Woollahra Dental

Sleep apnoea is a potential health risk for many Australians. It is a common disorder in which the airways constrict during sleep, leading to repeated stops and starts in breathing. The tell-tale signs include chronic loud snoring, with periodic gasps and choking and, for many people, daytime drowsiness. Studies suggest that those pauses in breathing due to this condition cause stress in the nervous system, elevate blood pressure and cause inflammation in the arteries. A new American study by Dr Richard Schwab is the first study to show an association between tongue fat and sleep apnoea. The study found that the levels of fat deposits are increased in the tongues of obese patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea. Study of 90 obese adults with sleep apnoea and 90 obese adults without the disorder found that the participants with sleep apnoea had significantly larger tongues, tongue fat and percentage of tongue fat than those without sleep apnoea. Following this study, the Ameri...

Woollahra Dental would like to share some information developed by the ADA to provide information on dental erosion. Dental erosion is the loss of tooth structure due to exposure to acids. This occurs when teeth are exposed to acids such as those found in some beverages, in vomit and through some illegal drugs. These acids can gradually erode enamel from teeth and lead to the loss of the tooth’s natural shape, or premature exposure of the dentine, which is the internal part of a tooth. Tooth erosion can result in tooth sensitivity – especially when the tooth is exposed to hot and cold temperatures. Acidic drinks like fruit juices, sports, soft and caffeinated drinks can exacerbate the dental erosion process. Other causes of dental erosion can be vomiting, excessive consumption of alcohol and the use of some illegal drugs. Acidic Drinks: Most people are aware that high sugar soft drinks contribute to tooth decay. What is not so well known is that these drinks, along with fruit juices an...

Woollahra Dental would like to share some interesting information from the 'Stanford Children's Health Organisation'  for parents wanting to know more about when their child's teeth will come in. While every child is different, the primary teeth begin to come in between the ages of six and 12 months. Most of the primary teeth (baby teeth) will have erupted by 33 months. Girls tend to have their teeth come in before boys. The following are general guidelines for the eruption of the baby teeth: Below, we have provided average ages of eruption and shedding. The first tooth to erupt is usually a middle, front tooth on the lower jaw, known as the central incisor. This is followed by the second central incisor on the lower jaw. Next, the four upper incisors usually come in. The above is followed by the first four molars, and the remaining bottom two lateral incisors. Lateral incisors are beside (lateral to) the central incisors. Next, the four first molars come in. Then the c...

Woollahra Dental would like to share some information developed by the ADA to provide information on how oral piercings affect your oral health and teeth. It’s important to know the facts about tongue and lip piercings so that people can make informed decisions about oral piercings. In the best case scenario, soreness and swelling will be the only symptoms experienced following the piercing procedure, however damaged teeth, excessive bleeding and infection can occur, in rare cases. Tongue piercing involves a needle being inserted through the midline of the tongue to place a stud, hoop or a barbell in the tongue, and is usually done without anaesthetic. After piercing, common symptoms include swelling and pain. Possible side effects following tongue piercing: Slight bleeding can be expected. There is a risk that blood vessels can be severed in the process of piercing the tongue, which can cause the excessive bleeding. While swelling of the tongue is expected after piercing, in severe ca...

Woollahra Dental would like to share some information developed by the ADA to provide information on managing and caring for wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth have an uncanny way of erupting at around the same time that people are planning their first overseas adventure. Rather than risking a toothache half way around the world, the ADA recommends getting wisdom teeth assessed prior to any extended travel. Impacted teeth are a common problem experienced with wisdom teeth. Impaction may be due to soft tissues (i.e. gums) continuing to cover part or whole of the wisdom tooth or hard tissues such as other teeth or bone preventing the teeth erupting successfully into the mouth. Teeth that become impacted are generally more likely to cause problems. It is not known why wisdom teeth become impacted but one theory suggests that as our diet has become more refined over time, the teeth in front of the wisdom teeth are surviving longer and not wearing as much. A wisdom tooth that fails to erupt complet...

Oral hygiene facts Poor oral hygiene can increase your chances of developing heart disease. Professional teeth cleanings will reduce the bacteria that cause inflammation and eventually lead to heart disease A major cause of tooth loss in children is cavities; while periodontal (gum) disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. The leading oral health problem for infants is baby bottle tooth decay, which can be caused when babies are given a bottle filled with sugary liquids, like milk or juice, when put to bed. Oral hygiene statistics According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention: Between 2005-2008, 16 percent of children ages 6-19 and 23 percent of adults 20-64 had untreated cavities. Dental fluorosis (overexposure to fluoride) is higher in adolescents than in adults and highest among those aged 12–15. Most adults show signs of periodontal or gingival diseases. Severe periodontal disease affects approximately 14 perce...

Dental Tourism It's your money, your teeth and your health We have found a very interesting article about Dental Tourism form the ADA which we would like to share. At Woollahra Dental Practic e we realise that the oral cavity is not treated separately from the rest of the body. Our field is linked in many ways to whole body health. Complex dental treatment can sometimes come at a high cost. Some Aussies consider getting their treatment overseas in order to receive a ‘free’ holiday out of their dental treatment instead of having it done at home. But what are the risks? Is there a reason dental treatment is significantly cheaper in the developing world? Is it worth the risk? The ADA has prepared the resources to demonstrate the risks associated with overseas dental treatment. For high quality dental services in Eastern Sydney visit www.woollahradental.com