Our Services

New Patients

Welcome to Epping Family Dentists!

Thank you for choosing us to look after your dental health and oral hygiene. At your appointment we will discuss any dental concerns you may have and present all options available to you to help you achieve a healthy mouth and smile. If it is your first time visiting us, please arrive 10 minutes early to fill out the necessary paper work.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Checkup and clean

It is recommended that you visit a dentist every 6 months to allow for the early detection and treatment of any dental problems.

As part of our check-up service we will provide:

• A dental examination – we check the health of the teeth, gums and other oral tissues

• X-Rays – to detect tooth decay and gum disease

• Scale and polish – to remove plaque and tartar which cause decay and gum disease

• Fluoride treatment – to strengthen teeth to resist decay

• General information – answer any questions you may have and provide you with information for how to care for you and your family

 X-rays are usually taken every two years if no problems are detected.

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Gum Disease Treatment

Gum disease is technically referred to as “periodontal disease”, which affects the gum and bone which supports the teeth. It is an infectious disease resulting from your body’s inflammatory response to bacteria found in plaque and tartar.

The early stage of gum disease (gingivitis), involves bleeding and inflammation of the gums but can usually be treated by professional cleaning and good oral hygiene at home. Periodontitis is a more severe form of gum inflammation where deep pockets may form between the gum and teeth, the gum may shrink showing darker root surfaces and the tooth may become mobile requiring extraction.

Periodontal disease can be exacerbated by smoking and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. It can also contribute to heart disease and be an indication of poor diabetes management.

Treatment involves diagnosis, measurements for record keeping and comparison, and deep cleaning to remove the tartar or “calculus”.

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Children's Services

We aim to make the dental experience for your children as enjoyable as possible so they form a good relationship with the dentists. It also reduces the chance of them feeling anxious about dental appointments or procedures in the future.

Primary or ‘baby’ teeth need to be taken care of as much as secondary or ‘adult’ teeth. Not only do they enable children to chew and speak properly, they reserve the correct space in the gums for the eruption of the permanent teeth. The early extraction of these teeth due to decay can cause future orthodontic problems. A child who is taught good dental habits from a young age is also more likely to continue good dental hygiene into adulthood reducing the potential of developing cavities and gum disease.

We encourage parents to speak to their children about the dentist in a positive manner and to continually monitor the child’s dental habits and brushing at home. A diet low in sugar with minimal snacking is best.

We recommend that you bring your children to see the dentist as soon as their first teeth erupt so they can familiarise themselves with the dental environment and the dentist.

The federal government has created a scheme to help ensure children from the age of 2-17 are able to access dental services. Medicare will cover the cost of most dental procedures to a maximum of $1000 per 2 year period. You may have received a letter from Medicare which explains your eligibility, if not please click on the following link:
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/child-dental-benefits-schedule
to check if your children are eligible or ask us when you visit us.

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Cosmetic Veneers

Sometimes we are not happy with our smiles because of inherited traits (e.g. gaps, misalignment, blemishes), staining from use of antibiotics as a child, chips and cracks from trauma or broken restorations and age. Whatever the reason, veneers may be suitable for you and can improve the appearance of your teeth and smile.

Veneers can be made of composite or porcelain:

Composite Veneers – More affordable but are weaker in strength and require more maintenance. These can be glued onto the teeth with little to no cutting back of the tooth.

Porcelain Veneers – Very strong and aesthetic but requires the front of the tooth to be cut back to allow the veneer to be cemented in place.

The dentist may recommend tooth bleaching prior to cosmetic treatment to help whiten the teeth as bleach is ineffective on veneers and restorative materials.

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Crown and Bridge

A tooth can be severely weakened by tooth decay, root canal therapy or a large filling, making it prone to breakage. Sometimes trauma from accidents, grinding or biting on hard foods can also crack the tooth. A crown or ‘cap’ can be cemented over the original tooth and prevents the tooth from breaking further, maintains the functionality of the tooth and increases its longevity.

Crowns can be made from various materials including porcelain, zirconia or metals such as gold and are custom made to match your teeth and smile.

To prepare a tooth for a crown, the dentist will remove the outer layers of the tooth and take various moulds to send to a laboratory for the crown to be made. At a follow-up appointment (approximately two weeks later) the crown is checked for fit and colour and then permanently cemented onto the tooth. A temporary crown is placed onto the tooth for the time between the two appointments.

Bridges replace one or more missing teeth, but are anchored to adjacent teeth. They are fabricated in the same manner as a single crown.

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Bleaching or Tooth Whitening

Teeth can discolour from various agents and factors including consumption of food and drinks, smoking, certain medications and dental problems to name a few. In most cases, we can whiten teeth by using bleaching agents which are safe to use and have no damaging effects on your teeth. It is important to consult the dentist first to see if this treatment is suitable for you.

We offer a take-home bleaching kit as it can be very effective and has long lasting whitening effects. Prior to any bleaching the dentist will recommend having the teeth scaled and polished as well as having any restorative work completed. It is important to note that fillings and other restorative materials are not affected by the bleach.

For this bleaching treatment the dentist will take a mould of your teeth and make custom made trays which you wear each day and night for 30 minutes for a period of approximately two weeks (or until the desired shade is achieved). You may experience some tooth sensitivity over the duration of the treatment caused by the bleaching agents unblocking the pores in the tooth. To combat this we recommend using sensitive toothpaste or ceasing treatment completely until the symptoms have settled down.

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Removable Dentures

Dentures or ‘plates’ are a simple way to replace single or multiple missing teeth. They are usually made of acrylic or a mixture of acrylic and cobalt chrome. The cobalt chrome dentures are usually preferred by patients where suitable, as they are thinner, lighter and stronger.

Having a denture made and fitted can take several appointments to ensure it is correctly aligned and comfortable to wear. They may also need to be adjusted in the future if they become loose or more teeth need to be added.

Denture Maintenance – Make sure to clean your dentures daily like you would real teeth and leave them out at night either in a glass of water or in a solution of denture cleaner (from your pharmacy or supermarket). This gives your gums a chance to rest and reduce the risk of fungal infections. Wash your dentures over a basin filled with water or a soft towel so they are less likely to break if dropped. Never use hot or boiling water to clean them as it may warp the denture.

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Fissure Seals

Teeth have natural grooves on the biting surfaces called fissures which can trap food. They can be difficult to clean thoroughly which makes them prone to decay. Fissure seals are simple, painless and extremely effective in reducing the risk of decay. A special material called sealant is applied to a cleaned and dried tooth, and is set in seconds. The best time to provide this treatment is just after the permanent (adult) tooth has erupted, as this maximises the protection of the tooth. The first permanent molar erupts around 6-7 years of age.

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Mouth Guards

Custom fitted mouthguards made by a dentist are an essential item for playing sports. Mouthguards can absorb the shock from heavy blows to the jaw and face, reducing the severity or even preventing injury. Injuries that can occur include chipped and broken teeth, tooth loss, broken jaw bones and concussion.

We can make different qualities and styles of mouthguards depending on the sport you play.

The mouthguard should be kept in a case and away from heat when not being used.

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Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial teeth that are inserted into the jawbone and are the ideal treatment for missing teeth. Implants restore tooth function and aesthetics and are a more permanent alternative to dentures and bridges.

At Epping Family Dentists we have been restoring missing teeth with implants for over 25 years.

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