General
Dental Hygiene & Gum Treatment
Plaque is a bacteria that builds up on teeth and is a natural reaction of eating, drinking, some medications, and the normal day to day function of our teeth. If not cleaned properly and regularly the plaque can calcify and harden, becoming tartar.
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The first stage of gum disease is caused by a build up of plaque and this can damage your gums causing gingivitis. Gingivitis is a painful condition and causes bad breath, although it is easily treated by a professional clean by your hygienist and ongoing home maintenance.
Smoking and excessive alcohol can increase the risk of the build up of tartar and gum disease.
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Advanced gum disease or periodontal disease can cause damage to your teeth and gums and can lead to loss of teeth.
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If you have red or swollen gums, bad breath, gum shrinkage, and/or a bad taste in your mouth you quite likely have periodontal disease. An assessment by your dentist should be made as soon as you detect any symptoms and early treatment can save further deterioration and risk of loss of teeth.
Treatment for periodontal disease depends on how advanced the disease has become. Usually your hygienist or dentist can treat you but in severe cases you may be referred to a specialist periodontist.
Mouthguards
Dental injuries can be prevented or minimised by simply wearing a well fitted mouthguard.
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If you or your child are involved in sport, such as football, hockey, or boxing you will already know the importance of wearing a mouthguard. However, accidents can happen in all sports, even the non-contact kind.
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A professionally made mouthguard can help you play at your best with breathing and speaking difficulties minimised and is much more comfortable than a pharmacy “one size fits all” type, which also can be dangerous during impact due to the fact that quite often they can be loose or ill-fitting.
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It is also important to have your mouthguard checked each season to make sure there are no cracks or damages.
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Mouthguards are available through us for a very reasonable price, and if you are in a health fund you may not have anything extra to pay at all.
Restorative
Crowns & Bridges
A crown is the top part of your tooth that you can see above the gum line. If your tooth is damaged or weakened you may require an artificial crown made to cover the existing tooth. Other reasons for having a crown are to improve appearance or to prevent damage to other surrounding teeth.
A bridge is a prosthetic device that replaces two or more teeth. To construct the crown or bridge an impression of both your upper and lower teeth are taken to make sure that the new crown or bridge is a perfect reproduction of your natural “bite”. This is then sent away to a lab technician who specialises in building crowns.​
​Your tooth is prepared to take the crown by reshaping your natural tooth. The dentist will numb your mouth so you will not feel any discomfort during the treatment. Impressions are taken again so the technician can make the crown to fit perfectly over the newly shaped tooth.
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A temporary crown is then fitted to your tooth and cemented with a temporary cement. During this time while waiting for your permanent crown you should avoid eating hard or chewy foods, as much as possible chewing on the other side of your mouth.
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The temporary crown is removed after a couple of weeks and replaced with the permanent artificial crown or bridge. Side effects of crowns or bridges are damage to the pulp of the tooth during the preparation for the crown.
The gum may become painful soon after the crown has been fitted, although this should resolve in a few days.​
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Sensation changes, and in some cases loosening of the crown after strong impact. In this case the crown or bridged can be recemented.
Root Canal
Root canal treatment is used to save damaged teeth from extraction. The benefits of having your own teeth are endless but your natural teeth are stronger and easier to maintain cleanliness. Usually your dentist can perform your root canal treatment but in some cases you may be referred to a specialist dentist called an Endodontist.
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The inside of the tooth is called the pulp. This is a structure of blood vessels and connective tissue and extends down to inside the root of the tooth. The pulp of the tooth can become infected or damaged due to a number of causes including trauma, gum disease, dental caries or a breakage. If the pulp goes untreated an abscess can occur which can in turn cause damage to the bone surrounding the root.
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During root canal treatment the affected nerve and infected tissue are removed to relieve the pain. An antibacterial medicine is inserted inside the root canal and filled with a core filling and then sealed.
Even though the tooth has been treated it may not be strong enough and your dentist may suggest the tooth be covered with a crown to strengthen and preserve the tooth.
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Possible side effects of root canal are:
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Loss of the affected tooth due to an unsuccessful root canal or wear and tear after a period of time.
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Infection, although this is likely to clear up soon after the treatment, there is a small chance of re-infection.
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Tooth discolouration, which can be treated with bleach to re-whiten the tooth, especially if it is a front tooth that has been treated.
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Discomfort, weakness, altered sensations and/or fracture.
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We will give you an estimate of the cost of root canal therapy and let you know how many visits you will need to have the treatment completed.
Dentures
Several factors can lead to tooth damage and sometimes loss. Your dentist may suggest extraction for you if your tooth is too badly damaged.
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Loss of teeth can affect your ability to chew normally, your facial appearance and even your speech. There are several options for replacing lost teeth. Dentures can be made as a partial denture if you have only some teeth missing or a full denture when you are missing all of your teeth. An over denture is another type of denture that is modelled to accommodate the remaining teeth. It is fitted by attaching to dental implants to anchor and secure the denture in place.
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During your first appointment for the fitting of your denture, your dentist will take an impression of your jaws and your bite to make sure the denture functions and fits perfectly.
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Your dentist may suggest you are fitted with an immediate denture which is fitted at the same appointment as your extractions to avoid any time without teeth.
The denture is made of an acrylic base and fitted with artificial teeth that are closely matched to your existing teeth or if you are having a full new denture you may like to choose the colour of your new teeth.
In the first few days you may experience a tight or crowded feeling in your mouth.
Your gums may be sore, you may have an excess of saliva in your mouth and your speech may be affected. These things should improve quickly as you get used to your new denture. However you may have to have it adjusted if you have ongoing problems.
Gum shrinkage can also occur over time and you may need to have your denture relined during its life.
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​Cleaning your denture every day is important as food can get trapped in your denture and between the teeth. You can clean your denture with a toothbrush and denture cleaner which is specially designed for dentures and is non abrasive. You may need to rinse your denture after eating with warm or cold water.
DO NOT USE HOT WATER OR ABRASIVE DETERGENTS OR BLEACH.
Implants
Surgery to Crown completed in-house
What is an implant?
Dental implants are composed of a titanium screw when inserted into the jaw bone, acts like an artificial tooth root. A crown or artificial tooth will be attached to the implant to resemble an actual tooth. In some cases, instead of a crown an implant can be fitted with attachments to hold a denture. Such attachments minimise movement by the denture.
In most cases, the implant procedure involves two separate stages:
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The insertion of the implant into the jaw bone.
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The attachment of the artificial tooth or crown to the abutment.
Dr Yang has completed professional training and offers complete dental implant treatment to our patients. Our implant procedures offer professional computer guided implant techniques as well as non-surgical options for the suitable patient.
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All implant products are Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved.
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We also have a Cone Beam CT machine at both of our Yass and Murrumbateman surgeries. Dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a special type of x-ray equipment used when regular dental x-rays do not provide sufficient information. This technology produces three dimensional (3D) images of your teeth, soft tissues, nerve pathways and bone in a single scan.
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This procedure requires little or no preparation.
Cosmetic
Teeth Whitening
Not everyone is a candidate for tooth whitening. Firstly, we have to make sure your teeth and gums are in a healthy condition as whitening can cause more damage if you have any existing dental problems. There could always be other reasons why you may not be suitable to have your teeth whitened so it is imperative that you book in for a complete dental examination and your dentist can discuss with you your level of discolouration and his or her professional advice as to how much whitening you will need.
It is also important to understand that depending on the cause of the staining of your teeth the outcome may be different on each person. You can generally expect a shade or two difference but also there is a chance that you will not see any change at all. Again, your dentist will advise that what works for one person may not necessarily work for another.
Our hygienists can offer you a professional scale and clean and this may be all you need to make a difference to your teeth staining.
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Please consider the following before you undertake any at home whitening treatment.
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Have you consulted your dentist and had your teeth assessed for suitability to be whitened?
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Do you understand exactly how to use treatment you will be applying at home?
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Are you fully aware of the potential side effects of whitening?
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Are you fully aware of the kind of results you can expect?
We recommend Zoom © along with custom made bleaching trays provided by your dentist or hygienist.
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Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment involves the use of a range of corrective devices, such as braces & plates to encourage the teeth to align properly.
Dr Yang has completed post graduate studies in orthodontics.
Generally, the orthodontic path begins with comprehensive X-rays and scans which enable the dentist to see the complete picture of what is happening in the jaw, this can be prior to the teeth even reaching the surface.
The aim of orthodontic treatment provided by Dr Yang can be outlined below:
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Non-extraction based. (Avoiding the need for extracting teeth).
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To allow the jaw and facial structures to develop to its maximum potential.
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To create an ideal facial profile and smile.
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Treatment can start as early as possible.
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Includes different phases of treatment to bring the most ideal outcome:
Phase I (a): 0-6 years – Myofunctional treatment (Muscles, soft tissues).
Phase I (b): 7-12 years – Orthopaedic treatment (Development of jaw/bone).
Phase III: 12 years plus – Orthodontic treatment (Aligning the teeth).
Orthodontic treatment can however begin at any age.
If you are interested in discussing orthodontics for you or a member of your family, please contact our office for a consultation to discuss your options.
NOTE: We are a general practice with further experience and training in Orthodontics. Should you wish to see a specialist for a second opinion, we are happy to organise a referral.
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Invisalign aligners
Invisalign is a fairly recent development in orthodontics. Developed by an American company in the late 1990’s, Invisalign has changed the smiles of over 1.5 million patients in 50 countries worldwide.
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As with traditional orthodontics, the aim of Invisalign is to correct orthodontic problems by aligning the teeth and jaw.
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With the Invisalign system, it works by using clear aligner trays that are removable. As the patient progresses through the program, the aligners get tighter fitting, moving the teeth into the required position to create a beautiful straight smile.
Benefits of Invisalign
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For aesthetic reasons, as the aligners are clear and barely noticeable when in the mouth, they become virtually invisible.
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Invisalign aligners are made with SmartTrack® flexible material, making it super easy to put on and remove, unlike traditional braces which are a fixed appliance. This way you can still enjoy your favourite foods at any time.
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Invisalign aligners can be removed to eat and drink, and to brush and floss your teeth. Being able to brush and floss the teeth without the hindrance of braces, may also reduce the chance of tooth decay and gum disease.
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Unlike traditional braces where you have to visit your doctor every 3-4 weeks, Invisalign aligners free up your schedule - with doctor visits only required approximately every 6-8 weeks.
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