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Dr. Jim and his partner Sandra travelled 20,000 kms along the Silk Road from Tbilisi in Georgia to Beijing in China from April to August 2019.

“We travelled through many ancient lands and famous historic towns such as Samarkand, Bokhara, Bishkek and Xi’an in China. We crossed over high mountain passes and through several deserts on our journey.  We did a mix of camping and budget hotels, even staying with the nomads in their yurts in Kyrgyzstan, and camped next to an old section of the Great Wall in China. People were often in their traditional forms of dress, particularly out of the towns and cities.

I was always interested in dental care along the route, seeking out local dental practices whenever feasible. I even came across a Prime Dental practice in Bishkek!! Some highlights include the golden smile of our waitress in Khiva in Uzbekistan!

People were so friendly along the route, always interested in where we were from and what it was like to live in Australia.”

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In January Dr McGregor and Dr Prowse organised a self-funded dental volunteering trip to Uganda.  The clinics were run in remote mountain villages where people had no access to dental care.  In the lead up to the trip, Dr McGregor recruited some Ugandan dentists to help find the areas of greatest need and to assist with logistics and translation. 

The clinics were held in local school rooms or community halls under very primitive circumstances.  Many people had significant pain and infections that would not be treated otherwise. 

Both dentists found the experience to be extremely gratifying and loved the opportunity to give back.  Some days were very overwhelming with huge numbers of people turning up to be treated.

We will definitely return in the future with more dentists and seeking some funding to allow more people to be treated.

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Following the course Jim travelled on to the Philippines and spent a week of R and R on a couple of the islands in Bacuit Bay off Palawan Island with his partner Sandra. He is a keen scuba diver and was able to do four dives in the area, as well as exploring some of the other islands and lagoons. It is a beautiful pristine area with virtually no rubbish or pollution. Alas work duties called and he returned to work on Tuesday 17^th.

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For those who haven’t heard of the treatment before, you may be wondering exactly what a dental implant is, how it works, and why it may be necessary. Read on to find out the answers to those questions and more.

The Problem With A Missing Tooth

If you’ve never lost a tooth (or multiple teeth) before, you might be wondering why a solution like dental implants or dentures would be necessary. However, there are several reasons why it’s imperative to see a dental practitioner or specialist as soon as you experience the loss of a tooth.

Your teeth are essential for helping you bite, chew and talk normally. Losing a tooth or several teeth at a time can have a serious impact on the way you are able to break down food in your mouth, and this can even lead to you changing your dietary choices (and therefore, nutritional intake) over a gradual period of time.

Additionally, tooth loss can be very painful. If it is caused by a trauma or injury to the facial area, this can involve a significant amount of recovery time to get you feeling back to normal, and afterwards you will still have to deal with the problems outlined above.

There is also a cosmetic element involved. Lost teeth can leave large and visible gaps in the smile, which can make people dissatisfied with the physical appearance of their teeth.

However, a full set of teeth isn’t important just for cosmetic reasons – it is also a vital component of good oral health. If you have one or more of your teeth missing, this can spark a gradual chain of events leading to significant bone loss and physical changes in the shape of your facial structure.

Underneath each tooth is a root that stimulates the jawbone underneath. This jawbone needs constant chewing action to spark bone growth and support bone health. Just as a muscle in your body will start to fade away if left unused, so too can the bone in your mouth gradually disappear without stimulation from the tooth above.

If you lose a tooth or several teeth, you may experience bone loss underneath the gap. This can lead to the shifting of the facial structure around the mouth that most people associated with ageing.

Finding A Solution

Dental implants (also known as a tooth implant) offer a permanent solution for tooth replacement that helps to stimulate this vital bone mass. The implant itself has the appearance of a small post or spike made from hospital-grade titanium.

Your dental practitioner will place this implant into the jawbone in a surgical procedure. Once anchored into the bone, it can support any number of replacement structures above the gum line, such as a crown, bridge, or even a full set of dentures.

A crown is a type of ‘cap’ that can be made from materials such as acrylic, porcelain and metal. They can be added onto an existing tooth to improve its appearance or, in conjunction with a dental implant, replace a single lost tooth.

Because of the dental implants, you are not just utilising a cosmetic replacement for the missing teeth. As you chew and use your new teeth, the pressure will stimulate the jawbone underneath via the tooth implant. In this way, the dental implant supports a full cosmetic restoration and prevents further bone loss around the missing tooth.

Placing dental implants is a surgical procedure and as such, requires specialist knowledge. A periodontist is a dental practitioner who focuses on preventing, treating and diagnosing diseases in the gum tissues as well as placing dental implants.

Preventing Lost Teeth

A dental implant can be a permanent solution for the damage caused by missing teeth, but it’s important to do what you can to prevent this from happening in the first place. One of the reasons why we lose teeth is due to infection from dental decay.

One of the first steps you can take to protect yourself from decay is brushing and flossing regularly. Thorough oral care and maintenance will ensure your teeth are as clean as possible, reducing the risk of plaque and tartar build-up.

Remember to change your brush every three months to preserve its effectiveness, and combine twice-daily brushing with a flossing session.

It’s recommended to visit a dentist regularly as well, so he or she can give you a deeper clean and keep an eye on your oral health. This means that any problems can be picked up and resolved before they go on to cause more serious damage – which may require more intensive (and expensive) treatment.

If you are concerned about your oral health, or would like more information about dental implants, see your dental practitioner for guidance.

The post What’s The Deal With Dental Implants? appeared first on Prime Dental.

I don’t want my inbox to overflow with unwanted spam! That’s often the first thought people conjure up in their head when they hear “join our email list”. However, this isn’t always the case. There are great digital communication services out there that can benefit your life – and receiving our regular dentistry email alerts is one of them!

Why am I receiving these?

Our regular email alerts contain a wealth of useful information regarding everything dentistry. From information on the latest technology and available procedures to discovering new tips or receiving special offers, you can rest assured knowing you’re kept up to date in the dental world.

What’s in it for me?

We aim to write engaging emails full of content that our patients are actually interested in and want to read. We want to share new dental tips so your straight smile and oral hygiene stay in optimum shape!

Agreement of practice

Nobody likes to receive spam emails; we certainly don’t! That’s why we’re committed to your best interests and promise not to overdo our communications with you.

We’ll only send you an email at reasonable intervals. For peace of mind, you can opt out of receiving our email newsletter at any time through the unsubscribe link in our e-newsletters or by contacting our practice.

Lastly, we’re always looking to improve our services and are more than happy to read your feedback.

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Do you know what extras, essentials and ancillary cover you are entitled to with your private health fund?

Many health fund members don’t realise that their private health insurance includes dental benefits. More importantly, they are unaware that most health funds act on a “forfeit” system, meaning if you do not use your benefits, you lose them for this year! Any unused benefits from this year will not be carried over by your health insurance provider at the end of the year. So these benefits are simply lost!

Dental health insurance is worthwhile if you do take advantage of its benefits. It encourages you to see us for regular check-ups, which ultimately helps to maintain optimal dental health and hygiene. In the long run, dental insurance often pays for itself many times over throughout your lifetime, and will prevent you having to spend a mint to fix larger problems you could have avoided with regular dental assessments. A clean today can prevent a filling tomorrow! However this only works if you are using what you have already paid for.

What do I have to do?

1. Contact Your Health Fund

Does your coverage include dental benefits, and what is remaining?

2. Make An Appointment

Call our practice and we will find the closest suitable appointment to meet your needs.

3. Bring Your Card

At the end of your appointment we will process your rebate using your Health Fund Members’ card right on the spot!

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Tooth loss is a serious issue. For one, it can dramatically impact one’s ability to eat. Therefore, nutrition intake and diet become a concern. Tooth loss can not only affect a person’s appearance and cause speech difficulties, but can also be a catalyst for more damage.

The gaps generated from missing teeth break the rigid structure that is required to keep all teeth in place. Strain and movement on surrounding teeth can start to occur, which then spreads damage across the entire tooth line, so it’s vital to address missing teeth.

Can I get dental implants?

Ultimately, our practice will evaluate whether dental implants are a suitable option for you. Some of the requirements include being in good general health, having healthy gums and adequate jaw bone structure to support the implants; though it’s possible to graft bone from another area such as the chin if you lack sufficient jaw bone.

Why choose dental implants?

Dental implants offer an array of benefits. They look and feel natural, making it very hard for anyone to tell that you ever lost a tooth in the first place!

Unlike dentures, dental implants feel very secure in your mouth. They can support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture. They also allow you to eat and smile with comfort and confidence, knowing that they won’t fall out or break when eating and speaking as they’re usually made of titanium.

The post Are Dental Implants Suitable For Me? appeared first on Prime Dental.

Why Men Should Be More Concerned About Their Gums?

Gum disease doesn’t just affect oral health; it can also impact a person’s overall health. Neglecting your oral heath can significantly increase your risk of periodontitis (gum disease) which, if left untreated, can lead to not only tooth loss, but also a number of medical problems such as cardiovascular disease, pancreatic cancer and even sexual health problems.

Even more of a reason to keep that tooth brush at hand; In a 2007 study by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, it was concluded that men who were grouped as having either moderate or severe periodontal disease had a 63% higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than those with healthy gums.

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is caused by high levels of bacteria that build up overtime to form what is known as plaque. Plaque is a sticky, colourless film-like substance which develops from the consumption of sugars in the food that people eat. When these layers of plaque start to build up due to insufficient brushing and flossing, they begin to eat away at the gums and supporting tooth structure.

If plaque is not cleaned from the tooth on a regular basis they may become red, inflamed and may bleed whilst brushing. This type of gum disease is known as gingivitis. Gingivitis often progresses to a more destructive stage known as periodontitis, where the gum will start to separate from the tooth structure, leaving little pockets around the tooth. These pockets are a “breading ground” for more bacteria and often harden to form calculus (tartar). Gradually, the bacteria will begin to reach the jaw and tooth structure, causing severe damage to both the gum and bone.

How To Prevent Gum Disease:

It is recommended that you start implementing a daily oral hygiene routine which consists of brushing at least twice, flossing once and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash. It is also recommended that after each meal, or a snack with high sugar content, you should be rinsing your mouth out with water.

On top of a daily hygiene routine, you should be visiting our practice for regular check-ups every 6-12 months.

Book Your Check-Up!

The University of Adelaide reported that 67.4% of women visited the dentist in a 12 month period over 2010-2011, where only 60.6% of males visited during this time.

Men, it’s time to take control of your oral hygiene, step up your game and start booking those check-ups.

Oral Health and Dental Care in Australia; Key facts and figures 2012; Sergio Chrisopoulos, Jane Harford; Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health; The University of Adelaide

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