Children and Tooth Decay
To understand this statistic, first we must understand how tooth decay works. A simple explanation is that germs in your mouth eat the same food you eat, they get stuck to your teeth and produce acid and the acid then dissolves your tooth.
You can help to fight this problem at home by ensuring your children are cleaning their teeth properly and eating and drinking teeth-friendly foods and drinks. You can also educate yourself about tooth decay with resources found on this website, using the Australian Dental Association resources and visiting the dentist.
At Method Dental, we are able to provide advice as well as preventative services like fluoride treatments and sealants (filling material to seal grooves on teeth) which may help your child to suffer less tooth decay. With the right care and oral hygiene/nutrition advice, your child can be cavity-free.
Dr. Grant and his team are very passionate in their efforts to help fight this problem. We will continue to grow the resources on our website, build our social media presence with our preventative messages, visit our local schools and childcare centres and of course, provide the best preventative oral health information in person at Method Dental.
If you’re looking for a caring, safe and fun dental surgery for your child to call home (a dental home that is), Enquire Now!
Follow us on Social Media for the latest information on how to prevent tooth decay in children.
Adults and Tooth Decay
You can learn more about cleaning your teeth and gums properly at “Brushing and Flossing 101” and you can learn more about the impact of your diet on oral health at “Diet and Teeth”.
Cosmetic Issues
Some of the options include:
- Tooth whitening
- Composite Veneers
- Porcelain Veneers
- Orthodontics
We also provide interest-free payment plans that can help you if you’re just a little bit financially stuck right now.
If you require further assistance or information on your cosmetic issues, please call us at Method Dental on (07) 3188 5183.
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Wisdom Teeth
With our in-house OPG machine, we are able to take a clear x-ray to show us the position of your wisdom teeth and help to decide whether removal is necessary. Many cases can be handled easily and pain-free at Method Dental with local anaesthetic.
We also provide interest-free payment plans that can help you if you’re just a little bit financially stuck right now.
Please call us on (07) 3188 5183 if you would like us to assess your wisdom teeth for removal.
One final note – wisdom teeth do not cause crowding of your other teeth. There is no evidence that this is the case and there are other, much simpler explanations as to why your teeth may become crowded later in life.
Gum Disease
Gum disease affects around 1 out of every 5 Australians. Can you be sure you are not one of them?
There are two types of gum disease: Gingivitis and Periodontitis.
Both types have been linked to other general health issues such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Gingivitis:
- Bleeding gums, especially when brushing or eating
- Swollen and red gums
Periodontitis:
- Bleeding gums
- Swollen gums
- Receding gums
- Bad breath
- Loose Teeth
Left untreated, Gingivitis may develop into Periodontitis. And, if Periodontitis is left untreated, it may result in losing your teeth, pain and infection.
One very important thing to note about gum disease is that because your gums may be bleeding, your impulse may be to stop cleaning your teeth properly. Try to continue cleaning your teeth as thoroughly as possible, as it is the plaque around your teeth that causes these conditions to get worse.
If you think you may be suffering from gum disease please contact us at Method Dental on (07) 3188 5183 so that we can assess your gums for gum disease and organise the appropriate treatment.
Toothache
Toothaches can occur for many reasons:
- Broken tooth
- Exposed root surfaces
- Tooth decay
- Trauma
- Infection
Call us at Method Dental on (07) 3188 5183 straight away if you are experiencing toothache.
Grinding and Clenching
Some people may be aware that they are grinding their teeth in their sleep as their partner may be able to hear it during the night.
However, most people are unaware of these issues as they either do not have a partner to hear their tooth grinding or clenching during sleep, or it is too quiet to hear.
Tooth grinding and clenching can result in worn and broken teeth which may be unsightly, painful or even difficult to chew with. In some cases, people who grind or clench their teeth may develop cracks in their teeth which may lead to tooth loss.
If you or your partner suspect that you are grinding or clenching your teeth, have the problem assessed before these complications develop.
Call us at Method Dental on (07) 3188 5183 for assessment of tooth grinding and clenching – it also forms a standard part of your comprehensive oral examination when you first visit our practice.
Snoring and Sleep Apnoea
Sleep apnoea, however, can be fatal.
Sleep apnoea is when your breathing is interrupted during your sleep. There are varying degrees of the problem and varying health effects.
In the most severe cases, sleep apnoea may cause:
- mood changes
- poor concentration
- daytime sleepiness and tiredness
While there are other health concerns that are related to sleep apnoea, some of the biggest problems may occur from tiredness while driving. Indeed, people with severe sleep apnoea are approximately two and a half times more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident than others.
To be treated for sleep apnoea is not necessarily an easy task either, as sleep studies and regular follow ups may be required. However, the improvements in your lifestyle and health can be huge.
Some patients require a CPAP machine which is the the gold standard for Sleep Apnoea. Some others may be treated with oral appliances which can be provided here at Method Dental.
Your dentist can assist in screening you for risk factors associated with Sleep Apnoea and this screening forms part of your comprehensive oral examination at Method Dental. We work in conjunction with medical GPs and sleep specialists in order to arrive at the correct diagnosis and to provide the appropriate treatment for sleep apnoea.
Oral Cancer
Many people are completely unaware that oral cancer screening should form part of your standard oral examination.
Oral cancer incidence may also be on the rise, even as the traditional risk factors such as smoking and drinking alcohol may be reducing, other risk factors such as the HPV virus may be more commonplace.
Trauma
Trauma most commonly happens to children. There are specific instructions to follow if your child has an adult tooth knocked out:
- Find the tooth, make sure it is clean and only hold it by the crown – not the root!
- Place the tooth back in and make sure it is facing the right way
- If you can’t replace the tooth, transport it to your dentist in milk or saliva
Do not place baby teeth back in to place as doing so may risk damaging the underlying adult teeth.
If you or your children play sport we recommend the use of a custom-fitted mouth guard to help protect your teeth from damage.
Contact Method Dental on (07) 3188 5183 if you or your child have suffered dental trauma or if you are interested in having a custom-fitted mouth guard made.
Bad Breath
Sometimes, bad breath is self-reported – meaning, no one else has complained about the bad breath and it is simply a case of the patient being over-sensitive to the smell.
In any case, it is best to see your dentist to have it assessed and treated if necessary. The most common issue is related to poor oral hygiene and at Method Dental, we love taking the time to show you the best techniques for keeping your mouth healthy.
Dental Phobia
When patients avoid going to the dentist, or put off necessary treatment, they tend to end up with even worse oral health, requiring even more complex dental treatment and cost.
Dr. Grant McGrath has a special interest in helping patients to overcome their dental phobia. While options such as anxiety reducing medications exist, in many cases, it is a matter of time, trust and good dental experiences that changes a patient’s mindset about the dentist. In some severe cases, a referral to a psychologist can be very helpful.
Please talk to us about any issues you may have about seeing the dentist as there may be a simple way to help you overcome your fears.
Call Method Dental on (07) 3188 5183
Other Teeth Problems
Broken Teeth
If your tooth does break, it is best to have it assessed by your dentist as soon as possible so the true cause can be determined. Once the cause has been determined, you may need to have the breakage addressed before further complications arise.
Call us at Method Dental (07 3188 5183) if you have a broken tooth that needs assessment or treatment.
Missing Teeth
However, not every missing tooth must be replaced.
To understand which missing teeth would ideally be replaced and which missing teeth may remain missing you will need to visit a dentist for their opinion as it is impossible to determine without an examination.
Your dentist will be able to assess the impact of your missing teeth on your smile and your bite and give you options for replacing your missing teeth if required.
Options to replace missing teeth include:
- Bridges
- Dental Implants
- Dentures
You can find out more about tooth replacement options here:
We also provide interest-free payment plans that can help you if you’re just a little bit financially stuck right now.
Stained Teeth
Some lesser known causes include:
- Tetracycline staining (antibiotic medication that was routinely used in younger patients many years ago)
- Fluorosis
- Trauma
- Ageing
Before you consider cosmetic improvements for your teeth, it is best to have a consultation with a dentist to determine the cause of your tooth staining or yellowing. Once the cause is known the treatment options can be explored.
Tooth whitening is a common treatment for stained teeth.
To find out more about tooth whitening you can go to our Lifetime Whitening page or call us at Method Dental on
(07) 3188 5183.
Crooked/Crowded Teeth
Crooked and crowded teeth can cause more problems than you may realise. Of course, many people are simply unhappy with their appearance when their teeth are crooked or crowded.
Unfortunately, depending on the severity of the issue, it may make it difficult for you to clean your teeth, which may make it more likely that you’ll develop tooth decay or gum disease. You may also find that if your teeth do not fit together nicely, that they may begin to degrade, break or crack earlier than they should.
In some severe cases, crooked and crowded teeth may result in trauma to your mouth, palate, lips and gums if left untreated.
We do not currently provide orthodontic services at Method Dental but we work closely with local Orthodontists to coordinate the best care for you or your child.
Call us at Method Dental (07 3188 5183) if you have crooked or crowded teeth that need assessment or treatment.