Dr Tang and his Eastwood dental team offer a range of quality, comfortable treatments. But we also want you to be informed about things that can go wrong with your oral health. This will equip you with the ability to better put your own oral health in your own hands.
Plaque
We have all heard of plaque. Dental plaque is perhaps the most common concern of patients who enter our Eastwood dental clinic. But it can often be confused with infection or food particles or stains. Plaque is actually a sticky colourless deposit that turns brown or yellow when it forms into tartar. It is commonly found between the teeth, front of teeth, behind teeth, on chewing surface, along the gumline, and below the gumline cervical margins. A bacterial growth, plaque is commonly associated with oral diseases such as caries and periodontal diseases, but it in reality is a normal process. It cannot be prevented. It is the growth and progression of plaque that leads to oral problems, and so that is why it is vital to remove it daily with tooth brushing and flossing.
If plaque becomes acidic and causes demineralisation (known as caries) or hardens into tartar (also known as calculus), then you need to visit a dentist for professional cleaning.
Tartar or Calculus
As mentioned, tartar is plaque in a progressive stage. Dr Tang and his Eastwood dental team routinely see patients who require tartar removal, largely due to insufficient or incorrect brushing and flossing which has not adequately prevented plaque build up. The build up of minerals from saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in plaque leads to the rough and hardened surface that is formed provides an ideal surface for further plaque formation. As tartar builds up in this way it can harm the gums and causes tooth and gum pain. Bad breath, receding gums and chronically inflamed gingiva are also common symptoms of tartar build up. If you suspect you have it, it can be removed with ultrasonic tools or dental hand instruments at a dental clinic.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease. It can effect various structures, such as the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, cementum and gingiva. While our Eastwood dental team have dealt with a number of diseases effecting the gum, by far the most common are gingivitis and periodontitis. In fact, gum disease is often used as a synonym for periodontitis. Periodontal disease often develops from the initial stages, known as gingivitis, to a severe stage known as periodontitis. In the early stage of gingivitis, bacteria in plaque causes the gums to become inflamed and to bleed easily with contact. There is no irreversible tooth or bone damage at this stage, but if left untreated, gingivitis can advance to periodontitis where the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth. These small spaces can then become infected. Toxins start to break down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults since teeth become loose at this later stage. While serious, our Eastwood dental team are expert at dealing with gum disease in its early stages and mitigating its effects.
Call
02 9804 8382
Address
Suite 1/148-150 Rowe St
Eastwood, NSW
Australia 2122
Opening Hours
Mon: Closed
Tues & Thurs: 9am to 6pm
Wed: 10am to 2pm
Fri: Closed
Sat: 9am to 1pm
Sun: Closed