Question 1

Are you a reluctant patient?

Accepted Answer

Dental visits are not everyone’s favourite event. People often associate discomfort or pain with a trip to the dentist either from personal experience or general negative portrayal. Those times are long gone! Today’s advanced dentistry practices at TLC Dental are safe, effective and painless. Our latest form of anesthesia injection system, The Wand, is more precise and comfortable than any other traditional form of injection.

Question 2

What are TLC Dental's Sterilisation Practices?

Accepted Answer

Your health and safety is extremely important. TLC Dental exercises a strict sterilisation policy throughout the practice. The Australian Dental Association awarded TLC Dental a commendation on our stringent sterilisation protocol. Our team is happy to answer your questions about sterilisation practices or infection control policy.

Question 3

What are your Appointment Policies?

Accepted Answer

TLC Dental makes every effort to schedule your personal appointment at a convenient time for you. Should you need to change this appointment, please provide at least 48 hours if you notice you are unable to attend to avoid a fee. For emergency appointments call TLC Dental 02 8599 7107.

Question 4

Can anything help my occasional bad breath?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Apart from what you had for dinner the night before, your oral health should be evaluated for several criteria. Visit our Fresh Breath Centre for details.

Question 5

Does chewing gum help oral health?

Accepted Answer

Some sugar-free chewing gums contain Xylitol or Sorbitol which are cariostatic and help to prevent decay. The additional saliva generated from chewing the gum also increases the natural protection against tooth decay because saliva offers a natural buffer against the acid formed by bacteria. In addition, at TLC Dental, we recommend Recaldent chewing gum, only distributed by dentists to patients who present a high risk of decay.

Question 6

Are mouth guards important?

Accepted Answer

Anyone playing sport or training can benefit from custom made, correctly fitted mouthguards to protect teeth against injury. Over the counter mouthguards do not offer the snug, comfortable fit that a custom mouthguard can nor can they offer an adequate level of protection. Talk to the TLC Dental team about creating a customized mouthguard for any sports enthusiast.

Question 7

Is flossing important?

Accepted Answer

Flossing is essential to remove plaque from between your teeth where gum disease can begin. Follow these Basic Flossing Tips to look after your oral health.

Question 8

Does the kind of tooth brush I use make a difference?

Accepted Answer

There is a wide range of manual and electric toothbrushes available. Dr Hoffenberg and his team of hygienists will advise you about the most appropriate tooth brush to use.

Question 9

Is snoring related to my dental health?

Accepted Answer

Snoring is an annoying problem with several side effects. It can be disturbing for your partner; it disrupts your sleep and can also be a sign of high blood pressure or hypertension. Most importantly though it could be a warning that you suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) which could be life threatening. At TLC Dental we provide relief from snoring with the development of an appliance which can be worn at night to eliminate this debilitating condition. We also conduct assessments for OSA. If required, we will refer you to a sleep specialist for further investigation. Discuss your snoring problem with the TLC Dental Team.

Question 10

How do you explain tooth grinding?

Accepted Answer

Uncontrolled tooth grinding (especially during sleep) can wear away teeth and cause unhealthy stress on the tooth structure. Causes for tooth grinding vary: daily tension is the most common trigger. The results if left unchecked can lead to all sorts of problems such as headaches, neckaches, problems with the jaw joint, sensitivity of the teeth, wearing down of the tooth surfaces resulting in a change in your bite and even cracked teeth. Often a Bite Splint is required to protect against this problem. Not only will you protect your teeth, you’ll alleviate discomfort associated with this ailment. Review your daily habits with a TLC Dental team member to get to the root of the problem and see what we can recommend.

Question 11

How safe and reliable are implants?

Accepted Answer

Dental Implants are extremely safe and reliable and are an exceptional treatment option in many cases. Implants have a success rate of approximately 95%. Dental Implants provide a permanent solution to replacing single or multiple missing teeth. An implant is a titanium root which the natural bone fixes to, to provide a strong foundation onto which a natural-looking and functional crown is placed.

Question 12

Is it painful to have an implant?

Accepted Answer

Almost everyone who has had to have an implant have had a tooth extracted prior to that and almost all say that having an implant is less painful and uncomfortable than having a tooth taken out. Believe us, it really does sound worse than it is.

Question 13

How long does tooth whitening last?

Accepted Answer

Once the tooth whitening treatment has been completed you probably won’t have to have it done again. Teeth are porous and absorb stains and after a professional tooth whitening one normally uses tooth whitening trays at home for a few hours, usually every 4 – 6 months to touch up.

Question 14

Is tooth whitening very sensitive?

Accepted Answer

This certainly is true for most tooth whitening systems because they contain heavy metals which attract water out of the tooth, thereby causing dehydration and because the active whitening agent, hydrogen peroxide has an acidic PH. However the Natural+ tooth whitening system that we use is unique. It has no heavy metals, so does not cause dehydration and the hydrogen peroxide has a netural PH, both of which which result in NO or at most very little sensitivity. It also contains natural materials, mostly extracted from the dead sea.

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