After careful study and planning, it was time for my braces to go on! How exciting 🙂

My teeth were thoroughly cleaned and then Dr Charles bonded my braces on. There are plenty of elastic colours to choose from, I chose clear elastics but I might go for some colours next time! It takes a bit of time to get everything on but after that everything is fairly smooth sailing. Over the next week my teeth were a bit sore and I had to have soft food but I expected that. I am looking forward to seeing my teeth straighten on this exciting journey.

Watch this space for more updates!

Terrigal Dental is very proud to have participated in the 2017 Leaders Leap! 

The Leader’s Leap is not only about conquering a fear of heights but also raising money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service. The Central Coast community has often relied on the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in times of need, to help those that require urgent medical care.

Our very own Dr Charles abseiled down the 7 storey Crowne Plaza building in Terrigal on Friday 14th of July to raise the much-needed funds that support this worthy cause.

All the fearless leaders placed their lives in the hands of others, as countless do with the helicopter crew members, managing to raise over $46,000! Thank you to everyone who donated and helped to raise money for this wonderful cause! 

Just got braces?

Here are some foods you should avoid and foods that you can eat easily when you have braces on.

The first time you have your brackets and wire put on will be the most painful. During this time is it a good idea to stick to soft foods such as:

• Smoothies
• Eggs
• Banana’s
• Yoghurt
• Soup
• Mashed potato

Once the pain has subsided you can add some more to your diet:

• Steamed vegetables
• Soft fruits (grapes, melons)
• Non tough meats (ham, chicken)
• Soft cheese
• Spaghetti or mac and cheese
• Soft breads

Some key foods to avoid are:

• Popcorn
• Nuts
• Hard or sticky lollies
• Corn chips/hard taco shells
• Pretzels
• Ice
• Tough meats (steak)

Maybe you have heard the phrase CEREC crown? Maybe not. If you have you might be wondering what the difference is between a traditional crown and a CEREC crown.

If you have a tooth that is deteriorating or a cavity that is too big to fill, you may be given the option of a crown to seal and fix the tooth. Traditional crowns differ to the option of a CEREC crown. This new technology makes it easier for you to get the treatment you need. While traditional crowns still have value, CEREC or same day crown’s are focused on saving you time and stress.

TRADITIONAL CROWNS

Once it was determined that you needed a crown, the dentist would take an impression of the tooth to be sent off to a lab to have the crown made. To protect the tooth, a temporary crown would be placed while the permanent one was being made. This process generally takes 2-3 appointments over 2-3 weeks and requires the patient to spend a large amount of time not only in surgery but numbed using local anaesthesia.

CEREC CROWNS

CEREC crowns or same day sounds are exactly what they sound like, crowns that are completed in one day. Once your tooth is prepared to be fitted for a crown, the dentist uses the CEREC machine to take a digital image of your tooth. The dentist then uses the image and the CEREC machine to create the crown right there in front of you. Rather than dealing with an uncomfortable impression and being numbed up over multiple appointments, a picture is used to create a crown that perfectly fits your tooth on the same day.

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!

Some people don’t mind having a gap in their mouth, however it is important to be aware of the potential consequences of ignoring a missing tooth for an extended period of time. If you lose a tooth and don’t seek professional advice, it could eventually lead to a number of serious issues, ranging from aesthetic changes through to serious health concerns.

A missing tooth can lead to:

• A resorbed jaw bone, as a result, gum tissue gradually recedes, exposing the roots. As the bone begins to resorb, your face shape can change.
• Difficulty chewing and speaking.
• Neighbouring teeth often drift into the space that has been vacated, causing leaning and crowding.
• The teeth may tip or rotate, this can affect your bite and can even put strain on your jaw joint, causing you to experience unnecessary pain.
• Problems with your gums, root decay, and sensitive teeth.
• Losing a tooth can affect your speech – and your smile.

If you have a missing tooth, we can advise you on whether it’s best to fill that space with a denture, a bridge, or an implant, so you can keep your smile looking great and your mouth looking and feeling healthy.

Children’s teeth should be cleaned as soon as they first erupt from the gum. They should be brushed twice a day buy an adult with water and a soft toothbrush until the age of 17 months.

For children older than 18 months, you should start using toothpaste. Be sure to use a toothpaste that is specially formulated for children. This toothpaste should have a lower amount of fluoride than most adult toothpastes. 

Once your child reaches 3-4 years of age you can start using a larger, pea sized amount of toothpaste.

On the weekend our lovely receptionist Sam and Dr Charles participated in the Fun Fair at our local Primary School!

They had guessing competitions, prizes to be won and lots of samples to be given away! It was a beautiful day and they really enjoyed being a part of the day and talking with the community about all things dental.

Thanks for having us!

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 Terrigal 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 Terrigal Dental!