Frequently asked questions

Diets low in key nutrients can reduce resistance to gum disease and decay, and a healthy immune system helps control periodontal disease. Sugar, especially in sticky forms or from a bottle while a child sleeps, speeds up decay. Fluoride in water can reduce decay by more than 60%. A balanced diet, daily fluoride, effective brushing and sensible eating habits together can reduce or prevent dental disease.

Regular brushing and flossing lowers the chance of developing cavities. The back teeth’s chewing surfaces are the most decay-prone, so a protective sealant is often painted onto them. The Australian Dental Association recommends sealants be placed as soon as the first adult back teeth come through, usually around age 6 or 7.

Yes. A mouthguard cushions blows to the face and neck and should be part of every athlete’s gear, whatever the sport. A custom-made mouthguard, fitted by a dentist from a cast of your teeth, offers the best protection and fit, including over braces or fixed bridges. Ready-made mouthguards from sports stores are cheaper but less effective and less comfortable. Avoid wearing a removable retainer while playing sport.

Silver (amalgam) fillings can corrode and leak over time, blackening the filling and sometimes the tooth. Tooth-coloured composite fillings bond directly to the tooth for a tight seal, are colour-matched to look natural, and don’t carry the sensitivity sometimes associated with amalgam.

Bonding places a thin, putty-like material on the front of a tooth, which is shaped, coloured to match and then hardened with a high-intensity light. It’s typically painless, can be done in a single visit, and can lighten stains, close gaps and correct crooked or malformed teeth.

A porcelain veneer is a thin piece of porcelain, around the size of a fingernail, bonded to the front of a tooth. Veneers are used for the same reasons as bonding (to lighten, close gaps or reshape a tooth), but are more durable and stain-resistant, and can also correct teeth worn by grinding or clenching.

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is a bacterial infection of the gums and the structures supporting the teeth. The first stage, gingivitis, shows as red, puffy gums that bleed easily when brushed or flossed. Later stages involve loss of the bone supporting the teeth, and eventual tooth loss if left untreated.

Yes. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can make gums more prone to gum disease, and more frequent small meals and food cravings can expose teeth and gums to sugars and acids more often. A dental check-up and professional clean during pregnancy helps protect both mother and baby.

Periodontal disease can progress for years with no pain, and a visual check alone (even by a dentist) won’t reliably catch it at an early stage; it needs measurement of the pockets between tooth and gum with a periodontal probe. Watch for bleeding gums, redness, swelling, bad breath, receding gums or teeth that feel loose, and try our Gum Disease Risk Quiz.

A gap left by a missing tooth lets nearby teeth tilt or drift, and the opposing tooth can move down into the space. Beyond the cosmetic effect, this can lead to bite problems, jaw pain and headaches. A fixed bridge or a dental implant are the two main ways to replace a missing tooth.

Bad breath can be a symptom of another condition, but it’s most often caused by dental decay or periodontitis. In periodontitis, gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets that trap bacteria, which can cause a foul odour. A full dental check-up can identify and treat the underlying cause.

If the tooth is loose but still attached, leave it in place. If it has come out completely, keep it moist (in milk if possible, or lukewarm water if not) and call us immediately. Time matters: the chance of successful re-implantation starts to decline after about 30 minutes, though it may still be possible after several hours. See our Dental Emergency page for more, or call (03) 9826 2220 straight away.

A root canal procedure stops an infection from destroying the tooth. The dentist removes the infected tissue, then cleans, shapes, fills and seals the space inside the tooth. A crown or solid filling afterwards protects the tooth and helps prevent it from fracturing, meaning you keep the natural tooth rather than losing it.