FAQs Paddington Rosalie Brisbane

During the first appointment, your dentist will remove any inflamed or infected pulp from the tooth. When the tooth has been thoroughly cleaned, the canal is enlarged and shaped and a temporary filling is placed. During the final appointment, the root canals are filled and the pulp chambers are sealed for protection from further infection.

It is possible for a root canal to become infected again following a root canal procedure. Canals are cleaned and infected tissue is removed, however infected debris can sometimes remain in the small branches of the main canal. Remaining debris can lead to reinfection at a later stage, in which case an apicoectomy may be recommended. During this, the root tip is removed along with any infected tissue before a filling is placed to seal the tooth.

Emergency dental procedures such as root canal treatments are generally safe during pregnancy. The best time of a pregnancy to undergo dental work is the second trimester. If you are pregnant, we ask that you let your dentist know before you have any work done, as only necessary procedures should be done. While many dental procedures are safe and even necessary during pregnancy, certain treatments are better left until after the birth of your baby.

You will need to wear your Invisalign aligners for around 22 hours every day. Every two or three weeks throughout the course of your orthodontic treatment, you will be issued with a new set of aligners. Each new set of aligners builds on the work of the previous set, so that the teeth continue to shift gradually throughout the course of the treatment. It is important that you adhere to your dentist’s instructions when it comes to wearing your aligners for the recommended period of time, as this will ensure that your results are as effective as possible. You may remove your aligners when you eat and drink, and when you brush and floss your teeth.

Invisalign treatment generally works faster than traditional braces, although this will depend on your particular orthodontic needs. Depending on how you respond to the treatment, it may be possible to consider longer periods of time between aligner changes, which means that you won’t have to visit our office very often.

We also offer Invisalign Go, which achieves an even faster treatment time. Treatments with this new technology can be as fast as three to five months, which also helps to cut the cost of orthodontic treatment quite considerably.

No, Invisalign is not noticeable. In fact, one of the main benefits of this orthodontic treatment is that it is virtually invisible, and most people won’t even be able to tell that you are undergoing dental treatment. Invisalign aligners are a very discreet option, and are very popular for individuals who would like to straighten their teeth, but would prefer not to wear traditional metal braces.

Dental veneers can resolve a number of cosmetic issues, including misaligned teeth. It is important to note, however, that veneers are only suited for the treatment of mild misalignment. Teeth that are severely misaligned should be addressed with orthodontic treatment first.

Your dentist may recommend repairing your crooked teeth with a treatment like Invisalign before placing veneers. This will help increase the chances of a beautiful straight smile.

At Crookes and Jenkins Dental, we offer dental veneers that are made from tooth-coloured porcelain. The material helps to achieve a very natural-looking result and is generally resistant to stains caused by foods and drinks. Veneers can also be made from resin composite materials, but porcelain veneers look more natural than composite resin veneers, and tend to be more resistant to stains, which is why we prefer to use them.

Dental veneers are bonded to the front surface of the teeth. Before they are bonded to the teeth, a small layer of the tooth is removed. This allows for adequate room for the veneer to be cemented in place, and helps to achieve a natural-looking result. Every veneer is custom made and individually crafted by an experienced dental ceramist based on an impression of your teeth. This means that your veneers will fit your teeth perfectly, and will feel very comfortable once they have been placed.

In many cases, teeth grinding is caused by a combination of factors, both physical and psychological. Some of the most common causes include stress, certain types of illness, nutritional deficiencies, and problems with the structure of the teeth and jaws. It’s possible to grind your teeth at night without even realising it, which can cause discomfort and pain in the jaw joints, tooth sensitivity, as well as considerable damage to the surfaces of the teeth.

If you grind your teeth at night and have noticed some pain and discomfort in your jaw or teeth as a result, we recommend that you come in and see us. We offer an occlusal splint or night guard to patients who suffer from mild to severe teeth grinding. The splint, which should be worn at night, is designed to fit over the upper or lower arch, and helps to prevent further damage to the teeth. In some cases, we may recommend a treatment to repair damaged teeth. Treatment may include fillings, dental bonding, crowns, or inlays.

Yes, it is possible to purchase mouthguards over the counter from chemists and sports stores however it is not appropriate to wear a sports mouthguard at night for grinding as this can cause long term damage to your jaw joints.  Occlusal splints and sports mouthguards are designed very differently to address the specific functions they serve.

If you play contact sports, we recommend that you use a custom-made sports mouthguard. Custom-made mouthguards, which are made based on an impression of your teeth, offer much better protection than store bought types because they are designed specifically to fit your unique mouth well. They also lessen the chances of a broken jaw and concussion, and help protect the teeth from damage. Custom-made mouthguards can be fabricated for both adults and children and are highly recommended for anyone who plays sport.

Like a lot of treatment related questions, the answer to this one is dependent on the services that you require.

We recommend patients who are visiting for the first time have a full oral health assessment, so your dentist can identify all of your treatment needs.

These may be as simple as a visual assessment with a mirror and probe, or you may require more specialised tests such as dental radiographs (X-rays) or assessments to determine the quality of your saliva and health of your gums.

Often (and especially if there is not a complex treatment to plan) the dentist may also recommend that you get a professional clean on this first visit. This depends on what procedures are requested and performed.

Sometimes patients present to us for the first time with a dental crisis. In these circumstances we will do everything in our power to treat your primary need and get you out of pain. We recommend that you then schedule a time for a complete oral health assessment as discussed above.

Your daily routine should include taking care of your oral health. By maintaining good oral health and hygiene you can prevent gum disease, tooth decay and even, in severe cases, bone loss.

Dental studies have revealed some startling new reasons to keep brushing and flossing every day – if your oral health wasn’t enough. There have been suggestions of an association between oral infections such as gum infections and poorly controlled diabetes, cardiovascular disease and preterm labour and birth.

Your mouth is essentially a window into the health of the rest of your body. It can be a helpful vantage point in distinguishing the early signs of systemic disease. If your oral health wasn’t a big enough reason to take good care of your mouth, the relationship between your oral health and overall health should be.

When brushing your teeth, the best method is to place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth, with the bristles of your toothbrush aimed towards the gum line. It’s important to focus on this area because bacteria and plaque tend to build up between the teeth and the gums. You should brush gently, moving the toothbrush back and forwards in small strokes so that you clean one or two teeth at a time. We recommend 2 minutes brushing.

When it comes to choosing a toothbrush, we recommend that you opt for one with a small head and soft bristles. Electric toothbrushes are also a good option, especially if you are having difficulty mastering a proper brushing technique. An interdental brush can be used to complement your brushing routine as it can be useful in controlling chronic gum disease. Simply push it between your teeth to remove food particles and plaque.

In order to floss your teeth effectively, you should gently place the floss between each tooth, moving it up and down in order to scrape the surface of the tooth. Move the floss around the tooth and under the edge of the gum until you are sure that you have removed all of the plaque in the area.

Flossing is the most effective way to remove plaque from between the teeth, and should form part of your daily routine. If you notice some bleeding, it may be an indication of inflammation in the gums. We recommend that you come in and see us so that we can check for abnormalities or signs of gum disease.

Absolutely!  We take special care to foster a caring relationship and environment for children and believe that most children actually look forward to visiting us.

Ideally, as soon as the first two teeth come through. This will allow your dentist to check that the teeth have formed correctly and to give valuable advice about a whole range of dental health issues related to children.

An early start to dental visits also helps the dentist and child begin to form a relationship based on trust. One of the saddest things we sometimes encounter is when a child’s first visit to the dentist is motivated by toothache or dental trauma.

It is difficult for a child suffering from pain or trauma to separate this from the treatment environment if they have not had positive non-threatening experiences beforehand.

“By two is too late” was a catchphrase used by the American Dental Association in a campaign targeted at reducing childhood dental disease and encouraging early intervention.

At Crookes & Jenkins Dental, we ensure universal precautions are undertaken in regard to infection control for all dental procedures. This means that we use the highest level of protection against cross contamination, regardless of whether you are sick or not.

The only consideration you may have is for your own comfort during the procedure. If you can comfortably lie in the dental chair, and can breathe easily with your mouth open, then we are happy to see you.

The dentists at Crookes and Jenkins will take x-rays early in your patient-dentist relationship. This will help to examine and record your oral health. X-rays can see into the hidden areas a simple check-up may not see.

The dentist can also compare older x-rays to newer x-rays for changes than may occur between appointments.

Most adult patients should have a batwing x-ray (full x-ray) every year. Those who are at risk for dental diseases like tooth decay may need them more regularly.

From our perspective, we cannot provide an accurate diagnosis, even for a simple cleaning, without x-rays. We want to give our patients the best care possible. Without x-rays there is a lot we can miss, including gum disease and abscesses.

Dentistry has come a long way since the days of barbershop dentistry, where a bottle of rum was the local anaesthetic. The best way to avoid dental pain is to ensure you maintain good oral hygiene and have regular check-ups, but sometimes more invasive treatment can be necessary.

Through the use of modern day anaesthetics, dental treatment is rarely uncomfortable while you are attending. Some procedures may take a little time to heal, but your dentist will be able to recommend or prescribe medication to manage any post treatment discomfort.

Yes – but please advise us that you will need this service at the time of your booking so that we can ensure we are adequately prepared for your visit.

As part of our service to you we do provide HICAPS facilities. If your health fund is a participating member, our reception staff will be able to submit a claim to your health fund on your behalf.

Your health fund’s contribution will be credited to your invoice so you only have to pay your co-payment towards your treatment. You will need to bring along your membership card so that we can process the transaction.

In recent years health funds have begun to introduce preferred provider schemes into Australia. These schemes are essentially a contract with the dentist (or service provider) to provide certain services for a fixed fee (usually discounted) in exchange for advertising and marketing benefits from the health fund.

Our experience of preferred provider schemes overseas has essentially taught us that they tend to lead to limited patient choices and services, use of cheaper and inferior materials and treatment options. We feel the advantage of being on the health funds marketing lists is not worth this compromise and for these reasons we have chosen not to join these schemes. This decision has not been made lightly, but out of a deep concern for the long term wellbeing and freedom of choice for our patients.

Crookes & Jenkins Dental operate independently from all health funds.

Our practice provides dental services that are appropriate to our patients’ needs for which we charge a fair fee and represent excellent value for service.

There is limited parking available for our patients at the rear of the building – please do not obstruct the driveway / easement to our neighbours property. There is also plenty of parking, both on and off street, available in the village vicinity if you intend to do some shopping.

Besides the aesthetic benefits, there are also a number of health reasons for replacing missing teeth. When you lose a permanent tooth, there is the risk that other teeth in your mouth can shift in an attempt to fill the gap. If this happens, it can cause problems with your bite and the alignment of your teeth, as well as issues with speech and eating. By replacing missing teeth, you can enjoy optimal oral function and avoid a range of issues from developing over time.

It is important that you take care of your dentures by cleaning them thoroughly every day and making sure that any food particles and plaque build-up is removed. It’s a good idea to remove and rinse your dentures after eating. Dentures need to stay moist in order to maintain their shape, so you should soak them in water or denture solution overnight. It’s also important that you take care of your remaining natural teeth in order to maintain good oral health and to prevent any issues from arising. This includes brushing and flossing and coming in for regular dental check-ups

Immediate dentures refer to removeable dentures that are designed to be inserted immediately after the removal of a tooth or multiple teeth. These types of dentures can be used to replace one tooth, all of your natural teeth, or any number of missing teeth in between. Before immediate dentures are inserted, we will perform a thorough oral health maintenance check, including a full examination of your teeth, gums and other soft tissues in the mouth. We will also take radiographs to make sure that your remaining teeth are healthy and strong enough to aid the support of a denture.

Flossing is the most effective way to remove plaque from those hard-to-reach areas. If ignored, the plaque can build up resulting in tooth decay and gum disease.

Sugary foods like juices, candy and soda can contribute to tooth decay and can lead to the production of acids in the mouth that can cause damage to the teeth.

To maintain excellent oral health, you should be regularly brushing and flossing your teeth to help prevent the build of plaque and causing tooth decay. It is recommended that you brush for at least 2 minutes and at least twice a day to obtain optimal results.