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For many of our patients, embarking on a journey of oral hygiene begins with a whole series of questions. In this article, we’ll address some of those questions and tell you a little about dental cleaning strategies, dental X Rays and their importance in maintaining your beautiful smile.
First, let’s chat about dental cleaning.
Your daily dental routine is the major factor which contributes to the overall health of your teeth. At Dentist Mandy, we encourage preventative dental care to avoid unnecessary dental problems in the future.
In brief, we recommend the following:
Using a good quality, soft headed brush or an electric toothbrush. We offer a range of eco-friendly toothbrushes too. See our range here
Floss daily with the right type of dental floss. There are two types available. Dental tape for narrow gaps and dental floss for wide gaps.
Use mouthwash only when necessary (during or to minimize infection)
A regular dental checkup and clean with us at Dentist Mandy (the frequency depends on your unique situation, but in normal circumstances at least twice per year)
One of the other aspects of dental hygiene we are often asked about involves the use of fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral we use to help mineralise your tooth enamel and help to prevent future cavities. In small doses it is totally safe to use.
The short answer in most cases is Yes. But a little more explanation is needed.
Professional dental cleaning is a bit more involved than regular dental cleaning. Whereas your usual cleaning would involve thorough brushing and flossing of your teeth, gum brushing and observing any dental issues, a professional dental cleaning involves a few more techniques and processes. We usually perform dental cleaning involving a scale and clean when due to gum disease, tooth decay or inadequate normal cleaning your teeth are experiencing buildup of plaque and tartar.
Our dental cleaning involves removing plaque, bacteria, tartar and debris which may be affecting your teeth and gums. We clean your teeth on a professional level to assist the healing of your teeth and gums. One of the most common reasons we need professional dental cleaning is due to the buildup of tartar which can lead to bacterial infections.
Your dentist will determine if you need professional dental cleaning. Some of the common signs that you may require professional cleaning include gum bleeding and increased sensitivity.
In fact, the level of comfort during this procedure depends largely on the severity of your situation and your general tolerance levels. If, for example you have severe gum disease, it’s likely you may experience a higher level of discomfort as you have more bacteria and debris to be removed.
One of the reasons that patients may experience discomfort is due to the techniques we need to employ to bring your teeth back to a healthy state. These procedures involve scaling and planing where your dentist removes plaque, debris and bacteria from the teeth and the pockets of your gums. Sometimes we need to clean deeper towards the root of your tooth which can cause discomfort.
Whatever your situation though, our aim at Dentist Mandy is to make all of our patients as comfortable as possible through any procedure. Depending on the scope of your work, we may employ numbing agents or anaesthetic to make you more comfortable.
The cost of professional dental cleaning does vary a little bit, depending on your unique requirements and dental health. What we can say is that for every procedure, we will always discuss costs and requirements before any work is undertaken.
You will need to consult with your private insurer as to the amount of cover you receive and any necessary waiting periods. Most private health insurers do cover two cleaning procedures per year. But once again, please check with your provider to make sure.
Our Bondi dental clinic is fully equipped with the latest 3D x-ray technology, iTero Scanner and professional dental equipment. Inhouse, we have the ability to provide most teeth X Rays, including OPG X Rays and OPG scans and the ever-popular wisdom teeth X Rays. We have the capacity to fully investigate and diagnose any problems for you onsite during your dental checkup, saving you time and maintaining a holistic approach to your smile.
The simple answer to both of these questions is Yes! Whether you’re a child or pregnant, X-rays of both the inside and outside of your mouth are perfectly safe. To reduce patients’ concerns, we do minimize the use of Xrays during pregnancy for your peace of mind.
We’re often asked by our patients “How much radiation is in dental x-rays?”. The amount of radiation you’re exposed to is generally extremely low – much the same as what you might experience in a 1-2 hour flight. In scientific terms though – a standard dental exam which includes 4 bitewings is about 0.005 mSv, which is less than one day of natural background radiation.
You may also wonder how many dental Xrays are safe to have. The answer isn’t as easy as you would imagine. In reality, your age, your level of tooth decay, the type of x-ray machines used, gum disease or the types of dental xrays you require all need to be considered when we assess what levels of radiation exposure are safe.
As a general guide, at Dentist Mandy we only suggest as few Xrays are possible for each of our patients, really only as few as needed to determine your treatment. In adults, there is an understanding that dental X Rays should be conducted only at 24 – 36 month intervals for patients who have low dental decay risk – however you will always need to weigh up the benefits. If you are suffering from serious dental issues which can only be treated after assessing an Xray or if you have higher dental decay risk – it may be the right thing to do Xrays more often.
Whether you’re needing a dental clean, XRays or any other dental procedure, our priority is to provide you with the most caring, informative and high quality service. If you have any questions about your dental needs, please feel free to reach out and we’ll arrange a consultation with one of our Dentist Mandy professionals.