Caring for your teeth is as important as caring for your body. So when a dental emergency happens, your local dentist should be the first one you should call. In these cases, acting fast can mean saving precious seconds that could mean between saving and losing your teeth.

So how do you know which injuries need emergency? Find out below:

• Knocked out tooth – When your tooth completely falls off, it can still be saved and re-implanted back in its place. You just have to go to your dentist immediately with the tooth, making sure not to touch the root and remove any tissue that may be attached to it. If you can’t place it back in the socket, it’s better to put it in a small clean container with a cup of milk.
• Loose tooth – You can very gently put the tooth back in place or bite down to keep it from moving before going to the dentist. A splint will then be placed on each adjacent teeth to stabilize the loose tooth.
• Chipped tooth – While a chipped tooth doesn’t hurt, it pays to give your dentist a quick visit so as to prevent the teeth from chipping more as you bite or chew. Your dentist may smooth a minor chip or use tooth coloured restoration to repair it.

• Fractured or cracked tooth – A fractured tooth is a serious dental emergency because it involves damage to the inside of the tooth. This is common in contact sports and accidents, where facial trauma is typical. If the soft tissue within the tooth is damaged, a root canal may need to be performed. Otherwise, you may only need a dental crown.
• Other dental emergencies – Other conditions that need immediate dental attention to save a tooth is an emergency. This can include severe pain, continuous bleeding, and severe infection.

Many of these dental emergencies can be prevented with regular visits to your dentist. Schedule an appointment with your Sunshine Coast dentist today!

While taking care of your teeth and gums is a must at any age, elderly people need special dental care. This is because seniors have a higher risk for many dental issues that can have complicated effects on their overall health and quality of life.

This is why it’s highly important that elderly dental health also be given enough attention.

Importance of Good Elderly Dental Health

The importance of good dental health in the elderly can’t be stressed enough. This is because poor oral health in seniors can increase their risk for serious conditions such as diabetes and a variety of heart diseases.

• Managing and even reversing gum disease. A lifestyle of oral neglect can cause plaque, tartar, and even infection to develop. This means gingivitis or gum disease can cause you to lose teeth later in life. With the right treatment and care from your trusted dentist, you can actually reverse gingivitis—and maybe even save your teeth.
• Those with Type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk for having gum disease, thrush, and dry mouth. Dry mouth, which can also be caused by medication, can cause tooth decay, infection, and eventual tooth loss.

• Preventing heart disease. Maintaining good oral health throughout your life is powerful in fighting heart attack, stroke, and many other heart conditions. Aside from cholesterol levels, the presence of gum disease and cavities can also predict if you have heart disease.
• Increased risk for pneumonia. Breathing in the bacterial droplets from your mouth to your lungs can cause you to be more likely to develop pneumonia and lung infection.

The conditions of the elderly, such as aching joints due to arthritis or being too immobile to go to the dentist regularly, can make maintaining good elderly dental health difficult to fulfil. However, it’s not too late. Our dentists at Caloundra can take care of your dental needs and prepare you for whatever treatment you may need.

Whether you’re active in contact sports or are feeling pain in the morning from a night of teeth grinding, one thing is for sure—you need to protect your teeth. Should you get a mouthguard or a dental splint? Which one do you really need?

What is a dental splint?

A dental splint, also called a night guard, bite guard or occlusal splint, protects your teeth as you sleep. This is because you may be suffering from a condition called bruxism, which is a sleep disorder that causes you to unconsciously grind or clench your teeth at night. This is usually due to stress or anxiety, but when left untreated, it can ruin your teeth.

Once you consult with your local dentist about your condition, you might need to get a dental splint, which is a set of special plastic appliance that is custom-fitted to be worn over your teeth. This prevents your upper and lower teeth from touching while absorbing bite force to prevent damage.

What is a mouthguard?

A mouthguard covers both your teeth and gums to prevent lips, gums, and teeth injury as well as absorb shock from blows and falls. This is most commonly used in sports such as boxing, basketball, ice hockey, and football to name a few.

While there are stock mouthguards that you can buy in sporting goods stores or over-the-counter, it is highly recommended that you have one that is custom-made for you. Having a mouthguard from your own teeth’s impression will offer comfort, snug fit, and the most protection.

Simply put, a mouthguard protects your teeth while a splint holds your teeth together to prevent harmful movement. Before getting yourself the one that is right for you, however, it is always best to check in with your dentist.

Set an appointment with our top dentists from Caloundra to get yourself custom-fitted dental splints or mouthguards.

For those who are grinding or clenching their teeth especially when sleeping at night, your dentist may have probably fitted you already with a dental splint, also called a bruxism splint or night guard.

Once you get your dental splint, it’s important that you observe proper caring and cleaning so that you can protect your teeth and avoid further tooth damage or decay.

1. Always rinse after every use. Immediately remove your dental splint or night guard immediately after removing it from your mouth. Use warm water to remove any debris that may have been stuck to it.
2. Brush softly with your tooth brush. After rinsing, thoroughly but lightly brush your night guard with your tooth brush. Avoid using toothpaste as this can be abrasive and may easily wear out your splint.
3. Completely dry before storage. Let your splint dry completely by laying it on a clean, flat surface. Never store it in its case when it’s wet to prevent bacterial growth.

1. Keep it in your case when not in use. Don’t keep your splint laying around in the bathroom, as steam and humidity can deform it overtime. Keep it in your case or in a clean, dry place when not in use.
2. Keep your case clean. Keep your case clean as well by cleaning it regularly and allowing it to also completely dry before putting your splint inside it. You can use a dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water to clean your case.
3. Do weekly deep cleans. Use a denture cleaner or a mixture of mouthwash and water to soak your dental splint it for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than an hour.

Cleaning your dental splint can be a lot of work, but once you get into the routine, it’s going to be a breeze.

As parents, you may wonder when the right time is for you to take your children to the dentist. In fact, not everyone takes their children under 12 to the dentist. Many put off a dental visit until there really is a problem such as a cavity or tooth ache. After all, many of these children don’t have all their permanent teeth come in yet.

Set a Solid Foundation of Dental Health

What you don’t know, however, is that you really don’t need to have a problem to visit the dentist. In fact, your first visit to the paediatric dentist shouldn’t even involve any dental work. As all dentists would agree, that first trip should be about introducing your children to the dentist’s office, especially to the dentist and the dental chair, the two most prominent causes of adult dental anxiety.

So to answer the question, dentists recommend that children be taken to the dentist as soon as the first tooth comes out. This is no later than your children’s first birthday.

Paediatric Dentists Make Visits Fun

By taking your child to the dentist at this early age, you familiarize them to the dental office environment, the staff, and of course, the paediatric dentist. This also introduces them to the dental chair, which can be foreboding for some kids who are not used to seeing it.
They may also become more comfortable with the instruments dentists use, which they may first find overwhelming and scary, but with regular visits, help from the dentists and of course the parents’ reassurance, they will soon find unimposing.
With regular visits, you take away the fear associated with going to the dentist, and you are more likely to raise children who have better dental hygiene than those who are scared to go to the dentist.

Schedule an appointment with our Sunshine Coast paediatric dentists today.

Fillings are a conservative way of restoring your teeth after it’s been damaged by minor cavities. Fillings are used to recreate your tooth’s structure and function, as well as make it look and feel natural.

Also know as ‘inlays’, fillings are a great option if you want a solution that lasts long periods of time.

1. Quick and painless. Compared to dental crowns and implants, getting inlays is quicker, easier, and a less invasive procedure. They are a great way to conserve tooth structure in the right cases.
2. Natural, seamless look. Porcelain inlays are customized to match the color of your existing teeth.
3. Restored chewing and biting. The inlays function similar to natural teeth, so you can restore your chewing and biting power.

1. Stain resistant. You don’t have to worry about discoloration of your porcelain inlays as the material resists most stains.
2. Restored strength. Nothing in the mouth lasts forever. It’s like anything in life. However, Inlays are a great, conservative, restorative option- that lasts significantly longer then conventional fillings.
3. Long-lasting. With proper care, your inlays will last for a long time.

To find out if inlays are right for you, schedule a consultation with our local Caloundra dentists today.