Wellington:
(04) 801 6228
Lower Hutt:
(04) 570 0520
We know the majority of our patients work during the middle of the day. You may not work 9 to 5 exactly (maybe you work 8 to 4) but chances are that in the middle of the day, your employer or clients expect you to be at work or available. That’s why we do our best to offer teeth cleaning appointments that fit your work schedule.
We don’t want anything to come between you & your regular preventive dental care appointments. That being said, we also don’t want you to view 6-month visits to our office as something that disrupts your ability to provide for yourself & your family. That’s why we go the extra mile to provide appointments that are convenient for your work schedule.
We have morning appointments available so that you can stop in before work for your cleaning. We also have evening appointments available so that you can stop by on your way home. Our teeth cleaning appointments are less than an hour long, so you’ll be in & out quickly. We work early & late so you don’t have to take time off!
The best way to ensure your long term dental health is to see us regularly for preventive dental care. Catching problems early & getting a professional cleaning every 6 months (or however often the dentist or dental hygienist recommends) can prevent potentially costly & painful dental problems in the future. We don’t say this to scare you, just as a reminder that an once of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Or in this case, a one-hour cleaning is worth sparing yourself the expense & inconvenience of dental disease & tooth decay!
The importance of preventive teeth cleaning visits is why we always strive to pre-appoint you for your next visit in a time that fits with your work schedule. Please don’t hesitate to let us know when you need to be at work. If it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to make it for a 4pm appointment, we’d much rather see you at 5:30pm than have you miss or cancel! Our goal is always to make dentistry as easy as possible for you. It’s how we keep our family of patients smiling!
Dental implants are the latest & greatest in dental technology that allows dentist to replace missing teeth permanently. You may know that implants can replace teeth & are used in complete smile reconstructions & makeovers. But you may also not be sure exactly what dental implants are, & how they work.
That’s why we’ve written this simple & quick intro to dental implants. If you want more detail about the implant procedure or want to find out if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, please call us to schedule an implant consultation visit.
First, we want to familiarize you with how natural teeth work. Natural teeth consist of a crown, which is the visible part of tooth that’s outside the gums, & a root, which is under the gums & attached to the bone of your jaw. Your smaller front teeth tend to have one root each while the larger teeth toward the back of your mouth (molars & bicuspids) tend to have more than one. The root of your teeth contain the nerve & the pulp, which nourish the inside of a healthy tooth. When this pulp becomes damaged or infected, that’s when the dentist tells you you need a root canal, a procedure which can save your tooth even when the pulp is compromised.
Traditional tooth replacement options such as bridges (partials) & dentures only structurally replaced the crown part of your missing tooth. Bridges or partials replace your tooth by attaching an artificial tooth to the healthy teeth nearby. Dentures replace an entire upper or lower arch of teeth & visually replace the gums too for a natural look. Neither of these options anchor replacement teeth in your jaw or gums, which means that people with these appliances have to avoid many foods & may experience slipping or discomfort when eating or speaking.
With the quickly-advancing technology of dental implants, we can finally offer a restorative dentistry option that replaces your missing teeth both visually & functionally.
Dental implants actually consist of two parts, just like your natural teeth. The implant itself acts as an artificial tooth root & is secured in the bone of your jaw just like a real root. Implants are made of a special kind of bio-safe titanium. Both this special metal & the screw-like shape of the implant’s lower portion are designed so that bone will grow around it, keeping it tightly in place.
The second part of the dental implant is the crown. This is an artificial tooth that is made of porcelain & is custom designed by a dental technician to match the color, size & shape of your natural teeth. It is attached to the metal implant using a permanent dental adhesive.
Once the procedure is complete & the patient has healed, they will have fully functional teeth that are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. The result is a return to eating any of the foods you want, speaking naturally, smiling confidently & being free of dental pain.
It’s true that dental implants cost more than most tooth replacement options such as bridges or dentures. If your biggest concern is cost, you may consider these other options. However, if you biggest concern is your longterm comfort, health & quality of life, implants are your best option.
Even if you take excellent care of your teeth & mouth, sometimes an unforeseen incident could put you in need of emergency dental care. Whether the culprit for your emergency is an injury, a rogue popcorn kernel, or just a mystery toothache, our dental clinic is here for you in an emergency.
First of all, if you are experiencing a dental-related emergency that is potentially life-threatening, you should contact emergency medical services immediately (by calling 911 in the U.S. & Canada; 999 in the United Kingdom; or 000 in Australia).
If you have a dental emergency during our regular clinic hours, we should be able to accommodate you & get you in as soon as possible. When you call us, be clear that you are in pain & are having an emergency & we will make sure the dentist is available for you.
If you are in need of emergency dental care when our practice is closed, our phone answering service will receive your call & contact the dentist. The dentist will be able to provide advice or arrange to see you at our office as soon as possible if your situation is urgent.
The most common cause of a dental emergency is an injury, whether from sports, a fall, or another kind of accident. As mentioned above, if the injury may be life-threatening, contact emergency services before contacting the dentist. If the injury is not life-threatening, you should call us as soon as possible so we can provide advice & arrange to see you.
Another common reason for emergency dental care is a toothache. Toothaches can be caused by infections resulting from poor oral hygiene, but they can also result from a dental injury that has turned into an abscess. For example, if you took a tumble off your skateboard & bumped your face but didn’t see any damage at the time, it’s possible for pain to appear later on.
Toothaches can also be caused by a cracked tooth or a cracked filling that has become infected. Chances are when you crack a tooth you’ll feel it happen at the time, whether you’re biting down on a hard candy (naughty!) or a stray bone in your chicken dinner. If you think you may have cracked a tooth, crown, or filling, even if you don’t have a toothache, it’s a good idea to contact us as soon as possible for emergency dental care, just so we can take a quick look & make sure you don’t need further treatment.
There are two categories of mouthguards with two different purposes that you can get from your dentist. Mouthguards for sports are intended to prevent injury. Mouthguards worn while sleeping are intended to prevent problems associated with teeth grinding or other bite problems.
Sports mouthguards, also just called sports guards, have been in use for nearly 100 years. They were originally invented for boxers around 1919, to keep tooth & lip injuries from interrupting matches. They later came into use in many other sports, most notably basketball & American football. By 1960, the American Dental Association recommended latex sports guards be used in most contact sports.
The ADA still recommends that athletes wear sports guards in all contact sports. The ADA (& our dentists) recommend that sports guards be worn in any sport that could involve facial impacts, including solitary sports like mountain biking or skiing. Sports guards prevent injury to not just the teeth, but also to gums, lips & cheeks. Some studies also indicate that wearing a sports guard can help prevent concussions from impacts.
While there are types of sportsguards that you can buy at the drug store, sportsguards created by your family dentist are more comfortable & effective. Dentist-made sportsguards are customized to a mold of your teeth & are less likely to obstruct speech & breathing. They may be a little pricier, but they are well worth the investment.
Mouthguards worn while sleeping are often called night guards. You will hear dentists refer to them as occlusal guards. The word occlusion means having to do with the bite or how the teeth fit together. Therefore, an occlusal guard makes sure you have a proper bite when sleeping.
Night guards are most often recommended for people who grind their teeth at night. Teeth grinding can sometimes lead to severe problems if left untreated, such as worn teeth that leads to tooth decay, headaches, ear aches, & jaw problems such as TMJ. If your family dentist notices signs or symptoms of teeth grinding, they will recommend getting a custom night guard made. Night guards are worn over either the top or bottom teeth while sleeping.
There is also something called an oral appliance that is used in treating obstructive sleep apnea. These often resemble bruxism mouthguards but are different in that they usually cover both the bottom & upper teeth. Sleep apnea appliances work by moving the bottom jaw forward relative to the upper jaw, thus preventing the tongue & associated structures from obstructing the breathing passage while the patient is sleeping. These appliances can be prescribed by a family dentist with specialty training in sleep apnea treatment.
Teeth grinding is when you clench your jaw closed & grind your teeth together, whether consciously or unconsciously. Teeth grinding is called bruxism by dentists, & it can cause damage, discomfort & pain.
While some people subconsciously grind their teeth while they’re awake, most people who suffer from teeth grinding do so at night. Teeth grinding is much more common in children than adults, so it is often considered something that children will grow out of. However, many people go through periods of bruxism & do not necessarily grind their teeth continually throughout their lives.
Teeth grinding can be diagnosed by your dentist. If you have a history of jaw pain or fatigue when you wake up in the morning, the dentist may wish to examine you for other signs of teeth grinding. These can include excessive tooth wear & enlarged jaw muscles. Waking up with a headache or tooth sensitivity that cannot otherwise be explained can also be signs of tooth grinding. In some people teeth grinding can even be detected from an audible grinding noise, often noticed by a sleep partner or parent.
It is extremely important that you get treatment for teeth grinding because while it may seem harmless, over time it can do a lot of damage to your mouth. Teeth can become cracked, loose, or get ground down so much that the hard protective outer layer of your teeth (called enamel) disappears, exposing the softer materials below that are much more vulnerable to tooth decay.
In addition to damage to your teeth, grinding can cause dull headaches, face pain, ear pain, & jaw problems such as pain, stiffness, clicking or locking.
The causes of bruxism are not positively known, but it has been linked to stress, sleep apnea, loud snoring, & certain anti-depressant medications.
No matter the cause, your dentist can offer treatments to prevent bruxism from continuing to damage your teeth & prevent tooth decay. The most common treatment is a custom made bite splint or bite guard that is worn over the upper teeth at night. This bite guard is custom made by your dentist so it fits your teeth exactly, which helps keep it in place & make sure it’s comfortable to wear. Your dentist will take a mold of your teeth then create the bite guard out of plastic or rubber.
If your dentist suspects that your bruxism is linked to a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, you may be referred to a dentist or physician who specialized in sleep disorders.
If you suspect you or your child may suffer from teeth grinding, please contact us as soon as possible to prevent potential problems such as TMJ, cracked teeth, or tooth decay. We can take a look at your mouth & ask your questions to determine if you have a problem that needs treating.
The temporomandibular joints are the joints on either side of your head that connect your jaw to your skull & allow you to open & close your mouth, chew, & speak. Because it can move in many different directions, these joints are some of the most complex in your body. Any problems with these joints are also referred to as TMJ disorder, or just TMJ.
Symptoms of TMJ can include:
The cause of your TMJ can determine which or how many of these symptoms you have. At most dental checkups, your dentist or dental hygienist will check for tenderness in your jaw muscles to see if TMJ might be present.
TMJ does not always have an obvious cause, but there are a few common possibilities for the origins of a TMJ problem:
While many probably think of dentist as just teeth doctors, we can’t treat you properly without looking at your mouth as part of a system. That system definitely includes your temporomandibular joint. A dentist can help in diagnosing your TMJ disorder, & may also refer you to a physician or a specialist dentist for further diagnosis.
Because TMJ can be caused by tooth & jaw alignment problems, there are dental treatments that may help. Your dentist may refer you to an orthodontist for treatments like braces, which can help realign the teeth & the jaws so that your mouth can close in the proper position. Treatment form an orthodontist can alleviate TMJ symptoms in many cases.
If your TMJ comes from teeth grinding or clenching, your dentist may recommend that you wear a custom dental appliance. Often called a bite plate or a splint, this appliance will keep your upper teeth from grinding against your lower teeth. In addition to alleviating TMJ symptoms, this bite guard will prevent wear on your teeth from grinding that can lead to other problems.
Other treatments for TMJ include using hot & cold packs, taking anti-inflammatory &/or muscle relaxing medications, or learning relaxation techniques to reduce tension in your jaw muscles. In certain rare cases, TMJ may require jaw surgery to correct.
If you are concerned that you may have symptoms that indicate TMJ, please speak with your dentist about it. We want to get you relief from pain & discomfort as quickly as we can!
If we’re honest with ourselves, we know that visiting the dentist is not high on your list of favorite activities. As much as we love dentistry & caring for smiles, we know the general public doesn’t quite share our passion. That’s why we do everything we can to make sure we provide dental care in a way that respects your busy schedule.
We find that the majority of our patients work jobs that are roughly 9am to 5pm every weekday. That’s why we offer teeth cleaning appointments in the morning that allow you to get in & out with plenty of time to get to work before 9am. We also offer teeth cleaning appointments in the late afternoon & evening, so you can stop by on your way home from work without having to leave early.
We also realize that most of young patients are in school from 8am to about 3pm, sometimes later if they participate in sports or other extracurricular activities. That’s what we offer early morning & evening teeth cleaning appointments for children as well. We don’t think it’s necessary for parents to pull their children out of class just for a teeth cleaning. We also offer children’s teeth cleaning appointments during midday during the summer when kids are free from school.
We work hard to ensure you leave every cleaning appointment with your next appointment already scheduled. This is so you can have it in your calendar as early as possible so you won’t forget. However, we know that it’s hard to know what you’ll be doing 3, 6, or 12 months from now (depending on how often we recommend you get your teeth cleaned). That’s why we always want to schedule your next appointment so you won’t have to miss work. If your next scheduled appointment is at a time that conflicts with your work schedule, please let us know so we can re-schedule it for you.
The last thing we want is for you to have to cancel your appointment at the last minute. Your dental health is far too important for that! Seeing your dentist regularly for cleanings doesn’t just mean you have an extra clean smile, it also gives us an opportunity to check for other health problems like gingivitis, gum disease & even oral cancer. We do everything we can to make dental care an easy & care-free part of your life. If we can do something better to ensure we respect your busy schedule, please let us know!
Summertime is a great time. The days are longer, we spend more time outside, the kids are out of school, & many of us take trips with family & friends. With all the changes in your routine during the summer, it might be easy to let dental care become less of a priority. Here are a few tips from your dental team to keep you smiling all summer long.
Tempting as it may be, as your dentist we must beg you not to chew on ice during the hot summer months! Just because your teeth are capable of chewing ice does not mean they should. Ice is hard enough to damage your tooth enamel, which is the hard outer layer of your teeth that protects the softer materials below. Place ice cubes in your drink to cool it instead.
Ads for soft drinks love to tempt us during the summer with ads about how wonderfully refreshing their products are, but when it comes to hydration & cooling off, nothing beats good old-fashioned water. Plus, drinking water won’t put you at risk for tooth decay like juices & soft drinks (including diet!). Plus, water can even help prevent tooth decay by washing away sugars & food particles that may be lingering in your mouth from your last meal or snack. So, please remember, soda pop & juices should be treats & you should drink water to stay cool & hydrated during the summer.
When you’re excited for a vacation it’s easy to overlook something when you’re packing your bags. If that something happens to be a toothbrush or floss, you probably won’t have to go very far for help. Though it isn’t common knowledge, most hotel front desks or concierge services have extra dental care products like toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss available for guests for free. All you have to do is ask. This is especially helpful if your vacation spot is far from a convenience store or drug store. By they way, they also tend to have razors & hair combs if you forgot those, too!
Even though most of us grown-ups are still just as busy during the summer, the children in our lives usually have a lot more time on their hands. We suggest you put some of this time to good use by scheduling your child’s semi-annual teeth cleaning & checkup during their summer vacation. The benefit of summer appointments is that you won’t have to pull your child out of class, they won’t have to miss extracurricular activities & their appointment won’t cut into homework time.
Summer is also a great time for college students to visit the dentist. Unless they’re relying on an on-campus dental clinic, most college students should keep coming to their family dentist, even after they’ve moved away for school. Students who are back home visiting family should plan a trip to the dentist during their visit. Scheduling an appointment during the summer also means that their next 6-month appointment will fall during winter break, when they’re likely to be visiting home again.
Regular appointments for children & students are very important, because they’re particularly prone to picking up bad habits that could lead to tooth decay.
Schedule your appointment early! Great summer appointments always fill up.
One of the best ways to make sure your child has a healthy smile for life is by establishing a dental home. That means creating a trusting relationship between your child & your family dentist & making sure visits to the dentist are fun & educational. As a parent or guardian, you can play a large part in making sure your child is happy & comfortable at the dentist. Here are a few ways how:
If you are a new parent or the parent of a small child, talk to us about bringing your child along on your own teeth cleaning appointment. You can hold your child on your lap while we clean your teeth. We are a family dentist & welcome the opportunity to introduce your child to the world of dental care. Together, you, the dental hygienist & dentist will explain to your child what’s going on, so that the process of going to the dentist becomes familiar to the child before he or she starts going to his or her own dental appointments. Many children become anxious when presented with situations that are unfamiliar. Seeing you get your teeth cleaned will introduce the concept to the child so they are less likely to be afraid or upset when it’s their turn to see the dentist.
Another great way to introduce children to the idea of visiting the family dentist is to read them a picture book about the topic. There are many great children’s books about visiting the dentist, so you can choose one that you think will appeal to your child. You and your child can re-read the book whenever they have a dental appointment coming up to remind them why going to the dentist is important & that it isn’t scary.
Just Going to the Dentist (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer
ABC Dentist: Healthy Teeth from A to Z by Harriet Ziefert
Curious George Visits the Dentist by H. A. Rey
Many children’s programs have episodes that focus on trips to the family dentist. They usually address possible fears children might have within a story that the child can relate to. A good place to search for episodes of kids’ shows that feature a trip to the dentist is YouTube, or similar video-streaming services. You can also keep an eye out for dentist-themed episodes on TV make sure you & your child watch them together.
Dudley Visits the Dentist
Dentist Video from Sesame Street
As a family dentist, we are alway happy to do whatever it takes to make sure your little one feels comfortable & welcome at our practice. If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s visits to the dentist, please don’t hesitate to ask us.
Our pledge to you is to provide the most personalized, effective dental care possible. Caring for your individual dental health is part of our larger goal of improving & supporting the overall health of the community. Dental health is deeply linked to your general health, so the happier & healthier we can make your smile, the stronger our community will be.
We fulfill this pledge in the following ways:
Chances are you don’t think of going to the dentist as a convenient & easy experience. We want to change that for good. We are committed to offering our patients preventive care appointments that fit with their busy schedules. We don’t want you to ever have to miss work or pull your children out of school for a teeth cleaning. That’s why we offer teeth cleanings outside of normal work & school hours to ensure you can see us regularly. If your next appointment is not scheduled at a time that is convenient for your, let us know, & we will do our best to get you in at a time that respects your schedule.
We’ve been working in dentistry long enough to know that many people have anxiety or fear about dentistry, & that these feelings can come from many different sources & be expressed in many forms. We promise to always do our best to make your dental visit as comfortable as possible by listening to your concerns & adapting to accommodate & alleviate them. We know that how comfortable you are at our dental clinic is tied to how healthy we can keep your smile. Never hesitate to let us know how we can put you more at ease!
We understand that the cost of dentistry can be intimidating for many patients. Please rest assured that our staff is trained to maximize all dental insurance benefits to ensure insured patients pay as little out of pocket as possible. For example, teeth cleanings are free for all insured patients at our dental clinic. And remember, not only is preventive care the most affordable kind of dentistry, it also saves you lots of money in the future by ensuring you don’t need any expensive restorative or gum disease treatments. We also provide dental coverage options for patients without insurance & financing options to make sure you get the care you need without having to stress about the cost. An investment in your smile always pays off!
