Dental Hygiene
Understanding your treatment needs, costs and ongoing gum health care.
Dental Hygiene
Understanding your treatment needs, costs and ongoing gum health care.
Understanding Treatment Costs
Treatment needs can vary from person to person
Fillings to repair tooth decay may be small, medium or large and it may affect just one tooth or multiple teeth. It is very easy to rationalise that a single small filling will take less time and materials than larger or multiple fillings, hence the fees will differ accordingly.
Gum Disease Treatment
The amount of treatment depends on your individual needs
Gum disease requires treatment and prevention in the same way that tooth decay does. The severity of disease, the number of teeth in your mouth it affects, and the amount of hard calculus deposits on your teeth and under your gums will influence how much treatment you need to restore your mouth to health. The fees for these treatments will also vary accordingly.
Your Treatment Plan & Estimate
We will endeavour to give you a treatment plan and estimate of costs as soon as we have assessed your individual treatment needs. Sometimes more severe isolated gum problems are not picked up on initial basic screening, but may be identified at your cleaning treatment visit when a more thorough assessment is undertaken. You will be informed if more treatment is required than initially anticipated.
The treatment each individual needs is based upon evidence based practice guidelines as set out by our profession. Reassessment intervals and follow up treatment follow these same guidelines. Unfortunately, it is not always the case that Health Insurance rebates will cover as well as hoped, the costs of treatment that is required. You may even hear: “you are not allowed more than 2 cleans a year” according to your Health Fund. The correct version of that is: “you may not be insured for all of the treatment that you require to return your mouth to a healthy state”. Whilst we will do all we can to maximise the benefits you can legitimately claim from your health fund for the treatment you need, our main focus is on ensuring that you receive the best treatment possible based upon well evidenced clinical guidelines rather that Health Fund rebate policies.
Halitosis (bad breath)
Causes
- Dental- poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease
- Dry mouth- caused by medications and/or stress
- Smoking- starves mouth of oxygen
- Foods- such as onions, eggs, garlic
- Other- systemic or underlying health issues, acid reflux
Symptoms
White coat on tongue
Thick stringy saliva
Metallic taste in mouth
Build up around teeth or food particles
Homecare treatment
- Brush 2x per/day for 2 minutes- make sure brushing all surfaces of each tooth. The harder to reach areas are the teeth that are more likely to trap food/ plaque, make sure you’re getting your toothbrush further back in your mouth.
- Spit and don’t rinse with toothpaste.
- Floss and/or use piksters once per day- make sure flossing either side of tooth below gum line.
- Remember to brush tongue once daily with toothbrush or tongue scraper.
- Use dry mouth products to assist with lubrication of soft tissues- such as biotene, Colgate dry mouth or oral 7 mouth rinse. Alternatively talk to GP about medications review.
- Chew sugar free gum to help with saliva production.
- Discuss smoking cessation with your GP
Dry mouth
Causes
- Dehydration– most common cause
- Medications– next most common cause medical conditions- diabetes, sjogrens syndrome
- Medical treatment- such as chemotherapy or radiation
- Lifestyle- caffeine consumption, smoking
Symptoms
Dry and sticky feeling in mouth
Mouth sores
Dryness in throat and on tongue
Burning or tingling of tongue
Problems with chewing, swallowing
Bad breath
Treatment
- Keep well hydrated with water
- Talk to GP in regards to medication review
- Chew sugar free gum
- If very dry- bicarb soda rinses ( ¼ teaspoon of bicarb in water, use as a mouthrinse)
- Brush regularly with a fluoride toothpaste- spit and don’t rinse.
- Use dry mouth products to assist with lubrication of soft tissues- such as biotene, Colgate dry mouth or oral 7 mouth rinse
Our Oral Health Therapists and Hygienists
Our Oral Health Therapists and Hygienists are tertiary trained, registered health professionals who are specially educated in working with you to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. They are an essential part of the Dental Centre Maroochydore team. Oral Health Therapists are also trained and experienced in conducting full dental examinations, x-rays, fillings and emergency treatments.
Children’s needsThey can look after all your children’s needs from general brushing/flossing techniques, preventative sealants and any restorative work that is required. Most importantly they take the time to patiently educate and motivate your children on how to manage their own oral health.
Tailored programThey work side by side with your dentist to individually tailor a preventative program that will help you maintain your teeth for life.
TechniquesThey will take the time to make sure you are confident with your brushing and flossing techniques. They will make recommendations that you are comfortable with and discuss with you any specific concerns you may have regarding your oral health.
Innovation for the highest hygiene standards
Innovation for the highest hygiene standards
Here at Dental Centre Maroochydore, if you have never had a cleaning treatment with a Dental Hygienist before, we are sure that you will be impressed with how thorough this treatment is. We use the Airflow Prophylaxis Master which is the latest innovation for the highest hygiene standards – it is a unique solution for caries, perio prevention and maintenance.
