An open bite is when your top and bottom teeth don’t slot into one other when your mouth is closed. The points of the teeth may meet with an open bite, and one of the primary treatment methods is to prescribe braces. 

Open bite is a type of malocclusion or “bad bite” along with overbite, underbite, and crossbite. The opposite of this is called occlusion and means your jaws are properly aligned.

At Gisborne Family Dental, we are committed to delivering quality, comprehensive dentistry with the utmost integrity and respect for our patients. We are your friendly Gisborne dentist. Book a consultation today if you believe you may have an open bite issue. 

Now, let’s take a closer look at what an open bite is, just how much an open bite can affect you and how to get it fixed, including if braces are up to the task. 

How Do I Know I Have An Open Bite?

An open bite can be caused by your teeth sticking out or from the shape of your jaw. 

One of the ways to know you have an open bite is that you can’t close your mouth fully, and your mouth always stays slightly ajar. Other signs are:

  • You find it hard to chew and swallow
  • Altered speech, including a lisp
  • It’s painful to bite or chew
  • Your teeth are sticking out or misaligned

An open bite can also cause problems like:

  • Gum and periodontal disease
  • Tooth decay 
  • Difficulties with sleep, including loud snoring
  • Speech difficulty
  • Head and ear aches, and so on

You can see that an open bite is not a problem to be taken lightly or ignored. Thankfully it can be treated. Before we look at the treatment of an open bite, let’s take a look at a few causes of an open bite.

What Causes An Open Bite?

An open bite can be caused by:

  • Genetics can play a part. 
  • Bad dental habits from a young age such as thumb or lower lip sucking and pushing your teeth with your tongue. This is why children who suck their thumb or lower lip should be corrected before their adult teeth grow.
  • Improperly positioned tongue.
  • Overcrowded teeth.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis, and so on.

Even though an open bite is a common problem orthodontists treat, there are various methods for treating it depending on if it’s mild or severe. 

Do Braces Fix An Open Bite?

Yes, braces can fix an open bite, if the open bite is not too severe. There are different types of braces to choose from. You can go for the traditional metal braces or go for more aesthetic ceramic braces. Ceramic braces are designed to blend with the colour of your teeth, so it doesn’t look like you’re wearing braces. Ceramic braces are more expensive however.

There are also lingual braces which are placed at the back of the teeth instead of the front, again hiding the fact that you have braces at all. This type of brace is, however, not very common and is usually more expensive. It’s also not easy to fix and requires special equipment and training, which is why not many orthodontists offer this option.

Where an open bite is due to overcrowding of the teeth, some teeth may have to be extracted before the braces are administered. And where you have a severe case of an open bite, a Temporary Anchor Device (TAD) and mini screw with braces are used to fix it.

TADs act as an anchor to push or pull teeth to a specific position. The screw is sometimes placed between the teeth or at the roof of the mouth. Don’t worry; it’s not as painful as it sounds. Your orthodontist will numb the area, so there’s little to no discomfort during the procedure. 

It’s an easy and quick procedure that is very effective in correcting a severe open bite caused by intruding molars, for example.

With braces, it takes about 12 to 30 months to correct an open bite. 

We know that wearing braces for that long can be quite uncomfortable, especially when the braces are tightened as they must be from time to time. So to reduce any discomfort or pain, avoid hard or sticky foods, chewing gum, and bad habits like nail biting. Also, it is wise to follow the care instructions provided by your dentist.

Braces are very effective in treating an open bite. They are common, affordable, easy to maintain and reliable. 

Other treatments for fixing an open bite include Invisalign or oral surgery, but surgery is only for severe cases. 

You should get an open bite treated immediately as it can get worse. So, visit an experienced orthodontist today to get your open bite treated with braces.

How Much Will I Pay To Fix An Open Bite With Braces?

It costs between $1,500 to $10,000 to treat an open bite with braces depending on the severity of the open bite.

If you’re looking for orthodontic services or maybe your child has an open bite, there’s no better place to go than Gisborne Family Dental.

We are your fun yet professional, family-friendly dentists in Gisborne. Our dental services are top-notch and guaranteed to give you the desired result. For us, patients are number one, and we go out of our way to ensure you’re comfortable and relaxed from the moment you step into our doors and during treatment.

We have state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled staff to attend to your dental care needs. And even with this, our services are pocket friendly with payment plans that will fit into your budget.

So, contact us today.

There are so many ways to whiten your teeth nowadays that it can be overwhelming to know where to start. In this blog, we will give you some of our top tips. Having white teeth ensures that you always feel confident enough to smile. While we may take smiling for granted, it is actually quite unique to humans and is one of the most central aspects of body language.

Do dentists do teeth whitening?

At Gisborne Family Dental, we deliver quality, comprehensive dentistry with the utmost integrity and respect for our patients. This includes in-depth teeth whitening services, including custom-fitted whitening trays and gentle and effective professional-grade whitening gels. 

Yellow teeth aren’t necessarily a sign of bad oral hygiene, as some may think, and it’s a sad fact that this condition leads to low self-esteem for many. Most discolouration and stains on teeth are caused by smoking, coffee, and tea; however, even with regular brushing, teeth simply discolour over time and may require the attention of a professional. 

We’ve collated our top tips to help you make your teeth whiter at home in this article.

How to Make Your Teeth Whiter

Brush your teeth regularly

If you ask any dentist the no.1 thing they would recommend for teeth health and whitening, it would be to brush your teeth regularly. At least twice a day, or better yet, after each meal.

However, be cautious when you brush your teeth after consuming acidic food or drink, as acidity softens enamel (hard outer coating of your teeth). After consuming these beverages, you can damage an already weakened enamel if you brush too soon. At Gisborne Family Dental, we recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth. If you’re pressed for time, try swilling your mouth out thoroughly with water, milk, mouthwash, or another solution with a neutral PH before brushing. 

To get the best bang for your buck from your toothpaste, be sure to choose a teeth whitening toothpaste from a proven brand. This will guarantee the best results. 

If you smoke, stop

If you smoke, you’re probably sick of people always telling you to stop, but in regards to white teeth, it is one of the worst habits you can take up. Smoking causes your teeth to decay, turns the white colour to yellow, and even leads to tooth loss (amongst other factors). One of the reasons for this is that tobacco will cause bacteria to build up in your teeth and mouth, leading to discolouration and even bad breath. 

Eat a healthy diet without too much added sugar

A healthy diet low in added sugar is crucial to maintaining optimal health for your teeth and body. This ensures you get enough of the right vitamins and minerals to keep your teeth strong and healthy and helps you avoid the damaging effects of refined sugar on your teeth. Optimal health starts here. 

Teeth-whitening trays

Teeth whitening trays are among the best and most proven ways to whiten your teeth at home. Teeth whitening trays are filled with a teeth-whitening gel and then placed in your mouth for about 45 minutes. 

At Gisborne Family Dental, we offer all the best teeth whitening services and can mould and design a teeth whitening tray that will get you flashing your high beams in no time. 

Teeth-whitening strips

Teeth-whitening strips are loaded with proven ingredients and whitening formulations that deliver great results quickly. They are an excellent option for those wanting to whiten their teeth without purchasing separate trays and whitening gels. Although all whitening strip products include instructions, be sure to read them thoroughly before starting treatment.

See your dentist 

If you really want to get your teeth whitened, the best option is to see your dentist. Dentists are experts in all aspects of teeth health and whitening, and at Gisborne Family Dental, we can provide you with the best advice and whitening treatments to get your pearly whites back to where you want them to be. 

We make custom-fitted whitening trays and kits and equip you with gentle and effective professional-grade whitening gels. This is the safest and most sustainable way of whitening your teeth, especially for long term stains that may be a little more stubborn.

A teeth whitening kit contains custom-made whitening trays and tubes of whitening gel. We take moulds of your upper and lower teeth to construct custom-fit trays. These trays allow a greater concentration of whitening agent to be held on your teeth whilst minimising wastage, ingestion and overflow onto the gums.

After examining your teeth, our dentists will tailor a teeth whitening regime for you to achieve the best results in the shortest time possible.

Your family dentist in Gisborne

After graduating from Melbourne University, we were fortunate enough to have worked under great mentors who were, first and foremost, good people. So as well as consolidating and refining our skills, we learnt the importance of running an ethical business where integrity and kindness go a long way.

Working for many years in Castlemaine and Ballarat, we felt the fulfilment of working in a close-knit community and knew that we wanted to set up our own practice somewhere with the same beautiful vibe.

We saw that there was still a considerable stigma associated with dentistry. We were sad that so many of the patients we met for the first time told us, ‘ I hate going to the dentist!’.

Our vision was to eliminate the stigma and design a dental practice where every thought went into creating positive patient experiences. We drew on our happy places for inspiration during the construction phase of our clinic – think your cosy living room, light-filled cafes, and the ambience of a day spa.

We handpicked a team of caring and empathetic souls who are simply amazing at what they do. We invested in great technology to provide the best for our patients.

And voila, Gisborne Family Dental was born.

If you are after the best teeth whitening services in the Gisborne area, then contact Gisborne Family Dental today

Are your gums bleeding? Do your gums bleed every time you brush your teeth? Do you want to stop your gums from bleeding? Well, you’re in the right place!

Healthy gums shouldn’t bleed very easily, so it’s not normal to see blood after brushing or flossing your teeth. However, it can also be a sign of severe problems in your mouth; bleeding gums are a sign of inflamed gums, usually caused by bacteria. Yuck!

The good news is that this problem is easily remedied. Because bleeding gums are almost always caused by bacteria in the mouth, ridding the mouth of these bacteria should fix the problem, over time. 

Brushing and flossing, when done well, are the core of what makes up our daily oral hygiene practices and should undoubtedly be continued. However, if you have inflamed, bleeding gums, then you may need the help of a professional, such as Gisborne Family Dental. First things first however, let’s look at some of the common causes of bleeding gums. 

Gum Bleeding: Possible Causes

Overly aggressive brushing

Gum bleeding could be caused by an overly aggressive application of your toothbrush, which can irritate the gums and cause bleeding. That being said, bleeding gums are still usually a symptom of inflammation of the gum tissue caused by a buildup of bacterial plaque. If the plaque is not removed correctly, it gradually penetrates through the gum tissues causing damage to your gums. 

Overly aggressive brushing, combined with already inflamed gums, is a recipe for sore, bleeding gums. So take it easy, and be sure to use a soft toothbrush!

Alcohol and tobacco 

Alcohol and tobacco are also common causes of inflammation of the gums. This is because both substances can reduce the amount of saliva produced in the mouth, and saliva is one of the mouth’s first lines of defence in fighting bacteria. On top of this, both substances are toxic to the rest of your body and have been linked to a variety of different cancers. So if you smoke or drink excessively, just stop – your gums (and the rest of your body) will thank you later!

Diet and genetics

Poor diet and even your genetics can cause this inflammatory process. If you are suffering from an immunosuppressive disease, diabetes, pregnancy, or simply taking contraceptive or antiepileptic drugs, these could be why your gums are bleeding. Be sure to talk to your friendly local dentist to help understand why your gums may be bleeding!

Bleeding Gum Prevention

The best way to prevent gum bleeding is through proper oral hygiene, performed with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste specifically formulated to aid bleeding gums. 

In addition to proper brushing after each meal, the prevention of bleeding gums and its unpleasant consequences is helped by the daily use of dental floss, professional cleaning every six months, and possibly the use of oral irrigators (water jets) to remove food residues between the teeth and under the gums.

Finally, optimal oral health cannot be separated from a healthy diet, which is low in simple sugars. Simple sugars, especially those present in sugary, acidic drinks and sticky foods – such as jam, honey, or gummy candies – are the worst exacerbators of plaque, tooth decay, and bleeding gums.

If you struggle with bleeding gums, ensure you get them assessed by a professional. At Gisborne Family Dental we provide gum maintenance to ensure you don’t have to keep dealing with bleeding gums. 

Bleeding Gum Treatment

Brush and floss

Well, we’ve all heard this before, but it is still as accurate as ever: brush your teeth twice a day (or better yet, after every meal) and floss twice a day (or better yet… after every meal). 

At Gisborne Family Dental, we specialise in the field of restorative dentistry and recommend fighting bleeding gums by using fluoride-based toothpaste and a soft hand-held or electric toothbrush. 

Brush your teeth at least twice a day for a few minutes at a time. This will help the fluoride present in the toothpaste to penetrate into and strengthen your teeth. In addition to protecting teeth and gums and keeping them in good condition, it reduces the onset of gum disease. 

As mentioned, it is advisable to brush your teeth in the evening before going to bed, as soon as you wake up, and it would be a good idea to brush your teeth after each meal and floss morning and night. Also, be sure to store your toothbrush correctly, as a poorly kept toothbrush could become a breeding ground for bacteria!

Proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle help bleeding gums

These are two aspects that may seem somewhat far removed from bleeding gums, but this is not the case; they represent two fundamental aspects of a balanced, healthy you. 

A healthy diet is essential for our mouth to function properly; all those vitamins and nutrients are critical for making sure you are as healthy as you can be. On top of this, it is vital to follow a balanced diet as unhealthy foods such as sugary drinks and acidic sweets and desserts are very damaging to your teeth and gums. 

As mentioned previously, lifestyle factors can also affect your gum health. For example, smokers have an increased likelihood of developing gum disease, both because smoking decreases the amount of oxygen present in the blood, affecting the healing capacity of the gums and because nicotine accumulates on the teeth, forming a patina that promotes the formation of bacteria. 

Gum health is just one aspect of your overall health. Don’t neglect it simply because they’re not as visible as your abs – if you take care of your gums, you take care of yourself. 

Restorative dentistry for bleeding gums

Finally, one of the best ways to maintain good gum health and make sure you get rid of your bleeding gums for good is to visit a specialist. 

At Gisborne Family Dental, we are experts in restorative dentistry and can help you identify any issues your gums may be having. So don’t wait till it’s too late; take a look at our restorative dentistry services today, and we’ll have you smiling in no time.

A high percentage of health reports show that a smile is a significant factor in a person’s appearance. Naturally then, beautifully aligned teeth are crucial to making your smile the best it can be. Deciding to straighten your teeth can still be a difficult decision though. When aligning your teeth, you can choose either braces or Invisalign. Which is the best for you? Personal preference and priorities will determine this decision.

It’s always best to do your research, and ask your local dentist any questions you might have, but our team here at Gisborne Family Dental can also help. Both braces and Invisalign are great at straightening teeth but in their own unique ways. 

In this article, we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of Invisalign vs. braces, which can help you make your decision.

Difference Between Braces vs. Invisalign

Braces are small pieces of metal attached to the outside of the teeth with a wire running through them, but today, there are now different brace options, including ceramic and lingual braces. In this case, rubber bands and metal wires are attached to a bracket to work on your teeth to correct your orthodontic problems, and they are less visible than traditional braces. Check out our page to find out more about getting braces at Gisborne Family Dental. 

Invisalign uses plastic aligners that are customized by getting each patient to scan their mouth. Invisalign isn’t as painful as braces but it can leave someone’s teeth sore through the force exerted by the aligner on the teeth. The customized removable aligners are made to move the teeth in steps, with each new iteration of the aligner being slightly more straight, until the position is fully corrected. It is a treatment that straightens the teeth without using metal braces. Find out more about using Invisalign at Gisborne Family Dental. 

Advantages of Invisalign That Might Make It The Preferred Choice for You

Fixing Dental Problems

Misaligned teeth can cause more problems than just making you self-conscious about your smile. If your teeth aren’t aligned, you will likely have other dental problems. Crowded or gapped teeth can increase the risk of developing gum disease because your gum doesn’t correctly fit around your teeth. Invisalign treatment can help reduce gum inflammation, tooth sensitivity, bad breath, and chipping of teeth. 

More Comfortable

Removable aligners are more comfortable than metal braces. Traditional metal braces have sharp edges that can cut your lips and cheeks and can cause sores that are difficult to heal.

Easier to Clean and Maintain

Traditional braces are not as easy to maintain as Invisalign. When you are eating out or eating with your family, Invisalign can be removed, which maintains an extra level of hygiene over braces, which can get filled with food and other debris. On top of this, with Invisalign, you can easily clean them by brushing them with toothpaste and lukewarm water before reinstalling them in your mouth. Another braces disadvantage is that the wire can sometimes pop out or a bracket can fall off and you’ll need to go to the dentist to get it glued back on or replaced.  

Fewer Dentist Visits

Invisalign gives you the freedom to enjoy activities and go to work while ensuring the repositioning and alignment of your teeth, unlike metal braces that require a dental office visit for tightening rubber bands or wires.

When you start your Invisalign treatment, you will be given several aligner trays for multiple phases, whose use is then meant to be staggered over time, as your teeth move. This reduces the number of dental visits needed over your treatment period. 

Shorter Treatment Period

Most treatments with braces take between 16 and 18 months, or even as much as two years. This is a long time to wait just to straighten your teeth, especially if you want immediate results. A removable aligner like Invisalign allows for a pre-planned path, vs braces which are a bit more imprecise. 

Invisalign treatment usually takes about a year, and because of the way it is designed, most people won’t even notice you are wearing them. But if you don’t wear your aligners as much as you’re supposed to, your treatment will take longer and may end up taking the same amount of time as braces.

Disadvantages of Invisalign

Invisalign Causes Pain

Invisalign may cause pain because, well, straightening teeth hurts. There’s no way around it. Just remember this pain and discomfort is temporary and it mostly happens within the first week of using your next set of removable aligners. However in regards to invisalign vs braces, this Invisalign disadvantage is also true for braces. You should contact your dentist if your Invisalign tray continues to cause pain after the first week of use. 

Invisalign Requires Discipline To Stay On Track

One of the disadvantages of Invisalign is that it takes discipline to stay on track because you must personally put on your removable aligners for at least 22 hours per day even when you are experiencing pain during the early days of treatment. You should really only remove them when you are about to eat or brush your teeth. 

A lack of this discipline will make your treatment last longer and may even make it less effective. So in Invisalign treatment, your full cooperation is essential to ensure you achieve your desired results.

Removable aligners can also stain easily, so it’s imperative to brush your teeth and avoid drinks like coffee. We here at Gisborne Dental Family also recommend that you clean your aligners thoroughly and often. 

It’s Easy To Lose Your Aligners

A disadvantage of your Invisalign aligners is that it can be easy to lose them, so you need to pay extra attention in keeping an eye on them. Due to their bespoke nature it takes time and unfortunately money to replace them. An advantage of braces is that you can’t lose them because, well, they’re glued to your teeth. 

Advantages of Braces

Prevention of Bone Erosion

Crooked or misaligned teeth can lead to bone loss. This mostly happens when bacteria begin to eat away at bones. An advantage of braces is that they move periodontal ligaments by stretching the connective tissues and nerves. The bones will then strengthen themselves once they settle into their new spot over time.

Braces Aid Digestion

Many people don’t know that teeth and chewing play an important role in digestion. This is because before food can enter your stomach, it must first be broken down by your teeth, and there are even enzymes in your saliva to help the food break down further. It isn’t easy to chew into small enough bits if your teeth are misaligned and as a result, it may take your stomach a longer time to digest, or may make it harder to digest. Once you can chew properly with the help of braces, your food will be more easily digested.

Braces Help Improve Your Overall Oral Health

Another advantage of braces is that they also help improve oral health. Your teeth may overlap when they are misaligned and crowded, which can lead to extra buildup of plaque and bacteria. However, with braces, your teeth will become properly aligned so that your mouth can be cleaned better. Something to note however is that braces cover a significant part of your teeth, so cleaning between the gaps is very important.

Disadvantages of Braces

Treatment Takes Longer For Adults

One of the most significant disadvantages of braces is that it requires a longer time for adults than for a child. It takes at least 16-18 months and often more. This is because adult bones have stopped growing and are no longer as pliable as a child’s. 

Braces Cause and Reveal Discoloration

While braces are good at straightening your teeth, they can leave discoloration behind after being removed. Your teeth develop plaque (discoloration) through eating and drinking. This plaque contains bacteria and when it builds up on your teeth, it leads to yellowish or brownish discoloration. One of the best ways to remove this plaque is to brush everyday but this can be more difficult if you are wearing braces. Regular checkups at Gisborne Dental Family are important to avoid this discoloration, and there are special cleaning tools and brushes for braces that can help keep your teeth clean. 

Braces Could Reveal Other Dental Issues

Braces can help prevent future problems, but they can also lead to discovering existing dental issues. If your dentist notices any previous bone loss, getting braces may exacerbate the problem.

Why You Should Choose Gisborne Family Dental for your Invisalign or Braces

There are many advantages of using Invisalign and braces to straighten your teeth. You can straighten your teeth at a comfortable pace while cleaning your teeth, drinking, and eating normally. When looking at the various disadvantages of Invisalign vs braces it is important to remember that these disadvantages are really only minor, and thousands of people undergo successful treatment every year. 

Contact us if you want to achieve the smile you want and find out if Invisalign or braces are the right treatment for you. At Gisborne Family Dental, we offer both Invisalign and braces as a method of treatment, and we have created many healthy and beautiful smiles and can help you find your smile too. 

Contact us today on (03) 8595 1888, or book an appointment now.

Your child is growing every day, and their first visit to a dentist is one of the most important things you should start including in your to-do list.  Your child’s first dentist visit should occur after the first tooth appears but not after their first birthday. This is because the first teeth begin to grow during this period, and the baby can get cavities. 

Not taking your child’s dental health for granted will help make their smile healthy for life.

What age should a child go to the dentist?

Every child is different, so there is no fixed age to take your child to a dentist, but it is advised to take your child to a dentist in their first year. A lot of parents tend to postpone the first dental visits of their child for some reasons, which include;

They don’t see the need 

One of the reasons why some parents don’t take their child on their first dental visit is because they don’t see the necessity or because their child doesn’t have enough teeth to visit a dentist yet. So, visiting a dentist won’t be worth it. 

But it is actually vital to take your child to the dentist where they get to know the team, become familiar with the clinical setting and feel comfortable with the process. 

An important habit to form when they’re young, ensuring your child has regular dentist check ups will form part of their routine as they grow up. 

Although their baby teeth eventually fall out, making way for adult teeth, it’s still extremely important to take good care of them because if baby teeth need to be removed early due to decay, the loss of space can cause crowding issues when the permanent teeth erupt.

They don’t think their child can handle it 

Many parents avoid dentists because of fear of how their child will respond to the treatment and the unfamiliar environment of a dentist’s office. Even if you think your child’s teeth are healthy physically, there may be an underlying problem that a dentist can only see. 

Most parents look for signs like tooth decay as the only condition for taking their child to a dentist. But it is necessary to take your child for a dental visit for a dentist to see the early signs and prevent them from getting worse. 

Don’t be embarrassed by your child crying or shouting in a dentist’s office. It is a normal thing that will happen, but a paediatric dentist knows how to calm your child down and make them relax.

How to prepare your child for a dentist visit

Choose a happy appointment time

Study your child and book their appointment at a time that suits them best. Choose a time that your child is usually happy and attentive. Most time, young children of less than two years tend to be happy and attentive in the morning, and older children tend to be happy in the afternoon. 

Choosing a morning session for your child is good. Try to avoid any appointments scheduled for the evening because children get tired in the evening, which will impact their response. 

Mental preparation

Once an appointment has been scheduled with a dentist, all you need to start is preparing your child for the visit. Children do learn best when they are having fun.

Go with their favourite toy

Study what your child loves playing with. Some children love playing video games, and some love to play with a cuddly toy. So, prepare to take along the cuddly toy. This is because once the cuddly toy is taken along, dentists practice what they are going to do with them on the cuddly toy, which can help them understand.

Put them at ease

When an appointment is already scheduled, tell them about what will happen in their trip to the dentist. Assure them that nothing will affect their teeth and that the dentist will only examine teeth, brush them, and put them through how to make them healthy. Tell them that with these, they will have a beautiful smile.

You can also plan a treat for them that you will buy their favourite food for them if they behave well. Telling them that you will be there with them and that the dentist will show them all the tools and explain the necessary procedures will put them at ease.

Watch videos about going to the dentist

Studying your child is a way of preparing them for a dental visit. It would be best if you studied their favourite characters. When they see their favourite characters visiting a dentist, it helps to develop a positive mindset that visiting a dentist is normal. 

Showing them this video will help them know what will happen in the dentist’s office, and it won’t be like a scary new situation to them.

Play some games 

Playing or dentist video games is an effective way to demystify the experience with your child and prepare them for their first dental visit. After playing the video games for several hours, you can set them on a chair. Then brush their teeth, talking to them about how important oral hygiene is. 

What Happens if You Delay Your Child's First Dental Visit

Baby teeth, also known as milk teeth, are important for your child’s oral health. If you take your child for their first dental visit early, it allows your child to:

  • To develop proper speech patterns
  • To chew properly 
  • Establish good oral hygiene habits
  • Give them white teeth and a beautiful smile

Denying or delaying your child first visit to the dentist may lead to problems like:

  • Tooth infections
  • Teeth grinding
  • Lazy oral hygiene practices 

Choosing a dentist for your child

Before choosing a dentist for your child, you need to understand that not every child has cavities, and your child is not destined to have them, but precautions must be taken to prevent it. The most important thing is to select the best dentist for your child. Below are some of the steps to choosing a dentist.

Find a specialist children’s dentist

This is the first step and yet the most important when choosing a dentist for your child. It would be best if you had a paediatric dentist because they are specially trained for children’s teeth like our children’s dentists are. What makes the best option in this kind of situation is because they have a piece of unique knowledge on a child’s oral health that non-specialists don’t have. 

Instead of looking for just any dentist, make sure you look for a paediatric dentist. This gives your child a unique dental experience and helps them develop good oral hygiene from a young age.

Here at Gisborne Family Dental, we provide dentistry for children and the whole family – it’s right there in our name! 

Ask about an initial consultation

Instead of just meeting a dentist online and choosing a date or appointment, ask if they offer an initial consultation. This is because this is what will give you a chance to bring your child, get to meet the dentist, and your child get to feel the office.

This also helps you understand that it is not a scary experience and allows you to ask any questions about your child’s oral health before choosing the actual appointment date.

Pay attention to the dentist’s demeanour

During your first consultation with the dentist, try to notice how the dentist and receptionist interact with your child. This is because they need to understand how to talk to a child and easily understand, and they also need to be friendly.

It helps when a child is nervous because the dentist will explain what they are doing before doing it. A good paediatric dentist is always fun, making them turn fun into treatment. 

Read online reviews

If you are searching for a paediatric dentist online, you need to read their online reviews. This is what will give you insights into what they have done. Pay attention to both bad and good reviews. Once you see how the reviews are handled and how other parents’ children are handled then you will have an idea of how your child will be handled.

Our children’s dentists will put you and your family first. We make sure you’re well looked after and your kids enjoy their experience at Gisborne Family Dental. 

It’s never too early to begin teaching your little ones correct oral hygiene. From when their first teeth start to come through as babies, we encourage you to help your kids brush and floss their teeth, all while making it fun.

When wisdom teeth become impacted, they become stuck behind the gums or bone, causing significant pain which is one of the first impacted wisdom teeth symptoms you will have.

Wisdom teeth that become stuck are prone to deteriorate and can potentially cause damage to neighboring teeth. As a result, wisdom teeth that have become impacted must be extracted.

The discomfort caused by impacted wisdom teeth is generally enough to alert you that something is amiss. Knowing the signs of this prevalent oral health problem, on the other hand, might help you pinpoint the source of the discomfort early on.

Some people’s symptoms of impacted wisdom teeth aren’t evident, while others have prominent signs. This is why it is critical to have a dental checkup regularly.

But first, you need to be aware of the warning symptoms of a problematic wisdom tooth so that you can recognise the problem as soon as possible.

What is an Impacted Wisdom Tooth?

Your wisdom teeth, also known as third molars, are the teeth at the back of your mouth. Most adults have 32 teeth, with four wisdom teeth in each corner of the mouth. Wisdom teeth are the last adult teeth to grow, if at all.

They usually mature (erupt) in late adolescence or early adulthood, and they might pose problems since there is little room in the mouth for them to come in correctly.

Teeth may come through at an angle or only partially through the gum due to a lack of space; this is known as impacted wisdom teeth, and these are the wisdom teeth that most typically need to be extracted.

The impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain, damage to other teeth, and other dental issues, such as overcrowding of existing teeth and impaction, either into neighboring teeth or the gum. However, not all wisdom teeth create difficulties right away, and even if they are impacted, they may not be painful.

What Problems Can Impacted Wisdom Teeth Cause?

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause several problems in the mouth:

Damage to other teeth

If the wisdom teeth push on the second molar, the second molar may be damaged, or the area may get infected. This pressure might also result in crowding of other teeth, necessitating orthodontic treatment to realign them.

Cysts

In the jawbone, the wisdom tooth develops in a sac. A cyst can form when the sac fills with fluid, causing damage to the jawbone, teeth, and nerves. Rarely, a tumor develops, which is typically noncancerous (benign). This condition may necessitate tissue and bone removal.

Decay

The partially impacted wisdom teeth appear to have a higher risk of tooth decay (caries) than regular teeth. This is most likely due to the difficulty of cleaning wisdom teeth and how easily food and bacteria can become caught between the gum and a partially erupted tooth.

Gum disease

The difficulty of cleaning impacted, partially erupted wisdom teeth raises the chance of getting pericoronitis, a painful, inflammatory gum disease.

Signs And Symptoms Of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth that are impacted do not always produce symptoms. You may encounter some of the following indications or symptoms if an impacted wisdom tooth becomes infected, destroys other teeth, or causes other dental problems:

  • Red or swollen gums
  • Tender or bleeding gums
  • Jaw pain
  • Swelling around the jaw
  • Bad breath
  • An unpleasant taste in your mouth
  • Difficulty opening your mouth

Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

Is it necessary to remove wisdom teeth?

If your wisdom teeth are impacted andare  preventing good dental hygiene, it’s usually best to have them removed.

Teeth that erupt in a functional and upright position don’t always need to be extracted if they don’t cause pain or aren’t linked to decay or gum disease.

However, because wisdom teeth are so far back in the mouth and difficult to clean, even those that come in properly can develop problems over time. If you want to keep your wisdom teeth, brush and floss them thoroughly and see your dentist regularly.

When Is Removal Needed?

If wisdom teeth are causing problems or x-rays show they can be lost, they need to come out. Other good reasons to remove them are:

Damage to other teeth

These extra molars can press on the other teeth, causing mouth pain and bite problems.

Jaw damage 

Cysts can form around new teeth. If left untreated, they can hollow out the jaw and damage nerves.

Sinus Problems

Wisdom tooth problems can lead to sinus pain, pressure, and constipation.

Inflamed gums

The tissues around the area can be swollen and difficult to clean.

Tooth decay

Inflamed gums can create pockets between the teeth that encourage bacteria to grow and the formation of tooth decay.

Alignment

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause problems with crowding other teeth and even make treatment to straighten other teeth necessary.

To make a selection, your dentist will examine the shape of your mouth and the position of your teeth. Your age is also a factor.

Still haven’t given up your molars? You might enquire about what your dentist sees with your teeth. You can often wait a few months to observe whether things change before making a choice. 

However, if you are experiencing discomfort, swelling, or a foul odour near your back teeth, it may be time to seek medical attention.

Why Choose Us for Your Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Depending on the tooth’s location in the jaw, there are different degrees of impacted wisdom teeth. Soft tissue inoculation occurs when the tooth’s crown has penetrated the bone, but the gums still cover part of the tooth. When the tooth has partially appeared, part of the tooth remains sunk in the jaw, partial bone deposition. Complete bone impact occurs when the jaw completely covers the tooth.

An impacted wisdom tooth doesn’t always show symptoms, which means you may have impacted teeth, and you don’t even know it. When symptoms occur, it is usually the result of infection or swelling of the gums on the tooth. Symptoms can include pain, swollen and bleeding gums with swelling around the jaw, bad breath, headache or jaw pain, and an unpleasant taste when eating. Some people have a stiff jaw or swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

See your dentist if you experience these compromised wisdom tooth symptoms. Untreated, impacted wisdom teeth can lead to gum and dental problems. Damage to the other teeth can also occur, including infection and crowding of the teeth. In rare cases, impacted wisdom teeth can cause cysts and tumors.

If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, it may be associated with an impacted wisdom tooth, and you should see your dentist. They will examine the area and, if necessary, X-ray to see where the wisdom teeth are and if they are affected. If wisdom teeth are bothersome, they may need to be removed.

At Gisborne Family Dental, we offer an effective wisdom tooth extraction service. If they do not need to be removed, we will tell you. But if they do, our exceptional and caring team of experienced dentists from Gisborne Family will make wisdom tooth extraction as painless as possible.

If you are having troubles with your wisdom teeth, call us on (03) 8595 1888 or book online to make an appointment.

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