All teeth whitening solutions require maintenance every now and again and patients should beware of products touting permanent results. Your teeth are made up of millions of microscopic tubules which collect stains over time. Consumption of things such as coffee, tea and red wine as well as smoking causes staining to build up again. Teeth whitening every 6-12 months with your mouthguard trays for 1-3 sessions will normally be sufficient to keep your smile bright.
At Tendler Dental, we offer a wide range of services from family dentistry to dental implants, teeth whitening, moulded mouthguard services, sleep apnoea solutions and advanced
cosmetic dentistry
Just because you have not experienced any discomfort does not mean that a problem is not present. Things such as decay start off slowly and gradually spread through the tooth and it’s often not until the problem has become more extensive that pain is felt. It is also vital for your gums that you have them checked and cleaned regularly because they are just as important as your teeth. Without healthy gums we have nothing to support and hold our teeth in place.
Just because you have not experienced any discomfort does not mean that a problem is not present. Things such as decay start off slowly and gradually spread through the tooth and it’s often not until the problem has become more extensive that pain is felt. It is also vital for your gums that you have them check and cleaned regularly because they are just as important as your teeth. Without healthy gums we have nothing to support and hold our teeth in place.
Both types of teeth whitening achieve exactly the same end result. The only difference between in chair teeth whitening and take home teeth whitening is the time it takes to whiten your teeth and the costs involved. If the dentist whitens your teeth it takes approximately an hour and a half. If you choose to do the take home kit you are looking at wearing your mouthguard trays for 5-8 sessions either overnight or for half an hour depending on the solution you choose. It is important to note that a take home teeth whitening kit is less expensive not because it is any less effective, rather there are simply less overheads involved.
In one resounding word….yes! Although you may brush twice a day there are still areas of your teeth which your toothbrush simply can’t reach. In fact if you aren’t flossing once a day you are neglecting to clean approximately 35% of your tooth surfaces. Flossing removes plaque from between the teeth which means you are helping to prevent decay and gum disease. Tendler Dental Surgery stresses dental flossing during all checkups and cleans.
At Tendler Dental Clinic, our dentists take x-rays of your teeth to help detect and diagnose any problems you may have. X-rays allow the dentist to see things such as:
Presence of infection in the bone (abscess)
The extent of gum (periodontal) disease
The position and anatomy of a tooth to plan how to remove it as well as for dental implants
X-rays are also incredibly useful at locating areas of decay which are not able to be detected through a visual examination e.g. between teeth or underneath old fillings and around the margins of crowns.
Bleeding gums are a sign that you are suffering from gingivitis which is caused by an accumulation of plaque along the gum line. As part of good dental care, removing plaque is highly important. If you don’t effectively remove the plaque when you brush and floss it builds up and releases toxins which inflame the gum tissue and cause it to bleed.
Over time, any remains of plaque that aren’t removed from brushing and flossing become calcified from the minerals in our saliva. We call this hardened build up calculus. Once calculus has formed you are unable to remove it by brushing. That is where the dentist comes in. When you have your teeth professionally cleaned we use an ultra sonic scaler tip which sprays water and vibrates the build up off your teeth. There are also a number of hand instruments that are specially shaped that may also be used.
At this appointment the dentist will check your teeth, gums and soft tissue as well as clean and polish your teeth. If it has been more that 2 years since your last dental x-rays or the dentist suspects a problem you may have some digital films taken of your teeth.
Continued dental care is highly important for the ongoing health of your teeth and gums. We recommend patients visit their dentist in the very least twice a year. Some patients who have gum disease, diabetes or a higher risk of oral problems may need to come to the dental surgery more regularly than twice a year. Having regular check up appointments gives the dentist an opportunity to monitor your oral health and to detect and treat any problems before they have the chance to become more significant.
