How many pillows should you sleep with?

Is there a possible hidden meaning behind needing more than one pillow to sleep?

Some patients truly think I am psychic, I start to bring the dental chair in the lying down position, and they keep saying they can’t go down very far. They’ll yell stop when I’m barely half way.

I stop, bring the chair up again and go- so do you sleep with 2 or 3 pillows under your head at night?

If you can’t lie down in a dental chair, then you likely cant lie down on a bed either.  If you find that lying flat on your back is uncomfortable, or you need to prop your neck up to sleep then you could have some underlying breathing issues, or silent reflux.

If there is an obstruction (large tonsils, nasal obstruction, large tongue) then when you lie down, it might be making it harder to breathe, and your brain wants to protect that airway, but making you change positions (so only allowing you to fall asleep if your airway is more open) It’s actually very clever!

You might have some serious silent reflux, and unless you’re upright it could get quite painful- again a very clever self defence mechanism.

So if you think this could be you, we can do a full assessment, and if you qualify you can do our free home sleep study. From there we may need to have an ENT check your airways to make sure everything is healthy and clear.

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

Fussy Eating

Are you getting fed up with how fussy your child is at eating?  Is breastfeeding getting really painful, or it never really worked?

Is your child not wanting to chew, or only wants easy soft foods to eat? Won’t have carrots or chewy meat?  Is every meal time frustrating?

There might be more to it than just a ‘phase’

Tongue ties can prevent babies from latching properly for breastfeeding, making it hard for them to feed and painful for the mother.  Tongue ties in babies can be diagnosed, however not all tongue ties prove to cause breastfeeding difficulty and hence get missed.

A tongue tie is essentially when the tissue that attaches under the tongue is too short and tight and restricting tongue movement properly (making it harder to swallow or chew food)

Signs to look for:

• The tongue doesn’t poke out past the lips
•  The tip of the tongue cant touch the roof of the mouth or move sideways
•  Babies having difficulty feeding
•  A large gap between the front teeth in the lower jaw
•  The tip of the tongue being notched, or flat (instead of pointy)

I    If you have an infant/baby and you suspect might have a tongue tie please contact your Nurse/GP or pediatrician/Lactation specialist

Tongue ties in older children can often also give speech problems (since the tongue cant move around as freely and certain sounds are difficult to say such as (t, d, n, l, s, z)
If a tongue tie needs to be released at this age, tongue exercises will still need to be done to train the tongue .

The tongue being in the right position plays an important role in proper dental arch development, as the force and shape of the tongue helps with expansion and growth.

If the tongue is constant sitting in  the floor of the mouth and the lips are open then w e often find that the upper arch is narrow and the front teeth stick out more (also the case for long term thumb/finger sucking and prolonged pacifier use).

Fussy eating for older children

In addition to a tongue tie, the fussy eating, especially with chewing harder foods or meat could be due to the chewing muscles are not strong enough and fatigue quickly when they have to chew more.  Often kids just avoid those foods or complain its hurting when they eat. 

If the jaws are not aligned properly ,it can make it difficult to chew and therefore the muscles don’t develop properly (ie: if you don’t use  your legs for a while, it takes a bit more effort and sometimes it’s a bit sore to walk for a long time)

A well balanced diet from early on is important, with different textures to help develop the chewing muscles.  Raw carrots, celery, cucumber or nuts are great snacks as well as meat that needs to be chewed for a bit longer. 
Being able to breathe through your nose day and night is also important for the jaw alignment, and there fore the muscles.

Often parents tell us their kids are fussy eaters and we can see the teeth are crowded, or there is a jaw alignment problem.

If you want us to assess your childs teeth and jaws then call us on 94596300 for a consultation.

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

How to treat bleeding gums

How to Treat Bleeding Gums to Prevent Late-Stage Periodontitis

About half of all adults has some level of gum disease, or periodontitis. Common signs include bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, loose teeth, receding gums, or having your bite feel different during chewing.

Gum disease often arises when people stray from proper dental hygiene. We all live stressful, busy lives so it gets easy to skip brushing from time to time or forget to maintain good dental health. Over time, however, that can lead to periodontitis. In the early stages, periodontitis is easily curable. But if you don’t treat it right away, it leads to late-stage periodontitis which cannot be cured and causes painful, expensive, and dangerous consequences.

The Real Cost of Periodontitis

If you don’t treat your gum disease during the early stages, your periodontitis can cause bone loss, soft tissue damage, and loss of teeth. That can alter the shape of your face, as your cheeks collapse due to bone and teeth loss. Addressing that is complex and expensive.

Additionally, you can also develop bacterial pockets between your gums and teeth, get frequent infections, swelling , systemic inflammation, and chronic pain. Even worse, your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and dementia all increase with periodontitis.

The Simple and Perfect Solution

At Heidelberg Dentist, we believe every patient deserves the best care for their oral health. 

We will help you understand exactly whether you have periodontitis and whether it is in an early or late stage. No matter what condition, we will help you understand exactly how to get your mouth to optimal health. If we discern that you need to take further steps to deal with gum disease, we will discuss those with you and answer any questions you have. We want to catch any issues that do develop as early as possible to avoid the significant pain and expense of untreated gum disease.

How Much Does It Cost?

Your periodontitis consultation will cost you nothing. We assume all costs for your exam so you can know your exact situation without paying a penny.

For some people, addressing or preventing gum disease costs nothing. Changing a few habits or switching toothpaste or mouthwash is all they need. Others might need professional intervention. Because of that, the cost of getting your mouth to optimal health will vary. The only way to know is to examine your mouth. That is why we offer a free, no-pressure consultation to all patients.

If we see that you require intervention to address any issues, we will discuss those options with you, evaluate any insurance coverage that might apply, and let you know of any out-of-pocket expenses you might assume. If you need help fitting your treatment into your budget, we will also show you several financing options to help you fit your care into even tight budgets.

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

What are root canals and why do I need one?

What is a root canal?

A root canal is a type of dental treatment, done when the nerve of a tooth (which is located in the middle of the tooth) is dead or damaged beyond repair. 

 The aim of a root canal is to remove the diseased or dead nerve tissue, treat the tooth internally with antibiotics and replace the now empty nerve chamber with fillers. 

Thus, after a root canal, your tooth will look and function similar to before but will not have a vital nerve supply.

Why do I need a root canal?

You might need a root canal in a situation where bacteria has been allowed to enter the nerve chamber and cause infection or a traumatic incident has caused damage to the nerve tissue. The most common reasons include dental decay, trauma, cracks/fractures in teeth, and very deep fillings

Will a root canal save my tooth?

Ideally yes, the aim of a root canal is to eradicate infection and restore the tooth back to its normal function.

Are there any possible complications after a root canal?

The success rate of root canal treatments is high, ranging between 85-95%. 

However, although not common, complications after a root canal treatment can occur. This could happen if the tooth did not heal completely after the first treatment, secondary infection took place or the tooth cracked/fractured as the tooth structure was not adequately protected after root canal treatment.

This can happen shortly after the treatment, of even up to many years after.

In these cases, the options can be root canal re-treatment (although this is not always possible) or extraction of the tooth

What does a root canal treatment involve?

A root canal treatment generally takes place over 2-5 appointments.

The first couple of appointments will involve removing the diseased nerve tissue, cleaning the nerve chamber and placing antibiotic paste into that space. A temporary filling will be placed in the tooth between each appointment.

Once the infection seems to have been eradicated, the nerve chamber will have fillers placed in it. You may have a temporary or permanent filling placed at the end of this appointment.

After a root canal procedure, it is generally recommended to have an onlay or crown placed on the tooth. This is to completely seal the tooth and make it stronger. Without an onlay or crown, the tooth will be highly susceptible to cracking/fracturing.

Why do people hate getting root canals?

People often hate the idea of root canals as they fear that it will be painful. However, a root canal is often no more painful than getting a filling. 

You will have local anaesthesia given at the start of each root canal appointment so it shouldn’t be a painful procedure. However, it does involve numerous and longer appointments which can get tiring. 

There are things we will do to ease that discomfort including use mouth support to help you keep your jaws open without straining, and proper supportive neck and back cushioning. 

How should I take care of my tooth after getting a root canal?

There are 3 main things you can do to help protect your tooth after a root canal:

1. Have an onlay or crown placed- as discussed earlier, this will seal the tooth and make it significantly stronger.
2. Maintain good oral hygiene- this includes brushing 2x daily with a fluoridated toothpaste and flossing once a day.
3. Seeing your dentist for a checkup and clean every 6 months - his is essential in keeping the tooth (and all your teeth!) healthy and detecting any problems early. Healthy gums are also vital in preventing infections so a clean at the dentist every 6 months is crucial. 

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

How to deal with Dental Anxiety

What is dental anxiety?

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Dental anxiety is the feeling of being nervous or scared of going to the dentist and/or receiving dental treatment. The severity of dental anxiety can greatly vary, from feeling mildly nervous to severe phobia. 

Why do I have dental anxiety?

People can have dental anxiety for many reasons, most commonly being negative dental experience/s in the past. These experiences may be recent or even from several/years decades ago. 

Dental anxiety may also stem from heating about others’ negative experiences, having other bad healthcare experience/s and generalized anxiety/psychological issues. 

Is dental anxiety common?

Dental anxiety is very common, affecting many people of all ages. 

How will dental anxiety affect me?

Dental anxiety can prevent you from seeking timely dental examinations and treatment.

Regular dental checkups and cleans are essential to keep your teeth and gums healthy, and pick up any issues (decay, gum disease etc) early so they can be treated conservatively. Without these timely dental visits, it is very likely that oral health will worsen and dental disease will progress unnoticed, and need more invasive and complex treatment. The latter often exacerbated the dental anxiety hence creating a vicious cycle.

How do I overcome dental anxiety?

The first step overcoming dental anxiety is to find a dental practitioner with whom you feel comfortable. 

Here at Heidelberg Dentist, we pride ourselves on having helped hundreds of patients overcome their dental anxiety. Together, we discuss the triggers of your anxiety and come up with a tailor made treatment plan that meets your needs and not be overwhelming. We can carry out your treatment in as few or as many appointments as you would prefer to make it as comfortable as possible. We take our time and talk you through each and every stage of treatment. Finally, we offer a variety of very effective relaxation techniques including comforting neck and back support, your choice of music and tv during treatment, and soothing essential oils. 

Although dental anxiety can be crippling, it can be completely overcome with the correct management and effective techniques. Book your appointment today and let us help you on this journey!

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

How to treat snoring & sleep apnea

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or think you might have some form of sleeping issue you likely know the feeling of waking up tired and groggy. But when sleep apnea keeps you from getting a good night’s sleep, the impact goes beyond feeling tired.

Sleep is a natural way to boost your mood. People who have poor sleeping patterns report negative emotions such as irritability, anger, and sadness. Getting a good night’s sleep increases your feelings of positivity and happiness.

The negative effects of sleep deprivation extend beyond your daily moods, too. Lack of quality sleep affects your mental health in the long-term, as well. Adequate sleep can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, which allows you to better control how you manage stressors in your life.

Sleep apnea also impacts your overall physical health, too

During sleep, your body produces proteins that help fight inflammation and repair damage done to your body. If you are sleep deprived, you are more susceptible to infections and less capable of fighting them. Your immune system gets suppressed when you do not get good sleep.

Unfortunately, many people have undiagnosed sleep apnea. They might snore and wake up feeling tired but have not yet been diagnosed with sleep apnea. Snoring is one of the most common disruptors of sleep and can be a symptom of sleep apnea.

If you are not getting a good night’s sleep—or you snore through the night—being evaluated by your doctor for sleep apnea is an important first step to finally getting the full, refreshing night sleep you deserve. 

And we have more and better treatments for sleep apnea than ever.

While a common sleep apnea treatment is a CPAP machine, there are plenty of other options as well. CPAP machines are cumbersome, loud, difficult to clean, and disruptive to your sleep. Thankfully, a CPAP machine is not your only option for treating sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea can also be treated with an oral appliance called a mouth guard. The guard positions your jaw to keep your airway open, so you can breathe easier and get a better night’s sleep.

Make your appointment today to see how you can get relief from these symptoms and to start living life on your terms again.

How does sleep apnea treatment work?

At Heidelberg Dentist, we know how important a good night sleep is and believe everyone deserves to sleep soundly and wake up feeling fully refreshed. That is why we offer all patients a free, no-pressure sleep apnea consultation. 

During your consultation, we will answer all your questions, compare options for getting a full night sleep, and suggest the most appropriate treatment plan for your case.  

We will also let you know what more information we need and if you havent had a sleep study in the last 12 months, we can provide you with a take home one - for free.

If a custom sleep apnea mouth guard is right for you and you decide to move forward, we will take a mold of your teeth so your mouth guard is a perfect fit. 

Your custom mouth guard will then be made and you will be invited back in for a final fitting.

Once you are completely happy with your mouthguard, you will be ready to go home and finally get the comfortable and restful sleep you deserve. It is that easy.

Who is sleep apnea treatment for?

Before you can be considered a candidate for sleep apnea mouth guard treatment, you will need to have been diagnosed with sleep apnea by your physician. 

If you have been diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea, a mouth guard can help. But remember, a mouth guard is not your only option.

Our dentists have taken special training from pioneering sleep apnea researchers and they can help you understand all your options to let you know what will work best in your case.

What is the cost of sleep apnea treatment?

Out-of-pocket costs to treat sleep apnea depends on your specific needs and what insurance coverage you have, which could help offset some of the costs. 

At Heidelberg Dentist our expert team will help you understand your out-of-pocket costs before moving forward. 

If you need help fitting your treatment into your budget, we will also show you several flexible financing plans.

Don't you owe it to yourself to fix your sleep so you can start living live again?

Or you can book an appointment by calling us on (03) 9459 6300

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

Smile with confidence

Smiling is a superpower.

Many studies have proven smiling literally “tricks your brain” into happiness — it’s no surprise most of us do it 20 to 50 times a day.

The biggest heroes of all are definitely children, who smile as many as 400 times per day!

Best of all… we all have an innate drive to smile whenever we see someone else do it. One smile is all it takes to make everyone in the room feel better.

Smiling is contagious!

However, 14% of us smile less than 5 times a day…

If you’ve been insecure about your smile showing your teeth and sticking to your closed lip smile, then it’s time for a change.

Invisalign Clear Aligners already give millions of people the confidence to claim their own superpower and smile without holding back — so why couldn’t you do the same?

And currently, at Heidelberg Dentist, you can find out if Invisalign is right for you simply claiming your free online consultation.

P.S. Feel free to go full Sherlock Holmes on us — click here to read our reviews!

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist

Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Did you know the #1 symptom of sleep apnea is snoring?

But don’t worry, not all snorers suffer from sleep apnea. A telltale sign is usually snoring accompanied with silent breathing pauses along with choking or gasping for breath.

If you’re dealing with any of these signs, then make sure you read till the end:

• Snoring loudly or frequently
• Silent pauses in breathing
• Choking or gasping sounds
• Unrestful sleep
• Daytime fatigue
• Waking up often to go to the bathroom
• Insomnia

Most importantly, untreated sleep apnea can badly impact your health — high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, teeth grinding, depression, anxiety, weight gain, and asthma are all on the list.

And that’s not all...

Due to poor sleep quality and daytime drowsiness, people with sleep apnea are up to five times more likely to get into a car accident.

All this might sound alarming, but there are actually many ways you can attack the problem.

If you think you might be suffering from sleep apnea, then the safest thing to do is secure your consultation by calling 94596300

Publisher: Heidelberg Dentist