1.  What extra training has the dentist done since graduating dental school to allow them to do cosmetic dental work with confidence. (To get great cosmetic results it is really important to know the latest techniques and to be using the most modern products. This is changing all the time. If your dentist hasn't done any cosmetic training in the last 6 months than they are probably out of date.)

2.  How many patients have they done this type of cosmetic treatment for.  Can you talk to someone who has had this procedure. (Talking to a previous patient is a great way to find out weather this type of treatment has worked for them, whether they have had any complications and what their feelings are about your dentist’s abilities.)

3. Where is the laboratory.  Who is the ceramist who will be creating your smile. (It is very important that your dentist and ceramist know each other.  When creating smiles it is vital that all the tiny details are communicated so there is no room for error.  You may even be able to meet your ceramist.)

One popular cosmetic dental procedure we do is Dental Veneers.

What are Dental Veneers?

Dental Veneers can create a bright, white smile with beautifully aligned and shaped teeth. Even better, the natural look we can create from the high quality ceramic has never been available in the past.

As well as looking good, dental veneers can also serve a functional purpose by protecting the surface of damaged teeth. Dental veneers are custom-designed shells of ceramic that when placed over the tooth can cover a worn tooth or uneven teeth, spacing and cracks or chips.

In this case our patient, Grace, was very conscious of the small chip on her front tooth and a slight overlap of the other.  Grace avoided photos and always covered her mouth when she smiled.  It was her daughter’s wedding that finally made her do something about it.  Grace whitened her teeth and Ceramic Veneers were placed on her two front teeth and now she just can’t stop smiling.

Individual results may vary, Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.  Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

If you haven’t visited us before, we recommend you contact us for a consultation to find out how we may be able to help you.  Call our office on 41590660.

Considering Cosmetic Dentistry? Read this first!

Women have a higher likelihood of being misdiagnosed when having a heart attack.

While some women get the typical crushing chest pain or pain in the left arm, some reports suggest that up to 50% do not and therefore do not realize they are having a heart attack until they pass out and sometimes, even the medical staff do not pick it up, misdiagnosing gastritis or indigestion.

Common signs and symptoms of heart attack in women are often a bit more subtle and easily mistaken:

• Indigestion or heartburn.
• Shortness of breath.
• Unusual fatigue or weakness.
• Cold sweat.

• Radiating pain into the jaw or neck.
• Pain in the back or pain or tingling travelling up the back.
• Nausea.
• Sweating.

 

Remember, if in doubt, call 000.  Do not call family.  Do not call your doctor as you may pass out before you can call the ambulance and your doctor does not have equipment to deal with heart attacks.  The worst that can happen is that you are wrong and you are embarrassed.

1.  Call 000.

2.  Unlock the front door!!!

3.  If you are not allergic to aspirin, and aren't already on blood thinners, consider taking some.

4.  Lie down at the front door so you are easy to find.

We hope you never need this information.

Dr Lincoln Harris

www.harrisdentalboutique.com for more on Harris Dental Boutique

People sometimes want what dentistry can do for them.

No one wants someone to extract their tooth, but sometimes people do want to be free from pain and extracting a tooth is how you get there.

No one really wants an implant.  What they really want is to have their missing tooth back so they can smile.  Or so they don’t have to wear a denture.  Or so their dentures don’t flop around.  The implant is just the way you get there.

No one wants veneers on their teeth.  What they really want is teeth that are a nice colour.  Or a nicer shape.  Or a beautiful smile.  Or to not have to hide their teeth because they are embarrassed.

No one wants to wear braces on their teeth.  What they want is a smile with straight teeth.  Or to not get food stuck in their crooked teeth.  Or to make their crooked teeth easier to clean.

Heck, I don’t want to sit on a jet for hours.  It is just the means of getting to a destination.

And that is what modern dentistry is.  Just a means to getting something that you want.  For years I talked about procedures with patients until their eyes glazed over and only discovered recently that people don’t want dentistry.  They want a result.

Trouble is, we dentists have so trained our patients to talk about procedures, that often they are almost afraid to tell us what they want.  So instead, they tell us what they have, or what procedures they think we are going to recommend.

It is not uncommon for someone to come in and tell me that they have a broken tooth, a missing tooth and some chips.  However, when I ask them what they want, they may say they want teeth that last a lifetime.  Helping people keep teeth for life is quite different than just fixing a missing tooth and a broken tooth.  It is about  preventing damage where possible, providing long lasting work and thinking about how things will fail, which everything inevitably does.

So next time you got to a dentist, think about what you want.

Is it just maintenance?  Do you want a nice smile?  Do you want to be able to chew?

Individual results may vary, Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.  Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

What do you want
www.dentist-bundaberg.com.au

Are you considering investing in dental implants to replace one or more of your missing teeth? Making the decision to get dental implants is such a big decision and it is important to familiarise yourself with all the pro’s and con’s before considering the surgery…

At Harris Dental Boutique in Bundaberg, we see many people from Bundaberg and the surrounding areas that have a limited understanding of the significant role dental implants play in modern restorative treatments. Dental implants are one of the few innovations that can support the role left by missing teeth. Despite this, for every procedure that requires some form of surgery there are always risks when undergoing the procedure. That is why at Harris Dental Boutique we want to inform our patients on all the pro’s and con’s, before they consider if dental implants are the right method of restoration for them.

1# Dental implants don’t replace teeth, they replace roots…

A dental implant is a small titanium rod that is used to replace the connection, originally created by the tooth root, between the tooth and the jaw. This connection stimulates the bone, gums and surrounding teeth to stay happy and healthy.

2# Dental Implants are made from titanium because they are biocompatible…

Titanium is one of the most commonly used metals in surgical procedures because of its biocompatibility. This means that it has an incredibly reduced chance of being rejected from the body during and after surgery.

3# Dental Implants are permanent…

Once dental implants are placed in the jaw they are not removable. Due to their biocompatibility, the dental implants will actually fuse with the jawbone overtime to create a stable and permanent structure for prosthetic or porcelain crowns to be placed.

4# Crowns and bridges are placed over dental implants…

Dental implants are used to give prosthetic or porcelain crowns and bridges a stable and permanent structure to be paced on. This ensures that the replacement ‘teeth’ do not wiggle or shift and can become a permanent fixture inside your mouth, which can make moving your mouth so much easier.

5# Those who have dental implants may find it easier to eat and speak…

Missing teeth can hinder the ability to eat and speak properly because there is no longer a balance between the occlusion (bite) and the remaining teeth may find it difficult to pick up the slack for the missing teeth. If missing teeth are not replaced this can actually lead to tooth migration which means the teeth will move into the position of the vacant tooth in order to pick up the slack. Dental implants replace missing teeth and give patients the ability to eat and speak again and prevent teeth from migrating.

6# Damage professional hand reduces the risk of nerve damage…

There is always a risk when getting delicate surgeries. Even though dental implants have an incredibly high success rate, if placed too close to a nerve they can cause the patient to experience chronic pain, tingling or numbness in their cheek, gums, tongue, lips or chin. This nerve damage could be temporary or permanent and the implant might need to be removed. That is why dentist who perform dental implant incisions are highly trained to avoid complications during and after the surgery.

7# Post surgery recovery takes around twelve weeks…

To ensure osteointegration (the process of the implant bonding and healing with the jaw bone) the implant should be allowed to heal for at least twelve weeks before a crown or implant is placed on the tooth.

8# It is always important to seek a second opinion before considering dental implants…

Getting second opinions about serious dental treatments like dental implants is a great way to get professional opinions and put your personal dental requirements into perspective. All dentists have different philosophies on different treatments and getting diverse opinions will make your final decision more considered and thorough.

At Harris Dental Boutique we want you to know all the facts before you consider the implants…

We find that the best way to find out if dental implants are right for you is to book an appointment with a trained dental professional. Those who conduct dental implant procedures are highly trained and qualified to engage in such a delicate procedure. If you are interested in dental implants, the team at Harris Dental Boutique we are more than happy to answer your questions and give you our professional opinion.

Would you like to find out more about dental implants from our experienced dental practitioners? You can give us a call at Harris Dental Boutique today on 07 4159 0660.

Are you considering getting braces or Invisalign? See real results from Harris Dental Boutique with Dr Lincoln Harris’ before and after Invisible Braces and Invisalign.

Having misaligned teeth, crooked teeth or an uneven bite isn’t always just an aesthetic concern. Here at Harris Dental Boutique in Bundaberg Dr Lincoln Harris has treated patients from all walks in life with orthodontics.

So what orthodontic treatments do we offer?

We provide a few different orthodontic treatments at our practice. Here are the main two treatments:

·         Invisible braces

Invisible braces use tooth coloured brackets and wires to straighten the teeth. This kind of treatment is appropriate for patients who need to resolve more serious conditions such as bite correction as well as alignment. The treatment is fabricated from materials designed to blend in better with the colour of your natural teeth. This gives them a more discreet appearance in comparison to traditional braces.

·         Invisalign

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment designed for adults. The treatment works by gently moving the teeth into position using a series of transparent, customised trays. Invisalign is virtually invisible, the treatment is removable and it doesn’t restrict your diet.

See real patient smiles before and after braces

Case 1: Before and after invisible braces

This patient had a baby tooth and a large gap in the front of her smile. Dr Harris used invisible braces for 3 months to align the patient’s teeth. He then removed the baby tooth and replaced it with a dental implant. 6 porcelain crowns were placed over the teeth at the top.

Case 2: Before and after braces

This patient had noticed that her teeth had discoloured and were sensitive. She had a great hygiene routine but due to a serious illness her teeth had deteriorated. Dr Harris recommended he place braces on her teeth to align her jaw, bite and teeth. The braces were worn for only 5 months and the teeth were restored with porcelain veneers. This cosmetic dentistry treatment adds length and shape to the patient’s smile.

Case 3: Before and after bite correction

When this patient booked a consultation with Dr Harris, she said that she was suffering from migraines. She didn’t like the colour or the look of her teeth and was unhappy with the gap that was visible when she smiled.  Dr Harris recommended that the patient had her bite corrected; he believed that the condition of her bite was a key contributor to the migraines. Once the bite was corrected, Dr Harris placed crowns on all of the patient’s teeth and placed a bridge to close the gap. The patient loves to smile now and no longer suffers from migraines.

Before and After Braces with Harris Dental Boutique in Bundaberg

Find out more about the different orthodontic treatments we provide for patients by contacting Dr Lincoln Harris at Harris Dental Boutique today.

Do you have a fear of the dentist? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Dr Linc and his gentle and caring team at Harris Dental Boutique help new patients with dental anxiety all the time.

Having a fear of the dentist is nothing to be ashamed of. We understand that there are a number of different things that can contribute to dental fear. Find out how we can help alleviate dental phobia for you and your family with our three main resolutions for patients who suffer from a fear of the dentist.

1.       I’m anxious that the treatment will be painful or uncomfortable

It is not uncommon for people to feel anxious about a dentist causing pain during treatment. Often times this kind of anxiety is not needed. Dr Linc is especially gentle when cleaning, scaling and performing treatments for patients.

Nevertheless, if you feel that you may need to be more relaxed during your treatment appointments, Dr Linc can prescribe an oral conscious sedation medication for anxiety relief. Conscious sedation dentistry with Dr Linc is prescribed in pill form. Once it has come into effect you should feel totally relaxed.

2.       I haven’t been to the dentist in a while and I don’t want to be criticised or judged

At Harris Dental Boutique in Bundaberg, we practice what we like to call ‘Blame-Free Dentistry’. This means that during your visits with Dr Linc we will listen to your concerns without criticising or judging your oral health.

Patients may feel embarrassed because they needed treatment in the past and didn’t book the treatment appointment or they didn’t agree with a recommendation from a previous dentist – there is no need to be.

Listening to your past experiences with dentists and your personal concerns will give us the opportunity to better understand your unique case.

3.       I’m worried that my teeth need a lot of work and I don’t think I can afford it

Dr Linc aims to provide quality dentistry that is good value. He doesn’t necessarily think he is the cheapest dentist or the most expensive. We will never recommend unnecessary treatment nor will we compromise your oral health with less extensive work when more is needed. If you have difficulty with the price we could arrange to spread the treatments or the payments out if necessary.

Do you have a fear of the dentist?

Dr Lincoln Harris and his team are here to help. Have you or someone you know visited Harris Dental Boutique before? Find out what patients have to say about the clinic and leave a review if you have had a previous experience with us that you believe others could benefit from. Every piece of feedback is helpful for the growth and development of our dental practice here in Bargara. Follow the Google+ link here to see patient reviews.

Dr Lincoln Harris – Your local Bargara dentist for anxious patients on the Central Coast and surrounding regions

For more information or to book a consultation, contact Dr Harris at Harris Dental Boutique in Bargara in the Bundaberg region today.

Don’t be embarrassed! While you might be terribly embarrassed and emotional about your teeth, we won’t judge you on the state they are in. If you think about it, our job is to help those whose teeth are in trouble. Not those whose teeth are perfectly healthy!

If you are on a budget, make sure you have some idea what it is. We work with all budgets and it’s common to stage treatment so that it can fit a person’s budget without compromising the quality. In other cases, we can organise a payment plan to help budget your treatment.

Knocked your front tooth?

A lot of people lose a tooth from getting knocked at sport as a kid, or in an accident. Even years later, they are sometimes putting up with a tooth that is missing, or wearing a partial denture that is uncomfortable and not looking great ten years later.

Nowadays, there are many ways to replace a missing or damaged front tooth, including porcelain bridges or implants. Both of these are fixed in the mouth like your original teeth.

Think your teeth are hopeless?

Occasionally people are embarrassed to come see us because they think their teeth are too hopeless to fix. Often we find that their teeth are a lot less serious than they thought, and repairing them is not too difficult. However, if their teeth really are beyond help, we take great pride in helping people transition from natural teeth to artificial ones with as much dignity and comfort as possible.

In some cases, it’s possible to remove the existing teeth, and place implants and solid replacement teeth in the same appointment so you never wear a loose denture!

Are your dentures loose and rubbing?

While some people cope well with dentures, others just never really cope with them. We see a lot of people who are gaggers and really have a hard time coping with the bulk of a denture in their mouth. Or who worry that the denture is rubbing on their natural teeth causing the gum to shrink away, or decay to start.

In some cases, implants can help stabilise your denture so it’s more stable and solid. In others, your denture can be completely replaced with implants supporting solid, fixed teeth.

If you have something that’s annoying you about your mouth, come and see us and we’ll advise what options are available to help you. If you are scared and anxious about dentists (let’s face it, probably half the population is) we take extra time and care, and sometimes use tablets to sedate people a little

Dr Lincoln Harris BDSc (hons)

If you would like a one on one consultation with Dr Harris give his office a call on 07 41590660 to make an appointment.

Individual results may vary. Surgical and invasive procedures carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

In the old days, tonsils and adenoids were routinely removed to avoid infection.  With modern antibiotics,
very few people have their adenoids or tonsils removed unless they have very severe occurrence of infection.  This has possibly lead to too few tonsils being removed.

Now we are beginning to understand that blocked airways have much greater affects than previously thought.

To be precise, snoring itself isn’t such a problem.  Of much greater concern is sleep apnoea in a child.  Sleep apnoea is frequent blockages of the airway that breathing for more than 10 seconds during sleep.  Basically, your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen while you sleep.

While sleep apnoea in adults has clear guidelines, in kids it’s a bit trickier to diagnose.

However, the number of things it may affect is startling.

Signs of sleep apnoea in a child. 

While snoring may be a sign of sleep apnoea, other signs include;

1. Pauses in breathing while asleep.
2. Dark patches under eyes.
3. Bedwetting.
4. Strange sleeping positions (tummy down, knees tucked under, head to side, bum in the air)
5. Snoring.
6. Hyperactivity.
7. Behavioural problems.
8. Stunted growth.
9. Disruptive behaviour in school.

                Strange Sleeping Position

From a dental point of view, having blocked airways causes children to breath through their mouth.  Since teeth position is the result of the cheeks, lips and tongue pushing on teeth, holding your mouth open all the time does strange things to the position of the teeth.   It can cause the front teeth to go “bucky”, the jaws to become too narrow, and may even cause severe crookedness in some cases.  The facial bones can develop differently affecting the appearance of the face.

Beyond this, sleep apnoea seems to cause children to grind their teeth with the result that their teeth wear out much faster than they should (this may continue into adulthood).

Even though it’s not yet certain, there is also some backing that sleep apnoea might cause lower IQ, be involved in some cases of ADHD and increase risks of heart disease.

While there are a range of causes of sleep apnoea in children (and even infants as young as 18 months) including obesity, the most common seems to be enlarged tonsils and adenoids.

                   Enlarged Tonsils

How should it be treated?

Treatment should depend on the cause.  For cases of obesity, obviously diet management and exercise are key.

For cases due to large tonsils, the treatment may vary depending on the severity.  In most cases, a referral to an ENT surgeon will be necessary and removal of the tonsils may be carried out.

In some cases, a CPAP machine (thing that blows air into your nose or mouth while you sleep) will work.  In others, an oral appliance made by your dentist will hold that jaw forward.

Like many developmental issues in kids, early diagnosis is the key.  If you have concerns, talk to your dentist or ask for a referral to your local ENT surgeon.

Dr Lincoln Harris DBSc (hons)
Harris Dental Boutique

If you would like a one on one consultation with Dr Harris please call his office on 07 41590660.

However, it’s also because we associate whiter teeth with healthier teeth.  The things that cause teeth to be stained are cavities, wear, trauma, fillings, and ageing to name a few.

So if you want whiter teeth, should you go with veneers or bleaching/whitening?

There are two things to consider with stains;

1.  Location of stain.
2. Type of stain.

Surface stains are the easiest to bleach off.  This includes food and beverage stains.

As we age, our teeth darken from changes to the inner layer of the tooth called the dentine.  This can be also bleached, or made to appear whiter by making the outer layer of enamel look very white.  However, if our gums have shrunk leaving some of the root exposed, this is very difficult to bleach as generally we will get sensitive root surfaces.

Stains that are deep inside the tooth, such as when our tooth has been hit in an accident, or after root canal therapy, can be very difficult to bleach and often relapse, going dark again.   

 
Stains that come from edible things are possible to bleach.  Stains that come from metals, such as amalgam fillings, are not possible to bleach.

      So in general, if you teeth are healthy, without too many fillings, and you are happy with the appearance generally, and just want them a bit whiter, then bleaching is better.

If you have lots of stained fillings, grey stains from amalgams, grey teeth from root canal therapy,  or receded gums, then placing veneers is probably better.

That other thing to consider is the shape, wear, rotation and other appearance related parts of the tooth.  If for instance, a tooth is very worn, or slightly crooked, then whitening will not correct these other factors and restoring the teeth’s original shape with veneers might be better.

Patients with severely rotated or crooked teeth are very unsuitable for veneers.  The amount of tooth you need to cut away to make a severely crooked tooth straight is terribly bad for the tooth and it’s far better to do some form of orthodontics first.

Budget wise, bleaching is far cheaper than veneers.

A final thing to consider is how much upkeep you want.  Bleaching requires constant touch-ups which you can do at home.  The colour of veneers is very stable, but in patients with very heavy grinding habits, chipping of the veneers can occur.

So in closing

Do bleaching if:

1.        You are generally happy with the shape, position and overall appearance of the teeth.

2.       You don’t mind touching up occasionally.

3.       Aren’t wanting a particular shade to be achieved.

4.       Don’t’ want much done to your teeth.

Do veneers if:

1.       You want to correct wear, chipping, shortening, shape or minor crookedness of the teeth.

2.       You have multiple stained fillings, old amalgam stains, root canals, or other things that won’t stain.

3.       You don’t want to be constantly touching up the colour.

Dr Lincoln Harris BDSc (hons)
Harris Dental Boutique 

If you would like a one on one consultation with Dr Harris please call his office on 07 41590660.