TALKING TEETH. Gerber Dental Group

Transcription

1 Hi, Welcome to issue 2 of our newsletter. Hopefully all the little bugs have been ironed out and everybody is receiving this either via or post. If you are having a problem opening the newsletter or if you would prefer to receive it another way, please us and we ll make the necessary changes. With the start of a new year comes the beginning of the health fund year which means you start again with your dental health fund rebates, so now is the time to schedule your exam and preventive care visit and plan any treatment over the year to maximise your rebates. In this issue we will be focusing on restorative dental care and providing you with some information about CEREC. Our dental emergency spot will look at what to do if you get a sudden onset of tooth ache and we ll discuss the options available to deal with severely infected teeth. We ll update you on this months special offers and fill you in on our product of the month. We have extended our hours to make it easier for you to visit us. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 8:30-7:30pm 8:30-1:30pm follow us on facebook and twitter In this issue: Crowns in your lunch break CEREC Product of the month Tooth Mousse. i-cat scans Special offers Reward yourself Dental emergency - tooth ache. Infected teeth-to save or not? Creating healthy little mouths Dentists Dr Andrew Gerber Dr Diana McCubbin Dr Jacki Obst Dr Sireesha Nimmagadda Oral Health Therapist Sophie DeCasabianca Hygienist Shanti Lange Stockland Shopping Centre West Burleigh Road Burleigh Heads PO Box 3560 Stockland PO Burleigh Heads Qld 4220 Ph [email protected]

2 CROWNS IN YOUR LUNCH BREAK Hove you ever watched the extreme make over shows and wondered whether what they do is really possible? Can you have crowns made in one appointment or old silver fillings removed and replaced easily? The answer is yes providing you choose the right dentist. CEREC is a computerised software and milling unit that a dentist can use to manufacture restorations such as crowns and onlays for your teeth. Traditionally, a dentist would take an impression of your teeth, and crowns were made in a laboratory, a process taking up to a couple of weeks and several appointments. CEREC allows this process to be done in one appointment and ensures a perfect fit and colour for your tooth first time. is one of only a few dental practices on the Gold Coast to offer CEREC in the practice. Since purchasing CEREC in 2003, this treatment option has become one of our most requested and successful procedures. The convenience of a single appointment and the superior quality of the crown produced means there is no shortage of patients choosing the procedure over traditional techniques. The entire process takes about 90 minutes. CEREC is particularly useful for large fillings, crowns, and the replacement of old silver fillings that give you a black smile. CEREC is suitable in most situations, however, just to be sure, your dentist or oral health therapist can provide you with more information during your next treatment visit or preventive care appointment. CEREC step up to affordable, permanent solutions for your teeth. Abby had a very large amalgam filling on one of her lower molar teeth. This tooth was at high risk of fracturing and breaking. The latest technology has enabled Abby to have the old amalgam filling replaced in one appointment, with a strong ceramic cerec restoration. Grant wanted his old amalgam fillings replaced with white restorations. CEREC was used during this process to provide an improved cosmetic result and to strengthen and support his heavily restored teeth. Any views expressed in this newsletter are those of the and not necessarily endorsed by any dental associations. You should check or confirm any recommendations prior to commencing treatment based on information provided in this newsletter. It is your responsibility to scan this communication and any files attached for computer viruses and other defects. does not accept liability for any loss or damage however caused which may result from this communication or any files attached.

3 PRODUCT OF THE MONTH GC Tooth Mousse GC tooth mousse is a water based, sugar free cream that you can either rub onto your teeth or use in specially made trays. It s great for re-mineralising and re-hydrating the teeth as well as strengthening the enamel which can help reduce decay. For further information about the GC Tooth mousse, talk to Shanti or Sohpie during your next preventive care visit, or call in to purchase the product. Tooth Mousse $33.60 (inc GST) available in a variety of flavours. WHAT IS AN i-cat SCAN? In June 2005, we became the proud new owners of Australia s first i-cat, a 3D cone beam, digital dental scanning system. The i-cat produces images of your critical anatomy, using digital technology. It provides complete views of all your oral and maxillofacial structures including the teeth, nerves, jaw joints, bone levels, sinus and neck anatomy. It is an easy to use system that allows our dentists to dramatically enhance your dental care. i-cat features an open environment seated position, a typical scan time of only 20 seconds, and significantly lower radiation doses compared to traditional CT scans. The result is an immediate three dimensional reconstruction of your mouth, face and jaw areas which enhances doctor/patient communication by allowing our dentists to share a visual diagnosis with you. This gives you a better understanding of your treatment options and more confidence going into treatment. The i-cats high definition, advanced imaging technology can be used by a variety of specialists, including orthodontists, periodontists, oral surgeons, TMJ specialists and general dentists. With a unique 3D mapping tool, dentists and technicians are able to format and select desired tooth slices for immediate viewing and further analysis. The 3D reconstruction gives dentists the opportunity to more thoroughly analyse bone structure, tooth orientation and joint space, and detect and evaluate deformities and pathologies. If we need to refer you to a specialist for part of your dental treatment, we ll send a copy of your i-cat scan as well. If you are considering having implants, wisdom teeth removal, orthodontics or cosmetic dental treatment, insist on an i-cat scan.

4 Creating healthy little mouths Is your child brushing and cleaning their teeth well? Are you sure you know what is good and bad for your child s teeth? It s not all about sweets and lollies; there are a lot of things that can affect the health of your child s teeth and gums. A lifetime of good dental health starts in childhood and a healthy mouth is a vital building block to a long term healthy body. Much like adult teeth, baby teeth need to be professionally cleaned and checked regularly to ensure no decay is present, and to check that the teeth and gums are healthy. The premature loss of baby teeth can have a significant impact on the development of adult teeth and lead to long term dental problems later in life. It is also important that children develop good oral hygiene habits, and a regular visit to their dentist and oral health therapist assists is eliminating the fear factor that many of us have. At we provide dental care for life. We have a holistic, preventive approach to dental care. Our philosophy is to provide ongoing prevention and maintenance for your entire family. Sophie is our Oral Health Therapist and she runs our kids preventive care program. Mouthguards need to be correctly fitted to protect teeth during sport. They should be checked and adjusted regularly in growing mouths and are available in a range of team colours. Early intervention orthodontics offers alternatives to tradition braces. Fissure sealants can help to minimise the risk of decay in baby and new adult teeth. Modern technology such as lasers, the wand and digital imaging also eliminates the need for tradition drilling and injections in many cases. Painful dentistry is a thing of the past, so most children actually enjoy their regular visits to the dentist. Sophie will assess all these things during the examination and talk to you about the options that are most suitable for your children. When it comes to your children s teeth, prevention is much better and cheaper - than a cure. How to tell if your child has early caries Bacteria in plaque changes sugar into acids, which dissolve minerals in the tooth enamel in a process known as demineralisation. If left untreated, this can lead to holes or cavities in the teeth. A dull white band along the gum line is often the first sign but it usually remains undetected by parents. Make sure you lift the lips and check all the teeth well. A yellow, brown or black circle around the neck of the tooth or black spots on the biting surfaces of the teeth indicates that the demineralisation process has progressed to cavities. If food is catching or getting stuck, this often indicates an area of concern. If you are concerned that your child may have a cavity, we recommend that you schedule an appointment as soon as possible so we assess the tooth and recommend the most appropriate treatment. Any pain, discomfort and strange sensation should be address before an abscess forms and damages the nerve in the tooth.

5 INFECTED TEETH TO SAVE OR NOT? You have two options to treat infected teeth root treat and save, or extract. Opinion and research can be found to support both options so it s important that you understand the facts before you make a decision. Once the nerve in a tooth becomes infected or damaged, it dies and needs to be removed. The process of removing the nerve and cleaning out the infection is called root canal therapy. This procedure is normally carried out over two visits and ideally should be followed up with a crown on the tooth to stabilise the weakened tooth structure.. Due to the complexity and time involved in this treatment, it initially appears as a costly process. In most situations however, it is the most ideal option because it means you are retaining a vital tooth. Teeth that are root treated properly should have a good long term prognosis. In situations where the tooth is too badly damaged to save, your dentist will usually recommend that you have the tooth removed. If the infection has caused significant bone loss or the tooth has a poor long term prognosis, again you may be advised to have it removed and replaced with either an implant, bridge or partial denture. It is not advisable to leave the space unfilled because the adjacent teeth begin to tip inward, in turn affecting the biting and chewing function on your other teeth. Filling spaces with implants and bridges is a more costly exercise that root treatment so the extraction options that appeared as the cheaper choice, can end up costing you a lot more than saving the tooth with root treatment in the first place. Extraction may appear as the cheapest option in the short term, however the costs involved in replacing the tooth, or the long term consequences of not replacing the tooth can end up being a much more costly experience. Dental Emergencies Sudden onset tooth ache Sudden onset tooth ache can be caused by a number of different things, however the most likely cause is damage to the nerve inside the root of the tooth. Why does it happen? The nerve can be damaged by infection and decay or by some sort of trauma to the tooth. In some cases nerve damage can occur after routine dental treatment when old fillings are removed or when decay is deeper than it appears on the radiograph. In these cases we usually warn you that nerve damage is a risk and while we can t stop the damage from occurring, we can at least prepare you in the event that it does happen. How does it happen? The nerve damage can either be acute with a sudden onset, or chronic, meaning is occurs slowly over a period of time until the symptoms become more significant. In either case, the result is severe pain caused by inflammation and pressure inside the tooth. What are the warning signs? There are often warning signs such as sensitivity to hot or cold, tenderness when you touch or bite on the tooth and a strange or unpleasant taste coming from the tooth or the gum tissue around it. Ideally you should get the tooth assessed and treated as soon as these symptoms occur because early intervention can mean the difference between saving or losing the tooth. Even a chronic, slow moving infection will blow up at some stage so putting off recommended treatment will only lead to long term pain and more costly treatment. What do I do? If you get sudden onset tooth ache, call us straight away. We keep an emergency appointment available every day so we will do our best to see you as soon as possible. In most cases we will take a radiograph or x-ray of the tooth to assess the condition of the nerve. Oral antibiotics are often prescribed to help reduce the infection before any treatment is started. These can take hours to take effect so good pain relief is required until the inflammation in the tooth starts to settle. If the pain begins after hours, call our emergency number and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Avoid hot and cold foods and take some good pain relief. Anti-inflammatory options such as Nurofen are the best, however you should only take them as prescribed and avoid them if you have any allergies. If you are unsure about any medication or pain relief, talk to your Pharmacist before taking them. Remember prevention is better (and cheaper!!) than a cure

6 Want more information? Visit us at group.com.au for information about the treatments we offer. Read our education pages or follow the links for more details. FREE Cosmetic consultation Do you know somebody who has always wanted to change their smile? A cosmetic consultation would normally cost hundreds of dollars, but for a limited time, we are offering new patients an opportunity to sit down and talk with one of our dentists about treatment options that are suitable for your individual needs. The visit involves providing you with information and fee estimates for different dental treatments that are currently available. If a procedure isn t suitable for you, we ll explain why and recommend alternatives you might not have considered before. ZOOM! tooth whitening At we enjoy being able to whiten our patients smiles. Our Zoom! in surgery whitening procedure can whiten and brighten your smile in less than 2 hours. To help you achieve a great smile we are offering a fantastic 20% discount off in surgery Zoom tooth whitening. That s a saving of $198.00! Or, book for you and a friend and we ll give you 30% off that s a saving of $297.00! Call or to book your appointment. *Conditions apply so please ask us for more details. Reward yourself with $50 credit to use toward your dental care Do you know about our send a friend rewards program,? Do you have a friend or family member who hasn t been to see us before? Collect one of our send a friend cards during your next visit, and when your friend attends their new patient examination and professional clean, we will reward you with $50 credit on your account to use toward treatment or products. *Conditions apply. See send a friend card for further details. For a fee of $99, you can schedule your consultation, and when you choose the treatment option that best suits you, we ll reduce your treatment by $99. That means your initial consultation is FREE. If you have ever considered cosmetic dental treatment, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Call to schedule your $99 cosmetic consultation. Remember as a regular patient, you get this service FREE as part of your preventive care visit. *Conditions apply and consultation appointments are limited. Playing sport? Need a mouthguard? Save 20% on mouthguards Save 20% on the cost of your new custom made mouthguard during your next preventive care visit. Ask Shanti or Sophie for more details during your visit or call to schedule an appointment. *Conditions apply. Offer available until 30/6/12 Invisalign Straighten your teeth without braces An orthodontic consultation would normally cost $540 for your examination, i-cat scan, diagnostic models and treatment planning. For a limited time we are offering 50% off this service. If you really want straight teeth but don t want braces, Invisalign may be the option for you. Call the practice or for more information. *Appointments are limited and conditions apply.