Category: Church St Dental

This blog describes the best ways to manage a toothache as well as common toothache causes and when to see your dentist.

Toothache is one of the most common reasons for patients to present to emergency departments and general practitioners in Australia, with one study estimating that 22% of adults have experienced some pain in their teeth, gums or jaws within the last six months.

Toothache can have a large impact on quality of life, affecting your ability to undertake normal activities such as eating, talking and sleeping as well as affecting your ability to work.

If left too long, an infection caused by a toothache can become life-threatening and lead to a patient requiring treatment in ICU. At Church St Dental, we always ensure that we have time set aside so that patients who call with a toothache can generally be seen on the day.

Causes

Infection
Most toothaches are caused by infections in the teeth. Infection forms when a cavity in the tooth is left untreated and eats its way through to the nerve, damaging and destroying the nerve and forming infection. The nerve can also be damaged or destroyed through trauma such as sporting injuries.
Once infection has formed in the tooth there are only two methods of treatment:
1. Root Canal Treatment, which involves removing the nerve of the tooth as well as the infection and filling the tooth to prevent further infection. This is the ideal treatment option if you plan on saving the tooth.
2. Extraction of the Tooth, which involves removal of the tooth. There is the option of an artificial tooth replacement following removal of the tooth.

Sensitive Teeth
Tooth sensitivity is another common cause of toothache, with some studies showing 30% of people having sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity can be localised to a particular area or generalised and is caused by the enamel or outer protective shell of the tooth wearing away. This exposes the dentine, second layer of the tooth, which transmits any hot or cold sensation directly to the nerve.

Causes of the enamel wearing away include tooth decay, overbrushing, gum recession, teeth whitening products and teeth grinding. Sensitivity can also be a postoperative side effect of some dental treatment such as filling placement, in this case the sensitivity will usually resolve within a few weeks.

Treatment for sensitive teeth can range from using a specialised toothpaste that targets the sensitivity such as Sensodyne and Colgate Pro-Relief to placing a crown or cap on the affected tooth to prevent further wearing of the enamel. All of the causes of enamel wear are preventable and generally, the best way to treat sensitivity is to prevent it happening in the first place.

Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are a common cause of toothache, especially in those from their late teens to mid twenties. The pain from wisdom teeth is generally due to the wisdom teeth being impacted or stuck under the gum due to a lack of room for them to break through the gum or the teeth being at the wrong angle. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause symptoms such bad breath and taste, red and swollen gums and problems with jaw opening. Pain and swelling is the most common symptom with one third of patients experiencing this with impacted wisdom teeth.

Impacted wisdom teeth can be diagnosed with a full mouth x-ray and the best long-term treatment is generally removal of the wisdom teeth. At Church St Dental, we have dentists who can remove the wisdom teeth in the chair, however if the wisdom teeth are complicated or deeply impacted, we may refer you to see a specialist known as an oral surgeon for removal of the wisdom teeth in hospital under general anaesthetic.

Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease, or bone loss disease is one of the most common disease with an estimated three out of four adults having some form of periodontal disease and periodontal disease is responsible for around 70% of adult tooth loss.

Periodontal disease in its early stages, starts as gum disease, the signs of which include sore, red and bleeding gums, bad breath and bleeding after brushing or flossing. The most common cause of gum disease is plaque build-up on the teeth, but can be exacerbated by factors such as smoking, diabetes, family history and hormonal changes in women.

Without treatment, gum disease progresses to periodontal disease or bone loss, leading to visible shrinking gums, loose teeth and infection. At its end stage, periodontal disease can lead to teeth needing to be removed.

The easiest way to prevent periodontal disease is through regular check-up and cleans, however periodontal disease is treatable, especially in its early stages. Treatment options can range from antibacterial mouthwash, gum cleaning under local anaesthetic to gum grafting and surgery.

Referred Pain
Toothache can even have causes that aren’t related to the teeth at all, including referred pain from sinus, or even from the heart. Any instances involving toothache from referred pain need to be further investigated by a doctor.

TMD
A more common cause of toothache can be from TMD or temporomandibular disorders, an umbrella term covering any disorder of the jaw joints and jaw muscles. One of the most common forms of TMD is teeth grinding or clenching known as bruxism. Teeth grinding or clenching usually occurs during sleep, however some people may experience clenching or grinding during the day, especially during periods of stress. Bruxism long-term can cause significant damage to the teeth and lead to jaw or neck pain, headaches, increased tooth sensitivity and tight jaw muscles.

Bruxism can also lead to cracked teeth. Like a crack in a window, a crack in a tooth can spread throughout the tooth, eventually affecting the nerve and leading to nerve death and infection in the tooth. This can generally be treated by root canal treatment but if the crack extends too deep within the tooth, or even splits the tooth, the only option may be extraction of the tooth.

Bruxism has a range of treatments depending on the severity and cases. If bruxism is occurring during waking, the easiest treatment is awareness of keeping the teeth apart and management of any stress that may be contributing to the bruxism. Night time or nocturnal bruxism can be managed with a nightguard (similar to a mouthguard) to prevent tooth damage, or botox of the jaw muscles in more severe cases.

What if I Can’t Get to a Dentist?
With treating a toothache, the number one priority is to always get the area checked by a dentist so that appropriate treatment can be undertaken. However, if you are unable to get to a dentist straight away, there are some remedies that may assist with managing pain and preventing the toothache from getting worse.

Pain Medication
Ibuprofen or neurofen is generally one of the most effective ways of managing toothache pain and is easily available over the counter. An even more effective method of managing toothache pain is a combination of ibuprofen and panadol, which has recently become available and sold in pharmacies as Neuromol or Maxigesic.

Salt Water Rinses
Salt water rinses can assist with keeping the toothache area clean and improve gum healing as they are a natural antibacterial agent.

Clove Oil
Clove contains eugenol which acts as a numbing agent to provide temporary relief of the toothache area. It is important to use clove oil sparingly, as too much can burn the gums and result in more pain and damage to the toothache area.

Will Antibiotics help with Toothache?
Antibiotics will not cure a toothache and studies have shown that antibiotics will provide little benefit to the treatment of toothaches unless the toothache is caused by an infection. If the toothache is caused by an infection, antibiotics will only assist if there is evidence that the infection is spreading. Signs of an infection spreading may include feeling unwell and fever, in this case, antibiotics will assist with managing the spread of the infection, but the priority is to treat the infection at the site.

Whenever February comes around all of us here at Church St Dental think the same thing…Love Lanes Festival is here!

While it is true that we plan our stall months ahead, we can’t help but feel excited when we know it is only a few weeks away. This year we had one of our Dental Assistants/Receptionists Katie running the stall along with our dentist Dr Charles.

This year was also a little bit more special as we had Dr Charles and Dr Laura’s therapy dog Boston make his debut appearance, and boy did he do well! Boston is a 2 year old cavoodle and rescue dog that Dr Charles and Dr Laura adopted from Dog Rescue Newcastle (www.dogrescuenewcastle.com.au) in February 2018. He has undergone extensive training since to become a Delta-qualified therapy dog.

Boston comes into the practice most Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays with Dr Laura and is there to help with any nervous kids or even adults that just need a bit of reassurance. We put up his little tepee (although it was a little bit too hot for him to enjoy it too much) and he did a fantastic job meeting not only some current patients that came and said hello but also some new faces that just couldn’t believe their ears when they found out what he did for a job!

The afternoon started off well with Katie and Dr Charles setting up the stall with banners and getting ready all the goody bags we had made for the day. While this was happening, we saw so many other local businesses setting up as well and it really made a difference and made us feel that we were a part of such a great community.

We were even lucky enough to have set up right next to the circus performers who did an unbelievable job on the silk and the ring. They had their performances on every hour and every time they started not only did we stop and watch in awe but every single person walking by or sitting on one of the lawn chairs couldn’t take their eyes off them! We are so lucky to have such amazing talent in our community.

Once the performers would finish, we would speak and talk with so many current and new patients with any queries they might have had. Boston did a fine job in entertaining the kids

and Dr Charles and Katie had a great time soaking in the community atmosphere and answering any teeth-related questions. We also gave out free stickers, toothbrushes and goody bags for the kids, which didn’t last long!

The afternoon turned into evening and boy did it go quick. We chatted to so many people we lost count and found despite the summer heat and humidity we didn’t get too burnt. Well, Katie might have a little!

When the event came to an end we were a little sad but excited for what next years Love Lanes Festival would bring.

It’s not everyday you can enjoy and be apart of such a great occasion that brings so many different people and businesses together to create a truly magical afternoon/evening. We cannot wait for next year and are eager to see if any new shops pop up that we can watch grow and become apart of the Wyong community as we have been for so many years.

If you (or your kids) are interested in meeting Boston and having him sit with you during your next dental appointment, please give us a call on 4351 1642. We look forward to seeing everyone at next year’s Love Lanes Festival!

Walking down the hygiene care aisle in the supermarket, we’re dazzled with “advanced formulas”, “multi-action” pastes, and even “natural” toothpastes. But all hype aside, what type of toothpaste should you be using?

From pulverised bones and crushed oyster shells to the modern-day pearly white paste, the role of toothpaste has always been to remove plaque and prevent cavities.

At Church St Dental we recommend selecting a toothpaste with added fluoride. Any toothpaste that contains fluoride will help to prevent tooth decay, (when used with a daily oral hygiene routine that includes brushing and flossing). Fluoride is an ingredient added to toothpaste to help strengthen and protect teeth against decay. It can also reverse early decay. Most supermarket toothpastes will have fluoride but it is worth checking the ingredients on the back, just to be sure!

Cavities or holes are formed by acid producing bacteria that live on the plaque in your mouth. When sugars and starches aren’t cleaned off your teeth, bacteria quickly begin feeding on them and form plaque. The acids in plaque remove minerals in your tooth’s hard, outer enamel. This erosion causes tiny openings or holes in the enamel — the first stage of cavities.

Brushing and flossing your teeth as well as having them professionally cleaned by our dentists twice a year decreases the level of these damaging bacteria in your mouth. Lack of tooth brushing allows the bacteria to grow producing too much acid which then causes cavities.

Sugary foods feed these bacteria making them produce more acid! So keep brushing and flossing twice a day and keep a healthy, low-sugar diet. These good habits will hopefully lead to a cavity-free visit to Church St Dental!

A fissure sealant is a protective coating that is used to cover the chewing surfaces of the back adult teeth. It forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth. These grooves tend to trap plaque that causes decay, so filling the grooves will help minimise the risk of decay in these teeth.

Fissure sealant placement is a quick and painless procedure that is most commonly used on children as a preventative measure against tooth decay, but can also be used on adults who experience similar issues.

Last week our lovely Receptionist Ash visited Wyong Primary School to participate in their Careers Day event! This event is held every year at the school and a large variety of local businesses come together and participate to educate the students on different career paths they may want to take.

This was a wonderful chance for us to interact with the students and let them know the different career options that are available to them in the Dental Industry. Both the students and Ash had a lot of fun trying on the protective clothing and learning how to brush their teeth.

We are blessed to be part of such a supportive community. Thank you for having us!

Yes! Soft drink is bad for your teeth for a number of reasons:

The high sugar content contained in most soft drinks provide food for the bacteria that cause decay. This leads to holes forming in your teeth.

Soft drink also has a high acid content, which wears away the outer surface of your teeth exposing the inner surface closer to the nerve. This can lead to sensitivity and in severe cases damage the nerve. The pH level of coca-cola is only 1 point higher on the pH scale than battery acid. Even drinks classed as ”diet” or “sugar free” have been found to cause enamel erosion.

We suggest that our patients drink more tooth friendly options such as milk, tea and water.

Ash’s braces have been on for three months, she has been seeing Dr Charles every 6 weeks to monitor her progress and it is now time for a wire change.

At this appointment the archwire was changed to a thicker, stronger wire that will re position the roots of Ash’s teeth. She also changed the colour of her ligature elastics from black to turquoise.

When your archwire is changed you can expect a little tenderness over the next 24-48 hours as your teeth are starting to move again and there is increased pressure on the teeth from the stronger wire. During this time we recommend going back to a softer diet and taking analgesics as needed.

Watch this space for updates!

As part of Dental Health Week this year our lovely Oral Health Therapist Patricia and Sam our bubbly Receptionist went on a trip to visit the K-2 students at Wyong Primary School.

Dental Health Week is a major annual event aimed to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health in every aspect of their lives. Patricia and Sam spent time with the students learning how to brush, how to floss, which foods are good and which foods are bad for your teeth, as well as the overall importance of good oral health.

It is very important for good oral care to start as soon as your child’s first baby tooth erupts from the gum. This is also when you should first bring them to see a Dentist or Oral Health Therapist to get them used to the environment.

The students greatly enjoyed having Patricia and Sam visit to make learning about oral hygiene interesting and fun! We can’t wait to go back!