Do You Need an Emergency Dentist?

We know that there are days where you may need to see a dentist as soon as possible! You may have been kept up all night from your toothache and want the issue to be resolved as soon as possible. At Pain Free Dentist Sydney, we always keep some spaces available in the appointment slots everyday for patients requiring an emergency dentist. 

Pain Free Dentist Sydney is located at two convenient locations in Rozelle and Hurlstone Park and we open 6 days a week and take emergencies on Sundays. 

Dental emergencies that we treat include: 

• Tooth aches
• Sports injuries 
• Tooth or teeth being knocked out 
• Denture repairs 
• Crown chips
• Fractured Teeth 
• Broken filling
• Jaw pain
• Locked jaw 

In the situation that your tooth has been knocked out, please follow these first aid instructions: 

1. If the tooth is free from dirt, put the tooth straight back into the socket, making sure that you do not touch the root - only grip the crown of the tooth
2. If the tooth is dirt wash the tooth with milk or Hank's balanced salt solution and then place it back into the socket
3. If you can't place the tooth back into the socket - place it in between your back teeth and your cheek or in a container containing milk, saliva or Hank's balanced salt solution
4. Book an emergency appointment with your Dentist immediately.

If you or someone close to you have experienced a dental emergency, please do not hesitate to contact Pain Free Dentist Sydney on (02) 9818 8887 for urgent care. 

Adult Tongue Tie Revision

Symptoms of tongue tie before surgery

Tongue tie symptoms in adults is presents a broader set of conditions and diseases.

Here are the symptoms:

Lack of energy and sugar craving, brain fog

Sleep apnea or bad sleeper, snoring

Chronic Neck and Back pain

Pain In Jaw Joint

Migraines

Mouth breathing and dry lips

Teeth sensitivity when drinking water

Anxiety

Lisping

Am I Tongue Tied? How to identify oral restrictions

Does any of the above sound familiar?  If you suffer any of these conditions, let’s do a simple test that may reveal a tongue tie.

• Do a finger swipe under your tongue, is there a catch? It should be a smooth transition. There should be no flap under the tongue.
• Do you have a strong gag reflex?
• Stick your tongue out, straight, now can you lift the tip without moving the rest of the tongue?  The tip should move independently to the rest of the tongue.
• Open your mouth, as wide as it goes. Without moving or closing the jaw, can you reach the tip of your tongue to spot behind your upper front teeth? Your tongue should reach the spot behind your front teeth at FULL jaw opening.
• Can your tongue comfortably wipe across the outer sides of your upper and lower back teeth and reach where the gums connect with the cheeks?
• Can you move your lips side to side (lips closed) without moving the entire jaw? The lips should be able to move independently to the jaw. Lip tie restricts full lip movement.

*There are other signs on the face and body that a well trained professional can assess as well as several related issues that stem from tongue restriction. These include airway, posture, and sleep and a practitioner can assess you beyond just appearance of the tongue.

Adult Tongue Tie Surgery

Before Tongue Tie Surgery

As a trained Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist, Dr Lisa Chong and her great team at Pain Free Dentist Sydney will develop a program for you to assist in Nasal breathing, Correct tongue posture and swallowing function.

Tongue tie surgery types for adults

This treatment can be carried out without needing to have General Anesthetic and options are:

• Release of the frenum by scissors with local anaesthetic.
• Release of frenum by laser.

Tongue tie surgery complications

• Recurrence of lingual frenum can occur, especially in growing children. This may mean a revision is necessary in certain cases.
•  Always consult with your practitioner regarding potential risks and complications before surgery.

What is the cost of tongue tie surgery for adults? 

Prices generally vary from depending on the level of support and lead up treatment. 

If you have a question regarding adult tongue-tie release, please call and book at (02) 9558 8988.

How to Encourage Children to Have Good Oral Hygiene Habits

Maintaining healthy teeth starts at home. Prevention is key! This is why it is important to teach children from a young age to have good oral hygiene habits. If you are struggling to encourage your child to perform oral hygiene habits than these tips may help!

1.       Fun and Entertaining YouTube Video: Showing your child some fun and entertaining YouTube videos on how to brush teeth and possibly of their favourite cartoon character brushing their teeth will surely encourage them to do so as well.

2.       Become a Good Example: Children tend to mimic what their parents do, so it is important that you show your child that you also brush your teeth 2 times a day. Perhaps, you can brush your teeth together.

3.       Education: Instead of just telling them to brush their teeth, try to also explain why brushing their teeth is important. You can refer to bacteria growing in the mouth as ‘little monsters’ that will try to eat away their tooth!

4.       Choosing a Toothbrush: Involve your child in the process of choosing a toothbrush. If they like the toothbrush they have, they will be more excited to use it daily.

5.       Monitor: Always watch over your child as they are brushing their teeth and try to correct their technique. Overtime they will become more experienced and this will lay down the foundation a life time of good oral hygiene.

We hope this helps! Good luck and if you have any more questions or are concerned about your child’s oral hygiene, call us on (02) 9558 8988 to book an appointment with one of our friendly dentists!

Tongue and Lip Tie: Frequently Asked Questions

If my child has a lip tie, what are the chances that they also have a tongue tie?

• There is a very high chance that your child may also have a tongue tie 
• This does not mean that both the tongue tie and lip tie need to be treated.
• Treatment will depend on the signs and symptoms

What is better, using a laser or scissors for tongue tie release?

•  In the hands of an experienced clinician it should not matter what method is used to release the tongue/lip tie
• Both procedures will produce excellent results if done correctly

What do you do after the tongue/lip tie procedure?

• The Dentist will inform parents about certain exercises (e.g. stretches) that they should perform on the child.
• This will prevent reattachment and promote healing. 
• They can be done while the child is awake or asleep 
• The child should also be brought in for a review appointment to assess that everything is going to plan and healing well.  

Can a tongue tie cause speech problems?

• Not everyone who has a tongue tie will have speech problems - it is usually case based. That being said, it is very common though. 
• The most affected letters are CH, TH, SH, S, L and R sounds 
• There is an improvement in speech following tongue tie release

When can I expect to see Improvements in breastfeeding?

• Typically you will see an improvement straight away following release, however it could take as long as a week to show
• We recommend that you also seek assistance from a lactation nurse after the procedure
• At Pain Free Dentist Sydney we can recommend a lactation nurse for you if you do not have one already

Are stitches necessary following a tongue or lip tie release?

• For children stitches are not necessary however for adult tongue tie release they may be needed.
• It all depends on the degree of tongue tie that will be released. You will be informed whether or not you will need stitches at your initial consultation  

We hope that this has helped answer some of your questions! If you have any other questions in regards to tongue or lip ties, please do not hesitate to call us on (02) 9558 8988.

Adult Tongue Tie

You are probably aware of what a tongue tie is if you have read our previous blog posts. It is essentially a condition that you are born with where your tongue has limited movement due to a shortened piece of skin which connects the underside of your tongue to the floor of the mouth. This is usually an issue that is apparent in infants; however it is also prevalent in the adult population. Many adults have gone through life with an un-diagnosed tongue tie. This may seem as an irrelevant issue; however you would be surprised to know just how many different symptoms it could cause ranging from social to sleeping and dental problems such as:

• Inability to open mouth widely which affects pronunciation of certain letters and inability to speak clearly when talking fast or loud.
• Pain or clicking in one or both jaw joints
• Headaches or migraines.
• Chronic neck, back and shoulder pain.
• Increased risk for developing gum inflammation and cavities.
• Mouth breathing leading to frequently dry mouth.
• Sleep apnea which affects the quality of your sleep. You may be waking up tired often and have an increased need to take afternoon naps.
• Crooked teeth

 A good way to test whether or not your tongue is tied is by opening your mouth to it's full extent and then extending the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth. If you are unable to do this, then there is a possibility that you are tongue tied and you should probably book an appointment with your Dentist for a full examination. 

Treatment of the adult tongue involves a procedure using a laser where the piece of skin restricting the tongue movement is released. At Pain Free Dentist Sydney, in the hands of our experienced clinician you are guaranteed to have a pain free experience. Post operative care involves performing a range of simple exercises for a period of time to prevent re-attachment and scaring. 

If you have any questions in regards to adult tongue ties or suspect that you may have this condition feel free to call us on (02) 9558 8988 to book a consultation appointment.

Causes of Clicking during Breastfeeding

Have you noticed that your baby makes a clicking sound while they are nursing? This usually indicated that the seal or suction is being broken numerous times as the baby feeds. There are many reasons as to why this issue occurs and you must evaluate the symptoms that you and the baby are experiencing and inform your lactation nurse.

When the mother is comfortable (i.e. she is not experiencing any nipple soreness or pain) and the baby is growing and gaining adequate weight relative to their age then there is probably no reason to worry about this. However, if the mother is experiencing discomfort as a result of breastfeeding, and the baby is losing weight than the underlying issue must be identified.

Some causes of clicking during breastfeeding include poor positioning, poor latching, breast milk oversupply, fast let down, teething, ear infections and intraoral infections such as thrush.

Anatomical variations in the baby’s mouth can also cause clicking however this is a less common reason. Such variations include, tongue and lip tie as the baby will not be able to maintain adequate seal during feeding. Furthermore, highly arched palates and clefts of the soft palates can also be a reason of clicking during breastfeeding.

In conclusion, if you find that your baby is clicking during feeding, do not worry. It is always a good idea to consult your lactation nurse to rule out any problems. 

If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment please call us on (02) 9558 8988

Breastfeeding and How it is Affected by Tongue Ties

There are various reasons as to why your baby is failing to breastfeed. Sometimes it is due to anatomical reasons such as tongue and lip ties that are preventing the baby from latching appropriately.

Firstly, tongue and lip ties prevent a baby from opening his or her mouth widely enough, and thus will result in the baby not latching onto the nipple properly and possibly chewing on it. Additionally, due to the tension caused by the short frenum the tongue is unable to protrude horizontally past the gum ridge/lips and thus it unable to protect the nipple from injury. This will cause severe pain and discomfort for the mother. You may also notice that milk is dribbling from the mouth while the baby is sucking. This is due to the baby’s inability to make a good seal around the breast with his/her lips. This can sometimes also be caused by the presence of a lip tie, which limits the mobility of the upper lip.

Inappropriate breastfeeding technique not only affects the mother, but it also affects the baby. The baby will not be receiving the required nutrient intake and thus will lead to weight loss.

To summarise, some signs and symptoms to look out for include:

• Nipple damage: cracking, bruising, blistering, misshapen nipple after breastfeeding
• Pain: most common symptom that a mother experiences. Painful breastfeeding is usually not normal.
• Incomplete Breast Drainage: can be caused by various reasons which includes inability to draw enough negative intraoral pressure due to poor seal and inadequate use of tongue
• Decrease in milk supply over time
• Clicking sound while breast feeding (this is not always linked to tongue ties- perhaps you can consult a lactation nurse about the other reasons that cause this issue)

If you have any information or would like to book your child in for an examination please do not hesitate to contact us on (02) 9558 8988.

Pain Free Dentist Sydney: G01A, 570 New Canterbury Road, Hurlstone Park NSW 2193

Tongue Tie

So you are probably wondering what a 'tongue tie' is. It is pretty much a condition that a child is born with, where there is a thin piece of skin under the baby's tongue, that restricts movement. This can affect the way a baby feeds as they have trouble latching on and possibly painful breastfeeding, reflux and failure to thrive. 

Tongue tie may have a genetic predisposition, however it can be congenital as well, meaning that a baby is born with it but it is not genetic. There is some research that links a mother with a MTHFR gene mutation to a child with tongue tie. Further research is required to confirm this association. 

If you have been informed that your child may have a tongue tie, there is no reason to worry. There is a simple treatment available to resolve this tongue tie. Firstly, a dentist can release the tie with surgical scissors. This procedure can be done without anesthesia in the surgery. If the procedure is done properly with the right hands, the baby will not be in pain. Immediately after the procedure is conducted, the baby will be able to latch on for breast feeding. 

Another treatment method involves using a laser to release the tongue tie. There is a bit more preparation involved when using the laser, such as safety procedures e.g. laser protective eye wear. Generally, the pre-operative preparation is a bit more lengthy and the baby might become restless. However, both procedures will procedure the same results, it is a matter of what the clinician determines is best practice. 

Once the procedure has been conducted, the parents are encouraged to follow some post operative practices. This involves  conducting exercises to the area daily to prevent re-attachment of the tissue, as there is a high chance of the tongue tie re-occuring. The dentist will provide further instructions on the post operative care on a case by case basis. 

Please talk to your dentist about any risks or adverse reactions that may occur. 

This article is contributed by Dr. Lisa Chong of Pain Free Dentist Sydney (Hurlstone Park). For more information contact on (02) 9558 8988 or info@painfreedentistsydney.com.au 

Facial Slimming with Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Have you noticed that your face has started to look more square on the lower jaw line? You could have hyperactivity of your Masseter muscles. This could be from grinding your teeth or bruxism in dental terms. 

It could lead to damages such as teeth chipping or TMJ pain, headaches and migraines. This can be resolved by using botox to relax the muscles. With the correct dosage, your facial muscles will slim down giving you a more visually appealing appearance. 

Shown above is an example of a facial slimming case. 

Do You Grind Your Teeth?

If you have noticed pain, headaches or even teeth that seem to have worn down then you are probably grinding. Grinding is not part of normal chewing and must be treated as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage to the jaw joints (also known as the TMJ or temporomandibular joint) 

The cause of grinding is different from person to person. It may be caused by: 

1. Stress, tension and anxiety 
2. Sleep disorders 
3. Abnormal anatomy of the teeth that cause an improper bite (example: high spots) 
4. Physical stress (example: chewing gum too much) 

Often, individuals do not realise they are grinding until they begin to experience symptoms such as chronic tension headaches, flattened teeth surfaces or even broken teeth. 

If you suspect that you have been grinding your teeth (while you’re alert or even sleeping) than it is essential to visit your Dentist as this will help you avoid further complications and lengthy treatments. 

Your Dentist will usually recommend for you to wear an Occlusal splint (also known as night guards) to prevent further wearing down of teeth. Occlusal splints are custom made from a hard plastic to fit your upper or lower teeth. Patients with severe grinding will often use a combination of the splint and other treatments such as muscle relaxants. Both treatment options mentioned above increase an individuals comfort by eventually reducing or eliminating pain.

什么是牙周疾病？

如果您洗手的时候手出血了，您肯定会很担心。但是，很多人认为刷牙时牙龈出血是一件很平常的事。

牙龈红肿出血是牙周细菌感染的早期症状。如果不及时采取任何措施，感染极有可能会扩散到周围的组织。并且破坏您牙齿的支撑结构造成牙齿松动。

牙周疾病是牙齿周围的组织结构受到感染，包括牙龈、覆盖在牙根上的牙骨质、牙周韧带和牙槽骨。牙龈炎是牙周疾病的最初期阶段，只有牙龈会受到感染。如果牙周病变更严重，所有的牙齿支撑组织都会受到感染。

研究表明，牙龈感染会影响您的健康，有许多疾病跟牙周疾病有关，例如：动脉粥样硬化与心脏病、中风、早产、糖尿病和呼吸道疾病。

牙龈炎的病损局限于牙龈，无深部牙周组织的破坏，在去除局部自己因素后，牙龈的炎症约在一周后消退，破坏了的胶原纤维可新生，牙龈的色、形、质及功能均能完全恢复正常，预后良好。但如果患者不能有效地控制菌斑和定期复查，导致菌斑在此大量聚集，牙龈炎是很容易复发的。

1、习惯早晚刷牙及使用牙线清洁牙缝，尤其是在睡前，可以清除牙菌膜，减少在睡觉时牙菌膜的积聚。每6个月至1年，定期往牙科医生处清洁牙齿，预防牙菌膜变成牙石，及清除在牙齿上已形成的牙石。

2、使用软毛牙刷：用软毛牙刷刷牙龈及舌头，对牙龈很有好处。刷牙龈边缘：刷牙时不要忽略容易堆积牙垢的牙龈边缘，将牙刷倾斜45度角，由内向外刷，清除食物残渣尽量不碰伤牙龈，如此可预防牙龈发炎。轮流使用两只牙刷：轮流使用两支牙刷的好处在于可以使另一只有时间完全风干，从而减少细菌滋生的几率，这对牙齿的健康非常重要。

3、给牙齿补钙：牙骨疏松容易导致牙龈炎，可以多吃含有钙质的食物，来强化骨骼。

4、经常使用漱口水：漱口水可以帮助你清除牙垢，对牙齿健康很有帮助，建议每次吃东西后一定要漱口。

5、戒烟、戒酒：烟和酒会流失保持口腔健康所需的维生素及矿物质，要想有健康中药的牙齿，必须戒烟和酒。

6、多吃生蔬菜：生蔬菜含有很多纤维素，能帮助清洁及刺激牙齿及牙龈以避免牙龈炎。

7、危险讯号：牙龈痛、牙龈流血、长时间口臭、牙齿松动、都是牙龈炎的征兆。若置之不理将信心可能导致更严重的牙周病，所以必须尽快看牙医。

悉尼无痛牙医— 感染控制管理

对于您选择口腔诊所来说，感染控制感染是非常重要的考虑因素。如果没有正确的感染控制管理，对病人和医疗工作人员都有极高的疾病感染风险。

在我们悉尼无痛口腔诊所，我们严格按照澳大利亚口腔协会规定的最高标准进行感染控制管理。所有悉尼无痛口腔诊所的员工都进行过严格的感染控制管理培训。而且，我们所有的员工都有感染控制手册和协议。

在我们无痛口腔诊所我们确保每个病人看诊之前都会严格清洁。所有的医疗器械都会严格按照标准清洁消毒。医疗器械会被分类包装并且高温高压消毒。

在我们无痛口腔诊所我们确保每个病人看诊之前都会严格清洁。所有的医疗器械都会严格按照标准清洁消毒。医疗器械会被分类包装并且高温高压消毒。

在我们无痛口腔诊所我们确保每个病人看诊之前都会严格清洁。所有的医疗器械都会严格按照标准清洁消毒。医疗器械会被分类包装并且高温高压消毒。

每位病人都是用独立包装的器械并且有记录在案的消毒追踪代码。而且，所有的工作人员在诊疗是都必须穿戴合适的防护用具。因此您可以放心的在我们无痛口腔诊所进行诊疗，我们将为您提供安全舒适的诊疗环境。

牙齿断裂和破损

当您牙齿出现断裂和破损的情况时该怎么办？我们建议您应尽快寻求牙医帮助。

造成牙齿断裂破损的原因有很多，例如咬硬物、面部创伤、蛀牙等。无论何种原因造成的损伤，牙齿破损断裂都不能被忽视。

并不是所有的破损牙齿都会引起疼痛，而且从外观上来看也许并不糟糕，但是有可能存在您没注意到的牙齿及牙根损伤。这些损伤会引起疼痛甚至牙齿脱落。

当您的牙齿损伤时，请用温水漱口用并纱布按压出血点，您应尽快到牙医处看诊。

如何治疗取决于您牙齿破损的程度。通常来说普通的补牙就可以解决您的牙齿破损问题，然而对一些复杂的病例来说可能会需要镶嵌牙冠。如果牙医发现您的牙齿神经受到损伤您可能需要根管治疗。

现如今生活压力很大，很多人都会有磨牙的习惯。磨牙会引起细小的牙齿磨损和断裂。您会在咀嚼或按压牙齿的时候感到细微的疼痛。牙齿细微磨损的治疗取决于磨损的严重程度，如果磨损触及神经，可能会需要根管治疗。

对于牙齿断裂、破损和细微磨损来说有许多预防方案。如果您从事接触性运动或者您所处的环境有很高的引起颌面损伤的风险，我们建议您佩戴口腔防护器。如果您经常磨牙，牙垫可以保护您的牙齿。如果您不喜欢佩戴牙垫，您可以通过注射玻尿酸来放松您颞颌关节的肌肉。

牙套的种类

正如你所知的那样，并不是所有的人都天生完美的牙齿。但现如今，通过牙套辅助治疗我们每个人都可以拥有最完美的牙齿。现在市场上有许多不同的牙套类型，我们究竟要选哪一种呢？

最常见的牙套类型就是金属牙套。这种牙套将不锈钢的托槽固定在每颗牙上，并用金属线连接，给牙齿施加压力使它们往正确的方向上生长。这种类型的牙套使用最坚固的材料，和其他种类相比起来也最不容易损坏。同时，它也是最经济的选择。

陶瓷牙套与金属牙套作用原理相同，但是陶瓷托槽更加透明，透明材料是它看起来并不引人注意。如果您在意美观性的话，这将是一个更好的选择。

戴蒙牙套和传统金属牙套相比技术更加先进。这种牙套使用自锁托槽，因此不需要再拖才上固定橡皮筋。戴蒙牙套对患者来说更加温和，需要的复诊次数也更少。戴蒙牙套治疗与常规牙套相比可以缩短长达6个月的治疗时间。

如果您还在犹豫要不要带牙套，不用担心，透明可拆卸的牙齿校准器也许更加适合你。您一定听说过隐形矫正。隐形矫正将使用为您专门定制的透明的塑料校准器。当您吃饭的时候，隐形矫正器是可以拆卸的，您只需要大约每两周更换新的矫正器。

如果您想开始牙齿矫正治疗，请来我们悉尼无痛牙医诊所了解更多信息。