Frequently Asked Dental Questions

The first step is to book an emergency appointment and also carefully remove the filling, but please don’t swallow it. The filling may be loose due to wear and tear, or it could be bonded improperly. You can purchase an over the counter emergency filling in the short term to make sure the hollow part doesn’t get dirty from excess food and to keep it closed up until you see your dentist. You’ll probably also need some sort of painkiller as the area might be sensitive.

Gold teeth are very similar to your own natural teeth as they require brushing and flossing as well. The gold tooth might be made of strong and durable material but it still needs maintenance. Make sure you brush and floss regularly, and don’t forget to schedule regular meetings with your dentist for a check-up and professional clean.

Be positive, educational and have a happy attitude. Take casual visits to the practice and let your child get to know the dentist and staff.

We recommend that you do this especially if your child has fears and anxieties. It helps them to become familiar with the dental environment and helps put them at ease.

We prefer the little ones to come in sooner rather than later. The child first visit should start at about the age of 2-3 years old where they can just sit on the lap of one of their parents. By having a look in the child’s mouth and only counting their teeth or even just a ride on the dental chair is a pain-free, trust-building exercise.

Educate them on why it’s important to brush their teeth twice a day, and make sure the experience is fun. Do it with them if you have to and buy colourful, fun toothbrushes for them to brush their teeth with. Be a good example, eat healthily and drink loads of water then encourage the same behaviour.

We recommend that parents do that. It helps put the little one at ease and makes the dental rooms a familiar place to them.

When plaque and calculus accumulate on the teeth it can aggravate the gums causing gum disease to develop. Supporting tissues around the teeth (gums, periodontal ligaments, bone) begin to deteriorate if it is left untreated. Periodontal pockets form which trap additional plaque. In late conditions, the bone that supports the teeth can be lost and require surgical intervention.

Dental check-ups are still important for your oral health even if you are not experiencing any symptoms. When you go in for a check-up, you get a professional cleaning that removes plaque and tartar which, if regularly left untreated, will cause dental issues like cavities and periodontal disease. By receiving these check-ups we can pick up on any unbeknown dental issues.

An easy and effective way to maintain your smile after your check-up is to practice good oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing and using a mouthwash, will help you to keep your gums and teeth healthy. An important thing to remember to do is to also brush your tongue, many patients forget this step; however, it is necessary for preventing an excess build-up of plaque in your mouth.

Cavities are holes that form on the inside of your teeth due to tooth decay. Tooth decay and cavities are caused by the build-up of plaque left on the teeth from starch and sugars found in food. The acid that plaque produces is what eats away at the enamel on your teeth. Cavities can lead to more serious issues if untreated. However, you can prevent cavities by practising good oral hygiene and attending your regular dentist appointments. Contact Hyde Park Dental any time after getting answers to all frequently asked dental questions and our experts will help you out.

Periodontal disease is caused by the bacteria found in plaque. If plaque is not regularly removed it calcifies into a rough, porous deposit called calculus or tartar. By-products of bacterial metabolism irritate the gums making them red, tender, swollen and more prone to bleeding. Eventually the supporting periodontal structures begin to breakdown. The result of this slow process is tissue loss, bone loss and eventual tooth loss.

If you are not in any pain call the dentist as soon as possible to book an appointment. Try and keep the tooth as clean as possible and avoid biting hard on that tooth. If you have pain you will need to go to your dentist immediately as an emergency.

When a tooth is pushed out of position:

1. Attempt to reposition the tooth to its normal alignment using very light finger pressure but do not force the tooth.
2. Bite down to keep the tooth from moving.
3. Your dentist may splint the tooth in place to the two healthy teeth next to the loose tooth.

The most important thing is not to wait to receive treatment!

1. Immediately call your dentist for an emergency appointment. Getting to a dentist within 30 minutes can make the difference between saving and losing a tooth.
2. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root. Touching the root (the part of the tooth below the gum) can damage cells necessary for bone reattachment.
3. Gently rinse the tooth in water to remove dirt. Do not scrub.
4. Place the clean tooth in your mouth between the cheek and the gum to keep it moist- it is important not to let the tooth dry out.
5. If it is not possible to store the tooth in the mouth of the injured person, wrap the tooth in a clean cloth or gauze and immerse in milk.

Radiographic or X-Ray examinations provide your dentist with an important diagnostic tool that shows the condition of your teeth, their roots, jaw placement and the overall composition of your facial bones.

X-Rays can help your dentist determine the presence or degree of periodontal disease, abscesses and many abnormal growths, such as cysts and tumours. X-Rays can also show the exact location of impacted teeth. They can pinpoint the location of cavities and other signs of disease that may not be possible to detect through visual examination (such as changes in the jaw bone structure as a result of systemic disease).

Brushing and flossing are definitely the first steps to eliminating bad breath. Brushing and flossing remove bacteria responsible for creating odorous sulphur compounds and the food they feed on.

It’s important to brush your tongue, and you might want to consider a tongue scraper. They’re extremely effective at removing this protective mucous layer from the back of the tongue.

The latest products on the market for bad breath are toothpastes and mouthwashes containing chlorine dioxide. The chlorine dioxide neutralises the odorous sulphur compounds, instead of simply covering up the odour.

The black filling material used in your teeth is amalgam. Amalgam has been used for over a hundred years as a filling material, however in recent times more advanced tooth coloured filling material has been developed. We can safely replace your unsightly amalgam fillings with our modern filling material that can be colour-matched to the exact shade of your teeth.

Here is the answer of the most frequently asked dental questions. Screenings make it easy to detect oral cancer whilst it is still in its early stages, and the dentist will check for signs during your regular dental appointments.

• Sores that bleed easily or don’t heal.
• A change of colour in gum tissue.
• White or red patch that does not go away.
• A lump, thickening, rough spot, rust or small eroded area.
• Pain, tenderness, or numbness anywhere in the mouth or on the lips.

Dentists perform an examination of your mouth during a routine dental visit to screen for oral cancer. Some dentists may use additional tests to help in identifying areas of abnormal cells in your mouth.