Monthly Archives

March 2021

portrait of man smiling at the camera

How Cosmetic Dentistry Helps People Achieve Beautiful Smiles

By Cosmetic Dentistry No Comments

With the invention of social media, the need and desire for a beautiful, picture-perfect smile has grown significantly. Thanks to science and advancements in dentistry, cosmetic dentistry treatments are more accessible and affordable than ever before!

Achieving a beautiful smile could be as simple as establishing a good oral hygiene routine, as complex as getting a complete smile makeover, or something in between. Regardless, the first step is to find an experienced and highly qualified cosmetic dentist near you. Then, talk to him or her about what a picture-perfect smile looks like to you. That could be having white teeth, a straighter smile, closing gaps, or fixing a chip in a tooth.

Whatever that looks like for you, a cosmetic dentist will have a solution. Here are the most common cosmetic dentistry treatments:

Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening offers benefits that over-the-counter products can’t provide. For example, store-bought whitening treatments typically take about three weeks to produce results. In-office whitening offers immediate ones! Additionally, patients can rest assured that their teeth are in safe hands. Many people damage their dental enamel by over-using whitening products at home. Dentists know exactly how much product to use on the teeth and how long to leave it on them, so patients don’t experience lasting dental damage.

Gum Contouring

Gum contouring is necessary for patients with too much gum tissue that causes a gummy smile or shrinking gums that expose the tooth roots. This procedure requires the dentist to use special tools to reshape the gums. In some cases, only one or a few teeth need treatment while others require contouring in the entire smile zone.

Tooth Contouring

One or more oddly shaped teeth can make a smile less attractive. Dentists solve this issue by reshaping (or contouring) those teeth to make your entire smile uniform.

Porcelain Veneers

Dental veneers are often referred to as a quick fix for all cosmetic dental issues. Porcelain veneers are specifically beneficial because they are made from a durable material that looks just like natural teeth.

Porcelain veneers address the following issues:

  • Gaps
  • Extrinsic dental stains
  • Crooked and crowded teeth
  • Chips
  • Cracks
  • Odd-shaped teeth

Dental Bonding

Dentists can use the same material that they use for tooth-colored fillings to provide cosmetic dental solutions. Dental bonding utilizes composite resin to fill cracks, fill in gaps, fix chips, and correct odd-shaped teeth. Dental bonding is a common procedure because of its affordability. However, patients often need to have the procedure redone after a few years.

Invisalign®

Traditional metal braces have become less and less common because of the option of Invisalign clear aligners. These medical-grade plastic trays are just as effective as metal braces in almost every situation. Adult patients especially love this option when it comes to orthodontics because it allows them to achieve a beautiful, perfectly aligned smile without having to persevere through months of bulky brackets and wire. Very few people will even notice clear aligners on your teeth!

Talk to an experienced Invisalign dentist to learn if you are a candidate for this treatment.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Woolgoolga

Are you interested in improving the appearance of your smile? Our team of dental professionals at Magic Smiles is here to help! We love seeing the look on our patient’s faces when they finally have a smile they’re proud of, and we see it all the time.

Contact our friendly team today at (02) 6654-0650 to schedule an initial consultation.

3d render of jaw with a dental bridge

What are the greatest benefits of a dental bridge?

By Restorative Dentistry No Comments

Missing teeth contribute to all kinds of oral and overall health issues, such as poor digestion, further tooth loss, gum disease, cavities, and poor nutrition. That’s why dentists offer several restorative solutions for tooth loss. Choosing a dental restoration can be a tough decision, but with all the information, the choice can be much easier!

If you have one, two, or three missing teeth in a row, you may be a candidate for a dental bridge. This modern and effective restorative dental device provides patients with incredible benefits. Continue reading to learn what those benefits are.

1. Restored function

Just one or several missing teeth in a row makes chewing and speaking much more difficult. Patients with missing teeth often suffer from digestive issues from not being able to properly break-down their food. A speech impediment may also become apparent.

These teeth must be replaced with a stable, life-like restoration that fills in the gap and provides strength and stability.

Dental bridges do all three! Once the dental bridge is placed, patients can expect to speak and eat just like before.

2. Higher self-confidence

Many people who have experienced tooth loss suffer from low self-esteem that inhibits them from trying new things, taking risks, and meeting new people. In this way, missing teeth also have a negative impact on mental health and overall wellness.

Our dental team is in the business of restoring oral, overall, AND mental health by creating beautiful and functional restorations.

3. Lower risk of tooth movement

When a tooth falls out and isn’t replaced, the adjacent teeth will eventually try to fill in the gap. This may result in small spaces between all of the teeth or larger gaps between some teeth. As a result, patients may require orthodontics along with a dental bridge.

4. Easy maintenance

Dental bridges are a low-maintenance tooth-replacement option when compared to dentures. Proper brushing and flossing are an essential part of every oral hygiene routine, but especially for people who have experienced tooth loss and have dental restorations. In addition to this, patients should floss above their dental bridge, between the gums and prosthetic tooth where food particles can easily become lodged, and plaque can build up.

Dentures require much more cleaning and care because they are removable.

5. Speedy treatment process

The process for receiving dental implants can take up to 18 months while the patient waits for his or her mouth to heal. For dental bridges, the entire process takes only two appointments within a month.

During treatment for a dental bridge, the dentist removes a small amount of enamel from the teeth next to the gap. Then, the dentist takes digital images of the patient’s mouth and uses that to design a custom-made bridge. The bridge is sent to a dental lab technician who carefully crafts the bridge. In the meantime, a temporary bridge is placed. Finally, the permanent denture arrives at the dentist’s office, and the dentist secures it in the patient’s mouth.

Dental Bridge in Woolgoolga

Ready to restore your smile back to healthy, function, and beauty? Our professional and compassionate dental team is prepared to help! At Magic Smiles, oral health is our top priority because we know the impact it has on overall health and wellness.

Contact our friendly dental team today at (02) 6654-0650 to schedule an initial consultation.

3d render of jaw with wisdom mesial impaction

6 Common Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

By Oral Health No Comments

Wisdom teeth, fortunately and unfortunately, do not impart wisdom. These fourth molars are called “wisdom teeth” because they develop much later than the other teeth, typically between ages 17 and 24. So if they don’t make us wiser, why do we have them? And why do they almost always need to be extracted?

Many anthropologists believe that wisdom teeth were necessary when humans mainly consumed roots, meat, leave, and nuts. Today, we soften foods by cooking them and use utensils to cut and crush them when necessary. As our methods of cooking have evolved, so have our bodies, including our mouths. Human jaws today are much smaller; therefore, they cannot always accommodate the wisdom teeth.

A smaller jaw typically results in impacted wisdom teeth that must be removed. Here are the most common symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth:

1. Red, swollen gums

Next to the impacted wisdom tooth, a small flap of gum tissue may become irritated and inflamed due to a build-up of plaque and bacteria. This can occur when a tooth has erupted through the skin or with an impacted wisdom tooth.

2. Shifting teeth

Oftentimes, wisdom teeth grow sideways, pushing against the other teeth. Patients with impacted wisdom teeth often experience radiating pain throughout the mouth because of tooth movement. Eventually, the teeth may begin to turn in an effort to make room for the wisdom teeth. Patients who are experiencing dental pain throughout the mouth should contact their dentist as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.

3. Sinus issues

The roots of our upper teeth can press against the sinuses and cause sinus pressure, pain, congestion, and headaches. This issue is rare, but it does occur.

4. An unpleasant taste in the mouth

In some cases, fluid-filled sacs called cysts form next to impacted wisdom teeth. As the fluid leaks, you may experience a bad taste in your mouth, but that’s not the worst of it. When left untreated, the cyst can destroy bones, tooth roots, and other surrounding structures.

5. Pain while eating

When the impacted wisdom teeth push against the adjacent teeth, it can make chewing difficult. Patients may also find that food particles get lodged between their third and fourth molars more easily but are extremely difficult to remove. Leaving food particles lodged between the teeth may lead to cavities or gum disease.

6. Cavities

Impacted wisdom teeth and even fully developed wisdom teeth can be extremely difficult to clean. Cavities and irritated gums are sometimes the first indications that the wisdom teeth should be extracted.

Impacted Wisdom Teeth Woolgoolga

Are you experiencing symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth? Our oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Mohammed Mansour, is prepared to relieve any pain and discomfort associated with the impaction.

The first step towards pain-relief is a thorough exam where our surgeon will determine how many wisdom teeth are impacted or should be removed. Then, we will schedule your surgical appointment. Dr. Mansour will talk to you about how to prepare for the surgery, what to expect during the procedure, and how to care for your mouth afterward so there are no surprises!

If you’re feeling anxious or scared about this procedure, please let us know. We are happy to answer any questions you have and do anything we can to help you feel at ease on the day of the procedure.

To schedule an initial consultation, contact us today at (02) 6654-0650.