Dental Conditions at Wongan Dental on Ackland
Tooth Decay
What is it?
Tooth decay/caries is when acids and sugars have started to dissolve the outer layers of the tooth and bacteria enter and use the inside of the tooth as a source of nutrients. The bacteria will eventually eat the whole tooth unless they are stopped and eventually a jaw abscess is the usual result.
Dental Caries is still one of the most widespread health problems in Australia.
Signs
Tooth decay may not cause any symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. Dr Morgan will be able to locate a cavity during an examination together with the use of X-rays and light systems. Smaller cavities require minimal treatment compared to cavities left to reach an advanced stage. This is why we recommend regular examinations to prevent future invasive treatments.
Treatments available to you:
Tooth Abscess
Where decay is advanced or bacteria have entered the blood supply of the tooth the tooth can be infected in its entirety and the infection spreads into the jaw bone. The initial bacterial invasion discomfort of the nerve causes extreme pain (classical toothache) which usually passes after a few days as the nerve dies. The usually prescribed treatment of antibiotics has been shown to have no effect on this condition and is no longer recommended. The correct treatment is removal of the infected nerve (Root Canal Treatment), or the whole tooth which includes the nerve, together with appropriate pain relief. Root Canal Treatment is expensive and time consuming and extraction may chosen by the patient.
When the extreme toothache passes and the nerve is dead the pain may go away for some time as the bacteria consolidate and prepare to attack the jawbone. As they go through the root end of the tooth they dissolve the underlying jawbone and leave dead tissue behind (pus). The tooth is very tender to pressure and the surrounding tissues may be swollen and antibiotics may be used effectively together with treatment of the tooth. If not treated this condition may become a life threatening septicaemia (blood poisoning) as the bacteria enter the blood stream. A facial swelling needs urgent treatment. The infected tooth must be treated with removal or root canal therapy.
Treatments available to you:
Stained and discoloured teeth
Your teeth can become discoloured by stains on the surface or by changes inside the tooth. There are three main types of tooth discolouration:
- Extrinsic (outer surfaces)
- Intrinsic (inner surfaces)
- Age related (combination of outer and inner surfaces)
Many extrinsic stains caused by food and drink can be removed by regular professional cleaning and home care. Good home care includes brushing, flossing and rinsing after meals. Whitening toothpastes may remove minor stains. They do not actually change the overall colour of your teeth.
Discolouration can be improved professionally with Air Flow pressure cleaning and/or applying a bleaching agent to the tooth enamel. Please contact us for stain removal treatment and safe teeth whitening if you have this condition. We have purchased the American System of ‘In Practice Whitening’ for instant results in 90 minutes, together with a take home maintenance kit.
Treatments available to you:
Missing Teeth
There are a number of reasons for missing teeth. Common causes may be trauma, decay and gum disease. We have numerous options for you to replace those gaps. Our aim is for you to keep your natural teeth, however if required we are here to ensure replacements are as close to your natural teeth as possible.
Treatments available to you:
Broken Dentures/Adding Teeth
If you have broken or damaged your dentures or they have become loose or an addition is required then we can repair these on the same day so that you are without your dentures for the shortest possible time. They are repaired here in our new fully equipped Practice Denture Laboratory.
Treatments available to you:
Fractured Teeth
It is common to break, chip or knock out a tooth after a blow to the face, or even after eating something hard.
We would always recommend you come and get it looked at to prevent further damage occurring to the tooth. Treatment could be as simple as just smoothing out an uneven edge or placing a simple filling. Some fractured teeth however will require crowns and if a vertical root fracture has occurred an extraction would be required.
If your tooth is knocked out completely for any reason then recover the tooth, place it in your mouth between your cheek and teeth (or in milk) and see a dentist immediately.
Reimplantation is a successful procedure if carried out within a short time frame and the outside tissue of the tooth is not allowed to become dirty or dry out.
Treatments available to you:
Bad Breath
Bad breath is a common problem that can affect anyone at any age. About one in four people are thought to have bad breath on a regular basis.
Causes
Bad breath (Halitosis) is usually caused by poor oral hygiene but can occur for a number of reasons. If bacteria are left to build up in your mouth, they can cause your breath to smell. We can investigate the cause if you think you have this problem.
Treatments available to you:
Bleeding and sore gums
Gum disease is a very common condition where the gums become swollen or infected. The condition is usually pain free and you may be unaware of this condition.
It affects nearly all adults to some degree. It is much less common in children until they start to mature.
If you have gum disease (gingivitis) your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth and you may have bad breath. Usually this is reversible with treatment, but if reversible gingivitis is not treated a condition called periodontitis can develop. This affects the tissues that support the teeth and hold them in place. If this is left untreated the bone around your teeth can shrink and small spaces (pockets) can open up between the gums and teeth. Your teeth become loose and may eventually fall out.
Treatments available to you:
Worn Teeth
There are many reasons for our teeth to wear, whether it be age, function, grinding, clenching etc. Tooth wear is normally subdivided into 4 categories, Attrition, Abrasion, Erosion and Abfraction.
Grinding and clenching is also very common and can cause not only tooth damage but headaches, jaw joint pain and clicking, jaw muscle spasm and sleep disruption. This is a complex area.
Consult Dr Morgan in order to diagnose the cause of your tooth wear/grinding and treat and advise you accordingly.
Treatments available to you:
Wisdom Teeth Complications
Wisdom teeth will on average erupt between the ages of 18 to 25. Whilst erupting into the mouth wisdom teeth may cause short term discomfort which may be similar to the experience of children when teething, which is normal. However it is common that they may not come through properly for lack of space and be impacted (stuck in the jaw). In some cases where mouth bacteria are able to get into the erupting tissue an infection can arise (pericoronitis).
Treatments available to you:
Mouth Cancer
Oral cancer is an uncommon type of cancer, however it has a poor prognosis if not detected early. Its incidence is increasing, which may be due to the ageing population but the reasons are not entirely clear. It is much more common in men. Research shows that smoking and regular alcohol intake is a predisposing factor and recent research also implicates the HPV virus which is spread by sexual activity.
Tumours may develop, usually on the tongue but any surface of the mouth, gums or lip may be involved. Early detection is important and if you have a suspicion that all is not well do not delay – come and have it checked. Early lesions are eminently treatable.
In the Wheatbelt lip cancers and facial skin cancers are more common, possibly due to inadequate sun protection from a young age. Fortunately these are easily noticed and can be removed completely if they are acted on and not left to invade deeper tissues.
Tumours can also occur in the salivary glands, tonsils and the pharynx (the part of the throat from your mouth to your windpipe) but these are much less common.
Common Symptoms
- Red or white patches which are not removable on the lining of your mouth or tongue
- Ulcers that are not healing
- A lump which is changing size
- A lip or face lesion which is not healing or crusts over and then recurs
If the above symptoms persist without healing for any prolonged period (i.e more than 2 weeks) please consult Dr Morgan.