Archives for November 2015

Here are several reasons why fillings may fall out :

1. Inadequate shape of the cavity: Once the decay has been removed, there is the need to judge which  of the remaining tooth parts are sound enough to resist for the long term. If not they will chip or break and leave new gaps for the bacteria to form a new cavity.
2. Attention to detail: The materials that are used to restore the tooth, have set conditions for a good outcome. In order to get a long lasting result we need to have good control on the moisture in the mouth and meticulously follow the manufacturer’s instructions. For example if saliva contaminates the cavity it will stop the adhesion of the filling to the tooth and it will easily fall out. That is one of the reasons why I use a rubber shield when I make fillings to isolate the tooth.
3.  Achieving the right bite: The way the teeth come together can overload a filling and cause it to break. Only by “checking the bite” and carving the right shape of the tooth, I can assure that the filling is in the right shape.
4. Choosing the right material: It takes experience and constant learning to know which material to use from the wide range of materials available. I use the materials made by renown companies which have been thoroughly studied, have a large volume of research backing them up and are regarded as top performers.

What to do when your filling comes out?

The first thing that you should do is remove it from your mouth so that you don’t accidentally swallow it or breathe it in. Usually  swallowing a filling is harmless, but if you accidentally breathe it into your lungs, it could cause a severe infection and would need to be remove.

Next, you should call us as soon as possible to make an appointment and have your tooth restored. Left untreated the tooth becomes a good trap for food which can cause harmful bacteria to accumulate and lead to more decay.  Until your appointment try to brush gently and carefully inside the hole where the filling was to remove all food debris.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006, if you suffer from a hole in your tooth or a loose filling.

1. Overcrowding – the genes that encode for the size of the teeth are different, from those who determine the size of the jaws. Which can lead to a mismatch between their sizes and teeth fighting for room in your jaw.
2. In our evolution there is a trend for the size of the jaws to get smaller. As an outcome people have smaller mouths to fit the same amount of teeth, and the third molars end up with not enough room to grow in properly.
3. If you had completed orthodontic treatment, sometimes the teeth get pushed back to make room for your front teeth. This treatment decreases the room for wisdom tooth to erupt. That is why many times following an orthodontic treatment there is need to have them removed.

When wisdom teeth get impacted, they may be trapped below your gum line, which can be very painful and lead to abscess formation and infection. Over the long run it can lead to decay and resorption of healthy teeth as well. On top of that the eruption of the wisdom teeth can cause the other teeth to shift and spoil a nice smile.

On occasion, if wisdom teeth are not monitored properly, their growth can result in a horizontal position or they develop lumps. They can also grow backward and eventually interfere with the opening and closing of your jaw.

Not all wisdom teeth need to be removed, for some there is enough room for them and no treatment is required. If your retained  wisdom teeth have not been removed, they will require continued monitoring.

Pain in the back of the jaw or swelling may indicate that your wisdom teeth are in need for attention. A simple set of X-rays will determine the extent and direction of growth. Please do not hesitate to contact us for advice about your wisdom teeth. We will be happy to examine and explain how your wisdom teeth are positioned and what options you have.

Instead whitening toothpastes, to obtain a change in tooth color, contain chemicals that help remove stains. These chemical are mostly abrasive materials that remove the deposits of tobacco, tea, coffee, food colors or other substances that stick to the teeth.  If used for prolonged periods of time or with much pressure on the brush, these toothpastes can strip the enamel layer off the tooth. This why frequently I encounter patients who tried the whitening toothpaste, have worn down the enamel layer, but did not achieve the level of whitening they were hoping for.

Since whitening toothpaste only cleans the enamel rather than changing the color of your teeth, one can use them to maintain the results achieved by the take home or in office whitening procedures.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006, for more information about tooth whitening.

Because our present way of dealing with the gum disease leads only to arresting its progression and we are unable to reverse the damage that has been caused, research is now focusing on developing a vaccine. The major challenges in  vaccine development are that in periodontitis there are many kinds of bacteria that join forces to elicit the disease, making the design of a vaccine very complex.

While the scientist are working hard to find a cure for periodontal disease, we need to continue and be very diligent in our oral hygiene to avoid the progression of gum disease and its effects on our health. Presently there is no replacement to brushing, flossing, interdental cleaning and periodical visits to the dentist. Left untreated the gum disease can cause irreversible destruction.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006, for more information about gum disease and the available treatment for it.

• Opalescence ready to go: Trays preloaded with whitening material, which do not require any lab impressions or even coming to the practice. What a great gift!
• Take home whitening: Custom Trays and 5 large 3gr. syringes of FGM whitening gel. This is the gold standard of tooth whitening.
• In office Teeth Whitening which is a great way to achieve a fast outcome.
• Touch up tooth whitening: For those who need to wind back time and achieve the results of their previous tooth whitening. We can either provide more whitening material or boost your teeth with an in office tooth whitening.

You can visit our website for more information about teeth whitening options. Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006, for your Teeth Whitening appointment!

In addition to it’s beneficial effects on gum disease, cheese is one of the healthiest snacks for your child’s teeth, since it helps fight cavities. Cheddar, Swiss cheese and Mozzarella, lead to more saliva secretion, which washes away debris and protects the teeth from acids that break down the enamel. This means that cheese can arrest the development of cavities, especially when eaten as a snack or at the end of a meal. Calcium and phosphorous found in cheese can re-build the enamel of your child’s teeth too.

So eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth too. Next time when you reach for a quick snack, choose some cheese, or a glass of milk, and remember with each bite, and every sip you are preserving your teeth for a lifetime of smiles and good oral health!

Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006, for more information about which dairy foods are best for keeping your teeth healthy.

Control what goes in your cart.

The best thing you can do for your family’s dental health is to bring home wholesome foods. Avoid processed foods and carbohydrates. Thankfully, over the past decade our culture has become more “carb conscious.” There are so many alternatives for healthy “snacks”, for example fresh fruits and vegetables. As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, bottled juice may have natural sugar, but that doesn’t mean it’s not doing damage to your teeth and fizzy drinks have acid added to them which makes them even more destructive.

Have your oral hygiene appliances handy.

Our patients love the clean feeling, at the end of their oral hygiene appointment and are happy to embark on a new road to better oral health. But sadly, when the floss or interdental brushes runs out, many of them will not go out and buy more. Please, please, buy extra toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss and interdental brushes and have them stocked in your home. The reason you stop, should not be, “I ran out of the brushes.” Everyone brushes with a different level of intensity, once your toothbrush shows the first sign of bent bristles, which, on average, is about every 3-4 months, there is the need to buy a new one. If you have had a history of gum disease, or space between your teeth, an interdental brush is an essential tool. For those in your family that have braces or fixed bridges, make sure you have plenty of the appliances they need, to clean out any trapped food and protect your investment.

Fluoride to fight decay.

It goes without saying that the healthiest thing you can drink is water. The question is where are you getting your water from? Our metropolitan water supply has fluoride in it, at the right level to fend off decay without causing damage to our health. But most bottled water is not fluoridated, which can be a real problem. If you have tank water, then you probably don’t have fluoride there too. Even if your water is fluoridated, there are some home water filtration systems that will actually remove the fluoride along with other minerals from your drinking water. Bottom line, supplementing your oral care routine with a once daily fluoride mouthwash is a great adjunct to the minimal amounts of fluoride you may be getting in your daily water supply. This added boost can go a long way toward strengthening your enamel and fighting off tooth decay.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006, for more information about, how to gain control of your oral health, avoid cavities or to have an examination to see if there are causes for concern.

Smiling is important for communicating with other people and to achieve a great career. Since it takes the average person just seven seconds to form a first impression of someone, it is important to put forward a great first impression when we are interviewing for a new role. The one thing which you can do to dramatically improve those first few seconds of meeting your interviewer it is to smile. You’ll come across as easy to talk to and enthusiastic about the opportunity, immediately.

There are a few simple steps that you can do to improve your smile:

1. Have your teeth cleaned – it will remove stains and stop the gums from bleeding.
2. Have your teeth whitened. – a bright smile is attractive.
3. Remove decay – when there are dark holes in the teeth, it gives an unpleasant impression.

Once you have taken these simple measures you will have a good reason to show off, your beautiful smile. Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006, for more advice and information about how to improve your smile.

When water fluoridation started more than 60 years ago, much research has been done before it was started and more research has been done ever since due to the concerns raised about it’s safety. The World Health Organization after it has examined the evidence, has published a report where it’s conclusion was that “Community water fluoridation is safe and cost-effective and should be introduced  and maintained wherever socially acceptable and feasible.” Water fluoridation is estimated to reduce tooth decay by 20- to 40 percent in children and adults.

Bottled and filtered water, may not contain any fluoride. The majority of bottled waters on the market does not contain optimal levels (0.7-1.2 ppm) of fluoride, according to the ADA. That is why many dental health specialists suspect bottled water’s increased popularity as the culprit behind rising rate of decay.

Because fluoride helps strengthen teeth, it is an important component of maintaining good oral health. So if bottled water is your water of choice, be sure to check the label to make sure that your brand contains fluoride. But simply drinking fluoridated water is not the magic ticket to healthy teeth. To keep your teeth for life it’s important to brush and floss daily, in addition to your daily fluoride intake and having a dental examination twice a year.

Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Kaufman or to call today Tooronga Family Dentistry, phone number 98227006, for more information about how to keep your teeth for life.