Here you will be able to find current news and information aimed at making your next trip to RFD positive and well informed.

“A Smile can be Ruined in a Moment!

Late Saturday night I treated a cricketer who was hit in the mouth with a cricket ball. Unfortunately he has suffered the loss of his front tooth, cuts and abrasions to the lips and gums and quite a lot of pain and disruption to his busy life. Sure our modern dentistry will restore the loss, but simply wearing a professionally fitted mouthguard or a cricket helmet with a face guard would have prevented the trauma. Please consider a mouthguard if you cycle or play contact sports, go to our Sports Dentistry page on our website for more information.”

PREGNANCY AND ORAL HEALTH

This month we’d like to focus on Pregnancy and Oral Health because optimal health is very important for the pregnant patient and dental care during pregnancy can be provided safely and effectively.

One of the most common dental and oral health concerns with our pregnant patients is the onset of bleeding gums. This tends to happen in the first 12 weeks and does vary in severity between individuals. The cause is most likely due to the surge in hormones during pregnancy which is associated with an increase in gum disease. The gums then bleed upon brushing as they are more sensitive to plaque.

Pregnancy Gingivitis

The best way to combat pregnancy gingivitis is to achieve good periodontal health prior to pregnancy. This is done with regular dental visits and a good home care routine. If the gingivitis has already occurred the best way to manage it is with more regular visits to your dental hygienist for professional plaque and tartar removal and to maintain an effective home care routine.

Pregnancy Epulis

During the pregnancy a swelling called a pregnancy epulis can develop on the gums. This is a benign (non-cancerous) growth caused by the inflammation that occurs when swollen gums become irritated. These growths don’t usually require treatment. However if the growth interferes with eating, brushing or flossing or is persistent after the baby is born your dentist may recommend removal.

Morning Sickness

Morning sickness during pregnancy with nausea and vomiting causes acid from the stomach to reflux into the mouth and it’s this acid attack that can damage the teeth due to erosion of the enamel. The best defence is to rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse to neutralise the acid or if you don’t have any handy thoroughly rinse the mouth with water. Brushing is also sometimes difficult for pregnant women so we recommend using a child sized toothbrush or an electric toothbrush. Using sodium lauryl sulfate free toothpaste (a foaming agent) is often a good idea as it will froth less making brushing easier. Speak to your pharmacist about these products. Avoiding drinks such as soft drinks and citrus fruit drinks will also help to minimise acid exposure of the teeth. If you’re having cravings for sweet or sticky foods we recommend trying nuts instead as they’re better for the teeth and help with the cravings.

Dental Treatment

Previously it has been thought that dental treatment during pregnancy was for emergency cases only and that treatment was fairly restricted mainly focusing on pain management. Latest research suggests that dental treatment during pregnancy poses no risk to mother and child and includes the taking of radiographs (x-rays).At RFD we use a protective lead apron plus digital x-rays that are very accurate and require less radiation providing the safest possible treatment for you and your baby.

Smoking

We all know that smoking is bad for our health in more ways than one but you may not know all the associated risks involved with smoking during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of placenta previa, abruptio placenta, ectopic pregnancy, preterm premature rupture of the membrane (PPROM) and an increase in the risk of the baby being born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Smoking is also associated with low birth weight in baby’s and a shorter gestation period. These complications contribute to an increase in the risk of perinatal mortality. One third to one half of perinatal deaths are attributable to maternal smoking.

If you are currently smoking and are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant please talk with us about quitting methods. We are only too happy to help.

Early Childhood Tooth Decay

Babies pick up the decay forming bacteria called Streptococcus Mutans from their mothers (or carers). Research shows a relationship between high early childhood tooth decay and high decay rates in mothers.
To minimize this risk:

• Mothers should ensure their mouths are healthy by having a dental check up and hygiene visits prior to the birth. Better still plan ahead and keep yourself dentally healthy prior to pregnancy.
• Do not share eating utensils with baby.

If you are currently pregnant or planning a pregnancy come in and see us at RFD so we can answer any of your questions in person. We look forward to seeing you soon!

You may care to pass this newsletter on to family or friends who are having a baby or in the planning phase.

Staff Profile

This month’s staff profile interviews our dental hygienist/therapist Pia.

1. If you weren’t a Hygienist/Therapist, what do you think you would be doing?
I’ve always had a big interest in property development and valuation. My father is a commercial property valuer and I used to work for him occasionally while I was studying so the interest really grew from there.

2. What are your passions outside of dentistry?
To be totally honest I’m having my pre-summer panic at the moment so my latest passion is fitness and healthy eating. We’ll see how long it lasts!

3. What is your favourite travel destination?
I’ve not done as much travelling as I’d like but if I was to pick anywhere in Australia it’s always going to be Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast, I just love it! Overseas…I’d love to go back to Italy, especially Florence!

4. Do you have a favourite restaurant in Melbourne?
I absolutely love going out for breakfast on the weekends and one of my favourite places to go is Café Sweethearts on Coventry St in South Melbourne. I’ve been told the eggs are fantastic and I’ve been meaning to try them myself but I always end up getting the same thing, the Blueberry stack. They make the best pancakes in the world!

The festive season is upon us so now would be a great time to think about tooth whitening. Nothing like a bright healthy smile for all the photos over the holiday season!

At RFD we would like to offer our patients a 2 for 1 special on our take home whitening system. This is perfect for couples planning their wedding or as a Christmas present for you and your partner. Conditions do apply so please call 03 9429 0011 to arrange your consultation appointment.

At RFD we want to help our existing bride and groom patients to celebrate the big day with a sparkling smile by offering a complimentary polish prior to the big day. Contact our helpful reception staff to arrange your appointment! And why not plan ahead by having your teeth whitened professionally at RFD.

To coordinate with our new signage we have redecorated the reception area. The dark, rich Aubergine feature wall has been transformed into a lighter, brighter, fresh Dulux colour called Eaves. Thank you to our painter and decorator Carlo Basile who completed the job on the weekend to minimize disruption to our clients. Carlo can be contacted on 04214206393 for all your painting and decoration needs.

We love to celebrate the achievements of our patients and friends, and are happy to announce that Berat Ozcelik has had a book of poetry published in Turkey. To read the English translation or listen to the Turkish song/poem send us an email and we will happily forward a copy.