Dental Hygiene
Dental Hygiene
To ensure a beautiful healthy smile for life, it’s important for both adults and children to clean their teeth at least twice a day. At Kincaid dental we tailor the frequency of “scale and cleans” to suit your individual needs. The ideal time frame for routine cleans is every 6 months.
Scale and Clean
A professional clean, also known as a scale and clean, is designed to remove plaque and tartar build up. Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins that inflame the gums. This inflammation is known as gingivitis which can lead to periodontal disease. Calculus, or tartar is a hard, calcified build-up which can’t be removed with brushing and flossing. Calculus is effectively hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for some time and is now firmly attached to the tooths surface. Calculus builds up in harder to reach areas and especially behind your lower front teeth. It forms above and below the gum line and can only be removed by a dental professional, this is the “scaling” part of a scale and clean. Such regimes will help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. The “cleaning” part comes in when there is staining on your teeth from things such as tea, coffee, red wine and cigarette smoke.
Topical Fluoride Application
Another key to good oral health is fluoride, a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay and can repair teeth. Topical fluorides are applied directly to the tooth enamel. Some examples include fluoride tooth-pastes and mouth washes, as well as fluoride treatments at the dentist. At Kincaid Dental Centre our dentist applies the topical fluoride, a high concentrate fluoride varnish which is painted on to the tooth surface and encouraged between the teeth and gums using floss. After the treatment, you will be asked not to rinse, eat or drink for at least 2 hours to allow the teeth to absorb the fluoride and help repair microscopic carious areas.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments in Australia. It is a safe and effective method to significantly alter the appearance of your teeth to give you a brighter, whiter smile. Teeth may become discoloured due to surface staining caused by tea, coffee, tobacco or wine. Teeth may also discolour after root canal therapy, trauma or the placement of dental braces. At Kincaid Medical and Dental Centre we offer take home whitening kits. Before you have your teeth whitened, we strongly recommend you schedule an appointment for a Consultation. Your consultation will enable us to advise you on the most suitable tooth whitening treatment for your teeth, and the results that can be expected when whitening your teeth. The effectiveness and final result will vary for each individual, and it is essential that your teeth are properly assessed to give you the whitest result possible