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

This month we would like to highlight the importance of dietary awareness and how diet impacts oral health. Sugars are always a concern for dental professionals but what you may not know is that dietary acids play a very large role in dental decay and dental erosion.

Acidic foods and drinks consumed at regular intervals throughout the day can contribute to erosion of enamel which can lead to development of decay and dental hypersensitivity. Limiting your consumption of acidic drinks in particular will help to prevent acid erosion, for eg only having juice with a meal or better yet, eating the whole fruit rather than the concentrated juice. The action of chewing the food will stimulate saliva which will neutralise the acids.

Stimulating saliva in between meals is a great way to keep and neutral oral environment and to encourage fluoride and calcium into the mouth to help prevent decay. One of the best ways to do this is to chew a sugar free gum such as Recaldent, available at RFD.

If you are concerned about your intake of sugars and acids or are not 100% sure whether your diet could be affecting your oral health we suggest putting together a food diary. This diary would consist of all foods and drinks, including water, consumed throughout a 7 day period and must include at least one day out of the weekend. Bring this food diary into your next dental hygiene appointment and Pia will discuss possible alterations if required.

Staff Profile

This month’s staff profile interviews the boss man here at RFD, Dr Robert Harper.

1. If you weren’t a dentist, what do you think you would be doing?
If I was not a dentist I would like to be a civil engineer building “bigger” bridges. A career in outdoor education and youth work also interest me.

2. What are your passions outside of dentistry?
Certainly my family is my biggest passion and spending time cooking. I love to try new cuisines, at present we are going through a Moroccan – Middle Eastern phase. My new Emily Henry tagine is a wonderful addition to my kitchen. Cycling, sailing, camping and bushwalking are activities I enjoy and I am an avid reader.

3. What is your favourite travel destination?
In Australian I have really enjoyed the pristine alpine environment of the Cradle Mountains in Tasmania. Closer to home, Wilsons Prom provides wonderful walking and coastal scenery. The majesty and serenity of Uluru and Kata Tjuta is also hard to beat. Overseas I really enjoyed the history of London, Barcelona and Venice. So much world, so little time!

4. Do you have a favourite restaurant in Melbourne?
This one’s easy! It’s a local for us in Ivanhoe, Café Saffron 238 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe 9497 1084. Consistently great Indian food with friendly personal service and fantastic for a Friday night take-away.

Attention Over 55 year olds

Are you over 55 and concerned about your general health? Are you at risk of diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, oral cancers and Hodgkin’s disease? Find out the link between oral health and general health and how you can reduce your risk of developing these diseases. August is the month for Dental Health Week, an awareness and community educational program that is coordinated and funded by the Australian Dental Association. This month the ADA is leading a campaign to target 55 year olds and over and has developed a range of Fact Sheets on oral health care. Click here for Dental health Week 2009 information.

Mouthguard Campaign

At Richmond Fine Dentistry as members of the Australian Dental Association we support and endorse their mouthguard campaign. To get the latest information about mouthguards and what to do in the event of knocking a tooth out click on > Read More

We have recently launched our new website richmondfinedentistry.com.au. Here you will have access to a wide range of topics including information on general dental treatment, cosmetic procedures, and oral hygiene instruction. We hope to provide you with an informative site that will encourage you to maintain a healthy, functional and aesthetically pleasing oral environment. Though our aim was to cover all topics of relevance to our patients if you feel there is not sufficient information on a certain topic or you have a suggestion for us to add to our website don’t hesitate to contact us.

We have had a change in our hygiene department recently. Pia, our dental hygienist and dental therapist, is taking on a more involved role at RFD and will be with us 5 days a week. Her clinical days have changed and Pia is now available for you Mondays 5-7pm, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 8-5pm, and Fridays 8-5pm for your dental hygiene/therapy appointments. On Mondays (10-5) and Thursdays you will see Pia at front desk assisting Jacky with administration and patient management.

Listerine has released a new mouthrinse onto the market “Listerine Total Care”. This new rinse contains Zinc which is an antimicrobial to reduce harmful bacteria in the mouth and it also helps to slow down the hardening of tartar. However, it is important to know that mouthrinses are an adjunct therapy to assist in maintaining a healthy oral environment; they are not a substitute for good brushing and flossing! If you have any questions about mouthrinses feel free to ask Pia at your next dental hygiene appointment.

The practitioners and staff at RFD are happy to accommodate patients requiring an after hours appointment. We are operating on Mondays nights after hours but you’ll need to get in quick or book in advance because as you can imagine these appointments are hot property!

Did you know that over 50% of the adult population suffer from sleep disorders such as bruxism, snoring and sleep apnoea? If you suffer with Bruxism, more commonly known as grinding, a comfortable, easy to use occlusal splint to protect your teeth and existing fillings can save you thousands of dollars in the long term. It has been noted in recent dental journals that sleep physicians generally regard dental sleep appliances as the best available treatment for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnoea with studies demonstrating over 95% effectiveness.

Without question, oral appliances are also the most comfortable, easy solution of the proven treatments for sleep apnoea. If you are at all concerned that you might suffer from a sleep disorder please discuss your symptoms with Dr Harper at your next dental visit or go to richmondfinedentistry.com.au