Conditions

Broken Tooth

A broken tooth is a very common condition. Teeth often break from being overfilled and/or having decay in the tooth and/or having existing cracks. Teeth break in different ways from simple chips of the enamel through to a full split of the tooth. It is important to see your dentist when a tooth breaks as they are often very treatable caught early.

Bruxism / Grinding

Bruxism is a condition in which you regularly clench and grind your teeth. This typically occurs either unconsciously during the day or whilst sleeping. When this grinding occurs on a regular basis, the teeth can become damaged and other oral health complications can manifest such as jaw disorders and headaches.  Often people with bruxism are unaware of the condition until signs and symptoms arise.

Bruxism can be a by-product of sleeping disorders, high stress lifestyles, anxiety or hyperactive, aggressive personality types. It is also common in young children who may then grow out of it in their teenage years.

Cracked Tooth Syndrome

Cracked Tooth syndrome occurs when multiple teeth have suffered cracks. These cracks can be located on the surface of the tooth or in some cases they can go right through the tooth. Molars are the most common teeth that suffer from cracking. 

Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth is caused by a disparity between the size of your teeth and the size of your jaw – either the jaw too small or the teeth too large. If the teeth are misaligned, they will be unable to perform their vital functions. 

Dead Tooth (Necrotic Tooth)

A dead (non-vital) tooth is one in which the tooth’s pulp containing nerve fibers and blood vessels has no access to blood flow. In essence, the nerve in the tooth has died. This tends to be caused by either tooth decay or trauma.

If dental decay or infection goes untreated, it can advance towards the tooth’s nerve in an inflammatory response, cutting of the blood supply and killing the tooth’s pulp.

Alternatively, if the tooth receives a hard knock such as a sports injury or a fall, the blood supply at the root’s tip can be severed causing the pulp to die.

Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety is very common and is often related to negative or traumatic past experiences at the dentist. Dental anxiety can cause hot/cold sweats, and spiked emotional responses. Good patient dentist communication is the key to managing this anxiety.

Tooth Decay (Dental Caries)

Dental caries is another term for cavities or decay. The human mouth is full of bacteria, saliva, bits of food and other natural substances which all build up on the teeth as plaque. Specific types of bacteria in the plaque produce acids that can breakdown the tooth. Dental Decay starts as a softening of the enamel and this can then lead to bacteria entering the dentine and breaking this area down into a ‘hole’. 

Dental Erosion

Dental erosion is a special type of tooth wear causing irreversible loss of tooth structure by acids in the mouth. The most common cause of this erosion is by acidic food and drinks. Soft drinks, fruit juices, some alcohol, prolonged exposure to chlorinated pool water, and regurgitation of stomach acid are examples of acidic products that contribute to this unique form of erosion.

Yellow Teeth (Discoloured)

Tooth discoloration is a common reason that many people become unhappy with their smiles. There are several types of discoloration including Extrinstic, Intrinsic and Age-related.

Extrinsic discolouration refers to the staining of the enamel (the tooth’s outer layer) often attributed to lifestyle factors such as consumption of coffee, wine, green tea, cola, other food and drinks, with smoking also a cause of extrinsic staining.

Intrinsic refers to the dentin (inner tooth) darkens or develops a yellow hue.

Age-related discoloration incorporates both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. As we age, the enamel on the outer layer of the teeth thins, revealing the colour of the dentin beneath. Dentin naturally yellows over time and thus, the teeth appear more discolored. Extrinisc lifestyle factors explained above also play an important role in discolouration as we age.

Dry Socket

Dry socket is usually an avoidable condition, but neglecting proper post-operative care can cause this extremely painful condition following tooth removal. Once extracted, the tooth leaves a ‘socket’ behind in the mouth. In side the socket once the tooth is removed, a clot develops to protect the nerve while the area heals. If the blood clot is disrupted or broken down before healing takes place the nerves or bone can become exposed. Following an extraction we will give you a list of instructions to avoid this condition.

Failing old silver fillings

Amalgam fillings or ‘silver’ fillings are not all that common these days, however this material has been an establishment in dentistry for quite sometime. Amalgam as a material is very successful however often patients hold onto their silver fillings far too long and this can cause subsequent cracking and recurrent decay. 

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is defined as inflammation of the gum tissue without a loss of the bone the bone structure supporting the teeth.

The key presentation of gingivitis is bleeding gums.

Left untreated gingivitis can progress into periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is when the bone around the tooth starts to break down from the inflammation.

Gum Recession

Gum recession is when the gum tissue recedes, lowering its position on the tooth. Gum recession can be mild, moderate or severe. In mild cases we often modify brushing techniques and products. In severe cases the roots of the teeth can become exposed leading to sensitivity issues and also decay on the root surfaces. Recession is a condition that occurs as we age – however it is important for your dentist to pick up whether or not the rate of recession is accelerated for your age.

Halitosis

Halitosis (bad breath) is common, in fact studies show that 50% of adults have had bad breath at some stage in their life. There are several causes for bad breath, most harmless. On occasion, however, it can be a sign of a more serious condition. 

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the last 4 teeth to come through into the mouth out of the 32 adult teeth. They tend to appear in the later teenage/early adult ages. When there is not enough room in the mouth to accommodate the wisdom teeth they can become twisted, tilted or displaced when trying to emerge.  Often you may be unaware that you have impacted wisdom teeth, as they don’t always show symptoms. The pain associated with impacted wisdom teeth is a condition called pericoronitis where by the gum around the wisdom tooth gets infected and inflamed.

Our x-ray technology can be used to asses wisdom teeth and the various degrees of impaction, if any.

Missing Teeth

A tooth can be missing for several reasons. This may be a previous extraction by a dentist or that the tooth is stuck coming through. Sometimes teeth are congenitally missing – meaning they never grew. The resulting gap of a missing tooth can cause an unaesthetic smile if in the smile zone or if in the chewing region can cause discomfort when chewing sharper foods. When teeth are missing the teeth around the gap often shift and this can create misalignment of the teeth.

Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease)

Periodontal (Gum) disease is defined as inflammation of the gum line that has lead to the breakdown of the bone that supports your teeth. In the initial stages, one of the key causes is the build-up of plaque, releasing toxins that cause the gums to become irritated and inflamed – a condition known as gingivitis. If untreated, the bone loss around the tooth causes a ‘pocket’ to form between the gum and the tooth, resulting in further build-up of plaque. Overtime this may result in the teeth loosening and requiring extraction. 

Sensitive Teeth

Having sensitive teeth is a very common condition. Sometimes a sensitive tooth can indicate an underlying hole or infection in the nerve of a tooth however commonly sensitivity is related to an exposed root surface of a tooth due to recession. 

Snoring

Snoring and Sleep Apnoea are common conditions that cause disruptions for both yourself and your partner. Snoring is caused by an obstruction to your breathing, generally by the tongue. This causes a vibration that we know as snoring. If the obstruction to breathing is more severe, it can cause you to wake up during the night without realizing (unremembered awakenings) – resulting in restless and disturbed sleep. 

TMJ (Temperomandibular Joint) Dysfunction

TMJ is short for the “temporomandibular joint’, it is the joint that acts as a ‘hinge’ connecting your jaw to your skull. When the joint becomes damaged or injured it can result in localized pain referred to as TMJ syndrome. 

Tooth Brush Abrasion

It’s great to be enthusiastic about your oral health, but using excessive force when brushing particularly with a hard bristled tooth brush can be damaging for your teeth and gums.  Essentially, this mechanical wearing away of the tooth tissue can result in sensitivity, or notches forming in your teeth right at the gum line labelled as ‘Tooth Brush Abrasion’.

Toothache

Toothache is a very common condition and can be very painful. Toothache occurs when the nerve inside the tooth becomes infected. This can occur from holes in the teeth, deep fillings and cracks. All of these act as a pathway for bugs to enter the nerve of the tooth.