What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a titanium screw that integrates with your jaw to replace the lost tooth root. A porcelain crowned tooth is then attached to the top of the implant to complete your smile.
The dental implant procedure has been around for over 30 years and gives you the closest result to having your own natural teeth back

Dental implants can be used to:

• Replace a single missing tooth with a single dental implant
• Replace a row of missing teeth secured over multiple dental implants
• Replace a whole mouthful of teeth if necessary.

Why have dental implants?

If you have lost or are missing a tooth and have a large gap, then your jaw will continue to shrink and weaken until the gap is filled. Dental implants are the best way to stop this continuing damage and give you the closest result to having your own natural teeth back.
A dental implant is also a great alternative for denture wearers that find dentures uncomfortable, sore or difficult to chew and speak with.

The benefits of having implants

• Dental implants are the longest lasting of all the techniques used to replace missing teeth
• Dental implants are hard-wearing – just like real teeth
• Dental implants are a straightforward and safe procedure.

What are dentures?

A denture is a set of false teeth that can replace anywhere from one missing tooth (partial denture) to a whole mouthful of missing teeth (full dentures). Our aim is to help you keep your own teeth healthy for life. If you have missing teeth then dentures are an affordable way to replace these.Having your dentures fitted or adjusted and then monitored for your continued comfort is our priority. It is our policy to give you open and frank advice on all your options, alternatives and the associated costs, allowing you to make the most informed decision. We will then continue to work with you to ensure you enjoy the maximum amount of time from your treatment.

What is gum disease?

What is a broken or dislocated jaw?

A broken or dislocated jaw is an injury to one or both of the joints that connect your lower jawbone to the skull. Each of these joints is called the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ can break, crack, or become unhinged from the skull. The unhinging of the jaw joint is known as a dislocation.
A broken, fractured, or dislocated jaw can create problems with eating and breathing. Immediate medical attention is necessary to minimize complications and accelerate healing.

Causes of a broken or dislocated jaw

Experiencing facial trauma is the primary cause of a broken or dislocated jaw. The jawbone extends from your chin to behind your ear. Common types of injury that can cause fractures or dislocations in the jawbone are:
• physical assault in the face
• sports injuries
• vehicle accidents
• accidental falls in the home
• industrial or workplace accidents

Symptoms of a broken or dislocated jaw

Broken jaw

Symptoms of a broken jaw include:
• pain
• swelling, including facial swelling
• bleeding, including bleeding from the mouth
• breathing difficulties
• discomfort when chewing
• jaw stiffness
• numbness and bruising in the face
• dental-related discomfort, such as numbness in the gums or loosened teeth
Pain, swelling, and bleeding are the most immediate symptoms of a broken jaw. Your entire face can swell, making your jaw painful and stiff. Bleeding from the mouth can occur, causing breathing difficulties in some people. The blood flow can block your airways. You may experience the most pain and tenderness when chewing or speaking. If you have a severe jaw fracture, you might experience limited ability to move your jaw or be unable to move your jaw at all.
Numbness and bruising in the face and gums are also normal to have if your jaw is fractured or broken. Breaking the bone can cause other abnormalities with the shape of your face. You might notice that your jaw or face has a lumpy appearance. The impact of your injury could also cause loosened or lost teeth.

Dislocated jaw

The signs of a dislocated jaw can be different than those of a broken jaw. Pain is a factor, and it may become worse when you move your mouth or your body. Additional signs of a dislocated jaw include the following:
• Your jaw might appear to jut out too much, as in an overbite.
• You might notice that your teeth don’t line up as they usually do and your bite feels strange.
• An abnormal bite can prevent you from closing your mouth completely, and this might cause drooling.
• Speaking may be difficult.

Medical Treatment

Many people who have jaw pain will not have a jaw fracture and will be treated with pain medications and instructions to eat a soft diet and to follow up with their doctor.
• Those with fractures require further evaluation. Many fractures of the jawbone are associated with gum problems or tissue damage and should be considered open fractures. They will be treated with antibiotics.
• You may receive a tetanus shot.
• Pain will be addressed and managed effectively.
• Many mandible fractures are stable, and the only treatment required is wiring the upper and lower teeth together. This will most commonly be performed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
• More unstable fractures often require surgery. Surgical methods using plates across the fracture site may allow you to have normal motion of the mandible and to eat shortly after surgery.

What is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is an area of dentistry that treats irregularities of teeth and the effect this has on one’s face and bite. Through the use of braces, retainers and other appliances and orthodontic treatments you can enjoy straighter teeth, a more functional bite and a beautiful smile.

Orthodontics is useful for:

• Straightening teeth
• Improving your smile
• Correcting your ‘bite’, i.e. how your mouth closes
• Improving your speech
• Better proportion for your face if affected by teeth or jaw irregularities

What is a root canal for?

‘Root canal’ is a colloquial term for a dental operation otherwise known as endodontic treatment, where the infected pulp of a tooth is cleaned out, the space disinfected and then filled and sealed. A diseased or infected tooth nerve can be very painful for some people or if it is in its early stages it may not be causing pain just yet.

Root canal symptoms – what are they and why might I need a root canal treatment?

. Root canals are an alternative to tooth extraction.
We can tell that the nerve in the tooth is dying because of the symptoms of:
• Sensitive teeth – particularly sensitivity between hot and cold temperatures
• Sore or painful tooth to bite on
• Darkening of the tooth
• Swelling or tenderness of the surrounding gum
• X-Rays: after time the disease in the tooth will spread to the jawbone and the X-Ray will reveal where the jawbone has been eaten away.

Are root canal procedures painful?

In the past root canal treatments have had the reputation for being terribly painful and troublesome. That is not so much the case these days – the methods that we have to treat the infected nerves in the tooth are far more predictable. The treatment should really be no more uncomfortable than when you have a filling – which we are able to do with a minimum of pain.

Apicoectomy:

An Apicoectomy is a routinely performed minor surgical treatment which is commonly performed when usual root canal treatments are found to be ineffective. It is considered as a last resort for the management of stubborn tooth infections and is a highly versatile procedure.
At Kavya Dental Clinic, our root canal specialists have the training and expertise in performing apicoectomy. We adopt latest techniques for the procedure, which significantly subside the infection and the associated insult to the tooth. After the procedure, you will be guided through postoperative management and followup care for a week to maximize comfort and reduce healing time.

complications of Ignoring Root Canal Infection

The microbes (mainly bacteria) will continue to break the tooth down thereby weakening it even further to the point where you will loose the tooth.
A more serious complication is the possibility of a systemic spread of the infection that could be life threatening. This can result in septicemia (systemic spread of infection) whereby other organ systems such as the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys and liver can become involved.
The initial, basic signs and symptoms of a systemic spread can be elevated or lower temperature (under 36 °C or over 38 °C), increased heart rate and high respiratory rate. This, besides the localized or diffuse pain and swelling associated with the root canal infection.
It is obvious that root canal infection should not be left untreated!

What is teeth whitening?

Dental teeth whitening is a safe, easy and effective way to get whiter and brighter teeth. It is one of the many ways that cosmetic dentistry can give you that dazzling smile you have always wanted.
Today’s Dentistry in Brisbane uses the latest technology in whitening, minimising whitening side effects such as sensitivity. There has been a lot of research to show that there is no damage to your teeth by having them whitened by a dentist. Off the shelf teeth whitening products do not always give reliable outcomes.

Why do people have their teeth whitened?

Tooth discolouration could be caused by any number of factors, including smoking, red wine, tea, coffee or even antibiotics. These lead to many people complaining of:
• Ugly teeth
• Yellow teeth
• Dark or black teeth
Many of our patients have an important occasion, such as their wedding, which they would like their smile to have that extra ‘wow’ factor. Other patients have simply wanted to have whiter teeth for many years.

The benefits of dental teeth whitening:

• Dental whitening is a safe and quick process
• Teeth whitening makes a big difference to your smile
• Most teeth are suitable for dental whitening
• Having your teeth whitened by a dentist is safer and more reliable than using off-the-shelf whitening products or systems

Tooth coloured fillings, also known as Composite Resin, are a cosmetic alternative to the old style silver-mercury fillings. They are made of a plastic material mixed with small glass particles and are tooth coloured, rather than silver. They are natural looking and are suitable for repairing cavities in any teeth.

What are the benefits of tooth coloured fillings?

• Natural looking
• Stronger because it bonds better to the surrounding tooth
• Safer than old style silver, amalgam, mercury fillings
• Suitable for even the smallest of holes

Active maintenance visit

We used to call them ‘check-ups’……..before we knew better.



Did you know that plaque is the cause of most dental disease, especially tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease.
The most you might notice is some staining of the teeth, bad breath or a slight amount of occasional bleeding. Eventually as decay forms you might experience pain or toothache and if left untreated this can lead to painful and sometimes, irreversible dental problems such as infection and tooth loss.

However these dental problems are preventable

Our Active Maintenance Programme is designed to help you come for regular preventive care so that we never have to treat the preventable disease of tooth decay or what it can lead to.
These six monthly dental visits may be one of the most important preventive general health measures you can take.

Did you know that regular check ups will save you money?

Although many people baulk at the cost of visits to the dentist when there is no obvious problem, most dental authorities claim that regular maintenance visits are 8 to 12 times more cost effective than dealing with dental problems after they have become an emergency.
This does not even count the biological costs such as loss of tooth strength and increased risk of abscess. Not to mention the emotional costs from stress, anxiety and pain.