'Why do you care about my child’s tonsils?'

5th June 2015

Parents often ask me ‘why do you care about my child’s tonsils?’ when I ask them to say ‘aah’. I also get funny looks when I ask how well their child is sleeping, how they are doing at school, and if they are getting ear infections or runny noses regularly.

Good dentists use dental check-ups to screen for a number of things including airway issues, which may cause breathing or sleep disorders in your child. These issues can take a big toll on not just quality of life but general health as well, especially for children... (Read more)

Is going to a 'preferred provider' the best?

5th June 2015

Enquiring new patients often ask if we are a ‘preferred provider’. Fortunately, there are many reasons why we are not.

I have worked extensively in both practices that are preferred providers and non-preferred providers. This has afforded me the opportunity to really see the difference between the two systems... (Read more)

Have you considered dental implants?

5th June 2015

Teeth are lost for a variety of reasons. Whatever the reason, it really is worth coming in to discuss your options before more issues are caused. The prospect of dental implants can seem daunting and you may be thinking ‘is it worth it?’
I can assure you it is.

Dental implants can not only improve your smile, but more importantly they also have a positive impact on your health now and into the future. (Read more)

Orthodontics - How to get the Perfect Hollywood Smile

5th June 2015

Hollywood may think they have perfected the smile, but it wouldn’t have been possible without orthodontics. Who doesn’t want a perfectly straight set of pearly whites?! I’m here to help you achieve just that. I get to consistently experience first hand what an amazing transformation orthodontics can make to someone’s life.

Read on to see how orthodontic treatments can improve not only your smile, but your overall health and wellbeing at the same time. (Read more)

I’m really busy right now, so I’m going to skip the dentist, okay?

5th June 2015

We can be often be lulled into a false sense of security and we think it’s no biggie if we skip the dentist for a year, or two, or… five. But it does matter. There’s only a small window of opportunity to fix issues, so you need to be on top of your dentist appointment-making game at all times.

Often when patients come in with a toothache that has just started, it’s already too late, as was the case with my recent patient. (Read more)

Women and Oral Health

5th June 2015

Dental Health Week |1st - 7th August
#dentalhealthweek

This year the focus of Dental Health Week is on the significant way that hormones can play havoc with a woman’s oral health. A recent study revealed that many women are unaware of the significant impact that various life stages have on the health of their teeth and gums. The reality is that major life events like pregnancy, puberty, menstruation and menopause, dramatically affect the state of a your dental health if you are a woman. (Read more)

"Wow! Dentistry sure has changed over the years!"

5th June 2015

Who here can still remember the old dental chairs powered by foot pedals?
How about the obnoxious noises and uncomfortable vibrations from the old-style mouth drills? Worse still, how about those awful dental vans that used to come to your primary school?

I am certainly amazed at how much dentistry has changed. There are many examples of how dentistry techniques, materials and equipment have changed over the years, but the biggest game-changer in modern dentistry has to be... (Read more)

Tooth knocked out? The ideal solution will surprise you!

5th June 2015

Did you know you can put a tooth back into its socket after it has been knocked out?
Or that the best place to store a knocked out tooth is back in your mouth or in saline solution such as milk?

Your immediate response to dental trauma after serious injury from freak accidents or high contact sports could minimise or avoid long-term damage to your mouth and teeth. Our dentist, Dr Aaron Wong, here at Dentists of Hawthorn shares his insights on how you can be prepared for emergency dental situations  (Read more)

4 Ways To Prevent Fruit Damaging Your Health

5th June 2015

Did you know that eating fresh food is not always the healthiest option for your oral and overall health?  In fact it is surprising how much fresh food can actually be harmful to your teeth and mouth!

I often see children with multiple cavities, despite not eating a lot of sweets and brushing regularly. Peaches, apples, pears and watermelon are great tasty fruits, but they contain lots of sugar. The biggest culprits I’ve come across are... (Read more)

How to Clean Your Teeth Properly

5th June 2015

Most people know that proper cleaning involves both brushing and flossing your teeth.  However proper cleaning is as much how you do it, as it is what you do.  Correct tooth brushing and flossing are very technical, fiddly tasks – made even harder because we do them while looking at ourselves backwards in the bathroom mirror!

The following tips will help you to clean your teeth more effectively, avoid more serious dental issues down the track and keep you smiling brightly... (Read more)

Limited Time Offer: Quality Custom Mouthguards

5th June 2015

Don't Risk It This Year!

To encourage sportsmen and women of all ages to protect their teeth we are have this Limited Time Mouthguard Offer for the month of April as we head in to the footy season.

3 Reasons to Wear a Mouthguard:
 1. Damaging your mouth can deform your face
 2. Damaging your mouth can be expensive
 3. Damaging your mouth can create health complications for...  (Read more)

'It's nothing personal Patrick, but I don't like the dentist'

5th June 2015

This is a common phrase I hear at least once a day! Throughout my dental career, many of my patients have shared about their horrible past dental experiences, resulting in them now disliking or ‘hating’ the dentist. 

However, I’m willing to bet that in most circumstances, it’s not actually me (or your dentist) that you actually hate!  Rather, it’s the thought of lying down in that cold dental chair, hearing the constant sound of drills and suction, the fear of long needles… who could blame you for feeling scared?!

After hearing these concerns for many years, I’ve decided to share... (Read more...)

Are custom mouthguards worth it?

22nd September 2015

Thankfully it has become commonplace in many sports  to wear a mouthguard whenever entering the ring, field or court. Unfortunately we still have many patients coming to visit us from these sports due to preventable sports related accidents.
 
Hockey player Christina is the latest story to hit the papers (please note graphic picture): http://www.smh.com.au/health/mouthguard-failure-for-hockey-player-

Off the shelf mouth-guards are better than no mouth-guard at all. But the extent to how much they protect your teeth is (Read more...)

Sugar Wars

15th September 2015

Sugar damages many parts of your body, but it does particular damage to your teeth. For those that haven't had a chance to see 'That Sugar Film' it's worth a watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uaWekLrilY

In Australia current statistics show more than half of 6 year olds have decay in their baby teeth and 50% of 12 year olds are experiencing tooth decay in their permanent teeth! Most of this is caused by diets high in sugar.

The issue is a such a concern Jamie Oliver has gone on (Read more...)

20th August 2015

Getting 'long in the tooth'?

Ever heard the saying "getting long in the tooth" and wondered why it relates to becoming older? 

As you age, your gums can recede from, brushing too hard with stiff toothbrushes, trauma from mouth piercings, gum disease, or just age itself. Gums receding leads to more of your tooth being visible, and the appearance of a 'long tooth'! 

Gum recession can also lead to sensitive teeth and even compromise the stability of your teeth in the longer term. We have many ways to work with you to manage your tooth sensitivity or  (Read more...)

Could coffee be good for your teeth?

5th June 2015

Melbourne is one of the best cities in the world to be a coffee drinker. Within walking distance of our workplaces there’s usually multiple cafes ready to provide a daily caffeine hit. Have you ever considered the possible effects that coffee has on your teeth? 

Coffee is notorious for staining your teeth and most people usually regard it as bad for your teeth. However, recent studies from Rio de Janeiro suggest that coffees with large amounts of caffeine contain a chemical called Polyphenol. This chemical has been found to destroy plaque forming bacteria which can cause (Read more...)