While daily tooth brushing and interdental cleaning can help maintain good oral health at home, regular check-ups are important to detect early warning signs of infection, decay and oral cancer.

Everyone’s needs differ depending on the condition of their mouth, their lifestyle factors and diet. However, we generally recommend six-monthly visits to address immediate issues and reduce the risk of long-term dental problems arising. If you are at greater risk of developing dental disease we may advise you to attend more frequently.

We recommend children have their first dental visit when their first baby tooth is visible to encourage good habits early on. Initial visits include a “ride in the chair” and a basic visual exam to familiarize your child with the dental environment. Young children may attend with older siblings as they may feel more relaxed and comfortable after seeing them have their teeth examined first.

Fluoride is a natural mineral present in certain foods and beverages. It is also commonly found in varying amounts within dental products, toothpastes and community water sources.

Fluoride has an important role in strengthening and protecting teeth against bacterial acid and decay formation. Both children and adults benefit from Fluoride. While teeth are still developing it produces a systemic benefit by being incorporated into and hardening the outer tooth/ enamel surface. In adult teeth the benefit it produces is topical as it can be applied directly to this surface to “remineralize” or reverse early signs of tooth decay.

Periodontal or gum disease is a bacterial infection that affects the soft tissues and supporting structures of the teeth. It varies in severity but is often characterized by a combination of inflammation, swelling, bleeding, discoloration and discomfort. It can be subtle and progress slowly but if left untreated can lead to profoundly serious system problems, irreversible damage and tooth loss. If you suspect you may have gum disease or have noticed any changes we encourage you to visit us at Connell Dental Care for a check-up.

Overtime teeth develop intrinsic and extrinsic stains. Extrinsic is that which occurs on the outer enamel surface due to such things as coffee, wine and smoking. Intrinsic discoloration occurs in the dentine on the inside the enamel layer. This can be an age-related change as teeth develop a yellow tint or due to such things are trauma, genetics, antibiotic use or tooth malformations. Staining is usually diagnosed by a visual exam and can range from white streaks to yellow tints or brown/ grey spots and pits.

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Good home care including brushing, flossing and rinsing after meals can help to minimize extrinsic staining in conjunction with professional cleaning. Teeth can also be whitened with a bleaching gel applied to the enamel to improve the shade and aesthetics. However, in some cases if the discoloration is severe or intrinsic in nature a crown or veneer may be required to mask it. While some whitening products are available over the counter, they can often be unsafe and contain a weaker bleach than the what is required to produce a successful outcome. Whitening toothpastes may remove minor stains but will often not produce a significant colour change.