Should I get whitening if I have sensitive teeth?

If you're concerned about tooth sensitivity, you may decide to choose a product that is specifically designed for sensitive teeth. Mount Lawley Dental uses Philips ZOOM! Nite White – which is especially formulated for those with sensitive teeth.

What is endodontic treatment?

Endodontic treatment involves treating teeth with a diseased dental pulp, such as a dental abscess. The infected soft tissue is removed from inside the tooth and replaced with a root canal filling that seals the tooth from future infection.

What are wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the last (third) molars to erupt in the mouth, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. There are usually four wisdom teeth, but not everyone gets them. As these teeth are less necessary, dentists may recommend wisdom tooth removal if a tooth becomes impacted or causes problems such as teeth crowding.

How much do veneers cost?

The cost of veneers depends on their size, the number of veneers you have and what material they're made from. Porcelain veneers cost more than composite veneers. At Mount Lawley Dental, veneers start from $300 per tooth for composite resin and from $1400 per tooth for porcelain.

Why is oral hygiene important?

Good oral hygiene is about maintaining healthy teeth and gums in order to prevent dental issues such as tooth decay and gum disease. These dental problems when left untreated can erode teeth and cause gums to pull away, weakening the tooth structure and resulting in tooth loss. Tooth loss affects the way you eat and speak and can create teeth alignment issues, jawbone deterioration and a sagging facial appearance.

What is preventive dentistry?

Preventive dentistry is a proactive approach to dental care. The preventive approach aims to prevent common dental problems before they have a chance to develop and avoiding the need for more invasive and expensive procedures to correct them.

What causes gum disease?

Gum disease is caused by bacteria that can build up on teeth and form plaque. When bacteria reaches the gum, it can cause an infection that the body fights with inflammation, leading to swelling and tenderness of the gums.

How do I keep my mouthguard clean?

Clean your mouthguard under room temperature water and a cleaning solution to keep it in good condition. Avoid using hot water to rinse your mouthguard as it will warp it out of shape. By making sure you clean your mouthguard after every use, you’ll keep it free from staining and plaque build-up that can ruin the mouthguard and require you to replace it sooner than necessary.

Behind the Lens: A Guide to Dental X-rays

General Dentistry

Behind the Lens: A Guide to Dental X-rays

Posted on: 19 March, 2024

Dental x-rays play important roles in diagnosis and treatment planning

3 minute read

Whether you're visiting the dentist for your regular check-up, a treatment, or due to symptoms that could indicate a problem, x-rays can be a vital tool for revealing more to your dentist than is possible with the naked eye.

Dentists may take an x-ray of your mouth as part of routine oral health assessment to check the condition of your teeth and jaw bone and to look for any signs of possible problems at an early stage, when they are usually easier to treat. Dentists also use x-rays to help them plan intricate procedures, such as root canal therapy or placing dental implants, and to determine a patient’s eligibility for treatments.

At Mount Lawley Dental, we use a range of modern digital x-ray techniques to give our dentists a comprehensive view of your mouth and your oral health with minimal exposure. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us now on (08) 9227 8777 or book online.

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How do dental x-rays work?

Like other types of x-rays, dental x-rays are radiographs, meaning they use electromagnetic radiation to take images inside your body. Hard tissues like teeth and bone absorb x-rays and appear in high contrast in the resulting images, while they pass through soft tissues like the skin and gums. This allows your dentist to see internal structures such as tooth roots, the jaw bone and the sinus cavity that are normally hidden from view.

Dental x-rays focus on the mouth or surrounding areas, and your dentist will ensure that other parts of your body are protected from unnecessary exposure. It's important to sit as still as possible while an x-ray is being taken to produce a clear image.

When is a dental x-ray needed?

Dental x-rays are often the only means to accurately identify an oral health problem and develop an effective treatment plan. As a preventive tool during oral health assessments, they can also help dentists to catch some problems early, which could avoid unnecessary discomfort and more intensive treatment later.

It’s recommended that most people have a dental x-ray at least once a year, but your dentist may recommend a different frequency between 6 and 18 months depending on your individual needs. X-rays may be needed more frequently if you have an existing oral health condition or are undergoing a treatment.

Some of the problems that can be identified with x-rays include:

Tooth decay and cavities
Tooth damage from grinding or clenching
Impacted or unerupted wisdom teeth
Gum disease and other infections
Dental abscesses and cysts
Bone loss in the jaw
Some forms of oral cancer

X-rays can also show dentists whether or not you’re a candidate for treatments such as dental implants by assessing the condition of your jaw bone. X-rays and other diagnostic images are also used in treatment planning for a range of procedures, including implants, teeth straightening and root canal therapy, to improve the accuracy and success of treatments.

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Types of dental x-rays

Dentists may use a range of x-rays, depending on what type of information they need to find out. The two main categories of x-rays are intraoral (taken inside the mouth) and extraoral (taken outside the mouth). Here are some of these systems and their uses.

Intraoral x-rays

Bitewing x-rays – show a close view of the upper and lower teeth in a target area of the mouth, not usually including the roots
Periapical x-rays – show a detailed view of a complete tooth, including the root and connecting bone tissue
Occlusal x-rays – examine the areas around the roof and floor of the mouth to monitor developing teeth and assess problems such as impacted teeth, abscesses, cysts and damage to teeth and jaws

Extraoral x-rays

Panoramic (OPG) x-rays – a complete view of the mouth and surrounding structures in a single image, giving dentists a clear view of the teeth, jaws and sinuses for identifying a wide range of oral health issues

Cephalometric x-rays – a side view of the whole head that shows dentists and orthodontists the relative position of the teeth and jaws to aid with treatment planning
Cone beam CT (CBCT) scan – captures 3D images of the teeth, jaws and other structures, giving dentists a clearer view when assessing a patient’s eligibility and planning more complex treatments

Our dentists at Mount Lawley Dental may recommend a bitewing x-ray or panoramic x-ray, depending on the situation. We also use 3D CBCT scans during planning for dental implants. Contact our team if you want to know more.

Are dental x-rays safe?

The most common question that patients have about dental x-rays is whether they’re safe, and in most cases the answer is yes. This is because the radiation dose of a modern digital x-ray is very low – only 10%–20% that of traditional x-ray systems – and negligible when x-rays are spaced 6 months apart or longer.

X-rays only become a potential risk when exposure is frequent, which may increase a person’s cancer risk. This is why dentists and technicians leave the room before taking patient x-rays, to avoid unnecessary exposure on a regular basis.

X-rays are also considered safe for children and pregnant women, though dentists may still recommend avoiding x-rays during pregnancy unless they are strictly needed, while taking appropriate precautions to avoid exposing a developing foetus to radiation.

New patient offer at Mount Lawley Dental

If you’re concerned about an oral health problem or just due for a check-up, our new patient offer at Mount Lawley Dental includes full-mouth OPG and bitewing x-rays, with no gap fee if you’re covered by a health fund (to the value of $350) or $350 without insurance (valued at $516).

This offer also includes a comprehensive examination with our experienced Mount Lawley dentists, a professional scale, clean and fluoride treatment, and other photos and digital imaging as needed for treatment planning.

If you haven’t had dental x-rays taken for a long time and you’re new to Mount Lawley Dental, our new patient offer provides great value. A panoramic (OPG) x-ray shows the teeth, jaws and sinuses for identifying a wide range of oral health conditions, many of which are not detectable with bitewing x-rays alone. This means the new patient offer provides better value than most clinics, providing a more comprehensive view of your oral health.

To find out more or schedule a check-up, call our friendly team today on (08) 9227 8777 or make an online booking. We also welcome patients from Highgate, Inglewood, North Perth and other nearby areas.

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