Fluoridated
Water
Water fluoridation is a
safe, effective, inexpensive and socially equitable
way to help reduce tooth decay in both children and
adults. More than 90% of NSW’s population receives
fluoridated water - Sydney’s water was fluoridated in
1968.
Fluoride in drinking water acts like a constant repair
kit that neutralises the effect of acids that cause
decay and helps to repair damage before it becomes
permanent.
Healthy teeth require a combination of a healthy diet,
good oral hygiene, appropriate use of fluoridated
toothpaste, regular dental checkups and access to
fluoridated water.
A concentration of 1.0ppm of fluoride can reduce the
amount of cavities in children’ s baby teeth by as much
as 60% and reduce tooth decay in adults by nearly 35%. (NB.
Not all bottled Water contains fluoride)
Children living in fluoridated areas of NSW have
considerably less tooth decay
Source:
Northern Sydney Central Coast NSW Health
What Are
Dental Implants?
Missing
teeth or uncomfortable temporary solutions are not
necessary any longer. Modern dentistry has developed
some of the most impressive medical solutions through
implants.
Dental implants are man-made substitutes for natural
tooth roots. They serve as anchors for the replacement
of missing teeth. The implants can be used to replace a
single lost tooth or many missing teeth. A single tooth
or teeth replaced with dental implants are the closest
thing to a natural tooth available.
Fortunately, a person's age does not influence the
success of dental implants. Successful implant
therapy has been performed on patients as young as 15 and as old as 92. No
matter what age you are, chances are very good that you
are an implant candidate. In fact, some of our most
satisfied patients have been elderly individuals that
had almost given up any hope of living without the pain
and inconvenience of removable dentures or partial
dentures. If you are healthy enough to have teeth
removed in a dental office, you're probably healthy
enough to have implant therapy.
Root Canal Treatment
Root
canal treatment is the removal of inflamed or damaged
tissue from inside a tooth and cleaning, filling and
sealing the remaining space.
The pulp, or soft inner
tissue of your tooth, is normally surrounded and
protected by a layer of dentin. Above the
gumline, the dentin is protected by a layer of enamel;
below the gumline, the dentin is covered by cementum.
When a deep cavity, decay or crack destroys these
protective layers, the pulp is exposed to the bacteria
in your mouth.
This can result in inflammation, infection and,
eventually, necrosis (pulp death). See
Figure 1
A severe blow to the tooth can also damage the pulp.
Irritants may then escape from the end of the root and
cause a diseased area (apical lesion) in the bone. Root
canal treatment involves removal of the damaged pulp and irritants,
a thorough cleaning of the root canal and a sealing of
the tooth. See Figure
2
This allows the bone surrounding the root end to repair
and heal.
Although the pulp is
removed, your tooth remains alive, nourished by
surrounding bond and gum tissues. With a permanent
restoration, regular brushing and flossing, proper diet
and periodic dental checkups, your tooth has an
excellent chance for success.
With modern
techniques and anesthetics people report that having a
root canal treatment is about as unremarkable as having
a cavity filled.
Most patients experience a little soreness after the
appointment. This may be due to the injection, the
necessity of keeping the mouth open for a long time, or
the treatment. Over-the-counter analgesics like
paracetemol, aspirin or ibuprofen usually relieve the
discomfort.
Drinking during exercise
It is
normal and healthy to drink fluids during or after
exercise. Bear in mind however, that a feeling of 'dry
mouth' is exactly that - a reduction in the amount of
saliva in your mouth.
Without saliva, your teeth are vulnerable to attack from
acidic or sugary liquids. Gulping down sugar-based
drinks - the so-called 'Sports Drinks' - may quench your
thirst but the sugar begins to eat away at your
unprotected teeth.
Water is the best alternative.
If you must drink sugary liquids, you should immediately
rinse your mouth out afterwards with water to remove the
sugar coating that may have formed on your teeth
Back to top
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Implants replace natural
tooth roots
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Missing teeth replaced
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Figure 1
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Figure
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