Why do my gums bleed when I floss or brush?

If you are experiencing bleeding when you brush or floss; it is most often a symptom of gum disease, Gingivitis. Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums as a result of an overgrowth of plaque bacteria at the margin where the tooth and gum meet and just under the gum margin. The bleeding is a symptom of gingivitis and is one of the ways your body lets you know there is something wrong. Bleeding can also be a sign of periodontitis, which is more advanced gum disease that involves the structures surrounding the tooth such as the root surface and the bone. Gingivitis is a reversible condition. Periodontitis is not reversible: however in some cases the progression can be arrested and then maintained through rigorous oral hygiene home care and regular visits to your dentist. In advanced cases often a specialist Periodontist will take over treatment management.

How much will it cost?

Our aim is for your mouth to be healthy and stable so your teeth last a lifetime with a minimum of worries. That’s why we recommend an oral health examination every 6 to 12 months to try and avoid major problems and cost. Please call our receptionists if you got any queries about costs and they will guide you.

Our goal is to provide you with an exceptional quality of care at an affordable price. Dentistry in this day and age is not cheap but with routine dental examinations and good home care, you can help reduce the overall cost to you and your family.

Will my Health fund cover the cost?

Health fund rebates vary considerably depending on the fund involved, the level of cover and the type of treatment received.

The rebates given by the funds are generally based on a percentage of an average of fees charged for each service across the entire dental profession. The rebate is usually a fixed amount and may not take into account variations of treatment complexity between different patients or frequency of use.

What is a Preferred provider?

Your Health fund may have suggested to you that if you see a Preferred Provider dentist, you ‘may’ only have to pay a small amount, or nothing at all for treatment.

In simple terms, A Preferred Provider Dentist is one who agree to not charge above a certain amount but that doesn’t mean it’s free as everyone’s level of health cover is different. So how much your health fund will cover depends on how much Dental is included in your extras portion of your cover. We have the Electronic HICAPS system which means that when we swipe your health fund card, you can claim your rebate on the spot.

At Maroondah Dental Care ; we believe in being fair and so our charges are not high and we make sure that our clients are not at a disadvantage from coming to us and so we ensure that you wont have to pay anymore than if you had visited a Preferred provider. We are Preferred providers of some funds but not everyone’s as they have their ‘’quotas’’ for each region. But rest assured we offer good value for money and you get the personalized service you wish for.

Are your instruments clean and sterile?
They sure are! There is a section on this website where we have elaborated on our Steri room and facilities. If you are interested, ask us for a tour and we would be happy to show how serious we are with Sterilization protocols and following Australian standards of the same.
Should I change my Amalgam (Silver) fillings to white fillings?
Recent Media reports suggests that mercury in amalgam leaks into the body and causes health problems. We as Dentists want the best for our patient’s health and are only guided by proven and reliable sources of information; not by media hype.

The use of amalgam continues to be supported by Australian Dental Association who are very careful and precise in their policies for dental practitioners and would not continue to support a material that is harmful to the general population. They are unbiased in their conclusions as they have no financial benefits from the same.

At Maroondah Dental Care , we don’t generally do Amalgam fillings but saying so that’s not a good reason for us to suggest and change a Silver filling which is intact and functional as we are not achieving anything there. If the existing amalgam fillings fail or fracture, we will discuss about different options then.

What are Fissure sealants?
Fissure sealants are a plastic coating which covers the chewing surfaces of the adult and in some cases baby back teeth. It forms a barrier preventing food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves on the chewing surface thereby preventing decay. It’s the easiest of procedures and completely painless.
Do you Bulk bill for Medicare related schemes?
YES: we bulk bill for the CHILD DENTAL BENEFIT SCHEME (CDBS) for those who are eligible. As per Medicare rules ; we have to check the eligibility each time you come for a visit and so make sure you have your Medicare card with you when you come in.

We also Bulk bill VETERANS AFFAIRS schemes as well.

What do I do if a tooth is knocked out?
Firstly find the tooth and make sure it is still intact. Be careful when handling the tooth and only touch the crown (top portion) of the tooth, never the root. The root surface has a membrane which is very delicate and it is extremely important not to damage it, as this will decrease the success of saving the tooth.

If you are uncomfortable inserting the tooth on your own, make sure to bring the tooth to the dentist in saline, milk or saliva as soon as possible. Avoid drying the tooth out. Water is not recommended. For an adult, you may place the tooth between the cheek and gum in the mouth (be careful not to swallow the tooth though!)

If you can insert the tooth, gently push the tooth back into the socket and hold it there with light pressure. You still need to see a dentist to assess and decide on further treatment if needed.

Studies have shown if the tooth is replaced within 30 minutes, there is an 85% chance the tooth will survive.

Prevention is the best policy. Make sure Mouth guards & protective gear are worn for contact sports; also Helmets worn while cycling, skateboarding and skiing

Why is it important to floss?
Brushing our teeth helps remove food and plaque from the surfaces of the teeth it reaches but not in between the teeth. So essentially if you brush your teeth but don’t floss them, you are only cleaning half of your tooth and the other half not at all. As any dentist would tell you, “Only Floss the teeth you want to keep!”

In some cases, using interdental brushes can be more effective which we will advise you on.

How often should I have my teeth cleaned by a dentist?
Research shows that regular professional cleaning may reduce the risk of dental caries (cavities) and periodontal (gum) diseases and most people like to have their teeth cleaned once or twice a year. Some dental conditions require more frequent monitoring and intervention; some require less. How often you go depends on your personal dental health needs. Your dentist will discuss this with you.
At what age should I bring my child in for dental checkup?
Initial visits are about getting children accustomed to the dental environment and so the earlier the better. We have seen children as young as 7months with only one tooth! The initial dental visits is not about doing treatment. It’s to get rid of the Dentist fear and thereby making them great dental patients when they get older!

Also the initial visits is about educating the parents about oral hygiene practices, discuss diet/eating habits and assessing how their teeth are erupting and any future teeth/jaw position abnormalities which may need early intervention.

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