Dental FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Care

Our dental FAQs are some of the most commonly asked questions we receive on a regular basis from our patients. If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our frequently asked questions, then please feel free to contact us by telephone or email.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oral Health and Dental Care

How often should I visit my dentist?

This question is at the top of our frequently asked questions list because we feel it’s particularly important.

Regular visits to the dentist are essential to maintain good oral health. A dental check-up enables our dentists to monitor your dental health and check for signs of diseases such as oral cancer. In addition, regular dental check-ups allow for early detection of many problems meaning simpler and less expensive dental treatment. An example is that in general, over a 6 month period, decay in a tooth has grown half a millimetre, gum disease can have already shrunken your gum by 1.5mm.

With this in mind, children, teens, and adults should visit the dentist at least twice a year. With specific dental problem maintenance such as gum disease, you might need to visit us every 3 months until the gum stabilises.

Why are my gums bleeding?

Bleeding and swollen gums are one of the signs that you may have gum disease. This is one of the leading causes of tooth loss so it’s important to act right away. Without dental treatment, gum disease will get worse and can cause bone erosion and tooth loss – sometimes with no associated pain!

Fortunately, gum disease in its early stages can be easily reversed. Dental treatment often consists of regular scaling and root planing to remove plaque that’s stuck on your teeth. You will be shown how to improve your brushing and flossing skills too. We go through the best dental creams, toothpastes, mouthwashes and ingredients that we think are most suitable for you. With good dental care at home and regular visits to your dentist, your gums should soon return to normal.

What’s the best toothbrush to use, manual or electric?

This is another of our frequently asked questions that sometimes causes confusion. We always say that if you’re getting on well with a manual toothbrush then stick with it.

If you’re regularly missing areas of plaque or have poor dexterity, then an electric toothbrush may be a better choice for you. However, we find that some patients who have moved on to using an electric toothbrush tend to lose their manual dexterity when they go back to their manual toothbrush. In these cases, we recommend using an electric toothbrush in the morning and a manual toothbrush at night.

Why is dentistry so expensive?

Consider a visit to the dentist as an investment in your overall health rather than an expensive necessity. Prevention is always going to be cheaper than restoration or emergency treatments. As dentists, we repair or maintain teeth which have to last for your lifetime. The best materials and techniques in the world such as specific porcelain and titanium, in addition to high levels of regulations and licensing, world standard sterilising, and the high standards of Australian dental treatment, all make dental care more expensive. But it is excellent value when it meets your needs, helps you to maintain good oral health, and gives you a great smile to boot. Then the cost of regular dental care is all worthwhile.

Think of it this way…for the cost of a night in a hotel, you could have a filling that will last you for 10 years or more, and you’ll be using this tooth hundreds of times every day. Now that’s what we call great value!

At what age should my child start visiting the dentist?

We recommend that children start to visit the dentist once they get their first tooth and no later than the age of one. Teaching children dental care from an early age gets them into good habits and makes it easier for them to maintain good oral health up to and during adulthood. We normally get the youngster to sit with a sibling or a parent mainly to make them comfortable in the dental clinical situation prior to actually even touching their teeth.

Why is oral health so important?

When oral health is lacking it can cause bacteria in your mouth to multiply and combine with sugars found in foods to make acids. These attack the teeth causing tooth decay, cavities, gum disease and infections which can spread to other parts of the body. Health problems associated with poor oral health include heart attacks and strokes, diabetes, and pneumonia.

Hopefully, our dental FAQs have proved useful and addressed a few of your oral health concerns but if you want to know more, feel free to contact our team for further information.