Woollahra Dental

Whitening Is whitening safe? If done correctly, Whitening is one of the safest procedures in dentistry. Extensive research has indicated that whitening under a supervision of a dentist is safe. However Tooth whitening is not recommended for children under 13 years of age or pregnant or lactating women. What results should I expect? In office whitening can whiten teeth from six to ten shades lighter. The results can be surprising for most patients who choose this technique. At home whitening provides results that are typically two to four shades whiter than the starting shade. How long does the result last? It depends on your dietary habits. Frequently drinking coffee, tea, red wine or smoking can reduce the whiteness of the teeth quicker. Also consuming colourful spices in your food can have similar effect. However by following the post whitening care instructions you can ensure that your teeth stay brighter than ever before. A home top up kit is provided to you at the end of your In O...

Gone are the days when the only way a person with crowded teeth could have a straight smile was by undergoing an extraction. Thanks to the inventors Dr. Darick Nordstrom and laboratory technician Heather Ashton, there is a way to straighten teeth without extraction or braces!   They created the Advanced Lightwire Functionals (ALF) appliance that is custom designed to help correct improper development and growth that resulted in crooked teeth or cranial distortions.   Dr Anthony Ancell uses this method of treatment in Woollahra Dental Practice. Being a holistic dentist, he looks beyond just the teeth and gums to understand why and how the entire body is functioning the way that it is.   When it comes to orthodontics, Dr Ancell evaluates body posture, the TM joint, the craniofacial structure and even does muscle testing before proceeding with a treatment plan. The use of ALF often is more beneficial than traditional braces as it puts a light force on the teeth from the ...

As a parent it is important to help your child grow and develop in the best way possible. This should apply to your Dentist too. It’s important for you to understand WHY a dental treatment is being recommended and if it really is the best method for your child. Too often dentists treat children with “traditional orthodontics” (metal braces on the outside of teeth) or Invisalign with disregard to the reason WHY teeth are not aligned in the first place.   Teeth grow and move into place based on the structure of the bones and muscles around them. They also move due to how the tongue is positioned in the mouth. It’s important for your dentist to evaluate if your child’s teeth are crooked due to an improper development. There are several indicators that your child may have an improper development and growth in their jaw, teeth, and or muscles of the skull: ·          Lack of spacing in baby teeth ·        ...

It is possible to improve the aesthetics and function of your child’s smile without braces via the use of ALF. ALF is short for Advanced Lightwire Functionals, known to be a self-healing appliance.   The use of this appliance being worn incorporates a method of orthopaedic and orthodontic treatment.   From an orthopaedic perspective this appliance aides in aligning the bones in the jaw and cranium aka cranial osteopathy. Additionally, the ALF improves craniofacial muscle function. This is very important in creating a long lasting straight smile.   Teeth can be moved into a straight position but, over time may revert back to their “natural” (original) position if the bones in the jaw and skull aren’t first adapted into the correct position. This is why many people who have undergone treatment such as Invisalign require a permanently fixed metal bracket behind their teeth or a night guard. The benefits from an orthodontic perspective is the appliance is far more comforta...

At Woollahra Dental we would like to share a podcast from The Good Doctors / Health Podcast. The podcast is called: Ortho-postural Dentistry: A Broader View of Oral Health | Dr Anthony Ancell. If you thought oral health was only about brushing and flossing this will open your eyes (and your mouth) to a much bigger picture. A must for anybody with a mouth and interested in their health, and yet may never have fully connected the two. Visit the Good Doctors Blog to hear the podcast  Dr. Anthony Ancell joins us today to discuss ortho-postural dentistry. Anthony is not only a dentist in a private practice in Sydney, but he is also a world-leader in the concept of ortho-postural dentistry; how the shape and health of your mouth impacts your ability to breathe well, sleep well, your posture and much, much more. About Dr Anthony Ancell Dr Anthony Ancell is an Australian-based health professional. Anthony is trained as a Dentist and a pioneer of ortho-postural dentistry. Anthony has practi...

The treatment of chronic pain of the head and neck is a difficult diagnostic puzzle. In an acute injury, the pain is at the site of origin, in a chronic condition however, the brain and body have instigated a variety of compensatory mechanisms that may drastically alter the degree and location of symptoms. Diagnostic postural balance tests are used to prioritise treatment and identify the origin of the presenting systems, which may involve: muscle pain of the head, neck or back; dizziness or vertigo; migraine; pain in the arms, hands or shoulders; sleep deprivation; swallowing difficulty; and many other symptoms. Treatment involves jaw joint stabilisation using removable pivots or splints and mandibular postural appliances to correct any structural injuries. Referral to other medical and allied health practitioners is required if systems persist for treatment of biochemical, physiological, hormonal or respiratory disorders. Following jaw joint stabilisation, pain relief and a full rang...

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction and muscle disorders, often known as TMJ or TMD , can be not only a real physical pain but a psychological pain as well. When the muscles and nerves of the TM joint are injured; inflammation, headaches, blurred vision, jaw tightness, ear pain, ringing in the ear, facial swelling, shoulder/neck stiffness and even depression can occur.  According to the TMJ Association, approximately 12% of the population is affected by TMD.  A research article by The School of Psychology and Life Sciences concluded that, “depression is particularly common among TMD patients” and pain symptoms associated with TMD can be treated with occlusal appliances or dental splint. The TM joint is where the bones of your skull connect to your jaw located just in front of your ear. Injury to the TM joint can occur directly through experiencing physical trauma or occur over time such as: Experiencing excessive stress or anxiety  Teeth grinding/clenching Poor posture Mi...