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Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing at least once is the best way to help prevent your teeth from cavities. However, it is not always easy to thoroughly clean each deep groove and pit of your teeth, most especially those located at the back of the mouth. Molars are coarse, uneven and one of the most favourite place for food remains and bacteria to hide. Fortunately, there is another safety net to help keep your molars clean. It is known as the dental sealant. A dental sealant is a thin coating that’s smeared on the surface of the molars to prevent the formation of cavities for several years. However, it is important to note that a sealant is not a substitute for brushing and flossing. Recent studies have shown that dental sealants can reduce the risk of tooth decay by about 80% in molars. Sealants are essential, especially when it comes to your child’s oral health. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control released the importance of dental sealants for school-going kids, of which only 45% of the children between the ages of 6-11 had the sealants. According to the CDC, those children without sealants were three times more prone to cavities than ones with sealants. Here is why you should consider dental sealants for your child. Dental Sealants are long-lasting Sealants can protect your child’s teeth for up to 10 years. However, they need to be regularly checked and maintained by your dentists to ensure that there are no cracks or damage. It is possible for decay to get under your tooth in case the sealant is worn down or broken. It is important to have the sealants checked at least twice annually for maintenance or replacement. Quick and Painless Treatment Application of sealants is a completely painless and the procedure is quick. The sealants are applied to the tooth surface with a liquid resin which hardens rapidly. It takes about 3-5 minutes to apply the resin and dry. As soon as the sealants are set, encourage your child to avoid chewing on ice or any chewy and hard candies that may dislodge the sealant. Sealants are a great option to help your child avoid the risk of developing a cavity, which can be painful to fill and repair. Cost Effective Just like any other medical and dental treatment, costs can vary depending on the service provider and the insurance plan. However, there are several insurance companies which cover dental sealants for 6-12 year molars as part of a child’s preventative care services. Bottom Line Even the most dedicated flossers and teeth brushes cannot get every bit of plaque and food from each groove of their teeth. Dental sealants offer a protective layer to your child’s teeth thus saving them from the expensive and unpleasant fillings. At Springvale Dental Clinic, we work hard to make your child feel at ease and comfortable by offering exceptional patient care in a calm and convenient environment. Contact our dental clinic in Melbourne today or schedule an appointment if you have any questions concerning dental sealants. Also, contact us if you want to know whether your child can benefit from sealants. Popular Articles Infograph: Truth About Your Child’s Tooth Decay Cracked Or Chipped Front Tooth? Morning And Night Routine For Best Oral Hygiene

You may think that your teeth are indestructible, but they are not. Poor dental hygiene, unanticipated accidents,and genetics can all cause your perfectly normal, strong teeth to crack or chip. In case you crack or chip your front tooth, it is important to book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will quickly look at your chipped or cracked tooth and determine the best treatment option for your situation. Several different treatment options may be offered to you when you visit your dentist for a cracked or chipped tooth. This article will take a look at some of the treatment options for your cracked or chipped a front tooth. What Can You Do As soon as you have a cracked or chipped tooth, it is important that you visit your dentist immediately. In the meantime, our dentists in Melbourne recommend some few tips you can use to relieve pain and reduce swelling: Rinse out your mouth with some warm salty water. Take an over-the-counter painkiller such as acetaminophen. To prevent a jagged or sharp tooth edge from cutting your mouth or tongue, cover the chipped or cracked tooth with a piece of sugar-free chewing gum or wax paraffin. If you are hungry and need to eat, stick to soft foods and avoid chewing with your chipped or cracked tooth. Dental Crowns Dental crowns are a common type of restorative treatment option for chipped or cracked teeth. Permanent dental crowns are made of a variety of materials, each containing their own benefits. Some of the materials used in making permanent dental crowns include; porcelain, metal, resin, ceramic or porcelain fused to metal. If the root of the chipped or cracked tooth is still intact, you may need a root canal treatment to build up the tooth structure before adding a dental crown. A dental crown treatment procedure normally takes a couple of visits to the dental clinic. During your first visit, your dentist may take an x-ray to examine your surrounding roots and bone. If there are no problems found, your dentist will numb the affected tooth area, remove some of the remaining teeth and prepare the area for a dental crown. You may also require a dental filing to build up the tooth structure if the tooth has large chips or cracks. After this has been done, your tooth impression will be taken along with the opposing tooth you use to bite down. Once all this is ready, you will have to go for a second appointment where your dentist can permanently place your new dental crown. Other Treatment Options There are other treatment options for chipped or cracked tooth such as dental bonding. Dental bonding is usually done when only a small section of your tooth has chipped off,and there is no damage done to the root of the tooth. Another treatment option for restoring cracked or chipped front teeth is dental veneers. Dental veneers are false teeth, which are used to cover up an existing chipped or cracked tooth while giving the appearance of your natural tooth. Bottom Line Unfortunately, a cracked or chipped front tooth is not something that can simply heal on its own. Dental crowns, dental bonding/filling,and veneers are just some of the various options you may have for a cracked or chipped front tooth. Call or visit us at Springvale Dental Clinic to learn more about how our dentists can best treat your chipped or cracked tooth. Popular Articles Gum Diseases and Non-surgical Gum Therapies As a Patient How Can You Prepare for Your Wisdom Teeth Extraction What is tartar? Tips to Control Tartar Buildup

As a parent, ensuring that your kid is as healthy as possible is with no doubt among your highest priorities. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS), a program introduced by the government under Medicare is here to make that task simpler for you. CDBS helps you to keep your child’s teeth healthy and in great shape by providing you with up to $1000 worth of dental services. Once you have received the benefits, you can be able to use it over a period of two calendar years. This is provided that your child is between the age of two and seventeen and have met all the other required qualifications. CDBS covers a broad array of dental services which include diagnostic, preventive, restorative and dental surgical procedures. Here are some of the dental surgeries covered by Medicare CDBS. Root Canal Treatment A root canal is a dental procedure that involves replacing of a damaged or infected tooth pulp with a filling. The pulp is comprised of blood vessels, specialised dental cells, some nerve fibres and tissue fibres located in the hollow space. The success rate of this procedure is high since it’s approximately 95 percent. A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment is expected to function just like any other natural tooth after the treatment. Root canal treatment is one of the dental surgeries that are covered by Medicare CDBS. Your dentist will deduct the dental fee from your CDBS balance after the treatment. Tooth Extraction Everyone is blessed with 32 teeth. Unfortunately, there are factors such as dental trauma and excessive tooth decay that make tooth extraction necessary. Tooth extraction can be straightforward,but sometimes can be quite complicated. Irrespective of the nature of extraction, the procedure is covered under Medicare CDBS. So, if your child receives CDBS and the dentist has recommended tooth extraction, don’t worry, the dental fee will be deducted from the CDBS balance. Wisdom Teeth Extraction Wisdom teeth are the four molars located at the back of the mouth in both the lower and upper jaw. Wisdom teeth extraction is a dental surgical procedure meant to extract one or more wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth grow, in most cases they lack enough room to erupt properly. This makes them become impacted and may result in pain, infection and a myriad of other dental problems. The surgical procedure undertaken to extract wisdom teeth is covered by Medicare CDBS. Dental Surgeries Not Covered by Medicare It is important to know that the fact that Medicare will pay for the dental surgeries listed above, there are some other dental procedures it will not pay for. For example, Medicare will not pay for any dental surgery meant to improve the appearance of your teeth. This includes any cosmetic-related dental surgeries. The program will also not pay for some high-end dental surgeries such as orthodontics. In addition, Medicare does not cover follow up dental services. For example, if you underwent through a tooth extraction and the dental fee was covered by the program, it will not cover for any follow-up services. Bottom Line If your child is covered by Medicare CDBS, visit us at Springvale Dental Clinic to enjoy the benefits. Our dentist will bulk bill the dental fee for you so that there is no out-of-pocket expense for all eligible treatment. Should they be an additional expense that will be necessary and not covered by the program, our dentist will let you know early in advance so that we can receive your consent. Popular Articles How to take advantage of Medicare Health Insurance at Springvale Dental Clinic? Have you used your dental care plan yet? Springvale Dental Clinic welcomes walk-in patient for Nobel Park & Keysborough People