are anxious or nervous.

As chewing or biting usually provides relief from teething, try unsalted breadsticks or crackers. Approved commercial teething rings may also be helpful. You should discuss the use of teething gels or ointments with your Doctor or Dentist prior to using them.

Sucking the thumb or fingers is generally fine up until the age of four years. Continued sucking may lead to permanent displacement of your child’s teeth and / or jaw structure.

The desire to suck is natural for an infant and a dummy helps to satisfy this need. Using a dummy is generally fine after six weeks of age. It is very important to never dip the dummy in sugar, honey or anything sweet as this can lead to tooth decay.

Your child should see a Dentist every 6 months for a check up.

Unlike baby teeth, if a permanent tooth is knocked out it should be REPLACED IN THE SOCKET STRAIGHT AWAY. The longer the tooth is out of the mouth, the less likely the tooth will survive. As soon as the accident occurs call your Dentist and organize an appointment immediately. If you are unable to put the tooth back into the socket, place it into a glass of milk in the meantime.

If a baby tooth is knocked out DO NOT TRY TO PUT IT BACK IN. This is the case as you could accidentally damage the adult tooth that is developing below the gum. As soon as the accident occurs call your Dentist and organize an appointment immediately.

Children generally lose their front 8 baby teeth between 6 and 8 years of age. At this time the first permanent molars will also come through behind the baby teeth. Then between 10 and12 years of age the remaining baby teeth are lost and are replaced with adult teeth.

Fluoride is important as it makes the enamel more resistant to plaque. We recommend that children start using a low fluoride based toothpaste between 2 and 6 years of age. Once they switch to fluoride toothpaste, we recommend using a very small amount (approximately half the size of a pea). This is the case as most children will swallow a small amount.

Baby teeth are of great importance as they path the way for proper growth and development of the jaw. They also maintain space for the adult teeth and are beneficial in speech development and eating. Premature loss of baby teeth can lead to the need for Orthodontic treatment later in a child’s life.

You can start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as they start to come through the gums. This will generally be around 6 to 9 months of age.

Begin cleaning your child’s teeth with a soft, damp cloth to wipe gently over their teeth. You can start to introduce a children’s toothbrush as soon as you feel your child will accept it.

Magic Braces are designed with adult needs in mind – to have a great smile in a short amount of time that also isn’t going to break the bank.

Magic Braces can treat a wide range of concerns that clear aligners and many other orthodontic options cannot. This includes, but is not limited to:

Gaps between teeth Crooked teeth Crowded teeth Protruding teeth Uneven gum lines Prominent front teeth Magic Braces are designed to quickly, yet safely, address these concerns leaving you with a great smile in months, not years.

You do NOT have to wear metal braces on your teeth. We use clear, nearly invisible, braces on your teeth. These braces have a chameleon like effect blending seamlessly in with your teeth. This makes them nearly impossible for anyone to see. In some cases we can also offer lingual braces that are places behind your teeth.

Because Magic Braces™ treatment is completed far sooner than other orthodontic treatment, this makes them less expensive and patients endure fewer visits. Finesse Dental understands that costs is often the reason patients don’t proceed which is why we have several payment plans including a no deposit option to help ease the financial pressure and get you on your way to your new smile as soon as possible.