How to Look After a Dental Implant, Bridge, or Dentures at Home

The pandemic has brought with it, hundreds of new ways for people to manage everyday life without being able to return to the norm. Some people will restrict themselves from local services for fear of catching or spreading Covid-19, and even without restrictions, some may still argue about the safety of these services. People who are at risk may not want to visit their local hairdresser, eye doctor, or even dentists.

This makes life especially difficult for those who pay regular visits to a local dentist in Hornsby. Many people may not feel comfortable visiting a local dentist, even when we’re able to, for fear of getting ill or perhaps putting others at risk. There’s no way that you’ll be able to do serious dental procedures by yourself while at home, but there are certain steps that you can take to look after a dental implant, a bridge, or even dentures while in the comfort of your own home.  

Dental Implants

Perhaps one of the most important things that you can do for your dental implants at home is to keep them clean. Keeping them clean is essential in maintaining the lifestyle of the implant. A common form of infection that can develop around implants is a gum disease known as peri-implant disease. This is caused by a build-up of plaque and can cause bone loss around the implant. 

Regular cleaning and maintenance are important at home since you may not be able to visit your local dentist in Hornsby for health reasons. You should brush your implants at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush, including under and around the crown of the implant. You could also benefit from using an interdental brush coated with nylon to clean around it.

Bridges

Dental bridges will fill the gaps in your mouth, replacing a missing tooth with a false tooth, and being bonded to natural teeth on either side of the gap. Again, emphasis needs to be on having a clean bridge, so regular brushing is especially important.

Your dentist will have likely advised you to avoid hard or sticky foods, and this advice is more important now than ever. Since you may not be able to make it into a dentist, just avoid hard and sticky foods entirely! It can cause damage to your bridge and will leave you with some real problems and no solutions. Clean the bridge twice daily and use spongy floss where possible.

Dentures

With dentures, routine maintenance is also equally important. Clean your dentures over a sink of water each day and don’t wear them at night unless your dentist has told you to do so. Make sure that you’re using a specific denture cleaner each week for a deeper clean, as you want them to be as clean as possible.

Most importantly, take care of them. If your dentist isn’t open, or you won’t be able to make it in, getting a replacement denture could take a number of weeks at least, and at worst, might not be available until the pandemic is over!

Speak to us for any dental needs including help and advice on what to do in a dental emergency - 8411 2674

5 Reasons to Invest in Your Holiday Smile

One of the most stressful parts of the holidays is the expectation of photographs, especially if you are self-conscious about your smile. With all of the other aspects of life that take our time and focus, it can be challenging to devote time to your teeth, but it is a fundamental part of self-care that helps improve mental and physical wellbeing.

1.    Confidence
There are many health reasons to take care of your teeth, but your self-confidence is one of the most important aspects. When you are uncomfortable with your teeth, and therefore your smile, you are less likely to be comfortable in any face-to-face interaction with other people. 

If you find yourself worrying about how your smile looks, you distract yourself from the matter at hand, whether for work, school, or your personal life. Whether your teeth are misaligned, stained, or yellowed, a trip to the dentist will help get you on the right path!

2.    Avoiding Daily Damage
The hardest part of maintaining a healthy, happy smile is the daily routine required. Unfortunately, your teeth undergo structural and cosmetic damage daily due to the food and beverages we consume, and building a daily routine is the best way to combat this damage.

Work with your dentist to not only schedule regular cleanings but also develop a home tooth-care routine that will help prevent all this periodic damage

3.    Saving Money
There's a reason that dental health care is a kind of investment. By taking the time to care for your teeth right now, you will save money in the future. The cost to correct long-term damage is significantly higher than the tiny expense that comes from regular maintenance.

In general, restorative dental work is the most expensive and time-consuming variety that there is, so taking care of your teeth regularly will prevent these costs and discomfort from adding up.

4.    Preventing Bad Breath
This reason ties into number one on our list, but another byproduct of poor dental hygiene that leads to self-confidence issues is the potential for persistent bad breath. While having a breath mint moments before you need to be near someone is a temporary solution, a permanent solution is the only way to prevent this kind of bad breath from continuing.

 

There are several causes for persistent bad breath, and almost all of them are due to poor dental hygiene. Speak to your dentist to discover what steps you need to take to correct or prevent this from happening to you.

5.    Avoiding Pain And Infection
In extreme cases, poor dental hygiene can lead to infections, gum diseases, and cavities. These conditions do not only cause discomfort, but if left untreated will cause significant damage to your teeth, and pain to accompany it.

Oral health is one of the most important aspects of personal care, and if you don't already see a Hornsby Dentist regularly, it isn't too late to start. Book an appointment and speak candidly with your dentist to learn what steps you need to take now to ensure you can smile happily and often!

How to Maintain a Regular Dental Routine for Children

 Many dentists will tell you that the key to good oral hygiene is having good habits from a very young age. Even if you’re able to do everything right as an adult, having important oral hygiene as a child can have a big impact on your teeth as you get older.

The best kind of dental care for kids is actually before a baby’s first tooth appears. The teeth are actually already there, they’re just hidden in the gums. When your child is born, they have 20 primary teeth, most of which are already formed. Parents are advised to wipe gums clean with a damp washcloth to clear away bacteria and as soon as those teeth come out, get them brushed with an infant toothbrush with fluoride toothpaste.

Building Up Good Dental Health

Plaque is the enemy where teeth are concerned. Plaque is a thin, clear film of bacteria that sticks to your teeth. The bacteria in your mouth absolutely love sugar, so as soon as it’s on your teeth, the bacteria breaks it down into acid that eats away at your tooth enamel. This can cause holes, called cavities. It can also cause gingivitis, a gum disease that can affect your gums, making your teeth loose and eventually, fall out!

The last thing anyone wants, including your kids, is teeth that are sore, full of cavities, and unhealthy gums. You’ll not enjoy eating your favourite foods and you won’t feel much like smiling either.

Parents should be helping their children with dental health because it’s an integral part of a child’s wellbeing. At Gentle Care Dentistry, we’re a dentist in Hornsby that cares, and we’ve been able to devise a few things to help to maintain a regular dental health routine for children. 

●    Let Your Kids Decide
One of the best things you can do is give your child some hygiene independence. Make sure that they brush their teeth twice a day but let them choose their own toothbrush and toothpaste to make it “their own”.

●    Get a Fun Timer
Dentists recommend 2 minutes of brushing, twice a day. Get your kids a fun little timer with their favourite cartoon character on it. This can encourage them to brush for the appropriate time, while still being fun.

●    Reward Them
Don’t reward them with sugary treats, but instead something else they value. Maybe a week of good habits will get them a new toy, or perhaps get them out of doing chores. Something they value will help them see it through.

●    Make the Dentist Fun
The negative connotation attached to the dentist is likely due to the occasional temporary pain some can experience. Doing something fun before or after can really help to ease the pressure on the trip, making it a better experience.


Make your children’s health an important part of growing up – Call us now! – 8411 2674

Veneers vs. Crowns – What Are the Main Differences?

The world of cosmetics can be a tricky one because there are so many options out there, but for the most part, the average person doesn’t have any idea what the procedures are or what the process entails. Nobody is expecting you to either!

At Gentle Care Dentistry, we give you all of the information so that you can make up your mind about what you think suits you best. We’re one of the few Hornsby dentist practices that offers both veneers and crowns as cosmetic dental improvements at a reasonable price.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are a porcelain covering that is incredibly thin and is bonded to the front of the tooth. Usually, the porcelain is matched by colour to that of your natural tooth colour. While veneers are incredibly strong, they can also be quite brittle and if there are repeated impacts, it could dislodge or crack the porcelain.

Veneers are far less invasive than crowns and will likely be the option for someone who doesn’t have extensive damage to their teeth. In the process of attaching it, the dentist will usually grind down the surface of the tooth to make the surface rough for attaching the veneer.

What Are Crowns?

A crown will usually encase the entire tooth. They are usually made of either metal or porcelain, or in some cases, a combination of both. They are almost twice as thick as veneers and are therefore more durable than veneers.

Crowns are quite effective as replacements more than just additions and work particularly well for tooth decay. A crown is constructed in a lab and then it will be put in place and cemented there.

The Difference Between the Two

While both veneers and crowns are forms of dental restoration, they both work similarly. Depending on how much of the tooth is removed, or needs to be removed, that will likely depend on the recommendation you get from your dentist at Gentle Care Dentistry.

If you have a large filling, a root canal or a very worn down, and cracked tooth, then a crown will likely be the best option for you. If there’s very little damage, and it appears to be more cosmetic than anything else, then veneers would usually be used. Depending on the dentist, they may both cost similar amounts but as there is more work involved with a crown, they will usually be more expensive.

Brighten up that smile with Gentle Care Dentistry – 8411 2674

What Causes Sudden Toothache

Getting a sudden toothache is something that should never be ignored! When you have a sharp, throbbing, or constant pain in a tooth or set of teeth, or even in your gums, it’s something that should be seen as soon as possible in order to prevent further damage. Gentle Care Dentistry is a family dentist that can deal with many forms of toothache and get you back on track for a cleaner, healthier smile.

Just over 20% of adults experience pain in their teeth, gums and jaw over a period of six months, and if you fall into this group, one likely explanation is sensitive teeth. However, there could also be the possibility that you have a cracked or infected tooth. The good news is that this can usually be fixed by your local dentist.

 

We know it can be difficult getting to the dentist during these times of COVID-19 and Gentle Care Dentistry is taking every precaution necessary in accordance with the recommendations from The Australian Dental Association and the Department of Health. Make no mistake, getting to the dentist to sort out your teeth now will be far more worth it in the long run!

How Does a Tooth Get Sore?

Teeth can become sore for a number of reasons. Whenever a tooth is exposed to extreme hot or cold temperatures you could feel a sudden flash of pain and it’s never something that anyone wants to feel. This is when your tooth enamel is worn or when the nerves in your teeth are exposed.

Dental cavities are holes that form in the enamel surface of the teeth and when they first start, aren’t too big a deal because the pain is very rare. However, if left untreated, these cavities can become larger and can extend into the depths of the teeth making the pain a lot worse. This is not the only cause of toothache though and people suffer from many different causes of toothache, including:

●Crowded teeth
●Sinusitis
●Tooth grinding
●Weak tooth enamel
●Gum disease
●Cracks in a tooth
●Teeth bleaching products

Getting a Fix to Put the Smile Back on your Face

Fortunately, all is not lost if you’re experiencing dental pain or believe to have any of the above ailments. Gentle Care Dentistry can work with you to solve your tooth woes and can put the smile back on your face. We take Hornsby family dental care seriously and urge you to make contact today if you’re having any form of toothache.

Put the smile back on your face with Gentle Care Dentistry – 8411 2674

The Importance of Healthy Teeth

Eating too much sugar can lead to tooth decay, that’s something that we all know and accept, but it’s not necessarily the sugar that does it, more the chain of events that happens after you’ve had the sugar.

The bacteria on your teeth will break down sugar and in doing so, release acids that can easily dissolve your tooth enamel. This then increases the risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. Establishing a consistent routine of brushing and flossing can help to eliminate the effects of the acids on your teeth and promote good tooth and gum health.

Unsurprisingly, a lot of common everyday food items have a lot of sugar in them, even the ones that you don’t necessarily expect! Something as common as ketchup can have a teaspoon of sugar in every tablespoon of ketchup that you eat, and although people talk about how good fruit juice is for you, it’s also loaded with sugar, almost as much as popular soft drinks!

Gentle Care Dentistry – Your Solution

Taking care of your teeth is one of the most important things that you can do when it comes to the quality of life. Losing teeth due to gum disease, tooth decay, smoking, or injury can affect your bite, smile, and overall health.

Studies show that loss of natural teeth is associated with a 17% higher risk of premature death. While this is linked with a poor diet among other factors, it’s something important to note. Looking after teeth from a young age can promote the quality of life. Having less bite misalignment can help people to eat better and pronounce words more clearly, and it also can give you confidence in having a full smile.

What We Offer

At Gentle Care Dentistry, we offer a number of services in Hornsby New South Wales for customers in the surrounding areas. Our team of specialists have the Hornsby dental welfare in mind and will go through everything from check-ups and routine cleans, all the way to major and cosmetic dentistry. Our full range of services includes:

-General Dentistry
-Major Dentistry
-Check-ups
-Clean
-Cosmetic Dentistry
-Orthodontics
-Dental Implants

Call us now to book your next appointment -  (02) 8411 2674

Cosmetic Dental Procedures to Give You Back Your Confidence

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) recently conducted a study that showed 99.7% of people interviewed believe that a smile is an important social asset. In addition to that, 74% of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for success in business. People will notice the straightness of your teeth, the whiteness, the cleanliness, and the sincerity of your smile. 

People will often come to Gentle Care Dentistry and other dentists too, all over the world, looking for teeth whitening, veneers, or some other form of cosmetic dental procedures. The most important thing to remember is that there’s nothing to be ashamed about and many people enjoy have veneers or teeth whitening done as it makes for a positive future outlook. 

Veneers and Teeth Whitening

Veneers are thin shells made of porcelain or a resin composite that is formed, shaped and attached to the surface of the tooth to make it look better. They are usually rather stained resistant and will usually be whiter than your natural teeth colour, while still maintaining a very natural appearance. Another plus side to veneers is that gum tissue can tolerate porcelain quite well. 

Gentle Care Dentistry will also offer teeth whitening as another cosmetic dental procedure. Teeth whitening is often a cheaper procedure using a bleaching agent to whiten teeth. Depending on the teeth, cause and degree of discolouration, teeth whitening may not be for everyone, but for those who can have it, we offer in-chair whitening as well as a take-home whitening kit. 

Gain Back Your Confidence!

Our cosmetic dental options will give you a bright smile and will allow you to make great first impressions. You’ll be able to feel more confident in front of friends and family and be able to give yourself a leg up with career success.

Contact us today to for options on cosmetic dentistry -  (02) 8411 2674