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What are veneers, and should you get them? A guide

Luke Christensen B.Sc (Hons) B.Dent (Hons)

Luke wants your smile to look awesome. A big fan of cosmetic dentistry, Luke embraces the latest technologies that help rebuild natural-looking smiles. He also believes a trip to the dentist should be far from dull. Putting Netflix on the ceiling, so you can watch while in the chair? Yeah, that was his idea. What a genius! Besides dentistry, Luke enjoys surfing (although he says there’s room for his skills to improve) and taking his boat out for a spot of fishing.

Qualifications: Bachelor of Dentistry (Hons) from Sydney University in 2013. Neuroscience (Hons) in 2008 and Developmental Biology Bachelor of Science in 2007 from University of Queensland Dental Interests: Cosmetic dentistry and dental implants Reasons to Smile: Tinkering with gadgets and technology. I like finding out how things work so I feel like I’m learning new skills.

What are veneers, and should you get them? A guide

Unhappy with your teeth or smile? Getting cosmetic veneers fitted to your teeth may help restore some of your confidence. But what are they? And what does the treatment involve? 

In this guide, we’ll answer some common questions about veneers, and explain how they’re fitted from start to finish.

In this guide:

What are veneers?

Chances are you’re reading this guide because someone suggested getting dental veneers to help fix your smile.

But what are veneers, exactly? 

Veneers are a cosmetic dentistry treatment. Simply put, they’re thin, tooth-coloured covers made of porcelain or a composite resin that we place over the visible parts of your teeth. Think of them as fake fingernails for your teeth. 

Veneers look natural in your mouth because they’re customised to match the colour and general shape of your existing teeth. A  variety of options are available for composite and porcelain veneers to suit your needs, the look you want, and your budget.

Who can get veneers?

You don’t have to be old to want veneers. 

Most people with good oral health who are committed to maintaining their new teeth should be OK to get dental veneers. It’s more about why you’d get them.

Veneers improve the visual aspects of your teeth. They’re great if your teeth are discoloured, chipped, worn, broken,  crooked or sitting awkwardly in your mouth. They’re also a great option for whitening your teeth if teeth whitening treatments haven’t worked.

However, as amazing as they are, veneers won’t correct badly misaligned teeth, overbites or underbites. These issues fall under orthodontics. 

Do veneers ruin your teeth?

We’re often asked if dental veneers ruin the natural tooth underneath.

The good news (and short answer) is that veneers do not ruin your teeth.

That myth stems from the preparation process, where a small amount of enamel is usually removed from the tooth so that the veneer can bond to it.

As long as they’re being fitted properly by a qualified cosmetic dentist, your tooth won’t be ruined. (Here’s our team of cosmetic dentists).  

Can any dentist fit veneers?

Not all dental practices offer cosmetic dentistry, so you may need to look around.

As it’s specialised work, you need to make sure you’re seeing an experienced dentist.

You should also look at some of their before and after case studies to make sure they’re the right person to help you achieve your desired look.

Are veneers permanent? 

Veneers are designed to last 7-15 years, making them semi-permanent fixtures.

However, as enamel is removed to fit the veneer they’ll need to be replaced if they become broken or aged.

What are the benefits and disadvantages of veneers?

The main benefit of veneers is they’re less invasive than crowns and fairly simple to apply.

They’re also customisable, so you’re assured of an improved, natural-looking smile.

However, there are also some disadvantages to getting them. 

To fit them, the tooth is usually trimmed slightly to ensure a smooth application.

But as you probably guessed, the natural tooth under the veneer will look shorter or different to your other natural teeth as a result.

Removing a veneer will expose the natural tooth underneath, so the veneer will need replacing to keep your smile looking even.

So while they are semi-permanent (lasting 7-15 years) once you get them you need to keep using them. 

How are veneers applied to teeth? (A step-by-step process)

Now that we’ve explained what veneers are, let’s talk about the steps involved to get them. 

Applying dental veneers is a simple process our dedicated team will make positive and painless. 

Composite resin veneers can be completed in one visit, as the material is applied to the tooth in layers. 

However, getting porcelain veneers involves the following steps:

Step 1: Initial consult

You’ll start by meeting with a specialised cosmetic dentist to determine whether veneers will give you the results you want. Your dentist will diagnose any existing dental problems and assess your smile, your face and even the way you speak. 

Step 2: Prep meeting 

At your first official treatment appointment, your dentist will prep your tooth by trimming off a little enamel. (Veneers are bonded directly to a tooth.) Next, they’ll take a scan of your mouth using a small wand camera. This gives them a full-colour, 3D map of your mouth they can use to create your new veneers. It can take up to four weeks to create custom veneers, so you’ll probably be offered temporary veneers to tide you over.

Step 3: Fitting the temporary veneers 

While the temporary veneers may not match the colour of your teeth perfectly, they’ll give you an idea of how your permanent veneers will look and feel. They usually stay in place for around two weeks, during which time your dentist will ask for feedback on the shape, and how you think they look and feel. They consider all of this information when fitting your customised veneers.

Step 4: Fitting the customised veneers and meeting your new smile

Success! This final appointment is when they fit your new veneers and you meet your new forever smile.

They’ll remove your temporary veneers, place the new veneers over your teeth, and then tweak their shape until they fit seamlessly. 

The veneer procedure takes a few hours, and may be performed under local anaesthetic to numb the area and reduce any pain. 

Your dentist will:

  1. clean and polish your teeth
  2. etch your treated teeth to strengthen the bonding
  3. apply a special cement to the veneer before fitting it to your tooth
  4. use ultraviolet light to activate the cement’s chemicals so it hardens quickly and bonds the veneer to your tooth
  5. tidy up by removing any excess cement and making final adjustments to make sure your veneers feel comfortable.

And once the numbness wears off your new teeth will be good to go for talking, eating and drinking. Just keep in mind your mouth and jaw may feel sore for a few days.

Will getting dental veneers hurt?

You may find the procedure uncomfortable. You may also experience some temporary soreness or tenderness afterwards as your mouth and jaw adjust.

However, anaesthetic is used during the procedure to numb any potential pain. 

How much do veneers cost? 

Costs vary slightly depending on the dentist, the material used and the thickness needed.

As a guide, porcelain veneers fitted in Queensland can cost anywhere from $1000 to $2500 per tooth, while composite resin veneers can cost anywhere from $200 to $600 per tooth.

Are porcelain veneers better than resin?

Both materials have advantages and disadvantages that may help you to decide which ones are right for you. 

Porcelain veneers are more durable, resistant to staining, and look more natural on your teeth.

However, if they crack or chip you’ll need to replace the entire veneer. Porcelain is also a more expensive dental material, increasing the overall cost of porcelain veneers.

Composite resin veneers can be applied to your teeth in one visit, and cracks and chips are easy to repair.

The resin material is applied in layers to build up the thickness and ensure a natural aesthetic.

Are dental veneers right for you?

Dental veneers are a simple, semi-permanent solution to improve the appearance of your teeth and smile.

But you need to do your research and talk to a cosmetic dentist about your options to determine whether they’ll help you address your issues and achieve your desired look.

If you’re thinking about getting dental veneers, and you’re in the Rockhampton or Yeppoon area, schedule a consultation with our cosmetic dentistry team.

Caring for your child’s oral health (plus news on getting free dental for your kids)

How to help your kids practise good oral hygiene without feeling like you’re pulling teeth

Cleaning little teeth can be difficult, can’t it? 

That daily stoush over the bathroom sink can become a contest for the ages. But believe us when we say it’s worth every painful argument with your fierce and independent little one. 1cb5ae

Cleaning their teeth matters.  

Queensland Health reports that 55% of the five- to 14-year-olds who use their services had tooth decay. Sadly, 24% of them had four or more teeth showing decay. 

It doesn’t need to be this way.

We’ve compiled our top tips for keeping little teeth in tip-top condition little teeth, including the least painful ways to encourage brushing and how to help your kids maintain great oral health. 

 But before we get into those, let’s look at what free dental care for kids is available. 

Medicare delivers free dental for kids

Medicare offers the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS), which provides free dental care for kids (up to $1,000 over two years). 

If you have kids aged 4-17 (or 18 in some cases) and you receive Family Tax Benefit Part A then you should be eligible. You can learn more about your eligibility and what’s covered at Services Australia. 

Keep in mind that not all dentists perform their work at CBDS prices, so it’s best to ask what out-of-pocket expenses you can expect. Be reassured that at Keppel Dental, for most procedures, we complete work at the CBDS cost. (It doesn’t cover them all, unfortunately.) And if there’s a gap, we’ll let you know before going ahead with treatment. 

We’re always pleased to see families come in using their entitlements from the CDBS. Anything that encourages lifelong healthy teeth is a big winner in our books.

Free dental for kids is helpful, but what about at home?

Now, we know that getting your kids to a dentist isn’t always easy. And no amount of free dental care for kids will ever replace great oral hygiene habits at home. So here are some important things you can do for your child (and encourage them to do for themselves as they get older) to keep their teeth in great shape.

List of 6 oral health tips for kids.

Don’t wait too long to visit your dentist 

You should start brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as the first one erupts. Use a soft brush with no toothpaste until they’re around 18 months old. When their first tooth arrives, you can bring them in for their first appointment to talk about:

  • teething
  • brushing techniques
  • habits such as thumb sucking 
  • their bite (how your children’s teeth come together)
  • preventing traumatic injury to your child’s mouth
  • the risk of decay and how to prevent it
  • nutritional advice.

You can also floss as soon as two of their teeth are touching. And we’ll show you the best technique at your first appointment. 

The main purpose of this first dental visit is for you to learn exactly how to keep those little teeth in good shape.

Brush twice a day for two minutes

As your child grows into a strong-willed toddler, teeth-cleaning time gets harder. They know exactly what they want and don’t want, and won’t hold back on letting you know.

Parents, we get it.

But the reality is that if teeth aren’t brushed regularly tooth decay sets in, which brings about a host of painful problems—including tooth removal in extreme cases.

Find a routine for your family that creates good lifelong habits. You could turn teeth cleaning into a fun game, or find a video of their favourite TV character brushing their teeth. There are lots of examples out there, and it’s a great use of screen time.

However you make it work, keep it going for two minutes twice a day. And make sure you brush their gums as well as their teeth.

You should also occasionally check for signs of decay by lifting their lips (top and bottom) and checking for white patches. These are the early warning signs of decay, and can be reversed. Brown, grey or black spots mean more serious decay has set in. 

If you see any signs of decay, book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. 

Stay involved and help them brush until they’re about seven or eight 

You’ll need to help your child brush their teeth to make sure they’re brushing properly. 

While every child is different, they can usually be trusted to brush their own teeth by the time they’re seven or eight. But even then, it’s a good idea to supervise. As their carers, it’s our job to help them keep their teeth healthy until they’re mature enough to do it themselves. 

Use the right sized, soft-bristled toothbrush for their age 

To help your baby get used to dental care you can wipe over their gums twice a day with a soft cloth. But once they have their first tooth, you need to start brushing with a toothbrush. Make sure it has soft bristles, as anything firm will be too harsh on the tooth enamel.

From 18 months of age, you can use fluoridated toothpaste. Squeeze out a pea-sized amount, and try to avoid them swallowing it as you brush. 

We recommend using soft-bristled brushes even into adulthood. They clean just as well, and won’t contribute to overbrushing. (Read our article about overbrushing if you’d like to know more.)

Encourage a healthy diet that’s tooth friendly, and limit their sugar intake

Twice-daily brushing and flossing isn’t enough to avoid tooth decay and further dental care. Whether you qualify for free dental care for kids or not, keeping those chompers chipper means your child will spend less time in the treatment room. 

After regular brushing, the most helpful thing you can do is to limit your child’s sugar intake, especially sticky foods such as lollies (which stick in the crevices on the surfaces of teeth). But keep in mind that even savoury foods can have surprising amounts of sugar. Processed foods (even the healthier ones) such as snack bars, muffins and yoghurts often contain more sugar than you think.

Familiarise yourself with food labels and the recommended levels of sugar per serving. A little tip: look at the amounts per 100g so you can compare food types and brands.

Of course, we all know young children love their snacks. If you do give your child a snack, try to stick to meal times and limit grazing. Choose unprocessed food such as vegetables, lean meats and cheeses. Starting with these foods as they begin eating solid food can help them maintain a healthy diet through the picky toddler years. 

Another big contributor to tooth decay is sugary drinks such as concentrated juices, cordials and soft drinks. Avoid these when you can and choose water instead.

The benefits of a balanced healthy diet go well beyond avoiding tooth decay and extra visits to the dentist’s chair. It also helps them develop strong and healthy teeth from the get-go.

Make sure they wear mouthguards when they start playing sport

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) recommends everyone (kids, teens and adults) wear a custom-fitted mouthguard made by a dentist when playing sports.

Mouthguards absorb and spread the impact of knocks to the face. Without them, the same knock could injure your child’s mouth or jaw. They should be worn at all times, whether training or on game day.

Don’t just take our word for it. In conjunction with Sports Medicine Australia the ADA has developed a Mouthguard Policy, which you can find out more about on the ADA’s website.

Of course, accidents happen. And when they do, your child’s mouth and teeth may get injured. 

If this happens, try not to panic. A calm, informed response can reduce the risk of your child’s teeth being permanently damaged. And familiarising yourself with dental first aid will help you stay in control and respond in the best way possible. 

Before an accident occurs, it’s worth knowing two things: whether you can access free dental care for your kids, and whether your kids are already registered with your local dentist. That way you can come in knowing the cost won’t be a barrier. Having said that, remember that certain procedures aren’t included in the CBDS. It may be worth finding out what is and isn’t included now, while things are nice and calm.

Time for your tiddlers to have a check up? 

Looking after your child’s teeth can feel a little overwhelming at times. It’s yet another thing that needs to be added to the parenting to-do list. But persevering with good oral hygiene at home and taking them to your dentist regularly will stand your child in good stead as their teeth mature. 

If you need any help or advice, or want to talk about accessing free dental care for your kids at Yeppoon or Rockhampton, give us a ring on 07 3130 0806. We’re happy to help. 

Six surprising facts about teeth and aging

As we age, we must show our body more care. And our teeth are no exception

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that your teeth weaken and deteriorate with age. But what might surprise you is just what this means for your mouth.

According to Harvard Medical School, people over 65 experience higher rates of gum disease, dental decay, oral cancer, mouth infections and tooth loss. The good news is there’s a lot you can do to remove some of that risk and keep your mouth feeling and looking younger.

Let’s run through a few ways to keep your teeth in great shape as you age.

1. A drying mouth is more prone to decay

There are a few reasons why your mouth doesn’t create enough saliva and gets drier as you age. Medications, lifestyle and some medical conditions all contribute to dry mouth. Whatever the reason, a dry mouth makes your teeth and gums more vulnerable to cavities and disease.

So what can you do?

Good oral hygiene is essential. You should brush for two minutes twice a day, floss or use interdental brushes once a day (we can show you the best technique at your next appointment), and rinse your mouth with water after eating. Drinking more water so you’re properly hydrated throughout the day also helps. 

Many over-the-counter medications and prescribed antibiotics will dry your mouth out, too. A chronically dry mouth is not only uncomfortable but can also make eating and swallowing difficult, cause bad breath, and put you at higher risk of tooth decay. So if your regular medication is causing problems for your oral health, here are some things to try:

  • chewing sugarless gums
  • sucking on sugarless lollies
  • drinking more water
  • buying over-the-counter artificial saliva.

And while we really don’t like to be the fun police, try moderating or avoiding tobacco, alcohol and caffeine. These three will dry your saliva up. It’s not just us being prudes. We promise.

2. Your teeth’s nerves become less sensitive to pain 

There are a few reasons why this happens.

Your teeth wear down over time

Teeth are incredibly strong. Your molars can bear down with immense pressure. But they’re not indestructible. A lifetime of crunching, clenching and grinding wears away the tooth’s protective enamel which, once gone, exposes the softer layer of dentine. Clenching and grinding can also create small cracks in the teeth, which may result in them breaking. The natural progression of your teeth wearing down as you age is why you may need to consider dental restoration or dental implant options that wouldn’t have crossed your mind before.

You might miss the important signs

Teeth are likely to become more sensitive with age. Less enamel and the likelihood of gum recession and root surface exposure that comes with aging, means you’re more likely to experience the first sign of trouble: pain.

If the discomfort is bearable (i.e. just a little niggle), then you may (quite fairly) think nothing’s wrong. But those little niggles can be an early indicator of a more serious infection bubbling away under the surface. If they’re left to develop you may be up for root canal therapy or even tooth removal.

Cavities are also more likely to occur at the neck of the tooth—the area around the gum line—because your gums recede with age, exposing more of the soft root underneath. Adults who grew up before dental sealants and fluoride products are also prone to decay around their childhood fillings.

It’s not just teeth that become less sensitive with age

Just like the nerves inside your teeth, your tastebuds can also become less sensitive with age. This can lead you to over-flavour your food with too much salt, sugar or acidic ingredients. And while we all know that can be bad for our health, it can also be bad for your teeth.

Okay, enough of the negative news for a minute. Here are some active steps you can take to keep your aging teeth in good nick. 

H4: With regular checkups you can stay on top of things

What this all means is that regular dental checkups become an essential part of prevention. Not only do your teeth and gums get a much-needed clean and scale, they’re also checked in ways you can’t do at home. And if you come in regularly enough, problems are caught early before they become a big problem. 

3. Aging gum tissue naturally recedes. But modern dentistry can help

Let’s talk a bit more about our gums receding as we get older. As we said earlier, the gums protect a tooth’s root but recede with age. Receding gums can lead to pain and sensitivity, and affect how you feel about your smile because they expose more of the tooth’s root tissue. This leaves your mouth vulnerable to decay, infection and inflammation.

Inflamed gums are increasingly being linked to diabetes, heart disease and stroke. These conditions are all more prevalent later in life, and scientists believe they’re linked to bacteria from gum infections travelling through the body and triggering inflammation in other sites.

Identifying gum recession is difficult because they wear away very slowly. Sometimes it’s so gradual that the first sign is sensitivity in or around your tooth. It’s also hard to pin down a single cause of gum recession. The problem is often a combination of habits:

  • over-brushing or brushing too hard
  • not brushing enough (which can lead to gum disease)
  • flossing too vigorously
  • plain ol’ aging.

The good news?

Gum grafting is a form of modern dentistry that reverses the effects of receding gums and the associated risks.

If you’re concerned about your gums and the exposure of your teeth, here’s where you can read more about gum grafting.

4. The tissue inside your teeth yellows with age

Have you noticed your once-sparkling smile yellowing over the years? It happens for a few reasons, the main one being enamel stains. But a big part of the change is the yellowing of the dentin (the tissue underneath the enamel), which shows through more as your enamel thins and cracks with age.

Unfortunately, once the dentin starts to yellow there’s no way to reverse the process. But if you want whiter teeth in your latter years, here are a few things to have in moderation (or avoid altogether):

  • coffee
  • tea
  • red wine
  • tobacco
  • brightly coloured foods such as beetroot.

Consuming these five common things regularly will gradually stain your tooth enamel. Yeah, we’re still being party poopers. We know.  (Can you really start your day without coffee?)

The other option is to chat to us about a whitening procedure. 

At Keppel Dental we offer a monitored home whitening treatment. It’s affordable, convenient, non-invasive, and safer and healthier for your teeth and gums. However, sometimes whitening treatments are less effective in older teeth. And some whitening ingredients can make your teeth extra sensitive. That’s why it’s always a good idea to talk with your dentist before starting any kind of treatment. 

5. When brushing and flossing become harder, use clever tools to adapt

A common pitfall of aging is arthritic hands and fingers. There’s no silver lining here, we know. It’s painful and makes many things difficult.

If brushing has become difficult because of arthritis, try using an electric toothbrush. Guide the moving brush head slowly from tooth to tooth, following the contours of the tooth and the curve of the gums.

Flossing also becomes a fuss as hands and fingers become less nimble. So much so that sticking your fingers into your mouth with thin cords strung between them just isn’t possible.

Happily, there are modern alternatives to the standard floss string and awkward hands-in-mouth approach. You could try:

  • floss threaders and floss picks
  • bottle-brush shaped interdental cleaners
  • brushes with interdental tips (flexible rubber tips)
  • irrigators (electrically powered water-pumping devices).

These are all less invasive and easier to manipulate for less nimble hands and fingers.

6. Your lower jaw grows forward as you age

Everybody’s lower jaw grows forward as they age. This growth changes your jaw shape and affects your bite. Over time, gaps in your upper teeth, and overcrowding and overlapping in your lower teeth as they move, may become more apparent.

Changes in facial bone structure are a completely natural part of aging. But if you become concerned about gaps and the positioning of your teeth as your jaw grows, speak to your dentist. Maintaining regular dental appointments allows your dental practitioner to keep track of the slow changes occurring in your mouth. They can then keep you better informed of anything they notice, giving you plenty of time to make a call on any treatment you may want to consider such as orthodontics. 

Book a check up to maintain great oral health as you age

It’s never too early to start putting plans in place to ensure your teeth age gracefully. (Or at least healthily, if grace isn’t your thing.)

In Yeppoon or Rockhampton? Give us a buzz and book your appointment today. We’re your local dentists with exceptional know-how. We’ll thoroughly check the state of your teeth and gums, and let you know if there are any changes you need to be aware of.

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A quick guide to surviving your tooth extraction

It’s not fun getting a tooth pulled. But we can at least help you understand extractions and how they work to make it as painless as possible. 

In this guide we’ll talk about what you can expect during a tooth extraction treatment, and give you some much-needed DIY tips for taking care of your aching mouth once you leave the practice.  

Ouch! Think you need a tooth pulled?

If you’re experiencing a sudden sharp or niggling toothache that has you considering an emergency trip to the dentist, then you may be worried about your tooth’s fate. After all, the saying, ‘It’s like pulling teeth,’ exists for a reason. It’s easy to work ourselves into a tizz visualising the needles and gore. But a lot of the time, the fear is worse than the procedure. Once the tooth is removed, a lot of the discomfort you’ve been feeling goes with it.

While most people who see us for a tooth extraction fear the pain, a big part of the problem is not knowing what to expect. And that’s why we want to explain what happens during an extraction. It will not only help you manage any dental anxiety you may be experiencing, but also prepare you for your treatment and a speedy recovery. 

Why you may need your tooth removed

The good news is tooth extractions is always a last resort. As dentists, we’d much rather help you keep your natural teeth. If we can save it, we’ll try treatments to do that first. But there are some circumstances where performing an extraction may be the best option. 

The primary reasons why we’d pull teeth are:

  • crowding in the mouth
  • impacted wisdom teeth
  • broken, damaged, or decaying teeth that can’t be saved
  • teeth that have deep infections but root canal treatment isn’t for you.

Getting ready for a tooth extraction

Preparation is the key to success, right? So before you reach the dental chair for the tooth extraction, a bit of prep work needs to be done.

Your dentist will take an X-ray of your mouth to assess the tooth and determine the best way to remove it. If you have an infection or a pre-existing condition, you may need a course of antibiotics ahead of the procedure.

How you can prepare for your tooth extraction

There are a few things you can do so you come in for your procedure feeling prepared. You’ll want to be in good health, so let your dentist know if you’ve experienced any cold or flu-like symptoms, nausea or vomiting the night before your treatment. It may affect what anaesthetic or pain relief we can administer. Keeping us posted on how you’ve been feeling ahead of the tooth extraction helps us help you.

Assuming you’re fit and well, the only other preparation we’ll need from you is to eat and drink something before you come in. Having a full stomach minimises the chances of you feeling light-headed or faint. And you probably won’t be able to eat for a few hours after treatment, so you may as well do it while you can. 

Overcoming pre-treatment anxiety

Feeling nervous? That’s completely normal, especially if you’ve never had a tooth extracted before. To help calm those nerves, try doing something that relaxes you. It could be a gentle walk with nature, listening to music, drawing and painting, reading a book, or simply sitting still and tuning into a guided meditation. If your nerves come back while you’re sitting in the chair, try taking long, deep breaths to help calm your body and ease your tension.

Extracting your tooth

It’s E-Day! (Extraction Day.) So what’s in store for you, exactly?

There are two types of tooth extraction procedures: simple and surgical. The tooth’s root structure—known as root morphology—and the condition of your jawbone dictate which procedure is best. X-rays of your mouth allow your dentist to get a good look at the tooth’s root structure and the bone around it. Let’s run through both.

Simple tooth extractions

For teeth that aren’t fused to the jawbone and where the roots can be easily removed, a simple extraction is carried out. Your dentist will loosen the tooth with an instrument called an elevator, and then use special forceps to grip the tooth and pull it out.

Given the simplicity of this type of procedure, it can be done using a local anaesthetic (i.e. a needle straight into the treatment site).

Surgical tooth extractions

Surgical tooth extractions are more complex. They often require the use of a local anaesthetic, and sometimes a general (IV drip) anaesthetic as well. Surgical extractions tend to be used for:

  • wisdom teeth when the tooth hasn’t broken through the gum line
  • broken teeth that are damaged at the gum line (meaning the dentist has nothing to grip onto)
  • teeth with complex root morphology, which your dentist will see from the X-rays they take. 

For this type of extraction, your dentist will decide whether they can do it in practice or need to refer you to an oral surgeon. Their decision is based on the complexity of the tooth’s roots. For example, if the position of the tooth is crooked, partially erupted, or the crown has broken but all of the roots can still be reached, they’ll continue with treatment. 

Under these circumstances, we may make a small cut in your gum and possibly remove some of the bone around the tooth. 

Will it hurt?

Anaesthetic is always used, so you shouldn’t feel much pain (especially if you’re in hospital and asleep throughout the procedure). However, you may feel a pinch when the anaesthetic needle is administered, although we always use a numbing gel to minimise this. Once the anaesthetic has kicked in, the most you’ll feel is pressure or tugging during the procedure.

Managing pain after a tooth extraction

While a tooth extraction is a relatively quick procedure, it takes a few days for your mouth to start feeling better and a few weeks for the socket in your gum to heal. Healing after a surgical extraction may take longer.

As the anaesthetic wears off, you’ll probably experience some soreness or tenderness at the extraction site. For most people, any pain tends to decrease after the third day. Bruising and tenderness is usually mild, and treatable with over-the-counter painkillers and an ice pack applied to the outside of your jaw. (Your dentist will talk to you about medication and other ways to treat the pain after the procedure.)

Tips for post extraction care once you’re at home 

You can expect some bleeding for a day or so after your extraction. So you’ll need to take good care of your mouth once you’re home. It’s especially important not to disturb the blood clot protecting your extraction site. 

When you get a tooth pulled with one of our Keppel Dental dentists, we’ll send you home with advice and instructions to help you care for your wound. Here are our top tips for post-operative care to make sure your mouth recovers quickly.

  • Don’t touch the site with your tongue or fingers.
  • Brush your teeth as normal, but avoid the extraction site.
  • Don’t rinse and spit for the first 24 hours. After that, rinse your mouth with a salt solution.
  • Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.
  • Take it easy, and prioritise rest and sleep as much as possible.
  • Keep your head raised when you sleep. (You might like to try using a second pillow.)

Eating and drinking after an extraction

Even though your mouth may be feeling tender, avoid the temptation to dine on soft, melty comfort foods such as chocolate. As your body heals, you need to eat nutritious foods that will aid your recovery.

You can start eating and drinking as soon as the procedure is over. (Let’s face it: a growling stomach is hard to ignore.) However, we recommend the following:

  • consume only soft foods and liquids for the first 24 to 48 hours to avoid chewing
  • if you do need to chew, do it on the side of your mouth opposite the extraction site
  • avoid very hot and very cold drinks
  • avoid drinking through a straw.

Types of soft foods to eat after an extraction

While broth is super nutritious and an excellent post-procedure food choice, there’s lots of other good stuff you can eat. 

Straight after your procedure you could try eating:

  • lukewarm soups, stews and broths (but nothing too hot)
  • yoghurt
  • smoothies (but nothing icy cold).

In the days that follow you could try eating semi-soft foods such as:

  • scrambled eggs
  • mashed potatoes
  • porridge / oatmeal.

You can expect to be eating normally 24-48 hours after surgery. Just be mindful of the extraction site when you’re chewing.

Worried you need a tooth pulled?

Remember, it’s better that people keep their natural teeth for as long as possible. But if a tooth extraction is your only course of action then familiarising yourself with the procedure can help you prepare and ease any anxiety you’re feeling.

If a dodgy tooth is worrying you, make an appointment to visit your dentist for guidance.

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Teeth grinding: The nocturnal nasty you might not know about

The signs, symptoms, prevention and treatment of the common night-time nibbling you might not realise you’re doing

Close-up of woman's hand putting transparent aligner in teeth.

Adults and children are prone to teeth grinding. Most of them don’t even know they’re doing it, and unless a partner or parent points it out they only find out when advanced symptoms start to appear. 

But what exactly is teeth grinding? And why should you worry about it in relation to your oral health? 

What is bruxism?

Teeth grinding, or ‘bruxism’, is when you unconsciously clench, gnash or grind your teeth. It can occur when you’re awake (awake bruxism) or asleep (sleep bruxism). The latter is actually classified as a sleep disorder, with sufferers more likely to also experience sleep apnoea. 

Because it’s a subconscious act, pinning down the number of Australians with bruxism is difficult. Figures range from 5% of the population all the way up to 18.6% of adults. Such small numbers might have you thinking it’s not such a big deal. And in mild cases it’s not. But frequent or prolonged bruxism, if left untreated, can become a real problem for your teeth, gums and overall oral health. 

In this article we’ll help you identify the signs of teeth grinding, explain the risks to your teeth, talk about prevention, and suggest when it might be time to seek professional advice. Because if you are experiencing the effects of teeth grinding your dentist can help.

Spotting the signs and symptoms of teeth grinding

Bruxism symptoms come and go. If you have sleep bruxism you may experience common traits of teeth grinding when you first wake, but then they quickly disappear. It’s tempting to put what you feel down to the grogginess of your body waking up. It’s the same with awake bruxism. Symptoms may only appear later, by which time you could blame the sensations on the stresses of the day. 

Knowing what to look for means you can more easily judge whether or not they’re due to you grinding your teeth. Keep an eye out for:

  • a tight or locked jaw
  • extreme jaw clenching 
  • pain that feels like earache 
  • pain or soreness in the jaw and neck 
  • dull headaches that start at the temples 
  • flattened, fractured, chipped or loose teeth
  • mouth soreness from chewing the inside of your cheeks 
  • tooth sensitivity, especially to hot or cold food and drinks 
  • achy teeth, a stiff face and a feeling of ‘tightness’ around your temples.

Are you a candidate for teeth grinding? 

Both adults and children can experience teeth grinding, with most children growing out of it. But it’s important to understand it’s not just a kid thing. For adults, their lifestyle (and life in general) can trigger or exacerbate teeth grinding. Common causes include:

  • stress and anxiety
  • sleeping and medical disorders
  • smoking and recreational drug use
  • caffeine and alcohol consumption
  • a hyperactive, aggressive or competitive personality. 

Bruxism affects oral health

As dentists, we worry about bruxism because it can have a lasting, detrimental effect on the condition of your teeth and gums. Regular grinding wears away tooth enamel – the hard outer covering of the tooth that protects it from decay. Enamel is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. Once it’s gone, it doesn’t regenerate. And a tooth without its protective enamel coating is at greater risk of decay. In severe cases of bruxism, the damage can go all the way through the dentine to the pulp. 

Losing enamel isn’t the only effect grinding has on teeth. It can also chip and break your teeth, and damage dental treatments such as fillings and crowns. 

Teeth grinding treatments from your dentist 

If you think you grind your teeth, raise your concern with your dentist at your next appointment. By looking for signs of increased wear and tear, we can confirm whether grinding is likely. The good news is that once it’s identified there are treatments to protect your chompers.  

A dental splint is a plastic mouthguard that protects your teeth and jaw from the pressure and friction caused by clenching and grinding. Using digital dentistry techniques, the splint is custom made to fit either your upper or lower teeth. 

Splints offer a preventative solution. But if your teeth have already succumbed to the effects of grinding, your dentist may discuss other dental restoration work such as composite filling, veneers and crowns. 

While there are ways for us to help limit and correct the physical impact of grinding, we can’t cure it. 

Getting to the root cause of bruxism

Stress and lifestyle choices are often to blame for bruxism. If you’re struggling emotionally you may want to talk to your GP, a counsellor or therapist, or even try meditation to help you relax.

Plaque vs tartar: Get to know your #1 oral health enemy

Take down plaque and tartar by understanding the common causes, prevention, and treatment options 

Experiencing pain when you eat, brush or floss is your body’s way of telling you there’s something up. Bleeding gums? Same deal. And how about when you run your tongue over your teeth. Is there a fuzzy, grainy sensation? 

If you regularly experience any of these then your teeth may be suffering a plaque attack. And if left to run rampant, it could lead to an even more serious terror: tartar. 

In this article we’ll help you identify these common oral health enemies and explain what causes them, the differences between them, and what happens when these enemies go unchallenged for too long. 

What are tartar and plaque? 

If you’re familiar with plaque, it’s probably because you’ve heard your dentist talk about it. It’s rare for a dentist to get through a consult without mentioning it. I know I struggle. And that’s because it’s something everyone has to deal with. (Yes, even dentists.)

Plaque is the build-up of bacteria in the mouth. It’s the clear (or sometimes pale yellow), sticky substance on your teeth that makes them feel fuzzy. Yes, it sounds gross. But it’s totally normal, and impossible to avoid altogether. Why? Because our mouths are full of bacteria, most of which is good for us and essential to our health. 

But there’s a downside. When we eat or drink, the bacteria feeds on the sugars in our food and creates acids. And it’s the acids produced by the bacteria in plaque that can cause tooth decay. 

Tartar, or ‘dental calculus’, is a far more serious (but avoidable) problem. Tartar enters the battle when plaque isn’t regularly removed. Minerals in our saliva bond to the plaque to form crystals (tartar) that, when left, harden on the teeth. Far more noticeable to the eye, this crusty yellow layer can turn brown (yuck!) and stain the protective enamel on your teeth. Tartar is tough stuff, and the only way it can be removed is by a dental professional. 

So what’s the difference between the two? 

The biggest difference between plaque and tartar is the consistency and ease of removal. You can clean away plaque at home. Brushing twice a day and flossing keeps this soft, sticky substance in check, which means tartar is unlikely to make an appearance.

As I said earlier, tartar can only be removed by your dentist or oral hygienist. (I’ll talk about how it’s done later.) Left untreated, tartar can lead to gingivitis (tender, swollen and bleeding gums). And gingivitis can in turn lead to periodontal disease, which is one step away from tooth loss. And that’s a slippery slope to start down, as tooth loss leads to costly dental restoration treatments such as dental implants. 

Causes of plaque and tartar build up

The main culprits of plaque build-up are excessive amounts of sweet, sugary food and drink, along with simple carbohydrates that contain a lot of starch (e.g. white bread, rice, pasta, potatoes). But other factors can increase the risk of plaque build-up in your mouth, such as:

  • aging 
  • stress 
  • smoking 
  • medication
  • malnutrition 
  • diabetes (that leads to high blood sugar levels) 
  • medical treatments or diseases that weaken the immune system.

Many of these factors are an issue because they affect the amount of saliva in the mouth. Saliva helps ‘wash away’ plaque, but if you have a dry mouth and not much saliva swishing around—which can happen with smoking or certain medications—the plaque bacteria hangs around. 

Hormonal changes can also play a part. Pregnant women and those undergoing therapies that affect their hormones may find themselves more susceptible to the effects of plaque. 

How can you tell if plaque or tartar are present?

Plaque isn’t hard to see, especially if there’s a large build up. But it is easy to dismiss. When you look at your teeth every day, it’s easy to think the calcified bits between and around your teeth are normal. It’s just how your teeth look. 

But that’s not the case. 

The main giveaway is your teeth feeling ‘fuzzy’. Bad breath and tooth sensitivity are also signs that plaque is waging war. 

Tartar is easier to spot, as the symptoms are far more dramatic. Look out for:

  • yellow or dark brown stains between your teeth or along the gum line 
  • a roughness on the edge of your teeth 
  • bad breath. 

When gums become tender, red and swollen so much that they bleed, the tartar may be part of a bigger gingivitis gum disease problem. To keep your chompers chipper, take any of these signs as your cue to see your dentist. 

DIY tips for preventing plaque 

Keeping plaque in check means you’re less likely to suffer from tartar. And nothing keeps plaque at bay better than following a good oral hygiene routine. But that’s not all you can do. 

Eating a balanced diet rich in vegetables and nutrients and low in sugary, processed foods and starchy carbohydrates also helps, as do certain foods, fruit and vegetables. Cheese, celery and carrots all help saliva neutralise the acids that cause plaque to form. If you don’t have those at hand, chew on sugar-free gum. Chewing stimulates saliva which, as we know, helps wash away plaque bacteria.

Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste (paying particular attention to the gumline) and flossing between meals removes any plaque that has built up overnight and during the day. Don’t have enough time to floss? Rinsing your mouth with water after eating is a quick option that’s better than nothing. 

How your dentist removes plaque and tartar

Removing plaque and tartar is a routine procedure done by a dentist or oral hygienist. During regular check-ups they’ll use a high-powered ultrasonic scaler to scale and polish the teeth and along the gumline. A hand scaler is used next to get rid of any stubborn areas, followed by a final polish. 

The final polish is called a ‘prophy’, which is short for ‘prophylax’, and is done one of two ways.

  1. Using a prophy cup. A soft rubber cup is attached to a handpiece and prophy paste, which is a slightly abrasive fluoride paste, is put in the cup. It’s then run all over the teeth.  
  2. Using a prophyjet or airflow, which is a mixture of sodium or non-sodium bicarbonate powder and water. Using a handpiece, the mixture is run around the teeth under pressure. 
Periodontal ultrasonic scalers are dental instruments used primarily in the prophylactic and periodontal care of human teeth - tartar removal.
Image of ultrasonic scaler to scale and polish teeth, removing plaque.

Tartar is harder to remove, but your dentist and oral hygienist are both trained to do so. Using a scaler that’s either handheld (relying on touch) or ultrasonic (where the vibrating instrument chips away at the tartar), they remove the stubborn build up around the gums. Next they use a gritty toothpaste to scrub and polish the teeth, followed by a final floss and a rinse to clean the mouth of any debris left over from the scale and scrub. 

Here at Keppel Dental we have some great resources to help keep your mouth free of plaque and tartar, including guides on brushing, flossing and getting into a good oral health routine. Of course, to keep gum disease at bay it’s important to see your dentist regularly so they can check for any signs you may not have spotted.