Author Archives: Tony O'brien

1. Filling Process and CAD- CAM Technology

   February 8, 2020 10:27 am Leave a Comment

   In the past, gold and porcelain restorations took at least two appointments, as you needed to return to have the lab-made restorations cemented in place.  There was lag time between appointments waiting for the lab work, and people found it inconvenient coming to the dentist twice for just one issue.

   New advances in technology mean that CAD-CAM (Computer Aided Design – Computer Aided Manufacturing) porcelain restorations can be made and cemented in-house during the same appointment. These restorations are as accurate, if not more so than those made in a dental laboratory.

   CAD-CAM technology is not cheap for dentists to invest in, so not every dental practice has the equipment. At Oasis we have not just one of these CAD-CAM systems but two! You can even watch the whole process if you like. All of this means if you need a crown or porcelain filling you only have to make one appointment since we do everything onsite in the same visit.

2. Continued from our last blog “Questions to ask your dentist”

   January 9, 2020 11:18 am Leave a Comment

   5. Do they use a rubber dam to decrease bacteria entering the drill site?

   If you are having any kind of surgical procedure one this is a must! If you ask your dentist and the answer is “no” we suggest you find another dentist. Decreasing bacteria in the mouth is vital to your oral and overall health when having any kinds of surgical procedure done.

   6. Do they have equipment on site to make crowns in-house in the same day or do they have to outsource their crowns to a lab and thus turn a dental crown into two visits instead of one.

   Time vs Value…  Everyone’s time is valuable. As much as every Dentist love to see you, why have 2 appointments when you can have one (with the desired result!)

   7. How thorough is their hygienist? What are the periodontal and gingivitis rates for their long-term patients who’ve been seeing the same hygienist?

   The answer to this is: How long are hygiene visits scheduled? At Oasis we book all hygiene visits for a full hour. Other practices may book for half the time, so you’ll want to make sure your hygienist has enough time to do a thorough clean. Our hygienist’s use a special dye to check to see your own brushing habits and how long plaque has been sitting on the teeth. Hygienists should be cleaning not only the part of the tooth we can see, but also taking the time to get under the gum line.

    

   8. Are you taking intraoral photos to show patients the issues?

   The second part of this question is “Why is it important to take intraoral photos?” How can an issue be diagnosed correctly from the outside? Well, it can’t be. For a patient to be diagnosed correctly the Dentist needs to “scratch below the surface” to diagnose and discuss accurately.

    

   We hope these questions have added insight and questionable purpose to your next visit to see the Dentist.

3. Questions to ask your dentist?

   11:15 am Leave a Comment

   Going to the Dentist tends to be a Bi- yearly routine for most, as apart of your visit we would like to continue to educate you with what we believe are the “questions to ask your dentist”

   Most patients presume the “how long should I brush for” or “How much is this treatment going to cost” will suffice, however, as educators as well as practitioners here are some of the things we would love to discuss with you.

    

   1. What sort of continuing education have they done?

   In our opinion this is a very important question! It’s valuable knowledge when selecting the right dentist for the right treatment to know that the practitioner that you are using is up to date with things like new technologies and innovations in dentistry.

   2. Do they have any additional schooling or certifications?

   Not all dentists are created equal! Additional schooling and certifications assures you that continued education is a prominent value for your dentist and they believe in self-improvement to offer you, the patient more.

   3. Do they use the latest technology to limit errors, dentin drilled into, or time spent in the chair?

   At Oasis Dental we have the latest technology so we can mill porcelain crowns onsite saving you time and money. Most practices have to send crowns out to a lab and book you for a follow up visit while the lab makes the crown. We also use the latest drills which are smaller and more precise in order to limit drilling into health dentin

    

   4. Do you let patients see their x-rays?

   The true value of dental X–rays lies in the way they discover dental problems before they have a chance to develop. Just like going to your GP to get your blood results, it is just as important to ask your dentist to see your x-rays and discuss your results with a visual reference.

4. Who’s responsible for your oral health- you or the dentist?

   December 14, 2019 11:00 am Leave a Comment

   It’s a partnership. Both you and your dentist play an important role in maintaining a healthy happy mouth.  In the next three blogs we’ll look at these roles and responsibilities.

   What is the Patient’s responsibility with the dentist

   As a patient you have two responsibilities: to seek out quality dental treatment and to practice good oral hygiene every day.

   Having a dentist you visit regularly is essential for preventing tooth decay and avoiding more extensive, invasive dental work. Dental exams allow for early diagnosis so steps can be taken while the problem is still small. For example, if left untreated, demineralisation of the tooth’s outer layer will become a cavity. However, if caught and treated early, this damage can be reversed through improving oral hygiene and increasing professional cleans.

   It’s important to undergo regular dental check-ups, even when you believe there is nothing wrong. If you opt to only seek out a dentist when you’re having pain or sensitivity, it’s like skipping the regular service for your car and only seeing a mechanic when something is broken. If you wait too long, you’re likely in for a lengthy and expensive fix. Unlike car parts, your teeth can’t be replaced when they fail.