Preventative and Continuing Care

At Dentistry in Elwood your continuing care is tailored towards your individual needs. We routinely evaluate our patients’ periodontal health both at your initial examination and at all recare appointments.

Patients who have healthy supporting gums and tissue (without gum pocketing, bleeding, bone loss or heavy tartar accumulation) can generally have their oral health maintained with a personalised home care program and a six monthly visit to our Oral Health Therapists and Dental Hygienist for a professional dental clean.

When we discover signs of gum disease we often recommend scaling and root planing treatments. This more extensive treatment frequently helps our patients return to optimal periodontal health and stability while eliminating the need for referral for periodontal surgery.


Continuing Care

So that we can stand by our treatment and support our patients in achieving their oral health goals, Dr Mark Peddey and his team strongly recommend a Continuing Care Programme to all of our patients. Depending on the status of your oral health you will be required to attend continuing care visits with our dental hygienist every 3, 4, 6 or 12 months.

These visits are scheduled with our Oral Health Therapists Natalia and Rachel and our Dental Hygienist, Bronny. Dr Peddey will perform a full mouth examination and check your dental treatment during your continuing care appointment.

Our team at Dentistry in Elwood is committed to excellence in oral health care and assisting you in keeping your teeth (disease free) for the rest of your life. Any periodontal disease will be charted and reviewed with you during your continuing care visit. Time is made to discuss your dental concerns, oral hygiene problems and to talk about your home care and oral health routine. A gentle scale and clean and an update on your oral health progress is given with tips on improving your brushing and flossing technique. Patients are strongly encouraged to schedule their next visit at the end of each appointment.

Why is oral hygiene so important?

Adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum disease than from cavities. Three out of four adults are affected at some time in their life by some degree of periodontal disease. The best way to prevent cavities and periodontal disease is by good tooth brushing and flossing techniques, performed daily.

Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque. Plaque is a colorless film, which sticks to your teeth at the gum line. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth. By thorough daily brushing and flossing you can remove these germs and help prevent periodontal disease.

Choosing Oral Hygiene Products

There are so many products on the market it can become confusing and choosing between all the products can be difficult. The best oral hygiene products for you will be recommended at your continuing care visit. Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing can reduce tooth decay as much as 40%. Remember, these rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age.

Professional Cleaning

Daily brushing and flossing will keep dental calculus to a minimum, but a professional cleaning will remove calculus in places your toothbrush and floss have missed. Your visit to our office is an important part of your program to prevent gum disease. Keep your teeth for your lifetime.

Caring for Sensitive Teeth

Sometimes after dental treatment, teeth are sensitive to hot and cold. This should not last long if the mouth is kept clean. If the mouth is not kept clean the sensitivity will remain and could become more severe. If your teeth are especially sensitive you can call us at Dentistry in Elwood. We may recommend a medicated toothpaste or mouth rinse made especially for sensitive teeth.