Root Canal Treatment Explained

If you have a root canal coming up and you’re not sure what a root canal treatment in Perth actually involves, then you might be feeling concerned. After all, root canals and brussel sprouts are two surprisingly bearable parts of life that television shows seem to constantly fear! But root canals aren’t anything to be afraid of - even the cost might be better than you thought. Read on below to find out more.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a treatment used to repair a tooth so that it can continue to function normally. This tooth has usually suffered severe decay or infection, which has damaged the tissue in the tooth, also known as the pulp. During a root canal treatment, the pulp and nerve are removed and the inside of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and sealed, to get rid of any harmful bacteria and prevent any more from forming. The ‘root canal’ is actually the term for the natural cavity in the centre of the tooth, which is the ‘canal’ where the pulp, or root, connects to the tooth, as well as the tooths nerves.

The nerves in your teeth aren’t important to your tooth’s health and function once the tooth has erupted through your gums. The nerves will tell you whether the food you're eating is hot or cold, but that is its only purpose and is hardly necessary.

What Happens During a Root Canal?

A root canal will usually require multiple visits to your dental clinic and can be performed by a dentist or endodontist. Simply put, an endodontist is a dentist who has specialised in the diagnosis, prevention, causes, and treatment of injuries and diseases to the delicate human dental pulp, or the nerve of the tooth in the root canal. Depending on the difficulty of your procedure and how comfortable your dentist is in his capabilities to perform it, you may be referred to an endodontist. A simple consultation with your dentist could settle the matter easily, where he or she will evaluate your particular condition and make a decision.

The first step to your root canal treatment procedure is to take an x-ray, where the dentist can identify the shape of the root canals and determine if there are any signs of illness or infection in the surrounding bone. Your endodontist or dentist will use a local anaesthesia to numb the area, although often this is unnecessary as the nerve is already dead. However, this often helps to keep the patient at ease and many patients will even request Sleep Dentistry for a root canal procedure.

A hole will be drilled into the tooth so that the canal can be accessed for the pulp, harmful bacteria, and decaying nerve tissue can be removed from the tooth, and the canal is thoroughly scrubbed and flushed to ensure that any residing debris is removed.

Once the tooth is cleaned, the dentist will seal it. Your dentist might choose to wait a week before sealing the tooth, such as in cases where an infection may require medication prior to sealing. In these situations your dentist would use a temporary filling to keep any more contaminants from getting in, like saliva and food. Otherwise, your dentist may seal it up then and there, so you can continue eating, smiling, and laughing with your smile restored to its full function.

Everything You Need To Know About Caring For Dental Implants

Dental implant services are gaining in popularity across Perth, but it’s important to know how to prepare your mouth for them and how to care for them afterwards.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are metal posts that are surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath your gums if your natural tooth has been extracted or is missing. Once these are safely in place, your dentist can use them to act as anchors for replacement teeth to restore the functionality and appearance of your smile.

Dental implants provide stable support for the new replacement teeth, because they fuse to the bone and act similarly to natural teeth. If you have dentures or bridges mounted to implants then you get peace of mind knowing that they won't move in your mouth or slip out suddenly, which could be a problem for some people when eating or speaking. This means that your replacement tooth will feel more natural than other bridges or dentures, and often are much more comfortable too.

How To Prepare For Dental Implants:

By maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene, your mouth will be a much more stable environment for your new dental implant. Your personal circumstances will help your dentist identify which choice of anaesthetic will work best for you, and this will affect what you may be able to eat and drink leading up to your procedure. You will be able to learn more about this from your dentist during the initial consultations or appointments before your dental implants treatment.

There are some circumstances where a dental implant may not be right for you. The implant requires enough bone to support the new tooth, but tooth loss can lead to the loss of bone in the jaw over time. To go ahead with the dental implants, your dentist would need for you to receive a bone graft. This may be your own bone, or the bone from a cadaver or a cow, among other options available.

How To Care For Dental Implants:

If you already maintain a good level of oral health then you shouldn’t have much to worry about - dental implants require much the same care of natural teeth. Cleaning is especially important after meals, and this can be easily accomplished by gently brushing with special attention paid to all sides of the implant.

Oral hygiene aids may include:

Small, soft, manual toothbrush or an electric brush
Dental floss

Low-abrasive, tartar-control toothpaste

If you wish to know more about dental implants or you would like to see if they’re the right choice for you, arrange a consultation with your dentist. Your dentist can assess your unique situation and determine what the best course of treatment would be, and can explain to you all of your other possible choices to make sure that you’re making an educated decision. Dental implants are a great solution for many people across Perth, and most dental clinics are able to offer them to their patients among a range of dental and oral services.

Ask Your Perth Orthodontist These Questions About Invisalign

Orthodontic services are becoming more inconspicuous than ever, and offer even less interruption to your lifestyle.If you’re considering an orthodontics treatment like Invisalign to straighten your teeth, you might want to find the answers to some of these questions first.

Most of us would love to have straight, white teeth, but many people struggle to achieve this. Whether it’s from your genetics or your lifestyle factors, there are many factors that could influence the alignment and wellbeing of your teeth. Signs and symptoms such as underbite or overbite, crowded or protruding teeth, jaw pain, or uneven spaces between teeth can all lead back to improper alignment, and while poor alignment alone is not a health risk, the associated symptoms can lead to serious health concerns.

Invisalign is an effective method to correct your dental alignment, with clear aligners designed to fit your teeth and manoeuvre them into position.

1 What Kind Of Orthodontic Issues Can Invisalign Correct?

One of the great attractions to Invisalign is its ability to correct many of the same issues that traditional braces can, although the extent of the correction will need to be considered before choosing between the two. For more severe cases, your orthodontist may choose to use traditional wires and brackets to move teeth and align your jaw, but many realignments can be successfully completed with Invisalign aligners.

2 How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Last?

On average, the length of treatment for Invisalign is similar to that of traditional braces, but there are many factors that can play a part. This might be your age, how much correction you need to achieve the desired alignment, and the general treatment time span that your issue can usually be corrected. Both Invisalign and traditional braces require odd visits to your orthodontist - braces require regular adjustments to tighten the wires and Invisalign users receive new aligners to adjust their teeth further. Attending these appointments is crucial to your treatment - orthodontic alignment is a gradual process, and every step counts towards the end goal.

3 Is Invisalign Right For Adult/Older Smiles?

Many of us have experienced orthodontic treatments in our younger/teenage years, but for some these problems may go unnoticed or unaddressed until adult life. By then some people may experience some hesitation towards getting traditional braces - making Invisalign the perfect alternative. Invisalign is nearly invisible and can be removed for eating and drinking, helping wearers to avoid any embarrassing incidents.

4 Why Is The Up-front Cost Of Traditional Braces Less Than Invisalign?

Traditional braces are a tried-and-true method that have been available for many years, so the materials and treatments have become readily accessible in the market and haven’t progressed rapidly enough to drive demand. Invisalign offers all the benefits of traditional braces without the drawbacks that are usually associated with them, and the aligners are tailored to your unique bite. This makes the process more intensive and efficacious, and can contribute to the overall cost.

Ask your orthodontist if Invisalign is right for you!

Benefits Of A Brighter, Whiter Smile

Everyone wants to have a bright, healthy smile. Some of us naturally have flashy white teeth which don’t need any cosmetic teeth whitening services, but for plenty of people across Perth, a lifetime of intermittent brushing routines or drinking, smoking, and food habits can add up and leave your smile looking dull. If you’re considering whitening your smile, here’s a few of the benefits you might experience.

• A more youthful appearance.
  The older we get, the more our teeth have been through. Dull or darkened teeth as we age doesn’t always come from smoking or bad diet decisions - sometimes it’s just general wear and tear. However, when older patients wish to regain some of their vitality, teeth whitening can be a great, subtle way to do so.
  
• For great first impressions.
  We all know how important first impressions are, and a welcoming, confident smile is instantly going to impress the other person and put them at ease. We are inherently more likely to trust and like someone who appears friendly and healthy, and a bright smile can help you to exude confidence and charm in circumstances like a first date or job interview.
  

• Special occasions.
  For occasions such as weddings, where photos will be circulated for years to come, people will often whiten their teeth to help put the cherry on top of all of those photoshoots.
  

• Improved oral health.
  Interestingly enough, teeth whitening services have been linked to an increase in dental care. Once you’re proud of your new white smile, you want to keep it that way - so more people end up brushing and flossing regularly to try and maintain their pearlers.
  

• Boost to self-confidence and endorphins.
  The mind is a funny thing. With a whiter smile, you’ll find your self-esteem boosted with the added confidence in your appearance, and you’ll probably feel a whole lot more smile-ready too. When we smile, we produce endorphins which make us feel happier. Therefore, a whiter smile can make you feel more confident and happier than ever!
  

• Non-surgical.
  You can take a lunch break and get your teeth whitened - the appointment doesn’t take long and requires no down time or healing.
  

• Affordable.
  Teeth whitening won’t hit your back pocket the way some cosmetic procedures can, and results are almost immediate.  Teeth whitening is a simple procedure which has so many benefits – to find out more about our teeth whitening services feel free to visit our website.

If you’re looking for teeth whitening services in Perth, look no further than Carillon City Dental. Our expert dentists can make your teeth brighter and whiter than before, and can help you get your smile glowing. Call our friendly team today to arrange an appointment or find our more.

Famous Invisalign Smiles - Celebs Who Swear By Invisalign

For us everyday folk, most of the beauty routines of the stars are at best, expensive, and a worst, unattainable. But there is one thing that adds to our natural beauty that stars clamour for as much as us - a perfect, straight smile.

Braces are an option - although the unsightly wires and painful appointments are just as unappealing to adults as they are to teens trying to navigate their social lives. With Invisalign quickly replacing braces as the preferred choice across Perth, we decided to find some celebrity smiles that have sworn by Invisalign to become the front page dazzlers they are today.

1. Khloe Kardashian's Invisalign
Khloe Kardashian and the rest of her family are all subjected to public scrutiny, so anyone who wants to watch a timeline of Invisalign can use the paparazzi snaps! With her many lifestyle changes, she chose to use Invisalign at the age of 28.

2. Justin Bieber's Invisalign
As a teen heartthrob, Justin started banking on his looks from a young age. Obviously, he could never have subjected his hordes of Beliebers to wall posters of him if he had a mouth full of metal, and he has openly praised Invisalign for their natural look.

3. Katherine Heigl's Invisalign
In preparation for her wedding, Katherine began wearing Invisalign in 2007. Ever since, her winning smile has landed her movie and television lines, and front page covers of magazines.

4. Tom Cruise's Invisalign
Tom Cruise first came across Invisalign in 2002, when a trip with his kids to the orthodontist led to a life-altering realisation - his teeth were actually not as straight as they could be. Being Tom Cruise, this was unacceptable. Invisalign and ceramic brackets worked together to ensure that his smile was top gun.

5. Gisele Bundchen's Invisalign
Gisele told interviewers that one of her teeth had started moving, and her smile was looking less flawless than usual. Invisalign helped straighten that out and Gisele opted to only wear her Invisalign at night, leaving her smile to dazzle all day.

6. Zac Efron's Invisalign
As a freckled cutie in his High School Musical performance, Zac Efron grew up quick to become an A-list stunner. With all of the other growing he’s done, he turned to Invisalign to shrink the gap between his front teeth.

7. Eva Longoria's Invisalign
Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria began her Invisalign journey at age 36, sick of her crooked lower teeth.

8. Serena Williams' Invisalign
As a teenager, Serena Williams knew that her tennis and her smile needed some extra oomph. Invisalign straightened out her teeth, and her commitment to the sport and religious training routine led her to the tennis prowess she has today.

9. Oprah Winfrey’s Invisalign
If we were on television as much as Oprah, we’d get Invisalign too. She loved them so much that she had no problem wearing them throughout filming her internationally renowned talk show.

10. Kate Middleton’s Invisalign
For six months leading up to her wedding to Prince William, Kate’s orthodontist recommended Invisalign to ensure her smile would be flawless for the big day.

11. Keira Knightley’s Invisalign
Keira’s smile was cute and quirky, but after Invisalign her features became flawless.

12. Kendall Jenner’s Invisalign

Kendall, another member of America’s most publicised family, uses Invisalign to straighten her teeth between photoshoots.

13. Cheryl Cole’s Invisalign
Former X-Factor judge and British singing superstar, Cheryl fawned over Invisalign to interviewers, crediting them for her new and improved smile.

Talk to Carillon City Dental today to find out if Invisalign is perfect for you.

Nervous or Afraid About Dental Implants? Read This!

We like to think that we grow out of our childhood woes and worries, but some do linger. While you might not still be convinced that the old lady down the street was a witch, enabling you to walk past her house without breaking into a sprint, you may still be a little hesitant to see your dentist and ask about procedures such as dental implants.

Fear no more; we’re here to put your mind at rest and your heart at ease, so you can look forward to our dental implants services and your new smile!

1. We’ve Been Working On This For Centuries

Dental implants aren’t a completely new-fangled contraption; we’ve been trying to replace missing teeth with implants since ancient human history. The ancient Chinese developed dental pegs from bamboo, and inserted them into the jaw to act as teeth. The Egyptians played around with other materials, fashioning pegs from metals, ivory, and even human teeth.

Modern implants take all of those previous attempted and added one crucial element; titanium. In 1965, Swedish scientists discovered that titanium screws can fuse to the bone, and this has been perfected and refined since to create the smooth implant procedure we have today.

2. We Are Meticulous Planners

Implant surgery is not an interpretive art form, or a game of Guess Who. Your dentist will examine your specific condition, and will plan out the course of action accordingly. After x-rays and careful evaluation, your dentist will decide where the implants will be best placed to support new teeth and the quality of your bone.
If you have any questions, your dentist can answer them long before you undergo surgery.

3. Anaesthetic And Sleep Dentistry

Carillon City Dental can ensure that you’re completely comfortable and relaxed for the procedure, with a local anaesthetic through small shots near the surgical site. Sleep dentistry is also incredibly popular with procedures such as dental implants, if you’d rather ‘zone out’ and leave us to it. Post-care is straightforward, with mild pain relief and regular rinsing with anti-bacterial mouthwash.


4. You'll Love It When You See Your New Smile!

Once your mouth has healed, we will fit your new implants to complete your new grin. They will look and feel natural, and you can resume life as normal with recommended oral hygiene. The new tooth will blend perfectly in with the rest of your smile, and will function as a natural tooth would.

Dental implants are quickly becoming the preferred service to replace missing teeth and fix smiles. If you’re concerned about dental implants, simply call our friendly team at Carillon City Dental and organise a consultation with one of our expert dentists. We can discuss all of your options with you and make sure you feel completely confident and comfortable.

Five Discoveries Dentists Made in 2016

If you’re an Indiana Jones type but you’re wondering if there’s anything left for you to discover anymore, you might want to take up a career in dentistry after reading this. Okay, it’s a little different… we said you might.

Like any health science practitioners, dentists are always discovering new and exciting things about who we are as a species - and 2016 was a big year for some of the world's best dentists. Check out the five most incredible discoveries that dentists made in 2016 below!

Link discovered between low testosterone in men and oral health

Macaques, some of our closest living primate relatives, have helped us to uncover a link between lowered testosterone and periodontal disease. When scientists began to investigate the conditions of oral health, they noticed that all of the castrated males showed signs of periodontitis and other oral health issues - and much more exacerbated than the other males of the same age. The manager of the center’s Primate Skeletal Collections made note of the bone that supports the teeth, and how it had dramatically receded away in older castrated males. There may not be as many eunuchs as in the good old days, but men who suffer from prostate cancers or a diagnosis of low testosterone may find this information helpful to ensure that they are caring for their teeth properly.

New research could eliminate need for needles

Anaesthetic needles are something that most of our patients probably don’t enjoy as much as they endure. But 2016 saw a new study find a new approach to administering anaesthetic. Instead, dentists can look forward to using a small electric current to give the anaesthetic - which not only saves time and money, but the sweat and tears of any overly-anxious recipients. This could be huge for oral hygiene, as people who are avoiding dental care for fear of the syringe could potentially seek out much-needed procedures.

Multiple fillings linked to toxic level of mercury in blood

Researchers have found that adults with more than eight fillings have 150% more mercury in their blood than those without any filling at all. Yikes.
High levels of mercury can be toxic, and can cause lung, heart, brain, and immune system issues - that’s just to start with.
Amalgam fillings are made up of mercury, silver, tin, and other metals, and has been the industry standard for over 150 years - thankfully, our next discovery comes right on cue…

Composites of the future may be glass

Bioactive glass is being studied for its ability to reduce bacteria’s capacity to attack composite fillings, and may even help to provide minerals that the tooth may have lost during decay. Made with compounds such as silicon oxide, calcium oxide, and phosphorus oxide, our bodies are reactive to the glass which may prove to prolong the life of fillings and slow tooth decay.

Mouthbreathers increase their risk of dental decay

If you breathe through your mouth in your sleep, your mouth is dried out of all that valuable saliva that would usually coat your mouth. This results in an acidic oral environment, which paves the way for dental erosion and loss of enamel. Mouths of nose-breathers had a pH level of 7 during studies in New Zealand, while mouthbreathers experienced a drop in pH - periodically as low as 3.6! Anything below 5.5 is the threshold where tooth enamel starts to demineralise, making people who breathe through their mouth when they sleep at higher risk of decay.

For more fun facts about amazing advances in dentistry and valuable industry insights, keep an eye on our blog which we update regularly. For the best dentist in Perth, call Carillon City Dental. Our team of dentists can help you through any emergency or issue you may be experiencing, and can discuss your options with you as you decide on your chosen form of treatment.