Services

Our Dental Services

Dental Check ups and Cleans

At the check up and clean, Dr Reddy will first conduct a thorough check of your teeth, gums, TMJ joints, lymph nodes, tongue and inside of your mouth. Patients are referred for a bulk-billed full mouth x-ray (“OPG”) so that areas that are not visible on clinical inspection can be seen on the x-ray image. A thorough scaling is done which involves the removal of tartar and plaque from the teeth and gums, polishing of the teeth to remove stains, and then fluoride is applied to make the tooth enamel more resistant to decay. It is generally recommended to have a check up and clean every 6 months, however patients with moderate or severe dental disease may be asked to attend more often, while others will only need to visit annually.

Restorations (Fillings)

A filling restores the part of a tooth that has been lost as a result of decay or trauma from an accident.

Composite Resin (White) Fillings

We use tooth coloured composite resin fillings in front teeth and back teeth. Composite resin fillings adhere to the teeth for a better seal and can form edges, so it may be effectively used to repair front teeth that are chipped, broken down, decayed or worn down. Composite resin fillings can also be used to cover marks or discolouration that cleaning alone cannot remove. Composite resin fillings come in a range of shades so they can be matched to the colour of your own teeth. Composite resin fillings are not only limited to new dental repairs, but older restorations may also be replaced with composite resin fillings.

Amalgam Fillings

In a small number of cases we can still use amalgam fillings for molar and premolar fillings. This is usually the case where there is too much moisture present, usually for restorations under the gums. In such cases, the amalgam is the preferred restorative material.

Extractions

Tooth extraction is quite a routine standard procedure, and the majority of extractions can usually be performed quickly while the patient is awake by firstly applying a numbing gel to the area and then using local anesthetic injections to eliminate pain. Local anesthetic blocks pain, although the “push and pull” forces are still present. Some teeth are more difficult to remove, e.g: depending on the tooth’s position, the shape of the tooth’s roots and the health/condition of the tooth.

Wisdom Tooth Removal

Dr Reddy is highly skilled and experienced, especially when it comes to wisdom tooth removal. Regardless of the type or complexity of the impaction, your time in the dental chair at Toukley Dental Clinic is minimal.

Crowns and Bridges

Crowns and Bridges are fixed prosthetics. Unlike removable prosthetics such as dentures, which are to be removed at night and cleaned daily, crowns and bridges are cemented permanently onto existing teeth or implants, and they can only be removed by a dentist.

A crown is used to entirely cover or “cap” a damaged tooth. Besides giving strength to a damaged tooth, a crown can be used to improve the tooth’s appearance, shape or alignment. A crown can also be placed on top of an implant to provide a tooth-like shape and structure for function. Porcelain or ceramic crowns can be matched to the colour of your natural teeth. Other materials used for crowns include gold and metal alloys, acrylic and ceramic. The alloys are generally stronger than porcelain, and may be recommended for back teeth. Porcelain bonded to a metal shell is often used because it is both strong and attractive.

A bridge may be recommended if you are missing one or more teeth, especially in cases where implant placement is contraindicated, e.g: bone deficiency and some medical conditions. Gaps left by missing teeth eventually cause the remaining teeth to rotate or shift into the empty spaces, resulting in a bad bite. The imbalance caused by missing teeth can also lead to gum disease and TMJ joint disorders. A bridge will cover the space where the teeth are missing. Bridges are cemented to the natural teeth or to implants surrounding the empty space. These teeth are known as abutments and they serve as anchors for the bridge. A replacement tooth, called a pontic, is attached to the crowns that cover the abutments. As with crowns, you have a choice of materials for bridges. Dr Reddy can help you decide which to use, based on the location of the missing tooth (or teeth), its function, aesthetics and cost. Porcelain or ceramic bridges can be matched to the colour of your natural teeth.

Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin, tooth coloured porcelain shells that are custom made to bond to the front surface of teeth. Veneers are perfect for treating and covering chipped, discoloured or oddly shaped teeth, especially front teeth. They are often the ideal option for improving shape, length, size and tooth colour. Veneers are a more conservative option than a crown; however, it is important that the underlying tooth is strong, healthy and not heavily filled or decayed. The popularity of veneers is increasing rapidly. This is because of the impact they have on your smile.

Implants

Implants are ideal for replacing missing or badly diseased teeth and are a great alternative to dentures. Implants are the most natural looking restoration option.

An implant is a screw-like anchor that is used as an artificial replacement for natural tooth roots. The implants are made of materials that are compatible with the human body, such as titanium. Implants have been used for many many years in both upper and lower jaws. By attaching to the jawbone and gum tissue, they provide a stable base for artificial replacement teeth, such as dental crowns, bridges and dentures. Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth or several teeth. They can also be placed to support partial or full dentures. Implants and crowns remain inside the mouth and do not require any adhesives to hold them in place. A full mouth x-ray (OPG) is required to ensure that the patient’s bone and gum quality are suitable for implants.

Occlusal Splints

For those patients who grind and/or clench their teeth during their sleep, we offer custom made occlusal splints to wear during the night. Depending on the patient’s needs, we offer soft occlusal splints or hard occlusal splints with a soft lining. Dr Reddy will discuss the option that is best suited to your needs.

Sports Mouthguards

We make custom made mouthguards for specific sporting codes. Contact and/or minimal contact sports leave us particularly susceptible to dental injury, but in almost every sport there are risks to the teeth. For this reason, you should minimise the risk to your teeth by wearing a mouthguard.

With no mouthguard, the upper front teeth can instantly fracture if they take a direct impact. An impact to the lower jaw or face transmits the blow and shock waves through the skull, which can sometimes force the jaws together and cause a fracture of the upper teeth by punching them forwards. In extreme cases, the transmitted forces are so high that they can cause a fracture of the lower jaw, or a concussion. Custom made mouthguards act like a shock absorber by spreading the force over a larger area, resulting in milder injuries than fracture and tooth loss.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule (“CDBS”)

We participate in the Medicare CDBS. The CDBS came into effect from 1^st January 2014. The CDBS gives eligible patients $1,052.00 (CAPPED) over 2 consecutive calendar years. Eligible families are usually sent a letter from Medicare. Eligibility is determined by Centrelink each calendar year.

The CDBS provides basic dental services for eligible children aged 2-17 including check-ups, cleans, x-rays, extractions, fillings and fissure seals. Funds permitting, children are eligible for 1 check up and clean every six (6) months. At Toukley Dental Clinic, all treatment which is covered by the CDBS is bulk billed, which means that there will be no up-front payment for families. We provide full detailed treatment plans for all treatment required, so families will always be aware of the treatment their child requires.

Click on the link below to find out more about the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/
customer/services/medicare/child-dental-benefits-schedule

DVA Patients (Gold Card holders)

We welcome all DVA patients to Toukley Dental Clinic. All DVA patients with Gold Cards are given same day appointments (if needed).

NSW Oral Health Vouchers

We accept vouchers from New South Wales Oral Health.

Emergencies

Emergency patients are seen the same day. During busy times, there may be a waiting time but we try to keep this to a minimum. So don’t put up with pain for another night.

Infection Control

At the Toukley Dental Clinic, we follow vigorous infection control guidelines recommended by the Australian Dental Board. This includes:-

The use of disinfectant hand soap between each and every patient.

The wearing of fresh gloves and face masks by the Dentist and Dental Assistant for every patient.

Chemical disinfection of countertops and surfaces.

Sterilization of all equipment before every use and methodical tracking of each and every instrument so that we know exactly what instrument was used on each patient, the date the instrument was sterilized and passed the sterilizing test. We use an autoclave, which is a device that kills bacteria and viruses by steam, heat and pressure.

The use of disposable materials where available.

All staff at the Toukley Dental Clinic are very knowledgeable and can answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to contact us.