Today all the forms of cosmetic and implant dentistry occupies the large majority of the procedures our practice carries out.  Even when I started out in implant dentistry in 1993- we had to wait 6 months or longer after surgery to restore an implant.  With all the changes I have seen the one that has amazed me the most is one called “All – On – 4”.

This procedure allows us to extract all our patients failing or loose teeth and replace them with new teeth fixed to implants the same or next day.

Even now I’m still stunned that a patient walks in with broken down teeth in their mouth and they can walk out later that day with a beautiful new smile and the ability to eat things they haven’t for years. The streamlining of this process and the use of only 4 implants in each arch has dramatically reduced the cost of full implant rehabilitation to about ½ of what it used to be before this procedure was available.

Despite all the incredible technical aspects of this treatment the best part of this whole procedure are our patients reactions when they first see and feel their new teeth. That initial reaction and the ability to change the quality of people’s lives is the most rewarding part of this amazing profession.

Jeff Albert

When you visit the dentist its is very important to let us know the following

• you have any allergies
• Have you had any artificial joint replacement as the treatment we perform can increase your risk of infection for a period of time after
• Are you taking any medications, for example certain medications such as anti-depressants can not be used with certain local anaesthetics
• Do you have a heart condition
• If you are pregnant
• If you have a pacemaker
• Are suffering from any type of illness

All of the above can affect your whole body and how your mouth responds to plaque and bacteria, it can also affect the way we provide treatment and the way a patient responds. It is very important to tell your dentist anything about your medical history no matter how small it may seem, it allows us the get the whole picture of your health and provide the best care possible.

What a thought! Disease producing agents can occur if cross infection control in our practice is taken lightly.  Not everyone thinks that it is an important part of each day.  If we do not follow the correct protocols and we compromise some areas, then it can lead to very serious consequences for everyone involved, between patient to staff, staff to patient and room to room,

I take pride knowing that as a dental assistant, wherever I may be working, my cross infection control is always up to standard and it coincides with protocols in which I have been trained.  Jeff is one of the very few dentists whom I have worked for in the past 20 years who makes sure that all members of staff understand and adhere to our protocols.

This is how much Jeff cares for his patients and staff.

I always want to work in a place where cross infection control is highly respected and up to standard.

THANK YOU SDP!!!

1. Gently brush your teeth twice daily with a toothpaste containing fluoride
2. Floss daily
3. Stray from beverages that are high in acidity such as fizzy drinks
4. Refrain from biting down on hard objects or foods
5. Have plenty of calcium in your diet
6. Wear a night splint to protect from clenching and grinding
7. Rinse your mouth out with water after eating or drinking sugary foods

My reasons for choosing to start Invisalign are both cosmetic and functional. I’m not ashamed to admit I crave the perfect straight smile, but the health of my teeth is even more important to me. I am a bruxist, which means I clench and grind my teeth. As time progresses, I am beginning to notice small chips on my teeth and added pressure to some teeth which have moved. Invisalign will not only make my teeth look great, it will also correct my bite function which will allow even pressure over all my teeth thus reducing the stress and risk of further breakdown.

We got the ball rolling last week when Tabitha took my photographs and impressions and I had my OPG xray taken at our local radiographers. The impressions were a little uncomfortable for me due the position of my teeth but nothing I couldn’t handle! These were then sent to Invisalign along with a prescription from Dr Albert the specific requirements for my individual case. I will then receive a 3D animation of how my teeth look now to how they will look at the end of treatment. (Approx 3 weeks from now) It will also give me an idea of how long the treatment will take. This is called the ‘Clincheck’ and I love this part!! The visual aid of seeing how your teeth will look at the end of treatment is a great asset to the decision making process!

So as I impatiently wait for my Clincheck to be developed, I hope this information has been useful to those of you who are considering Invisalign! I look forward to sharing my Clincheck animation with you in my next Blog!

Michelle Gordon
Practice Manager

Smile for the camera everyone! These are the words that many people fear most and try to avoid when they are at a party or out with friends. It was not until I started working in Dental when I realized the amount of people out there that are extremely unhappy with the state of their teeth. The tragic realization is that a lot of people choose to do nothing about their teeth and continue to walk around refusing to smile.
Technology has changed and dentists are able to do so many amazing things: people with large gaps between their teeth, chipped or broken teeth or even missing teeth can enjoy beautiful, fuller smiles.

I have found my time here at Sydney Dental Professionals to be very rewarding. A lot of our patients have had cosmetic and restorative work undertaken; seeing the before and after transformations of these patients you can see that it has not only changed their smile but their whole outlook on life. Dental work restores confidence and there is nothing more rewarding than seeing it unfold in our practice. So in future when you hear smile for the camera, don’t forget to say cheese!

“The door is so far and narrow from where I’m standing, it’s hard to push open and my hands are sweating. My mouth is dry and my knees are shaking. Door opens, lady at the desk knows my name, she’s friendly and smiles. Yes, today is my dental appointment.
How long will I wait? I don’t want to hear that noise, such a strong dental smell. Can they see my fears? Will they understand? Will the dentist listen, will he hear my concerns and is the treatment painful? Will he even care? What’s going to happen to me today? Oh no, that chair! The dentist is nice, his hands are gentle. He smiles and his assistant is lovely. He’s listening! And he wants to help me get over my fears, so I’m relieved.
I hadn’t noticed, my hands are dry, my knees have stopped shaking, my heart has stopped racing, and I’m in a good place.

Why am I scared of the dental surgery again?”

This is a very common question asked after attending a caring, pain free surgery. A common emotion will interfere from patients receiving proper dental care that is necessary to having healthy gums and teeth.
Patients that have a fear of attending a dental surgery can end up with gum disease, missing teeth, or abscesses in certain areas of the mouth if they do not attend regularly which can lead to more serious repercussions such as being hospitalised and even death.
In all the 20 years experience I’ve had as a dental assistant, the two most common fears is the unknown, and pain. There are a lot of ways now for patients to eliminate these fears. Dental surgeries have different ways of helping patients relax during dental treatment. Fear is an emotion that can be fixed. Dental treatment can now be stress and pain free.

We can overcome these fears if we end up in the right dental practice.

During pregnancy the extra hormones produced affect the way your gums reaction to plaque; in most cases they have an exaggerated response. Up to 70% of pregnant women develop gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) during pregnancy.

In some cases this can progress to periodontitis which is a more severe form of gum disease affecting both the gums and the bone that supports the teeth.

Pregnant women who develop periodontitis have an increased risk of

• Premature births and low birth weight
• Pre-eclampsia
• Pregnancy diabetes

A dental check-up in your pregnancy will help make sure your oral health is at its optimum and if possible a dental check -up before you plan to get pregnant is even better. Always tell your dentist and hygienist you are pregnant.
It is important to maintain good oral health during your pregnancy to not only prevent the development of gum disease, but to decrease decay causing bacteria in your mouth. This bacteria can be transferred after birth from mother to baby. By maintaining good oral health for yourself your child is also less likely to suffer early childhood decay.

Tabitha

A survey of 2044 people found only 49 per cent of people would seek medical advice within less than four weeks if they had a mouth ulcer. More than one in three (37 per cent) would seek medical advice within one-to-two months, and of even greater concern one in 14 people (seven per cent) would leave it longer than three months. The results are in stark contrast to other signs and symptoms of the disease. Almost three in every four people (71 per cent) would seek medical advice within four weeks if they had an unusual lump or swelling, and a similar amount (69 per cent) would do likewise if they noticed red and white patches in the mouth. The results make for worrying reading.

Chief executive Dr Nigel Carter OBE said: “it is of great concern that only half of the people know how long they should wait before seeking medical advice over a mouth ulcer. Early detection is absolutely crucial in transforming survival rates, and those leaving a mouth ulcer longer than 3 weeks are potentially risking a late diagnosis, something that reduces five-year survival rates to as low as 50 per cent. With the benefit if early diagnosis, survival rates can increase to up to 90 per cent.