General Dentistry

Based in Castle Hill, Show Ground Dental Care’s primary focus has always been to find out what is most important to the patients in terms of their dental health, and then provide care centered on their needs and wants. All materials used in any procedure in our office are of the highest standards and we strive to meet your dental needs at the highest level.

Services under General Dentistry at Showground, Castle Hill

CHECKUPS

For healthy teeth and gums, a routine checkup is highly recommended. We recommend visiting a dentist for a checkup every six months. Dental hygiene can be maintained and any problems can be averted before they become a major oral issue. With regular checkups, we can guarantee the well-being of your teeth with proper cleaning and fluoride treatment.

CLEANING

For the sound condition of your teeth and gums, we suggest scaling and cleaning every six months. This is a straight-forward and painless process that takes less than half an hour. We can also help you with techniques of brushing which may be insufficient and need attention. The cleaning process will involve removing the build-up of plaque, calculus, and stains from your teeth and polishing.

FILLINGS

Showground Dental Care uses mercury-free composite resin (white) fillings while repairing cavities. White fillings are more attractive option to amalgam fillings and are safe, strong, and blend in better with the natural teeth. They are appropriate for repairing both anterior and posterior teeth.

MOUTH GUARDS

Dental injuries are the most common type of facial injury suffered in sports. Children are generally more prone to dental injuries. Mouth guards can be worn to protect the teeth and mouth in case of sudden, hard impact.

Mouth guard is a covering worn over teeth and often used to protect teeth from injury from teeth grinding and during sports. It is an adaptable piece of soft plastic that fits into the mouth area, usually to top of the teeth, and should be worn during all athletic activities to safeguard the oral cavity and tooth from serious damage. Mouth guards can be worn during following sports:

• Football
• Soccer
• Rugby
• Wrestling
• Baseball
• Softball
• Lacrosse
• Field hockey
• Ice hockey
• Martial arts
• Boxing

Many recreational activities such as skateboarding and bicycling also pose a risk of injuring the mouth and teeth. Exercise caution during these activities.

You may be familiar with the type of mouth guard that is formed by boiling and biting, but you may not know that by using “boil and bites” you’re only getting little or no real protection. That’s because “boil and bites” are formed using low temperatures and as you bite down, most of the material between your teeth is displaced which is where the cushioning is needed most.

ADA(Australian Dental Association) recommends that your mouth guard should be checked every 12 months for optimal fit and protection.

Only a professionally custom-fitted mouthguard can give you the protection your teeth needs.

Fissure Sealants

Fissure sealants are tooth-colored protective coatings that are applied in order to cover and protect the deep grooves/fissures in our teeth and prevent dental decay. These fissures are most commonly located on the chewing surfaces on the back teeth (molars and premolars). The grooves are at high risk for decay as they can be deep and narrow and collect plaque, bacteria, and food that cannot be accessed by toothbrush bristles.

• The tooth is thoroughly cleaned and dried before applying the sealant.
• The liquid sealant is placed onto the surface of the tooth and flows into the pits and fissures. The liquid is then set with an ultra violet light.
• The pits and fissures are now sealed and the tooth surface is smooth and easy to keep clean.

Occlusal splint  for teeth grinding

Bruxism or tooth grinding is caused by reasons such as stress, bite problem or simply just a bad habit. Constant grinding will cause problems like worn teeth, loose teeth, chipped teeth, cracks on teeth, jaw muscle and joint soreness as well as headaches.

Treatment for tooth grinding involves two stages. The first stage involves the usage of a custom night guard, known as a splint to protect the teeth as well as decreasing inflammation in the joint while relaxing the muscles. The splint must be made carefully to ensure that it does not exacerbate the problem. These splints are designed for long term use and therefore must be checked at during the periodic check-up appointments, ensuring that they still fit the way they were supposed to.

Depending on the seriousness of the damage caused to the teeth due to grinding, some patients may need to have their teeth built up to restore the lost height. This restores normal chewing functions. This may mean that most teeth in the mouth need to be restored, typically with crowns or onlays.

Gum disease (Gingivitis and Periodontitis)

Gum disease is a very common cause of tooth loss in adults. Plaque and tartar build-up on the teeth causing inflammation, and subsequent damage to gums and bone that support the teeth. If not treated, gum disease will cause bad breath, loosening of teeth, infection, and chronic gum pain.

Treatment of gum disease can stop the disease from worsening, and in some cases, reverse the damage helping to preserve the teeth for longer. Following are the risk factors involved with Gingivitis and Periodontitis:

• Poor dental hygiene
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Smoking
• Pregnancy (hormonal changes increase the sensitivity of the gums)
• Misaligned teeth, rough edges of fillings, and ill-fitting or unclean mouth appliances (such as braces, dentures, bridges, and crowns)
• Use of certain medications, including phenytoin, bismuth, and some birth control pills
• Many people have some amount of gingivitis. It usually develops during puberty or early adulthood due to hormonal changes. It may persist or recur frequently, depending on the health of your teeth and gums.
• Immuno-compromised patients
• Stress

Symptoms

• Bleeding gums (blood on toothbrush even with gentle brushing of the teeth)
• Mouth sores
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
• Bad breath that doesn’t go away
• Pus between teeth and gums
• Loose teeth

Treatments

• Gum disease is treated in phases according to the severity.
• Initial cleaning, scaling, and curettage
• Surgery — if needed for reducing deep pockets that remain underneath the gum after extensive cleaning sessions
• Low-dose oral or topical antibiotics
• Maintenance is done by getting a regular check-up and clean done by a dentist every 3-6 months.
• Smoking cessation
• Change of medication if its drug induced

Bad breath treatment

Halitosis (bad breath) is a common condition triggered by Sulphur-producing bacteria that live within the top of the tongue and in the neck. Poor dental hygiene, smoking, dry-mouth, dental microbe infections, and sinus infections can cause bad breath. Good oral hygiene including cleaning, flossing, and tongue cleaning, is very important. Gum disease( Gingivitis) is one major condition that is related to bad breath.

To prevent this from developing, please book an appointment for general dentistery with Showground Dental Care today for your regular check-up and clean.