FAQs

A dental implant is a small titanium fixture that serves as the replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. The dental implant is placed in the upper or lower jaw and will bond with the bone over time serving as an anchor for the replacement tooth. Dental implants can be used to replace a single lost tooth or many missing teeth.

With proper care and maintenance; forever.

Not using implants can be more expensive than using them.For long term dental health and maintenance of your other teeth, dental implants may be the long term economic decision you can make.

A Healthy Mouth Means Fresh Breath.

Plaque, tartar, gum disease, tooth decay, dentures, and your tongue are all places where bacteria can thrive, so much so that all the breath fresheners and mouth washes won’t remedy the cause. They can only camouflage it temporarily - usually for only a few hours.

• Bad breath caused by tartar, gum disease and tooth decay can only be remedied at the dentist by having regular scale and cleans and check ups

• Brush your tongue. One study estimates 50% of oral bacteria can be eliminated by brushing your tongue with a soft brush every day. Some of us call it the “bottom of a cocky cage” syndrome

• If you wear dentures anything less than pristine clean will generally contribute to bad breath. Make sure that you clean them thoroughly and regularly using Sterodent or something similar.

The life span of the average toothbrush is about 2-3 months. So change your toothbrush at the beginning of each season (summer, autumn, winter, spring). Toothbrushes wear out after repetitive usage. The bristles breakdown and lose their effectiveness in getting into all those tricky corners around your teeth.

The other reason to change them regularly is that they are a breeding ground for germs, fungus and bacteria which after a while can build up to significant levels. They can also spread cold and flu viruses through families when stored together, infecting adjacent toothbrushes.

After using a toothbrush, shake it vigorously under tap water and store it in an upright position allowing it to dry out. Try and keep your toothbrush from touching others when it is stored.

Fillings don't last forever.

There is no real guarantee on how long a filling will last. A small filling will generally last longer than a large filling, which is why it is important to detect decay as early as possible.

If you have had a large filling for more than 10-15 years you have probably done fairly well for yourself.