Archives for May 2016

Over time fillings can break down, decay can start to form around them or soreness can develop in the tooth beneath the filling. All these symptoms require the replacement of a filling since there may be a void between the filling and the tooth that can harbor more bacteria, which then reach the pulp and create an abscess.
Other reasons for replacing fillings are:

• Avoiding the appearance of the dark color amalgam gives to the teeth. This is caused by the migration of metal ions from the filling material to the surrounding tooth.
• The need to treat a cracked tooth.
• One has concerns about the mercury in the fillings.
• The desire to have a natural looking filling.
• A filling has come off and needs to be replaced.

Amalgam as a filling material.

In the last century, the common solution for fixing a hole in a tooth was, an amalgam metal filling. These black or silver fillings were made by mixing a powder of copper, tin and silver with liquid mercury into a metal alloy. The reason for the wide us of amalgam in the past was its high strength, durability and ease of use. However over time amalgam has several detrimental effects on the tooth. Amalgam, even when fully set has the ability to expand and contract when exposed to changed in temperature and it rusts or becomes oxidized, these two properties create pressure on the remaining tooth structure and lead to the formation of cracks. In the image it is shown how a large amalgam filling broke a whole side of a tooth. Due to the negative impact amalgam has on the tooth structure and the unaesthetic appearance of the fillings, many people have chosen to have their amalgam fillings removed and have them replaced with tooth colored fillings instead.

Thanks to new developments in filling materials, now we can offer a much wider choice in materials. The new filling materials include Composite resin (White filling), Porcelain, Zirconium and Gold, each one of these materials has different advantages. If you are in need of a filling or tooth restorations  Dr. Kaufman can explain that differences between the various types of filling materials and recommend, which are the most suitable materials for your tooth. Please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006 to make an appointment.

Why does coffee stain teeth?

Your teeth may look smooth, but on a close examination the enamel is made up of long crystal rods, that have small pits and grooves between them. If your teeth have been traumatized, chipped, worn or you are grinding your teeth, more cracks and chips develop. Stains from food, beverage such as coffee or red wine or smoking, can get trapped into the enamel imperfections. Plaque on the teeth, can also retain the stains on top of the enamel. The long term effect, of the accumulation of fine stained particles leads to yellowing of the teeth and the creation of thin dark lines.

How to avoid a “Coffee Smile”?

• It is unthinkable to give up coffee, tea, or other tooth-staining beverages, but it is the best way to prevent the staining. Since the depth of tooth staining is linked to the amount of time the coffee particles spend on our teeth, reducing frequency of the coffee intake or having it go down fast, can dramatically reduce the amount of coffee staining. While, sipping slowly on a cup of coffee over a few hours, will cause a fast and profound staining.
• Another way to reduce the staining is to have a good oral hygiene, decreasing the available plaque and calculus for the stains to deposit themselves in. Keeping your teeth clean with professional scaling and cleaning and daily brushing and flossing, prevents the build up of stained plaque on the teeth.
• Drink staining drinks through a straw, it may not work for hot coffee and look strange with red wine. But when one has ice coffee or a soft drink it can be the way to go, to prevent tooth staining.
• It may take away some of the pleasure away, but cleaning your teeth after drinking coffee or other staining drinks, will remove the stains before they manage to penetrate deeper.
• Don’t smoke.

If after you have taken these steps the pearly whites are not as bright as they used to be then you may need to consider tooth whitening. There are 3 different ways to whiten your teeth:

• Home whitening kits for professional Tooth Whitening : We offer a specially designed tray system that is custom made for your mouth. It keeps the whitening gel close to the right areas of the teeth to ensure the best result with the minimum amount of sensitivity. You get to choose how white the teeth will be an the real advantage of our system is the ability to re-whiten the teeth in the future if the effect wears off over time.
• Whitening toothpaste or mouth rinse: There are many products available on the market for tooth whitening, some use hard abrasives to “scrape off” the stained enamel and some contain low concentrations of peroxide. These solutions are mildly effective for short periods of time, since the depleted enamel layer will give way to the yellow dentin, that will show through over time, making the tooth look yellow.
• In Office professional Tooth Whitening : This treatment gives the fastest results, after one to two appointments the teeth will be brighter in the comfort of our practice without an effort. We use a special system that has very little sensitivity to create a beautiful smile in a safe and predictable way, while you watch a video or listen to music.

It is important to remember thаt teeth which are covered with crowns or fillings dо nоt rеѕроnd tо tooth whitening. If you have crowns or large fillings, once you are happy with the color of your teeth achieved with tooth whitening, for a great result we can replace the discolored crowns or fillings to match. If you would like to know more about tooth whitening, please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006.

• Jaw stretching – you can stretch jaw muscles by gently opening and closing your mouth repeatedly. This activity works in the same way that you would perform muscle stretches in the gym, only you are exercising the muscles around your jaw. It is important not to exaggerate and open your mouth too far. Use caution, not to force your mouth open. If you feel pain when you do this exercise, stop and give your jaw muscles a chance to stretch and get accustomed to this workout.
• Shoulders, neck and head exercises –The jaw muscles are connected to the neck, head, or shoulders. Exercising the muscles in these parts of your body will increase their flexibility and provide better support for your head and neck. Start with shoulder rolls, both forward and backward, as well as head tilt and rolls. Start doing these exercises for just a few minutes each day and then gradually build up as your strength and flexibility grows. Always pay attention to your body and if pain levels are increasing, stop and speak with Dr. Kaufman Daniel or your medical doctor before you proceed.

When TMJ exercises and stretches aren’t enough it is important to remember that the pain and the disabling immobility that is often associated jaw joint disease may require more treatment. You may need to combine your exercise program with other treatments such as the use of a hard occlusal splint to keep your jaw in the right position and protect your teeth, while you sleep. While it is certainly important for you to do whatever is necessary to get the relief that you need, TMJ exercises are one more option for you to use. If you feel a stiff jaw or pain when you open your mouth, please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006 for an examination.

1. Bake

Grab your apron and your chocolate leftovers, it’s time to whip up a great dessert. Chocolate is not only delicious, it’s one of the sweets that has little impact on your teeth. It dissolves quickly in the mouth, decreasing the amount of time the sugar stays in contact with the teeth. You can even try these great recipes. If your taste buds crave white chocolate cookies, use our cranberry and white chocolate cookies recipe, or try our Halloween recipes.

2. Create

It’s time to let that great creative mind of yours make masterpieces! Make a candy mosaic or edible jewelry. Any candy with a colored coating is great for painting. To get the colors off, for your drawing, dip pieces of candy into small bowls of water and then brush them on to your creation. For more great activities with candy use this advice from Education world.

3. Educate

With Candy and Math games  kids can learn math and engineering principles without even noticing. Young children can start practicing patterns and counting, while older children can build candy castles, robots and racing cars.

The team at Tooronga Family Dentistry wishes you have a great after party with these candy activities. Have fun!

1. Avoid foods and beverages that contain staining particles. Coffee, red wine, soft drinks, tea, and cranberry juice are the common reasons teeth get stained.  Soy sauce and blueberries can also stain your teeth. Try and keep their consumption to a minimum.
2. Avoid smoking. The smoke contains small tar particles that make their way into the teeth.
3. Use a straw to drink staining beverages. Drinking from a straw reduces the exposure of the teeth to the staining liquid.
4. Rinse with water well after having acidic food and beverage. Acids can dissolve the outer tooth layer, the enamel, and make it rough. This way stains will get caught in the rough spots creating dark patches on your tooth.
5. Brush your teeth immediately after eating. It will prevent the accumulation of stains on the teeth.
6. Eat apples or raw vegetables after having staining food or beverage.  The abrasive food will clean the tooth surfaces.
7. Keep your tooth brush in a great shape. This way you can be sure that you will get a good clean every time you brush.
8. Avoid using lipstick colors that make your teeth seem yellow. The contrast between a red lipstick with a  blue undertone and the color of your teeth, can highlight yellow tones. Try different shades of lipstick under the same lighting you have at work, to see which one gives your teeth the best frame.
9. Choose off-white clothing. Bright white clothing near the face, makes teeth appear more yellow that they really are. This can be very important for brides or those selecting an outfit for a photo session.
10. Have a professional whitening treatment. There is a large number of over-the-counter whitening toothpastes, gels, trays, and strips. But while they are inexpensive, they are not as effective as the materials available to Dr. Kaufman. The over the counter products act by removing the stains rather than by changing the color of teeth.  Used excessively the over the counter products can damage and deplete the enamel layer.

A beautiful bright smile can make a great impression. There are many underlying causes for the color of your teeth and each problem has a different solution.  For example a root canal treatment or medications can discolor your teeth. This kind of discoloration will not change after using an over the counter product. On the contrary, whitening the adjacent teeth will only outline the darker tooth.

Whitening may not be for you if you have crowns or fillings. This is why it is important to have your teeth examined, to find what is the best way for you to achieve a bright smile. Dr. Kaufman at Tooronga Family dentistry can provide you with individualized recommendations based on the results of your dental exam and match the right whitening treatment for you. If you would like to know more about tooth whitening, please call Tooronga Family Dentistry, Phone number 98227006