Blog | Trusted Wantirna Dentist | Studfield Dental Group

Four Things You Didn’t Know About Bruxism

Bruxism is a condition where someone clenches and grinds their teeth excessively. Although it usually happens at night, some people revert to bruxing during the day (especially if they’re stressed out.) It Can Lead to TMD (TMJ Disorder) When you clench and grind your teeth excessively, it overworks your jaw muscles. Gradually this can lead to muscle strain, painful headaches, and deterioration of your TMJ ligaments. You may start to notice limited range of motion, migraines when you wake up in the morning, or popping and clicking inside the joints on either side of your mouth. It Will Break … Continue reading

Early Orthodontic Intervention for Kids

For years, most orthodontic experts and families waited until a child was in their teens to start wearing braces. Today, we understand that orofacial anatomy is significantly affected by the way children’s mouths develop at an early age. With strategies such as early orthodontic intervention, it’s possible to help children’s mouths develop in a more proper manner, significantly lowering their risk of extensive treatment later on. Sometimes referred to as “growth modification” or “Phase I” braces, early intervention encourages proper orofacial development so that a child’s adult teeth come in at a proper alignment. When would you want to consider … Continue reading

Abscessed Tooth Symptoms

Dental abscesses mean that the nerve inside of your tooth is infected and/or dying. In most cases, the nerve tissue needs to be removed and the tooth protected with a root canal (endodontic therapy.) Although abscesses aren’t always obvious, there are typical signs that accompany them. Be on the lookout for: Toothaches Throbbing, dull, or sharp aches coming from a specific tooth should always be investigated. A Fistula Fistulas look like small pimples on your gums, near the tip of your tooth root. They can swell and drain, coming and going as the infection leaks into your mouth. Pain When … Continue reading “Abscessed Tooth Symptoms”

How Braces Can Help with TMJ Disorder

Do you suffer from frequent headaches, migraines, jaw pain, or popping when you open and close your mouth? You could have TMJ disorder (also called “TMD”.) Your TMJ is the joint on either side of your mouth, where your mandible (lower jaw) attaches to your body. TMD causes your joint to function abnormally or causes pain when you chew. Tooth Misalignment Concerns One of the contributing factors to TMJ disorder is a misaligned bite. When your teeth don’t fit together properly, it means your jaw has to move in irregular ways when it comes to chewing and biting into food. … Continue reading

Common Signs of Impacted Wisdom Teeth

Your third molars — better known as “wisdom teeth” — are usually fully developed by the time you reach the age of 30. Their development is most noticeable during adolescence and the teen years. Even if you never feel them coming in, they’re visible on regular dental X-rays from quite a young age. Unfortunately, many people lack adequate space in their mouth for wisdom teeth to come in all the way. As a result, they become impacted — either fully, or partially. While an impacted tooth is obvious on a dental X-ray, there are other signs that you can watch … Continue reading

Should You Get Dental Veneers?

You’ve been thinking about dental veneers for years. After browsing through dozens of before-and-after smile makeovers, you see the difference that custom veneers can make. But are they truly right for you? Here are some of the things our Wantrina South dentists will want you to consider. Your Gums Need to be Healthy Before investing in cosmetic veneers, we need to make sure your teeth are free of gum disease. Otherwise, your teeth may become mobile and fall out, even if they look beautiful from the outside. Your Teeth Should be Structurally Sound Veneers are cosmetic restorations, not … Continue reading “Should You Get Dental Veneers?”

Three Causes of Flat Teeth

Are you noticing your teeth looking shorter or flatter than they used to? While some natural wear is normal with time, there are instances where flat teeth are due to other factors. If not intercepted, aggressive tooth wear, damage, or TMJ problems are likely to develop. What causes Flat Teeth / Worn Teeth? Here are three of the most common causes of accelerated tooth wear: A Misaligned Bite Each of our teeth is designed in such a way that it bites against the opposing tooth in a particular manner. When that doesn’t happen — due to jaw irregularities or tooth … Continue reading “Three Causes of Flat Teeth”

Diet Habits that Cause Tooth Decay

Think you’re familiar with everything there is to know about what causes cavities? You may be surprised to learn that it’s not necessarily linked with how many lollies you eat. It turns out, healthy people with seemingly healthy lifestyles can also be prone to a higher level of tooth decay if they’re not careful. Here are a few of the most common ones we see in our Wantrina South office: Subbing Your Soft Drink for Diet Soda “Sugar free” diet sodas don’t mean “cavity free.” Even artificial sweeteners and low pH levels encourage acidic environments and bacterial growth inside of … Continue reading

Implant Supported Bridge vs. Partials

When you need to replace a missing tooth, it’s nice to have different options available to choose from. But sometimes even if you know both choices are good ones, it can be hard to pin down the one that’s best for you individually. Removable partial dentures and implant supported bridges are two good examples. Both are useful for replacing several teeth at once, yet, each has added advantages over the other that are worth considering. Benefits of Implant Bridges Using a pair of dental implants, a fixed (permanent) bridge can be securely attached into place, making it so that you … Continue reading

Four Tips to Help Your Child with Their Braces

Is your child getting braces? Here are a few ways to make the process easier on everyone: 1.Make Mealtime and Snacking Easy for Them Eating with braces is one of the biggest changes that our Wantrina South patients have to adjust to. In the beginning, choose softer foods that are easier to chew, especially since their mouth may be sore early on. As firmer foods become easier to chew, be sure to have them cut up into small enough pieces or cook them so that they don’t interfere with the orthodontic appliances. For example, cut corn off of the cob … Continue reading