Tooth or gum pain can quite easily get in the way of things we love doing most – enjoying a slice of cake with family, engaging in conversations with friends and getting a good night’s rest. Whether sharp and shooting or dull and aching, tooth pain should not be ignored, rather resolved as soon as possible.

At Hornsby Dental, we know that toothaches can develop suddenly and out of nowhere, and we know how debilitating this pain can be sometimes. Injury to the teeth or gums can also be a great source of pain and distressing. Not only do these cause significant pain and distress, dental pain and injury can potentially have a serious effect on your dental and overall health.

Tooth pain is usually an indication that your tooth has become infected, which if ignored, can progress to become an abscess or a life threatening emergency. Any tooth or gum pain or injury should be addressed by a dental professional as soon as possible.

Some common causes of dental pain include:

• Tooth decay:

A condition whereby acid producing bacteria in plaque attack the dental hard tissues. If left untreated, this decay can progress to underlying layers beneath enamel, eventually reaching the nerves and blood supply of the teeth.

This is usually the stage at which pain is experienced, thus emphasising the importance of regular dental check-ups for early detection and prevention.

• Gum disease:

In the case where bacterial biofilm remains in the mouth for extended periods of time, an inflammatory response can be triggered by the body, causing destruction of the teeth’s supporting structures – those being connective tissue and bone. In advanced stages of gum disease, one may experience bleeding gums, pain and discomfort while biting and chewing, and even mobility of teeth.

• Dental trauma:

If injury to the mouth is encountered, pain may be experienced especially if the teeth have become either knocked out of position or broken. Whether or not there are visible signs of injury to the teeth, it is a good idea to still visit the dentist near you to rule out any signs of trauma that may not be visible without radiographic evidence.

• Tooth wear:

Grinding, acid erosion and abrasive brushing technique can wear away enamel and expose the underlying layer of dentine, resulting in sensitivity to cold foods and drinks. If this is consistently an issue for you and can be identified as such, then it is not considered a dental emergency but conveying this to your dentist/ hygienist at your regular check-up appointment can help in identifying ways of managing symptoms.

Although not all the above are considered dental emergencies, your severity of pain (in the absence of other symptoms such as abscesses or facial swelling) will often be a good indication of whether emergency care is required. Your dental clinician will thoroughly assess your symptoms and examine the problem site to advise you on your best treatment options.

Management of an avulsion (knocked-out tooth) will differ depending on whether it is a primary (baby) or permanent (adult) tooth that is affected. Avulsion of a permanent tooth that results from an accident or injury is considered a dental emergency and the successful outcome of the tooth depends on how quickly a tooth is reimplanted into its socket.

According to the International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines, immediate first aid for a knocked-out tooth includes:

• Washing the tooth under cold running water for no more than ten seconds while being careful to avoid touching the root.
• Correctly positioning and replanting the tooth into the socket and biting onto a cloth to hold it in place.
• If unable to replant the avulsed tooth, it should be soaked in milk or the patient’s own saliva in a transportable medium and taken to the dental clinic.
• Alternatively, if conscious, the tooth can also be left in the patient’s mouth until assessment by a dentist but never left to soak in water.

Treatment of avulsed or mobile teeth following dental trauma is case specific, however acting in a fast and calm manner until your dental appointment can give the tooth the best possible chance at survival.

Treatment of a chipped or broken tooth will depend on severity of the fracture and how much of the tooth is involved. If possible, the lost fragment should be brought with you to your dental appointment as in some cases, it can be seamlessly bonded onto the fractured tooth.

If injury involves laceration of the oral soft tissue, first aid care involves applying pressure with gauze until haemostasis is achieved or upon arrival to the dental clinic. In the case of a small laceration, your dentist may advise you to keep applying pressure to promote healing, however larger lacerations may require sutures.

If tooth decay and gum disease are not addressed early, the advanced stages of either can result in localised infection around the affected teeth. Emergency dental care treatment should be sought for this because if left untreated, can result in fever, pain, lethargy, mobility and/or tenderness.

In more severe cases, spread of infection to surrounding tissues can result in a diffuse inflammatory response characterised by swelling, redness, and warmth of overlying skin. Other symptoms include pain, fever, malaise, tenderness to palpation, lockjaw, and difficulty swallowing.

If the infection has systemic involvement, airways are compromised, a significant inability to swallow, or severe dehydration is detected, hospital admission may be required.

Our dentists at Hornsby Dental are skilled and equipped to diagnose and treat your emergency dental pain. At Hornsby Dental our gentle and experienced dentists will treat the source of your pain so that you can recover and become pain-free! Not just that, our dentists can discuss a treatment plan with you to prevent avoid any pain recurrences and help you achieve a healthy smile.

Seeking orthodontic dental treatment to resolve misalignment of teeth may not only improve the aesthetic of your smile for greater confidence but can also significantly improve the function of your teeth and ultimately your quality of life. The oral health benefits reaped through orthodontic treatment, can leave you with not just a beautiful smile but a healthy one too.

Orthodontics can be a very effective method to correct crooked or malpositioned teeth. With orthodontic treatment, over time the teeth will become aligned, making it a safe and popular treatment with long-lasting, economical and visually pleasing results.

Most minor crowding can be corrected in approximately 4 to 12 months, while more complex problems can be corrected typically within 18 to 30 months. The traditional method of correcting malpositioned teeth involves brackets being placed on the teeth and slowly moved over time. These brackets remain in place for the duration of treatment to maximise the efficiency of treatment.

Occasionally, a tooth or teeth may need to be removed to make space before realigning the surrounding teeth.

• Overcrowded or spaced-out teeth
• Inability to brush/ floss properly
• Reduced risk of tooth decay and gum disease
• Impacted (insufficient space for teeth to grow) or ectopic (wrongly positioned) teeth
• Bite complications – such as deep overbite or open bite
• Eating and talking impairments
• Reduced risk of wear and injury from opposing teeth.

Braces:

This option of fixed orthodontic treatment has been around for a long time and can include traditional metal braces or clear ceramic braces. At Hornsby Dental, fixed orthodontic treatment is offered by Dr Philip Song following a thorough consultation and examination.

During your examination appointment, x-rays and photographs may be taken to ensure there are no underlying conditions that first need to be resolved prior to embarking on your orthodontic journey. Computer-generated visual aids will be able to give a good indication of what the final result will closely resemble.

Invisalign:

Invisalign is the preferred treatment option amongst young adults, utilising clear plastic aligners for the very subtle and comfortable movement of teeth. These clear aligners are removable and are changed every few weeks but must be worn every day and night except for when eating or brushing and flossing.

The length of treatment and number of aligners required will vary between individuals and their degree of misalignment.

In more complex cases, Invisalign may not be an ideal treatment option however a consultation with your dentist will provide you with more tailored information on the most suitable options for you.

At Hornsby Dental, Dr Philip Song offers fixed orthodontic treatment (braces). A choice of conventional brackets, or ceramic brackets can be selected.

A thorough consultation and examination, as well as photographic records are taken during an initial consultation. These records are used to analysis and plan orthodontic treatment.

A computer generated model can be used to visualise the final facial, this gives patients a visual reference to what the final result will look like.

It is important to remember that dentists are not orthodontists, therefore, if the complexity of your case is beyond the scope of our practice, we always recommend that you consider a visit to one of our referring orthodontists.

We are here to look out for your best interests, and if we believe an orthodontist is needed, we will not hesitate to recommend one to you.

Orthodontic treatment costs around the Hornsby area can be as high as $9,500+ depending on the complexity of the case.

Without a consultation with a dentist, an exact price for orthodontic treatment cannot be determined as it can vastly differ for each unique smile. At Hornsby Dental, we aim to always provide affordable dental care and payment plans to ensure that money is never a barrier in achieving the smile of your dreams.

At Hornsby Dental, traditional dental braces cost Sydney starts at $4500 but can be as high as $9500+ depending on treatment complexity and whether metal or ceramic brackets are chosen, including all adjustment appointments as well as retainers upon finishing treatment.

The Invisalign cost has interest free payment plan from $25/week and is for very minor alignment issues but like traditional braces, this will vary based on the complexity of each case.

The exact cost of treatment is determined by the complexity of the case rather than the time it takes to complete. Usually a 30% deposit applies at the commencement of orthodontic treatment and the balance is paid at regular intervals every 1-2 months.

You also have the flexibility of paying for the full cost upfront in one payment prior to the start of treatment, and we offer a discount of 10% to the total cost (e.g. 5,500 – 550 (10% discount) = 4,950). Ceramic brackets are available at your choice for a slight extra cost.

Hornsby Dental is pleased to advise that we offer the Invisalign(TM), the clear way to straighten your teeth.

Invisalign uses a series of transparent plastic aligners to gently move your teeth to their ideal position. This invisible Orthodontic system is ideal for most young adults who prefers a subtle, gentle way of moving your teeth, most people won’t even notice that you are wearing it.

2 types of Invisalign is offered in our practices, Invisalign Lite(TM) for corrections of minor misalignment, or Invisalign Full(TM) for more comprehensive correction of entire occlusion.

Typically, the invisible plastic aligner is worn for about 3 weeks before progressing to the next one. They are worn full time, and only removed for eating, brushing and flossing.

Your dentist at Hornsby Dental | Hornsby Dentist will customise the treatment specific to your needs, which means that the number of aligners required will vary from individual person to person.

The great benefit is that it will be difficult for anyone to notice that you are even wearing Invisalign(TM) as it is a very discreet system.

To speak to one of our friendly staff, call (02) 8090 1100 or feel free to e-mail us at: info@hornsbydentist.com.au for any questions that you may have.

In order to avoid relapse of your teeth back to their original alignment, your dentist may recommend fixed orthodontic retainers (wires at the back of your teeth) and/or removable plastic retainers to be worn every night. This will ensure your teeth remain in their desired position for a smile you’ll be confident wearing for the rest of your life.

Happy Gas is one of the most traditional forms of inhalation sedation agents for the relief of anxiety, fear, or stress. At Hornsby Dental, we offer Happy Gas sedation for our anxious patients. It is safe for most children and adults, and you can usually recover from it rather quickly. Its rapid offset means that you will be safe to drive after a short rest after the treatment.

If you have never had Happy Gas for any types of medical/dental treatment, and you do wish to receive it for your dental treatments with us, we strongly suggest that you come in for an initial consultation where we will discuss as well as test the effect of happy gas with you.

The reason being, much like any other medications, not everyone reacts to happy gas the same way, because we are all different, anatomically and mentally. What this means is, your level of tolerance may be different, and your response to sedation may be different. Some enjoy it, some may not, and some may require a higher concentration, while others do not.

At the initial consultation for happy gas, we will test a suitable level for you, as well as run you through some basic information you need to know before proceeding with happy gas for your next dental visit. This way, you will experience what it feels like for your comfort.

If you have had it previously, and consent to it, we will carefully administer happy gas to you, at all times ensuring your safety and comfort is our number one priority.