What You Need To Know About Dentures

Dentures can seem like an intimidating procedure, thanks to their uncomfortable, poorly fitting, and unsightly history. However, dental dentures have progressed as rapidly as the rest of our technology, and are now usually as natural to look at as the rest of your smile.

With the leaps and bounds in dental technology, each procedure or treatment has become less of a hindrance and more appealing than ever. This is fantastic news for the many people around the world who need care such as denture services. Denture services are most common among the elderly, whose teeth have seen a lifetime of laughter and meals and may have sustained too much wear and tear to be useful, however this is not exclusively the case and some young people may require dental dentures. Likewise, many people who are careful with their oral hygiene and habits will enjoy their own teeth through their entire lifetime.

In a variety of circumstances, dentures are the ideal solution. Dentures are replacement teeth, however they differ from others because they are not permanently fixed to the teeth or jawbone. This is because dentures are primarily used in cases where there are no teeth to fix the replacement to, and multiple teeth are missing on the same row.

Complete and Partial:

Complete dentures are designed to be worn part-time, and taken out for cleaning at night.

Partial dentures are similar, except they’re clipped onto the remaining natural teeth.

If you’re missing multiple teeth, such as gaps of three or more missing teeth, there is no tooth available to act as an anchor for crowns, fillings, or bridges. This means that dentures are usually the most successful option, and whether you receive complete or partial dentures depends on your personal case, by considering the size and location of the gaps.

Dentures are usually fastened by suction, and they attach firmly to the gum. While this can take some getting used to, once your mouth has adapted you’ll find it just as comfortable as usual. It’s a common misconception that there is some type of ‘glue’ involved - dentures shouldn’t require any special adhesives to bind them.

For many elderly, the natural tooth can become so deteriorated that it is useless or painful - it can also leave you susceptible to pain and infections. Dentists will always try and salvage the natural tooth to the best of their abilities, so dentures will only be suggested if the natural tooth is completely unsuitable.

Modern dentures have been refined and perfected, and are often indistinguishable from natural teeth when worn and cared for correctly. They can act as regular teeth, and you can continue to eat the same foods as with natural teeth with no discomfort. If you have concerns about your teeth and you’re considering dentures, we encourage you to make an appointment with one of our dentists for an assessment and consultation. Our team at Carillon City Dental will be able to talk you through all of your options, and discuss which solution will suit your needs the best. Call our reception team today to book an appointment, or use our convenient online form.

Wisdom Teeth Removal Post-Care

If you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed, you might be experiencing some discomfort, pain, and tenderness or swelling. This is all part of your recovery and how your body will heal, but there are plenty of things you can do to ensure that you’re as comfortable and hygienic as possible, to avoid aggravating your mouth and interrupting the healing process. Wisdom teeth removal is a common procedure, in Perth and worldwide, so many patients feel very at ease with the procedure and post-care.

Why Do I Have Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are your third molars, and are accepted to be superfluous to a healthy or attractive smile. They are usually attributed to our ancient eating habits, but due to changes in our lifestyle they are now known for causing more harm than good. If there is not enough space, or they are erupting on a tilt or a rotation, then it can cause pain or discomfort. Wisdom tooth extraction can be considered a surgical procedure, so dentists are very accommodating of their patients and what their tolerance might be. There are various form of anaesthetic and sleep dentistry which can help to alleviate the discomfort or stress of the procedure, but afterwards it is important that the patient maintains the proper care.

Post-Care:

After your appointment for wisdom tooth extraction, you may experience some pain, swelling, and bleeding. Mouths heal extraordinarily quickly, but it is important not to disturb the blood clot or to aggravate your gums while they heal. Hot beverages like tea or coffee, soda and alcohol, and solid foods can all be uncomfortable to eat and may cause damage to the healing tissue during the recovery period, so we encourage our patients to give their mouths time to heal correctly and avoid these foods. We even give you permission to skip brushing your teeth for the first day of your recovery! Most patients experience three to four days of recovery, while for some cases it can last a week. This all depends on the severity of the teeth and how they were erupting through the gums.

For the week following your procedure, you should plan on taking it easy and avoiding activities or foods that could disturb the blot where your teeth were removed. An ice pack on your jaw should help to reduce the swelling, and your dentist may prescribe you painkillers to help with the pain. Otherwise, regular over-the-counter pain relief can help to manage any pan or discomfort.

Your dentist will advise you on how to properly care for your individual circumstances but you may be instructed to avoid flossing, rinsing, or brushing for a day, and to resume your dental care very softly for the following days. A saline solution such as warm salt water can help to prevent an infection.

Soft foods will be able to sustain you through the initial days, as you readjust and heal. Think yoghurts, smoothies, soups (served slightly cool), and more.

Wisdom teeth are a very common procedure, so if you are at all concerned about your wisdom teeth then talk to our team at Carillon City Dental. We will discuss all of your options with you, and we will ensure that you are comfortable and informed about your choice.

Is Root Canal Treatment Really That Bad?

Ah, the dreaded root canal. It seems as though everyone has heard of it or known someone who needed one, but still many of us are greatly misinformed by what the procedure entails.

Root canal treatment has become a dental bogeyman, but why does it get such a bad reputation? Root canal treatment in Perth has saved countless teeth from extraction, and restored smiles to their pain-free former selves. Let’s find out more about the infamous sibling of the ‘filling’.

When Do You Need It?

Under the white enamel of the tooth and the hard layer of dentin, a soft tissue resides. This tissue, or pulp as it is known, contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue, and this helps your root to extend during your dental growth. In a fully matured tooth, the pulp is no longer required while the tooth is nourished by its surrounding tissues.

A root canal is required when this pulp becomes infected or inflamed, which can be because of decay, problematic crowns, chips or cracks in the tooth, or a trauma even where there is no visible injury sustained. This can all lead to an aggravated inflammation or infection, which can result in serious pain and damaging abscesses.

As mentioned above, a root canal is actually rather similar to the procedure of a filling, and you can expect to remain comfortable throughout the appointment. Preserving the natural tooth has many advantages, such as:

-Effective chewing

-Natural appearance

-Provides protection to surrounding teeth from excessive strain

-Normal biting force and experience

The benefits to root canal treatment outweigh the cost, and the procedure is relatively straightforward. The infected pulp is identified and removed from the tooth, which is in turn carefully cleaned and disinfected to ensure that there are no enduring issues. Afterwards, the tooth is filled with a rubbery material and sealed. Then a crown or filling is added for fortification and protection, and the tooth can continue to see out the rest of its days - a little more seasoned than his friends around him, but still as sprightly. Your root canal treatment is performed under a local anaesthetic by experienced and knowledgeable dentists, so there is absolutely no reason that a root canal should be painful at any time. The most pain that you should experience is during the time of infection and abscess, which will be relieved by the root canal treatment.

If you’re concerned that you may need a root canal, contact the team at Carillon City Dental. Our dentists can discuss your options with you, and explain how stress-free and comfortable the procedure really is. Our dentists are experienced and qualified, with modern systems in place to guarantee your comfort and care, and you will remain informed of every option and decision around your oral and dental care. Visit us in our ambient practice, conveniently located in Perth CBD. All of our dentists are registered with AHPRA, the Australian Health Practitioner Agency, regularly attend education programs, and are always informed with the most modern advances in technical methods and materials.

Dental Implants: A Brief History

Dentistry has come a long way from the infected tooth cleaned with flint tools around 14,000 years ago - fortunately for many of us. In fact, it’s pretty incredible to see how much technology has influenced and driven our dental care, dental implants included.

Dental implants are a common procedure now in Perth, but their history is surprisingly fascinating. Whether it’s for your personal knowledge at the next Trivia night or you want to know more about how dentists arrived at today’s procedure, read on below to find out the history of dental implants.

2500 BCE

Thousands of years ago, the Egyptians of North Africa used gold wire to develop ligatures, which kept the teeth stable, and remains have been found of an Egyptian king with a copper tooth connected to his upper jaw. The evidence of this have been found in mummies, and was seemingly replicated thousands of years later by the Phoenicians who used similar ligatures to splint their teeth. At a similar time to the Phoenicians, the Etruscans were pulling damaged teeth and replacing them with oxen bones.  

2300 BC

Although this was probably a cosmetic posthumous procedure, we thought we’d still include it. An iron false tooth over 2300 years old was found in a Celtic grave in France. Due to the procedure involved where the iron tooth was hammered (yes, hammered) into the jawbone, experts say that this was probably done for appearance reasons after death.

2000 BC

Bamboo, whittled down and carved into pegs, has been found among Chinese remains from 4000 years ago, where they were used as makeshift dental implants.

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Around 2000 years ago, it was common to use teeth from animals, slaves, and poor people as replacement teeth, although they were highly susceptible to infection and would usually be rejected from the host. However, by the 7th century, humans had been utilising many different materials to develop implants - a particularly fascinating find was uncovered in Mayan ruins in Honduras. The human jaw contained three shells, carved into the likeness of teeth and implanted into the lower jaw. This find caught particular attention, as the bone surrounding the shell was showing signs of regeneration and acceptance of the new tooth! This bone fusion was a huge achievement, making this procedure incredibly successful for its time.

Modern Times:

After a hit-and-miss era of various metals and alloys, a 1950’s surgeon discovered that bone regeneration could integrate titanium successfully, and in 1965 he implanted his first titanium dental implant into a live human volunteer.

Dental implants are now an incredibly safe, comfortable, and affordable procedure. With the cost and risk reduced, dentists today have very little need for iron teeth and hammers. If you want to know more about what to expect from dental implants today and whether they’re right for you, talk to our friendly team to organise an appointment or consultation.