Comprehensive Dental Services
General and Preventative Care
Treatment
Preventative dentistry
- Oral cancer screening
- Cleaning
- Fluoride treatment
- Advice on oral hygiene and diet
- Airway screening
- Sleep apnoea screening
- X-ray
- Mouthguards
General dentistry
- Tooth coloured fillings
- Crowns and bridgework
- Inlays and onlays
- Root canal treatment
- Teeth whitening
- Veneers
- Extractions (including wisdom teeth)
- Gum and bone disease treatment
- Emergency care
Minimal intervention
Wherever possible, we will work with you to reduce the amount of treatment required to maintain your dental fitness. There is no doubt that regular check-ups, good oral hygiene and diet are much more cost-effective than only coming to see us when the pain sets in.
It is a common misconception that if you are not experiencing pain then all must be well. In fact, quite the opposite is true: dental decay and gum disease are mostly symptomless, and by the time pain sets in, the problem may be too advanced for a simple solution.
If you do need treatment, we will seek to minimise the work required (eg propose a filling rather than extraction) in order to maximize the life of your natural teeth. We will always discuss with you our reasons for proposing a particular course of treatment and the ultimate responsibility lies with you to decide whether to accept our advice and treatment plan.
What about amalgam?
We are often asked whether we still provide amalgam fillings. The Australian Dental Association states the following:
“Dental Amalgam has been used as a dental restorative material for more than 150 years. It has proved to be a durable, safe and effective material which has been the subject of extensive research over this time. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, some suggest that amalgam restorations should be removed and replaced with other materials because of the perceived effects of mercury.”
At blue sky dental care, most of the fillings we place are the modern composite tooth-coloured fillings. We do continue to offer amalgam fillings and in a small number of cases, amalgam may be preferable to composite. We do not recommend the wholesale removal of all old amalgam fillings but are happy to discuss amalgam removal on a case-by-case basis.
What is root canal treatment?
These are words that strike fear into the hearts of many! Root canal treatment aims to save a tooth badly damaged by decay or injury and therefore avoids the need for extraction. It involves cleaning out the damaged pulp (which contains the nerve) from inside small channels in the root. This process feels similar to a filling but takes a little longer. The canals are then sealed with a special filling material to prevent recurrence of infection. A local anaesthetic is given and in the vast majority of cases, treatment is completely painless. We have even had patients fall asleep during treatment! Contrary to popular belief, root canal treatment enjoys a high success rate of around 95% and can prolong the life of the tooth for many decades.
Why do I need x-rays?
X-rays, or radiographs, provide valuable information about your teeth, gums and jawbones which simply cannot be seen by the naked eye. They are not an optional extra but rather an essential part of accurate diagnosis. To ensure the best treatment, it is imperative to have radiographs available for certain procedures, eg extractions and root canal treatment. Radiographs may in fact reduce rather than increase the amount of treatment required, as they allow us to monitor early decay.
But what about radiation?
Dentists have always been aware of the hazards of radiation and have sought to ensure a safe environment for their patients and staff. Exposure to radiation in the dental surgery is very small in comparison to other medical radiographs. Nevertheless, at Blue Sky Dental Care we take the risk very seriously. We consider that there is no such thing as a ‘routine’ x-ray and will assess every case on an individual basis, following Australian Dental Association guidelines. We use the latest digital imaging technology which significantly reduces the radiation exposure. Please feel free to discuss any concerns you may have regarding x-rays.
Warranty and refunds
All our dentists have a strong sense of fairness and in the unfortunate event of failure of a restoration placed by us, we will certainly consider a free replacement within a six month period. Each case will be assessed on an individual basis.
Should you have any concerns about treatment you have received, we will be more than happy to discuss this with you. Our ultimate goal is happy patients!