At many stages of your life your dental health can be compromised resulting in tooth decay or gum disease. It is important that you look after your teeth from an early age to avoid dental health complications later in the future.This includes making sure that you maintain good dental hygiene practices including brushing your teeth at least twice a day, flossing at least once, using a good fluoride mouthwash and maintaining a healthy diet minimising sugary sweets, chocolates and fizzy drinks as much as possible to keep your teeth healthy and strong. It is also important that you visit your dentist at least twice a year and that you visit your hygienist as often as you have been recommended. Most people need to visit the hygienist once every 6 months in the same way they do their dentist, whilst others who have excellent dental health may only need to visit the hygienist once a year. Patients who are more prone to developing plaque and tartar on the teeth or suffer from gum disease should visit the hygienist at least once every 3 months for optimal dental health.
Gum disease
If you have red, swollen or tender gums which bleed when you brush them then it is important that you notify your dentist. Other symptoms which you should not ignore is if you notice that your gums are receding or if you suffer from bad breath that does not go away. You may be suffering from gum disease and this needs to be treated sooner rather than later to prevent tooth loss. If you avoid the dentist then eventually you will notice that your teeth are becoming loose or separating from one another until they fall out. Often you may find that you develop pain and discomfort that is unbearable and have to visit the dentist on an emergency basis and have teeth extracted. If this is the case then you may be relieved from the pain and discomfort, however this could be the beginning of a range of other complications. You need to speak to your dentist and find out about replacing your missing teeth sooner rather than later.
Replacing missing teeth
You need to find out about dental implants Melbourne. Dental implants are the most efficient method of tooth replacement. Your dentist will most likely recommend you wait approximately 3 months for the area to heal before you are ready for dental implant surgery. In this time it is important that you maintain excellent dental hygiene to prevent any further issues. Your dentist will find out about your medical history or any medication that you were taking to determine whether dental implants are suitable for you. If so, once the area has healed you will be booked in for the surgery. The surgery itself is carried out under local anaesthetic and sedation or general anaesthetic depending on how you feel about the appointment. The implant will be inserted into your jaw and within 4 to 6 months you will be able to replace your missing teeth.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
