Patient Care

Of course, it’s essential that you maintain regular continuing care appointments - every four to six months, or as recommended by your dentist and dental hygienist. And it’s essential that you know how to care for your oral health and hygiene between visits. Here’s some information on the many preventive dentistry services we provide to maintain your oral health.

Soft Tissue Maintenance

Good oral health and hygiene is as concerned with your gums as it is with your teeth. After all, your gums are the foundation of your smile and bite. Soft tissue maintenance and periodontal analysis (regularly monitoring the health of your gums) are at the heart of preventive dentistry.

Your dentist will help you to prevent periodontal disease and maintain healthy gums and bone structure. We’ll recommend which oral hygiene products to use and show you how to use them. And we’ll teach you how to keep an eye out for warning signs of gum disease. Thorough soft tissue maintenance will help you keep your natural smile for life.

Caring for your oral health
and hygiene at home

• What you do between visits to the dentist is just as important as the many procedures we perform in the practice. There are many different products and procedures you can use to care for your oral health between visits to the Cosmetic & Implant Dental Clinic.
• Please ask us at your next visit about any concerns or queries you might have:
  • choosing the right toothbrush, toothpaste and floss
  • correct brushing and flossing procedures
  • plaque and tartar prevention
  • caring for sensitive teeth
  • mouth rinses
  • fluoride treatments
  • preventing a dry mouth
  • keeping your breath fresh
  • specialised products and procedures
  • bleeding gums and other warning signs
  • diet and nutrition advice

Stopping Smoking

Smoking is one of the worst things you can do to your mouth. it is the leading cause of oral cancer. And it aggravates every oral health condition known to man. Smokers, for instance, have a much higher risk of periodontal disease. What’s more, it discolours your teeth and makes your breath smell. Our dentists have specialist training in smoking cessation procedures. If you’d like some help to stop smoking, just ask.

Flouride Treatments

Fluoride is one of the best methods of preventing tooth decay. We recommend a fluoride toothpaste for all of our patients. Many of our patients also benefit from regular intensive fluoride treatments as part of their continuing care.

The fluoride pastes and varnishes we apply at the Cosmetic & Implant Dental Clinic boost your teeth’s resistance to decay. If your teeth have “soft spots” or signs of early decay, a regular fluoride treatment will help to strengthen these vulnerable areas.

Fissure Sealants

Most adults today have the odd molar filling. Many have a mouth full of molar fillings. This is testament to the fact that molar fissures - the small grooves in the surface of the molar - are highly susceptible to plaque build-up and subsequent decay. Many kids today have no fillings. This is largely due to fissure sealants. Fissure sealants create a protective layer over the surface of the molar - effectively sealing the molar fissures, and preventing plaque and decay. Today at the Cosmetic & Implant Dental Clinic, we recommend fissure sealants for many patients - children and adults alike.

We offer a variety of dental sealants, both fluoride and resin-based. They don’t last forever, but they’re easy to replace. And they’re far preferable to a cavity and filling. With a dental sealant in place, you can be sure the tooth surface underneath is healthy, safe and sound.

Saliva Testing

Healthy saliva is essential for a healthy mouth. It plays an essential role in protecting our teeth and gums by neutralising the acids produced by eating and drinking. Healthy saliva production is highly susceptible to various medications and lifestyle factors. This can result in dry mouth, bad breath, difficulty eating and a variety of oral health problems.

Saliva testing - analysing saliva production, pH (acidity) and buffering (the ability to neutralise acids) - can help us identify a variety of oral health concerns before they become problems. It’s the simplest procedure and provides a wealth of valuable information.

Dietary analysis and advice

We are what we eat. And it’s our mouths that do the eating. The foods and drinks we consume - and the manner in which we consume them - have a major impact on our oral health. With dietary analysis, we can identify potential problem eating and drinking habits, and advise you on how to minimise the effects. It’s not about getting you to give up your little indulgences, but rather identifying healthier ways to eat, drink and be merry.

We ask you to keep a three-day record of everything you eat and drink, taking in at least one day on the weekend. We analyse the results, and advise you on healthier eating and drinking habits. Now there’s some food for thought!