There are a lot of questions that we get asked at A Plus Dental.
Here are the answers to a few of the most common ones.
Why Can't I Eat Or Drink After A Clean?
The fluoride polish we apply to your teeth after a clean helps to strengthen and protect your teeth, but it needs a while to absorb. If you eat or drink anything you are simply washing it immediately, leaving your teeth vulnerable to the food or drink you are consuming. We recommend waiting 20-30 minutes after your clean has finished before you go for coffee and cake with your friends.
Do Root Canal Treatments Hurt?
The short answer is no. Your tooth may hurt prior to starting the treatment, as a root canal treatment is only performed when there is an infection right at the base of the tooth. This can throb and create pressure in the jaw, causing immense pain. A root canal treatment removes the infection. However, sometimes the infection has spread to the nerve of the tooth, therefore, the nerve must also be removed. After which, the roots are filled and the tooth is crowned (depending on how much of the tooth is left after removing all the decay). Very few root canal patients report pain, just discomfort from having to sit still whilst all this is done!
Here are the answers to a few of the most common ones.
Why Can't I Eat Or Drink After A Clean?
The fluoride polish we apply to your teeth after a clean helps to strengthen and protect your teeth, but it needs a while to absorb. If you eat or drink anything you are simply washing it immediately, leaving your teeth vulnerable to the food or drink you are consuming. We recommend waiting 20-30 minutes after your clean has finished before you go for coffee and cake with your friends.
Do Root Canal Treatments Hurt?
The short answer is no. Your tooth may hurt prior to starting the treatment, as a root canal treatment is only performed when there is an infection right at the base of the tooth. This can throb and create pressure in the jaw, causing immense pain. A root canal treatment removes the infection. However, sometimes the infection has spread to the nerve of the tooth, therefore, the nerve must also be removed. After which, the roots are filled and the tooth is crowned (depending on how much of the tooth is left after removing all the decay). Very few root canal patients report pain, just discomfort from having to sit still whilst all this is done!
Image from http://www.roselanedentalpractice.co.uk/ |
What Is A Fissure Seal?
A fissure is a groove in a tooth that, given time and exposure to food is likely to become a cavity. A fissure seal is like a thin layer of filling material put over the fissure to ensure that food and bacteria can not get in. It helps prevent the need for a filling later on.
Am I Too Old For Orthodontics?
No. Dentists don't need to know how old you are to tell you that you are not too old for orthodontic treatment. Back in the day, you needed to have braces done before you finished puberty to ensure teeth would be easily moved and stay where they were put. With the new technology, that is no longer the case. Though, braces are not the best option for everyone. There is a whole range of options, both removable and fixed that can straighten teeth from a little to a lot, in much shorter time. Don't think that just because you're 60 you can not have straight teeth in 3 months! You can!
A fissure is a groove in a tooth that, given time and exposure to food is likely to become a cavity. A fissure seal is like a thin layer of filling material put over the fissure to ensure that food and bacteria can not get in. It helps prevent the need for a filling later on.
Am I Too Old For Orthodontics?
No. Dentists don't need to know how old you are to tell you that you are not too old for orthodontic treatment. Back in the day, you needed to have braces done before you finished puberty to ensure teeth would be easily moved and stay where they were put. With the new technology, that is no longer the case. Though, braces are not the best option for everyone. There is a whole range of options, both removable and fixed that can straighten teeth from a little to a lot, in much shorter time. Don't think that just because you're 60 you can not have straight teeth in 3 months! You can!
When Should My Child Have Their First Check Up?
As soon as they have teeth :) At A Plus Dental we believe that good oral hygiene should start early, and the best way to do that is to get your children in young. We can show you the proper way to brush your child's teeth if they are too young to brush themselves. They get to see that a dental clinic is not a scary place and so tend not to develop the fear that a lot of adults have from the terrible experiences they had as a child. We try to make everyone's visit a positive one, especially for children. We put cartoons on in the waiting room television to keep them entertained, we have colouring pages, we even have certificates and stickers!
Does Medicare Cover This?
Sadly, unless you are eligible, no. Medicare does o't cover anything for dental treatments for adults or children who are not eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Scheme. For those of you who have children aged between 2 and 17 and received a letter from Medicare at the start of the year saying your children are eligible, they're covered for $1000 worth of work. This $1000 is spread over 2 years and includes preventative checks, cleans, fillings, root canal treatments and extractions. For everyone else, there's always private health insurance!
As soon as they have teeth :) At A Plus Dental we believe that good oral hygiene should start early, and the best way to do that is to get your children in young. We can show you the proper way to brush your child's teeth if they are too young to brush themselves. They get to see that a dental clinic is not a scary place and so tend not to develop the fear that a lot of adults have from the terrible experiences they had as a child. We try to make everyone's visit a positive one, especially for children. We put cartoons on in the waiting room television to keep them entertained, we have colouring pages, we even have certificates and stickers!
Does Medicare Cover This?
Sadly, unless you are eligible, no. Medicare does o't cover anything for dental treatments for adults or children who are not eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Scheme. For those of you who have children aged between 2 and 17 and received a letter from Medicare at the start of the year saying your children are eligible, they're covered for $1000 worth of work. This $1000 is spread over 2 years and includes preventative checks, cleans, fillings, root canal treatments and extractions. For everyone else, there's always private health insurance!