Monthly Archives

August 2020

Aug 31
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happy little boy smiling

Children’s Dentistry: Why It’s Important and What It Looks Like

By Children's Dentistry No Comments

Like all aspects of your child’s health, oral health is extremely important. Children are just as susceptible to decay and gum disease as adults but neglecting their teeth can gum can lead to developmental issues as well. When children don’t have healthy teeth, it becomes more difficult to chew and speak. This can lead to malnutrition, a speech impediment, and even bullying.

Children’s dentistry aims to eliminate these issues mostly by providing preventative treatments for kids of all ages. According to the Australian Dental Association, parents should bring their children to the dentist by age one or by the time their first tooth erupts. Continue reading to learn about our preventative children’s dentistry treatments and how they can help your little one achieve optimal oral health.

Regular Dental Cleans and Exams

For children, visiting the dentist every six months (sometimes even more often) is essential. During regular dental cleans and exams, a dental hygienist and the dentist will clean and examine the child’s teeth and gums. These professionals use a keen eye and gentle hand to find and treat signs of decay or gum disease.

These appointments may consist of x-rays if necessary. Additionally, the children’s dentist may also recommend one of our other preventative treatments.

Fluoride Treatments

This naturally occurring mineral strengthens dental enamel so it can stand against disease-causing bacteria that lead to decay. Typically, fluoride is brushed onto each tooth; as it sits on the teeth, it absorbs into them. Patients should avoid eating and drinking anything for 30 minutes after their fluoride treatment.

Though there is controversy over the amount of fluoride that can be used on children’s teeth, our dentists ensure that your child is only exposed to a safe and agreed-upon level of fluoride. Remember, your child’s oral health and the appearance of their smile is our top priority!

Dental Sealants

One of the best ways to prevent cavities is to ask your dentist to apply dental sealants to your child’s molars. This biocompatible plastic is thinly layered over the top of the molars where cavities are most prevalent. The substance creates a seal on top of the teeth that disease-causing bacteria can’t infiltrate.

Education

A major benefit of children’s dentistry is that the parents and kids are educated on oral health. It is particularly important for parents to understand the signs of decay in their little ones’ mouths. This may look like white patches on the gums or discolored teeth.

Your children’s dentist will also educate you on how to care for your infant’s or toddler’s teeth while they still require your help. During these regular dental visits, you will learn about the proper brushing and flossing techniques, which types of toothpastes are appropriate, and the good eating and drinking habits for your child to maintain a beautiful smile throughout his or her lifetime.

Parents will also learn how to react in case of dental trauma, such as if a tooth gets knocked out during a sporting event.

Children’s Dentistry in Woolgoolga

If you’re searching for a dentist that will treat both you and your child with respect, care, and enthusiasm, our team at Magic Smiles is for you. We’re passionate about caring for patients of all ages, especially entire families! We love working with parents to help their child gain and maintain optimal oral health for years to come.

Contact our friendly team today at (02) 6654-0650 to schedule an initial consultation with our children’s dentistry specialists.

Aug 19
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illustration of missing front teeth

Got missing teeth? Here are your restorative options!

By Restorative Dentistry No Comments

A full, beautiful smile comes with many benefits, including higher self-esteem which significantly impacts every area of a person’s life. While having all your teeth doesn’t necessarily equal good oral health, missing teeth certainly indicates poor oral health.

This is because just one missing tooth raises a person’s risk of gum disease, cavities, tooth movement, and jawbone atrophy. The gums become more susceptible to disease-causing bacteria, the neighboring teeth begin to move towards the gap, and the jawbone in that area is no longer stimulated, therefore, it diminishes.

Thankfully, most dentists offer several ways to solve these problems through restorative dentistry. At Magic Smiles, our goal is to restore your smile so you can live a better, more fulfilling life. To do this, we offer dental bridges, dentures, and dental implants to our patients with missing teeth.

Continue reading to learn how each of these restorative dentistry options can complete your smile.

Dental Bridge

A dental bridge literally “bridges” the gap between teeth. Two crowns on either side of the one, two, or three missing teeth, hold the bridge in place. These offer stability and permanency that patients don’t usually experience with dentures.

Dental bridges are most beneficial to patients with minor to moderate tooth loss. They will certainly restore function, boost self-esteem, and reduce the risk of gum disease and cavities, but will not help with jawbone atrophy. Additionally, patients with scattered missing teeth or an entire arch of missing teeth would benefit more from other restorative options.

To place the dental bridge, patients must be in good oral health and commit to maintaining good oral hygiene. Furthermore, the patient should have two healthy teeth on either side of the missing teeth. The dentist will remove a small amount of enamel from the patient’s natural teeth and fit the custom dental crowns on top of them.

Dentures

Our custom dentures are a great option for patients with several missing teeth throughout their smile or a full arch of missing teeth. Our prosthetist, Harry Ramana, creates both full and partial dentures in our office.

Partial dentures can be made from several materials, including acrylic and metal. These are held in place by small metal clasps that attach to the patient’s remaining natural teeth.

Full dentures are an aesthetically pleasing option for patients missing all their teeth on the top and/or bottom arches. Along with filling in their smile, full dentures also fill out the cheeks to reduce the sunken-in appearance that comes with missing teeth. Suction and dentures adhesives hold the full dentures in place.

We also offer permanent or removable implant-supported dentures.

Dental Implants

If you’re looking for a restorative option that most resembles natural teeth, dental implants are the answer. These small, titanium rods take the place of the missing tooth roots and can support a dental crown, bridge, partial denture, or full denture.

Dental implants provide optimal stability, fully restored function, and long-lasting results. One of the greatest advantages of this option is that the implants stimulate the jawbone to undo and prevent jawbone atrophy.

Though the process of placing dental implants is significantly longer than other restorative options, most dentists agree that the time is worth it. The dental implant procedure is highly successful, and patients rarely experience complications afterward. Once complete, patients reap the benefits for decades to come.

To learn if you are a candidate for dental implants, contact our team today to schedule an initial consultation.

Restorative Dentistry for Missing Teeth in Woolgoolga

At Magic Smiles, our team of experienced and gentle dentists is prepared to restore your smile back to health, function, and beauty. To discuss your restorative options, call our office today at (02) 6654-0650 to schedule an initial consultation.

Aug 12
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progression of gum disease

The Causes and Effects of Gum Disease

By Oral Health No Comments

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, affects millions of American adults every day—sometimes without them even realizing it. Bad breath, bleeding gums, irritated or swollen gums, and dental sensitivity are just a few of the main indicators of periodontal disease. These symptoms can affect how you interact with others, what you eat, how you eat, and how well you brush your teeth.

In other cases, gum disease symptoms are nearly invisible. By the time a person with unnoticed and untreated gum disease visits the dentist, they may need extensive dental treatment. This is why regular dental cleanings and exams are so necessary. This way, dentists can detect and treat early signs of the disease and save their patients from serious oral and overall health consequences.

Continue reading to learn about the causes and effects of gum disease.

Causes of Periodontal Disease

Ultimately, gum disease is a result of an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the mouth. When the bad, disease-causing bacteria begin to take over, it’s difficult to restore that balance without the help of a professional.

So, how do the bacteria become imbalanced? There are several ways, including:

  • Poor oral hygiene: Improper brushing techniques, lack of flossing, and poor eating habits all contributes to periodontal disease. When plaque builds up over a long period of time, it turns into tartar which can only be removed by a dentist. Plaque begins to feed the disease-causing bacteria and the infestation continues to grow.
  • Hormonal changes in women: Hormones shift during pregnancy, menstrual cycles, and menopause and can cause inflammation throughout the body—including the gums. Women should pay careful attention to their oral health during these times. The good news is that the symptoms usually disappear after their hormones are back to normal.
  • Smoking and chewing tobacco: In any form, tobacco is one of the worst substances for teeth and gums. They both inhibit the proper function of the gum tissue cells, creating an environment conducive to disease.
  • Crooked teeth: Dental misalignment can sometimes be an oral health issue as well as an aesthetic one. Crooked, crowded teeth make it much more difficult for patients to clean between their teeth and make it easier for food and bacteria to hide there. Over time, those can lead to decay and gum disease.
  • Genetics: If your parents struggled with gum disease, you’re probably at a higher risk for developing it. Be sure to tell your dentist so he can help you prevent it as much as possible.

Effects of Gum Disease

Along with being the number one cause of tooth loss among adults, periodontal disease is associated with several overall health conditions, such as:

  • Heart and kidney disease
  • Diabetes
  • Asthma
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Osteoporosis
  • Cancer
  • Impotence in men

Many studies have been done to link gum disease to each of these issues. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, these associations are most likely due to the inflammation of the gums that spreads to other parts of the body.

Get Treatment for Gum Disease Today

While the symptoms of periodontal disease may seem harmless, this infection can lead to serious consequences. Thankfully, dentists offer effective treatments to reverse or manage the problem.

At Magic Smiles, our dentists are passionate about helping patients achieve optimal oral health which includes a mouth free of gum disease. Call today at (02) 6654-0650 to schedule an appointment with our dental experts in Woolgoolga.

Aug 04
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parts of dental implant

Why We Offer Dental Implants for Missing Teeth

By Restorative Dentistry No Comments

Most people think about missing teeth as an aesthetic issue, but as dental professionals, we understand that missing teeth can significantly impact a person’s oral health. Just one missing tooth puts you at a much higher risk of developing gum disease and cavities, not to mention the negative impacts it can have on your overall wellness and appearance.

A missing tooth can also cause the rest of your teeth to shift. The neighboring teeth will likely move into the empty spot, and even the tooth adjacent to it will lengthen. This creates a domino effect, and before you know it, many of your teeth have moved away from their proper positions.

Replacing the missing tooth is the only way to avoid these problems.

While there are several options for replacing missing teeth, like dental bridges and dentures, most dentists recommend dental implants.

At Magic Smiles, our compassionate dentists work with each patient to create a personalized restorative treatment plan. Here are three reasons why we recommend dental implants to our patients:

1. Dental implants replace the tooth root.

Unlike any other restorative option, dental implants replace the root of the missing tooth. This is important because the root is responsible for keeping the jawbone intact and strengthening the tooth crown.

Like a natural tooth, the implant inserts into the patient’s jawbone. The bone and the implant create a permanent bond during a natural process called osseointegration. This fusing-together process may take up to six months. Once complete, the dentist can place a crown, bridge, or denture on top of the implant and abutment.

As a result of osseointegration, the jawbone is restored to its natural strength, patients can avoid facial sagging due to atrophy, the neighboring teeth are less likely to experience decay, and their restoration should never require replacement. None of these things can be said about other dental restorations!

2. Dental implants restore function.

Having just one missing tooth makes chewing and talking much more difficult. With dental implants, these functions are fully restored as if the natural teeth were never lost.

This is mostly due to the osseointegration process we explained earlier. As the titanium implant fuses with the jawbone, it creates a long-lasting, durable anchor that frees patients of food restrictions and speech impediments.

Unlike dentures, dental implants provide comfort and stability that keeps them from moving and shifting denture patients so often complain about. This problem isn’t just uncomfortable and painful, its also embarrassing. Dental implants allow patients to avoid these issues while experiencing the complete function of their new restorations.

3. The dental implant procedure is highly successful.

Past studies have found that the dental implant procedure is 90-95 percent successful when they are placed by a skilled dentist. The importance of choosing a dentist who has years of experience with dental implants cannot be stressed enough.

These dental professionals know a good candidate for implants when they see one, and they can spot any risk of complications that may occur during or after surgery and work to avoid it.

Though unforeseen complications do arise, they are few and far between. Most can be avoided when the patient takes proper care of the surgical site during the healing process.

Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation Today

To learn if you are a candidate for dental implant surgery, contact our team to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced and compassionate dentists. We can’t wait to help you gain a beautiful, fully functioning smile again!

Call (02) 6654-0650 to speak with one of our friendly dental team members.