Check up and clean
It’s a great move to come in and have your teeth checked regularly. The two most common types of dental disease are tooth decay/cavities and gum disease/inflamed gums and both of these are quite painless in their early stages. If no one is checking your teeth they can go on unnoticed and lead to some nasty consequences.
It’s always our preference to pick up these issues early as it means that treatment can be kept as simple as possible which in turn keeps costs down. We’ll usually recommend a twice yearly check up for most individuals.
Often we will clean your teeth at the same appointment as your check up. This may be done by one of our dentists but commonly it will be one of our oral health therapists cleaning your teeth. Once the dentist has made an assessment of your mouth, the OHT will be in charge of getting your teeth clean.
An oral health therapist is a university trained professional that is focussed on gum health and oral hygiene. They will help you through understanding particular issues that your teeth and gums may be facing – plaque can build up on teeth and if it stays for too long it calcifies into a substance called calculus, also known as tartar. This hard build up can only be removed by an oral health professional. No amount of brushing or flossing will get it off at home so this is where we come in. Your OHT will also identify factors that may be putting your teeth and gums at a higher risk of disease and will work to address these.
Once your teeth are cleaned we want to help you to keep it that way so your OHT will demonstrate good techniques for home care and let you know how often you should come back in for a clean.
Preventive care
All of our dentists and therapists are passionate about preventive dental care. We can show you easy, cost effective ways to maintain your oral health. One of our most important preventive steps is fluoride applications. Forget about the bulky foam trays you may have had crammed into your mouth in years gone by. These days it’s a simple gel in a yummy flavour that can be dabbed onto your teeth – usually after a clean and polish. We also stock interdental brushes and specialty gels and pastes such as tooth mousse to keep dental disease at bay.
Fissure sealants and Preventive Resin Restorations
Custom Sports Mouthguards
A custom sports mouthguard is essential for protecting the mouth from injury while playing sport. Over the counter “boil and bite” mouthguards offer little protection and are often ill-fitting and uncomfortable. Especially with kids it can be very hard to get them hot enough to form without burning your child’s mouth!
At KDSC our Dental Prosthetist, Tim, has tricks up his sleeve to make impressions as quick and comfortable as possible. Appointments usually only take 5 minutes, and we have a wide selection of colours and Footy club colours to choose from. Our dental technician often has your mouthguard made within a day or two and will be waiting for you at reception.
Any adjustments can be made while you wait.
Occlusal Splints
Occlusal splints help to protect your teeth from the harmful effects of grinding or clenching. Unfortunately this subconscious action called bruxism usually occurs while we’re fast asleep – the only way to save your teeth from being ground down or worn away is to wear one of these night guards. Your dentist will pick up on the signs of tooth grinding if they are evident and discuss with you whether or not an occlusal splint might be the right step to take.
If you proceed with having one made, the good news is that it will be made right here in Kilmore from our onsite lab. Our lab technician works closely with our dentists to deliver these splints in quick time making sure your teeth are protected as soon as possible.
