bio compatible dentistry

Hygiene

Hygiene services provided by BCD dentists include:

Individually tailored oral hygiene instruction

Dietary advice to prevent oral disease

Diagnosis of periodontal disease

Saliva pH and bacterial testing.

Saliva plays a vital role in dental and general health. It is essentially nature’s own cleaning system for your mouth and performs several functions. Some of its constituents include:

• Water. This flushes food and bacteria from the oral cavity and acts as a lubricant when chewing food.
• Anti-bacterial enzymes and antibodies. These protect the oral cavity from bacteria known to be involved in dental decay and periodontal (gum) disease.
• Minerals. Calcium and phosphate help to re-mineralize teeth, particularly in an acidic environment.
• Amylase. This enzyme is involved in the first stage of digestion and chemically breaks down carbohydrates into simpler compounds.

When the production or alkalinity of saliva is reduced, we see the development of an environment favourable to dental decay and periodontal disease. A saliva test investigates the quantity and quality of your saliva. It measures resting and stimulated flow rates, acidity and pathogenic bacteria levels. This is a valuable diagnostic tool and enables us to find out if your saliva (or lack of) is contributing to oral disease. It is very helpful for people with sensitive teeth, a high decay rate, dental erosion and periodontal disease.

Testing is simple, non-invasive and results are available immediately. Based on the results individually tailored recommendations will then be provided by your BCD hygienist and dentist.

Scaling

The aim of scaling is to remove plaque and calculus (tartar) deposits that build up around the teeth. The presence of these deposits can contribute to the development and progression of periodontal disease. The periodontium is made up of the gums and bone that support the teeth. Plaque is a mixture of bacteria, food particles and salivary minerals. It is an irritant and over time will cause inflammation of the gums, known as gingivitis. The gums may appear in the mouth as red, swollen and bleeding. Plaque may be removed by effective brushing and flossing techniques.

After some time, however, plaque will accumulate minerals and harden into calculus. This cannot be removed with a toothbrush or dental floss. The persistence of plaque and calculus in the mouth may lead to chronic inflammation of the gums. This inflammation, in turn, may also lead to bone loss around the teeth and tooth mobility. The loss of bone and attachment tissue around teeth is known as periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is present in nearly one quarter of Australian adults (aged 18 and over). The Australian Dental Association states that periodontal disease is the fifth most common health ailment in the Australian population.

From a holistic perspective there exists a strong link between poor oral health and general health. This is now becoming widely acknowledged and addressed by the medical community. Periodontitis may be linked to a range of conditions such as heart attacks, strokes and diabetes. At BCD we believe that maintaining healthy gums should be part of your complete healthcare plan.

Scaling is carried out by hand instruments and ultrasonic scalers. Where teeth are sensitive or deeper scaling is prescribed local anaesthetic may be administered. In more advanced cases of periodontal disease you may be referred to a periodontist, a dentist who specialises in the treatment of periodontal disease.

Teeth Whitening

At BCD we offer the Designer White professional home tooth whitening system. This system is easy, convenient and allows you to control the whitening of your teeth and to stop when a desirable shade has been reached.

The concept was discovered by an orthodontist in the 1980’s who noticed that many of his patients had excessive gingivitis and swelling of their gums around their orthodontic bands, due to poor oral hygiene. He therefore advised them to brush with a hydrogen peroxide gel. He noticed that after a significant period of usage these orthodontic patients not only had healthier gums but also had whiter teeth. This was how “take home” teeth whitening techniques were first developed.

The active ingredient in the Designer White system is a 10% carbamide peroxide gel. It is simply hydrogen peroxide with urea added to help stabilise the oxygen release.

This method of whitening is simple to carry out, is safe on the gums and enamel and is suitable for most people. If you are interested in whitening your smile please book in for an assessment to see if this treatment is suitable for you.