Tooronga Family Dentistry in Glen Iris

Smile Improvement Solutions – Whitening, Veneers, and More in Glen Iris

There are six ways Dr. Kaufman can improve the appearance of a smile with:

  1. Tooth Whitening can lighten your teeth by several shades for a fresh, bright smile. Whitening can be done in a single visit in our practice or gradually at home.
  2. Veneers can achieve a better and more profound change in the shape and color of the teeth. Veneers can mask stains, chips, and gaps to create a uniform, natural look.
  3. Straightening the teeth with aligners or braces. Clear aligners or traditional orthodontic braces can straighten crooked or crowded teeth for better function and appearance.
  4. Crowns and Bridges: These can fill the gaps of missing teeth and reinforce damaged teeth to achieve  symmetry of your smile.
  5. Implants will replace missing teeth without the need to compromise adjacent teeth.
  6. Comprehensive Smile Makeover which is a customized plan combining several treatments—like whitening, veneers, and orthodontics—for total transformation.

Today there is no need to be afraid to smile. With all the various solutions available, Dr. Kaufman had the knowledge and experience to provide you with a smile to be proud of. Please  ask Dr. Kaufman or schedule an appointment for a consultation to embark on your journey.

​

Esthetic Dentistry Principles – Balanced, Beautiful Smiles in Glen Iris

Esthetic dentistry is about achieving a balanced, attractive, and healthy smile that boosts confidence and often improves oral health beyond just cosmetic benefits. While cosmetic dentistry is only aimed at creating visually appealing teeth, with disregard to the comfort and function.

To create a pleasing smile, there are six key principles Dr. Kaufman will assess and enhance

  1. Smile Arc: The upper front teeth (maxillary incisors) should follow the curve of the lower lip when smiling, creating a pleasing and natural arc.

  2. Tooth Proportion and Symmetry: The central incisors are dominant and should have ideal size, shape, and symmetry relative to surrounding teeth.

  3. Gum Line and Health: Healthy, well-positioned gums that complement the teeth without excessive or uneven exposure enhance smile attractiveness.

  4. The Frame around the teeth: Avoid wide dark spaces on the sides of the smile to maintain fullness.

  5. Midline Alignment: The midline of the upper front teeth should align with the facial midline for balanced appearance.

  6. Tooth Color and Shape: Teeth should be white, without stains, and have natural anatomical shapes and contours.

To achieve it an esthetic smile Dr. Kaufman uses

  • Teeth Whitening: Brightens discolored teeth for a more radiant smile.

  • Porcelain Veneers: Thin shells applied to teeth to correct shape, color, and minor alignment issues.

  • Zirconium Crowns: Durable, natural-looking crowns to restore damaged teeth.

  • Dental Implants: Replace missing teeth with artificial roots and crowns.

  • Orthodontics: Align and straighten teeth to improve bite and aesthetics.

  • Gum Treatments: Adjust gum line and health to optimize appearance.

  • Tooth Contouring/Reshaping: Minor modifications to tooth edges for better symmetry and shape.

Achieving a stunning smile starts with contacting us  or schedule an appointment for a consultation.

What is the reason front teeth are not erupting in Glen Iris?

Frequently parents call or visit our practice, since the primary teeth of their child had fallen and the permanent adult teeth are not coming through. The most common reason for this are obstructions in the eruption path or teeth that have “lost their way”. Here are some common causes

  1. Lack of space – When the jaws are too small for the size of the teeth, when one permanent tooth erupts it causes the loss of two primary teeth. Crowded teeth tend to erupt on top of each other of behind the primary teeth giving rise to “shark teeth”.

  2. Obstructions in the path of the emerging tooth – Some times “extra” teeth or supernumerary teeth develop on top of the regular ones.  These teeth are common in the area where the upper central incisors should erupt and create a barrier.

  3. Abnormal tooth position or angulation – As a result of trauma to the teeth or wrongly shaped teeth the position of the teeth and their eruption path changes. This can lead the teeth to erupt into other  teeth or get stuck after loosing their way.

In addition to these common reasons, there genetic and systemic reasons. Children with ectodermal dysplasia, cleidocranial dysplasia or Down syndrome may have missing teeth. Children which had suffered from lack of nutrition, chronic illnesses, hypothyroidism, hypopituitarism, or rickets can have missing teeth or display delayed eruption.

If a tooth is missing or a permanent tooth had not erupted after 6 months of the primary tooth being shed, it is not normal. It requires an examination to determine what is the reason the permanent tooth is not erupting, please ask Dr. Kaufman or schedule an appointment for a consultation.

 

Good Oral Hygiene – Ways to Teach Young Kids to Brush

To keep your kids teeth healthy it’s important to set them up with smart, healthy habits while they’re young. Here are great tricks to help them master tooth brushing:

1.) Show and tell. Many young children are visual learners, so make sure you personally demonstrate healthy routines you want them to learn. Participate as often as you can.

2.) Use books and stories. Make sure kids know why good oral hygiene is important. There are many storybooks and online activities that can teach kids about germs and bacteria, and how brushing can keep them healthy. There are even smartphone apps to help teach about hygiene and track their efforts.

3.) Positive reinforcement. Keep a chart and reward your kids with star stickers every time they properly demonstrate good oral hygiene. Incentivize them further by offering a reward when they collect a certain number of stickers.

4.) Make it a song.  Tooth brushing should last at least 2 minutes. Find a song that’s this length to play while your kids are brushing, or use a bathroom timer.

5.) Make it fun. There are a lot of ways you can make hygiene fun for kids. Buy them  toothpaste and toothbrushes with their favourite character or fragrance. Try fun activities like doing dances while brushing can make it hilarious.

6.) Stick to routines. Kids thrive on routines. By setting strict morning, night-time routines, good oral hygiene will eventually become an automatic response.

Have fun while brushing. For more ideas please ask Dr. Kaufman or schedule an appointment for a consultation.

What does tooth grinding tell about my sleep?

Most of us grind their teeth, but not all of us do it at the same times or for the same reasons.

Some of us, clench and grid their teeth at night during sleep, while others do it during the day. Tooth clenching and grinding during the day is usually related to stress or exercise. For those reasons it is important to check our jaw tension while driving our car, concentrating in our work or lifting weights. The best remedy for daytime clenching is to be aware of it and release the jaw. Stretching the jaw muscles will help release the tension and will reduce the damages. Another solution is to wear a mouthguard that will separate the teeth and absorb part of the pressure.

Night time bruxism or tooth clenching happens for different reasons. It is usually triggered by a difficulty to breathe or by certain medications. It is important to find the reason to the night grinding, since it can be related to sleep apnoea, reduced quality of sleeping and snoring. Many times clenching and grinding that happens during sleeping hours goes unnoticed. Since we are asleep and even if we have a partner, they will be asleep at that time too.  Please click to see Dr. Kaufman in Glen Iris, so he can examine the condition of your teeth and explain what are your options to protect your teeth and prevent the damages of tooth grinding.

Fast orthodontic treatment with aligners in Glen Iris

Achieve a Beautiful Smile Faster with Clear Aligners

It’s an amazing feeling to enjoy a straight, confident smile — and it’s even better when it happens faster. Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, can help you achieve beautifully straight teeth more quickly than traditional braces.

How Clear Aligners Save Time

Clear aligners can shorten orthodontic treatment in several ways compared to conventional braces:

  1. No need for initial wire alignment
    Traditional braces rely on metal wires, which require all teeth to be aligned on the same plane before treatment can properly begin. Aligners, on the other hand, can move teeth efficiently even when they start at different levels, reducing the initial alignment phase.

  2. Early use of elastics (rubber bands)
    With braces, rubber bands can only be introduced after the wire gains enough strength. Aligners allow elastics to be used from the beginning of treatment, helping speed up bite correction.

  3. Advanced acceleration technology
    Clear aligners can be paired with modern vibration-based devices that stimulate faster tooth movement. Research has shown that these systems can reduce total treatment time by more than 50 percent compared to Invisalign treatment alone.

Why Choose Clear Aligners

Clear aligners not only straighten teeth faster but also offer a comfortable, discreet, and removable solution. They make maintaining oral hygiene easier and allow you to enjoy your favourite foods throughout treatment.

To begin your journey to a confident, radiant smile, please click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kaufman in Glen Iris. Dr. Kaufman holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Clear Aligner Therapy and has extensive experience helping patients achieve stunning results through personalised aligner treatment.

Are wisdom teeth important in Glen Iris?

Wisdom Teeth: Understanding Their Role and When to Remove Them

Wisdom teeth are the last set of teeth to erupt in the mouth, usually appearing in the late teens or early twenties. In many cases, there isn’t enough space in the jaw for them to come through properly. As a result, the wisdom teeth may only partially erupt or remain trapped beneath the gums, known as impaction. These are common reasons why many wisdom teeth require removal.

However, not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted. When they grow in the correct position, they can play a useful role in the mouth. Properly aligned wisdom teeth help in chewing and grinding food and provide additional structural support to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

In some cases, wisdom teeth can even replace missing or damaged molars. For example, if a molar has been lost and space is available, orthodontic treatment can sometimes be used to shift other teeth, allowing the wisdom tooth to move into that position naturally.

Before deciding to remove any wisdom tooth, it is important to have a thorough examination to determine whether it can serve a useful function, replace a missing tooth, or support jaw alignment.

If you are experiencing discomfort or would like your wisdom teeth assessed, please click here to contact us and book an appointment with Dr. Kaufman. We will examine your wisdom teeth and discuss the best approach to improve both the appearance and function of your mouth.

My child’s tooth is not erupting, what should I do in Glen Iris?

When Teeth Fail to Erupt: Causes and What to Do

When teeth fail to erupt, it is important first to determine whether the missing teeth are primary teeth (commonly called “baby teeth”) or permanent teeth (sometimes called “adult teeth”). Age plays a key role in identifying which type of teeth are affected.

Understanding Baby Teeth

Baby teeth usually erupt between 4 and 6 months of age. By around age three, all 20 primary teeth are typically present in a toddler’s mouth. The first to appear are usually the lower front teeth (incisors), followed by the upper ones.

When baby teeth are missing, it may appear as delayed eruption or large spaces between existing teeth. Because baby teeth start forming while the child is still in the womb, missing primary teeth are quite rare.

Possible Causes of Missing Baby Teeth

  • Complications during pregnancy

  • Premature birth

  • Genetic or developmental factors

If your child’s baby teeth are failing to appear on time, Dr. Kaufman can examine their mouth to determine whether teeth are developing correctly and identify any underlying issues.

When Permanent Teeth Don’t Erupt

Permanent teeth usually begin replacing baby teeth around the age of six. The first to be replaced are often the lower front teeth—the same ones that erupted first.

If permanent teeth fail to emerge, the most common reasons include:

  • Obstructions in the eruption path, such as a retained primary tooth or an extra tooth (odontoma)

  • Missing teeth (agenesis), where the tooth simply hasn’t developed

When an obstruction blocks the eruption path, the issue can often be corrected by removing the obstruction, allowing the permanent tooth to erupt naturally. If the teeth are missing entirely, further investigation is needed to understand the cause and to explore possible restorative or orthodontic treatment options.

Dr. Kaufman can assess whether the tooth is present beneath the gum line using diagnostic imaging and discuss suitable solutions—such as guided eruption, space maintenance, or tooth replacement options—to ensure a healthy smile and balanced bite.

Book a Consultation

If there are visible gaps in your child’s teeth or if you are concerned about delayed tooth eruption, please make an appointment with Dr. Kaufman for a detailed dental evaluation. Early assessment can help identify the cause and ensure proper dental development for your child.

Treatment for protruding teeth in Children in Glen Iris

Sticking out teeth, or an increased overjet, is a common issue affecting many children. This condition can arise due to pressure from the tongue pushing forward, habitual behaviors, or the way the jaws have grown.

Children with protruding front teeth face a higher risk of accidental fractures. A comprehensive European study found that children with an overjet larger than 3 mm are about twice as likely to experience dental injuries compared to those with smaller overjets. Hence, early correction is essential to protect teeth and improve function.

Treatment options include traditional braces and clear aligners. The choice depends on factors such as:

  • Cost: Braces often cost less than aligners.

  • Hygiene: Aligners are removable for better cleaning, whereas braces require more detailed oral hygiene.

  • Complexity: Braces are preferred for more complex cases.

  • Aesthetics: Aligners are virtually invisible; braces are more noticeable.

  • User habits: Aligners can be lost if removed frequently; braces are fixed.

  • Eating: Aligners must be removed before meals.

Once treatment is planned, protruding teeth are gently repositioned to correct alignment. If your child has sticking out teeth, please make an appointment with Dr. Kaufman in Glen Iris to evaluate and start timely treatment.

Professional Teeth Whitening in Glen iris

Teeth whitening performed under the supervision of a dentist is one of the most effective ways to improve the color and brightness of your smile. While it has become very popular, many people are unaware of the potential risks and limitations of whitening treatments. Not everyone’s teeth are suitable for whitening, and if your teeth or gums are not healthy, the procedure may cause more harm than good.

The safest way to find out if teeth whitening is right for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kaufman. During your appointment, we will check important factors such as enamel thickness, gum health, existing restorations like fillings, crowns, and veneers). We also examine the cause of discoloration—whether it comes from diet, ageing, medications, or internal factors.

While teeth with surface stains may respond well to whitening, deeper internal discoloration might require different treatment options.

How Teeth Whitening Works

Professional teeth whitening uses oxidising agents such as hydrogen peroxide to alter how the tooth surface reflects light. Used correctly, this process safely brightens the enamel. However, repeated or improper use over long periods can cause irreversible damage to teeth.

There are two main whitening methods:

  • Take‑home whitening trays: Custom trays made by your dentist for controlled use over 1–2 weeks.

  • In‑chair whitening: A dentist applies the whitening gel in one or two visits, sometimes using light or heat to accelerate the results.

What to Expect During and After Treatment

Some patients experience a mild “bubbly” sensation or slight tooth discomfort during the application. Temporary sensitivity may occur after treatment, especially when biting. These effects typically subside within a few days. If sensitivity persists, please contact us.

How to Maintain Whiter Teeth

To keep your smile bright for longer, reduce daily staining from foods and drinks. Stains can come from plaque, tannins, tobacco, and colored foods. Common sources of staining include:

  • Herbal or black tea

  • Coffee

  • Red wine

  • Spicy foods such as curries

Smoking also causes persistent surface stains that are difficult to remove. For best results, any visible stains should be cleaned professionally before whitening. To get started, schedule an appointment with us today and restore the natural brightness of your smile.