Never miss a check-up with the dentist in Mackay
It’s easy to find excuses not to bother with your check-up with the dentist in Mackay, but at Walkerston Dental in Walkerston we strongly urge you not to let other things, including your fear, get in the way of your dental health.
We understand that if you have been diligently coming in for check-ups and for years you have been told each time that everything is fine, that you may start to think that you can get away with missing one or two. You may even decide unilaterally to reduce your check-up intervals to every 12 months. But, please don’t do this without talking it over with us first. There is a very good reason why we recommend coming in for a check-up every 6 months.
Spotting trouble before trouble gets going
Dental problems get worse the longer you leave them; we all know that. But did you know that decay and gum disease are present long before you can feel their effects? By the time you can feel pain from decay or have bleeding gums from gum disease, the problem is well under way. We can spot decay as patches on your teeth, or gum disease as mild inflammation and pockets under the gums long before you notice the effects. Being able to spot problems in their very early stages means that treatment is simple, quick and less expensive than when we treat them in their later stages.
The ultimate end for your problems
With both dental decay and gum disease, the ultimate end is tooth loss. If your treatment doesn’t get going until you are in advanced stages, you may well be looking at extraction, and then you are into a whole new world of tooth replacement: dentures, bridges and dental implants.
It’s less of a hassle to have check-ups
Teeth are meant to last you a lifetime, so please don’t put off coming to the dentist in Mackay for simple check-ups and deep cleans with the hygienist. We are here to help you keep your teeth, but we can only do that if you bring them along to us to have a look at.
Modern dentistry means modern facilities
When you look back on the history of dentistry, when it began, if you wanted a dentist you were looking at going to your local barber, who had a side-line in pulling out teeth with some pretty heavy-duty equipment. If you wanted replacement teeth, your dentures might have been made out of ivory, the teeth of dead soldiers, or a poor person who had sold them to be able to buy food.
Since then, dental research has made great strides and today it bears almost no resemblance to what used to go on. Here at Walkerston Dental in Walkerston, when you visit the dentist in Mackay, you can expect to take advantage of some pretty amazing advances in dental technology, many of which have come about thanks to the digital revolution.
Digital x-rays
One big plus of digital dental x-rays at the dentist in Mackay is that the amount of radiation is reduced by up to 70%, which means digital x-rays are much safer.
Also, we don’t have to wait to look at what’s going on inside your teeth and gums; the information can be sent directly to the computer. The pictures are much clearer too. This means we can make a treatment plan straight away. Finally, with no processing chemicals required to process the images, digital x-rays are more environmentally friendly.
Intra-oral camera
Our camera allows us to take finely detailed pictures of the inside of your mouth. We can get into places, like behind your back teeth, for a much better view. Also, because the pictures are digital, we can put them on the computer and you can look at them on the screen above you. You can see what we are talking about when we discuss possible treatment plans.
Surgical microscope and magnifying loupes
These are attached to glasses. They may make the dentist in Mackay look a bit like the nutty professor, but they mean we can see what we’re doing in super-fine detail. So we can be sure to remove all the decay in a tooth, for example.
You can rest assured, our equipment makes an important contribution to your dental health and comfort.
Live life to the max with no worries
Do you live an active life? Do you love sports? Maybe you’re a team player and you’re into hockey, rugby or soccer. Perhaps you prefer to ride the waves by yourself and go surf. Or it could be that you love to tear up the dirt on a BMX track. Whatever your sporting pursuit, you’d be wise to keep the number of an emergency dentist to hand.
It’s so easy to lose a tooth to an elbow in the face during a scrum, or to chip a piece off after a BMX face plant. And at such a time, the last thing you want to be doing is scrolling through Google trying to find an emergency dental appointment in Mackay.
It might be that your regular dentist doesn’t offer emergency appointments, or maybe you and your team are visiting the area for an away game. Whatever your situation, save the number of Walkerston Dental in Walkerston under ‘Emergency Dentist’ in your phone. That way, when ball hits face, it will only take a couple of clicks to be on your way to your emergency dental appointment in Mackay.
When it comes to a knocked-out tooth, it’s doubly important to get to an emergency dental appointment in Mackay fast. Not only will you want to get some relief from the pain, there’s also a much better chance of saving the tooth if you get to us within 2 hours. Let our reception staff know when you call that you’ve had a tooth knocked out and they will do their best to fit you in as soon as possible.
There are other things you can do to help save the tooth. First of all, remember that the root of a tooth is living tissue. Avoid touching it as the oils and dirt on your fingers can kill it. Pick a knocked-out tooth up by the white part (the crown) then put it back in its socket. If that’s not possible, place it inside the cheek, or, put it in a clean container and cover it with milk. Never use tap water because the chemicals in it will kill the root.
Don’t let fear of the dentist ruin your oral health
Are you nervous about your dental treatment in Mackay? Here at Walkerston Dental in Walkerston, we totally understand that visiting the dentist can be a nerve-racking experience. Around 11% of adults worldwide experience dental phobia, so if you feel this way, you are not alone. And a much greater number experience a reluctance to come in for a check-up and have a tendency to avoid their dental surgery if they can.
And while this avoidance may not cause any immediate problems, over the course of time, your oral health will suffer. Imagine this scenario: someone has mild dental phobia. Being in the surgery makes them feel uncomfortable, so they tend to avoid it. They brush and floss most days and their teeth seem to be in pretty good health.
However, over the years, plaque and tartar builds up. This is because, no matter how great you are at your home oral hygiene routine, only professional dental equipment can remove this hardened substance.
So, because of this build up, tooth decay sets in. The gum starts to recede around a tooth or two and the patient experiences a dull toothache. They ignore this at first, hoping it will go away. However, one day they wake up in agony and there’s no getting away from the fact that they need dental treatment in Mackay. Only now they are going to have to pay for a more expensive emergency appointment, and get the problem resolved fast.
This situation only increases their anxiety and now they are starting to feel really panicky about sitting in the dentist’s chair. Not only are they worried about this appointment, but they are thinking about the ones that will follow. What if they need an extraction? A crown? Dental implant surgery?
It doesn’t have to be this way. Come in for regular dental treatment in Mackay and this could be avoided with check-ups and hygiene appointments. Our dentists are compassionate and understanding and will go out of their way to make your dental treatment in Mackay as easy on you as possible. Drop into the surgery today and find out what the options are for nervous patients.
What’s on offer at the dentist in Mackay?
Some dental practices focus on one or two areas of dentistry. They may only do cosmetic work, or only fit braces. Others concentrate on dental implants or general dentistry.
Here at Walkerston Dental, we offer a wide range of treatments. This dentist in Mackay works with children, adults, older and cosmetic patients. Here’s a rundown of what we do.
General dentistry
This includes your run-of-the-mill maintenance treatments such as bi-annual check-ups, scale and polish cleanings, fillings, crowns and extractions. We also offer dentures and plates under general dentistry.
Preventive dentistry
Our whole focus as a practice is on prevention. If we can help you spend less time in the dentist’s chair, we will. This is why we offer nutritional advice for optimum tooth health, guidance on the right oral hygiene routine for you and fissure sealants to help prevent decay.
Cosmetic dentistry
If your teeth are in great health and you want to give your smile an extra boost, cosmetic dentistry is the way to go. We can build-up the teeth with crowns and veneers, brighten them up with tooth whitening or straighten them with clear aligners. We also offer gum reshaping to help reveal more of the natural beauty of the tooth.
Root canals
A root canal can help to save an infected tooth by remove the affected tissue in the root, so the crown doesn’t become loose.
Dental implants
If you have been unfortunate enough to lose a tooth, dental implants are a highly functional way to restore it. Replacing both root and crown, it’s almost like having a natural tooth back.
Teeth straightening
We offer a range of braces to help realign the teeth and jaws, for children and adults.
Children’s dentistry
Our dentist in Mackay will take the time to reassure your child and explain dental procedures to them, so they experience visiting the dentist as a comfortable experience. This will help them develop a healthy relationship with their teeth to take into adulthood.
Additional services
We can also help with teeth grinding, TMJ pain, snoring and sleep aponea.
Call in today
Find out more at Walkerston Dental in Walkerston GP Super Clinic, Queensland, your dentist in Mackay.
What you should do in a dental emergency?
You never think it will happen to you but then one day, there you are, mouth throbbing, spitting out blood. You’re in the middle of a dental emergency. So, what should you do? First off, call Walkerston Dental in Walkerston and book yourself an emergency dental appointment in Mackay. We’ll do our best to see you the same day you call and if we can’t, we’ll aim to get you seen at our other practice in Mackay, Northern Beaches Dental.
With your emergency dental appointment in Mackay all booked in, you’re still facing minutes or perhaps even a couple of hours until you can get yourself to us. In that time, it’s handy to know what you can do to help yourself.
A knocked-out tooth
If you can find it, pick it up by the crown, not the root. The roots of your teeth have delicate fibres attached to them, which are easily damaged. You need to keep your knocked-out tooth in as good a condition as possible so that you have the best chances of getting it re-attached. With that in mind, try to put it back into the socket from which it got knocked out. If that is too painful, store it in a container of your saliva or in milk.
If your mouth is bleeding, apply clean gauze to the area and hold it there until the bleeding has stopped.
Then get yourself and your tooth to us within 2 hours and we’ll do our best to re-attach your tooth.
Chipped tooth
Once again, find those pieces of tooth. Rinse your mouth and the pieces of your tooth in warm water. Then get to us as soon as possible to repair your tooth.
Toothache
Rinse your mouth in warm water and use floss to remove any food debris lodged between your teeth, which may be causing the pain. Use over-the-counter painkillers if necessary, but don’t apply any pain relief directly to your gums. To reduce swelling, apply a cold compress against your cheek.
If you aren’t sure what to do in a dental emergency, don’t worry. When you call us to book your emergency dental appointment in Mackay, we can advise you.
What is a dental emergency?
You’d be surprised how many people don’t know the answer to the question, ‘What is a dental emergency?’. After all, it isn’t something you hear much about. If you are ever in any doubt as to whether you are having a dental emergency, it is always best to call the emergency dentist in Mackay.
When you call us at Walkerston Dental in Walkerston, we’ll ask you a few questions to find out whether or not you need to be seen by our emergency dentist in Mackay. It may be that we can advise you on what to do over the phone and schedule you in for a regular dental appointment. But if you do need to see the emergency dentist in Mackay, rest assured that we will try to fit you in on the same day you call us.
So, back to the question we started with. What is a dental emergency? There are lots of different scenarios that count as dental emergencies. Here are a few of the most common:
Dental pain
Toothache can quite quickly go from a nagging ache to severe pain. It is often a sign of underlying dental disease, such as tooth decay or an infection of the pulp that resides beneath the enamel of your teeth. While you may be able to make do with over-the-counter painkillers for a while, this won’t resolve the cause of your toothache and delaying treatment gives the underlying problem the chance to get worse. So, if you are experiencing severe toothache, it is a dental emergency.
Dental injuries
You could be the most cautious person in the world but accidents still happen. Partially or fully knocked out teeth, as well as chipped, cracked or broken teeth all constitute dental emergencies. They may be accompanied by bleeding and swelling too.
Broken dental appliances
Broken dental appliances don’t always require same-day emergency care, but you’ll probably need to come in sooner than your next scheduled appointment. So, for broken braces, dental implants, crowns, dentures or bridges, it is worth giving us a call so we can determine how soon we need to see you.
Rest easy with the emergency dentist in Mackay
Most people know exactly who to call in most emergencies. Dial 000 and get that ambulance, fire truck or police car to you pronto. But what about a dental emergency? 000 is hardly appropriate. So, who should you call? The emergency dentist in Mackay, that’s who.
At Walkerston Dental in Walkerston GP SuperClinic, Queensland, we provide emergency dental services so that when you’re in dental pain you don’t need to think twice about what to do. Pick up the phone, call us and we’ll take care of the rest.
Your call
When you call us in need of an emergency dentist in Mackay, our caring dental team will find out exactly what has happened and do their very best to put you at ease and calm any rising panic. We can offer you advice on what to do before you get to us and will aim to see you the same day you call.
Your emergency appointment
Our emergency dentist in Mackay will first provide you with pain relief if you need it. Then it’s time to thoroughly examine the damaged area to find out the extent of the damage. This may sometimes require x-rays. The area will be cleaned and sterilised to reduce the chance of infection before repairs are then carried out.
If we can’t provide you with a permanent fix then and there, we’ll send you off with a temporary fix so you can get on with your day. We’ll then call you back for follow-up treatment. A good example of when this would be the case is if we need to extract a severely damaged tooth or if we are unable to re-attach a tooth that has been knocked out. In these cases you will need to have replacement teeth made, which can be in the form of bridges, dentures or dental implants.
Your dental health
When you’re facing a dental emergency seeing the emergency dentist in Mackay will ensure that your future dental health is protected. Damage to your teeth or gums can have long-lasting consequences if not taken care of properly. So make sure you put our contact details into your phone now and give us a call pronto when a dental emergency strikes.
TLC for your teeth
Between work, home, friends and family, life can run you ragged. It’s a good idea to find some time to take care of yourself: give your feet and hands some TLC with a mani-pedi or relax your muscles with a full body massage. But what about your teeth? They’re at work 24/7 too and also need some special care. Sure, you brush and floss them twice daily, but every once in a while, they need the kind of TLC that you can only get from the dentist.
Find time for dental treatment in Mackay and make sure your teeth get the TLC they need to keep you smiling. At Walkerston Dental in Walkerston, we’ll make sure your teeth and gums stay healthy with preventive dentistry and when dental disease does strike, we’ll get them back on form with effective dental treatment in Mackay.
Prevention
The best way to maintain a healthy smile is to keep up with regular dental check-ups. Our dentists can spot the first signs of dental disease long before you notice them or feel any pain. That means we can get you the treatment you need before more damage is done. Seeing our hygienist will go a long way to avoiding dental disease in the first place with a good clean, scale and polish to remove plaque and tartar, both of which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
Restoration
When dental disease gets the better of your teeth, all is not lost. We can use fillings and crowns to repair infected or decayed teeth, restoring their function and their appearance.
We will always do our very best to prevent you losing your natural teeth, but if too much damage has already been done, we can safely extract the afflicted teeth and restore them with bridges, dentures or dental implants.
There’s more
When it comes to the ultimate in TLC for your teeth and gums why not try cosmetic dentistry? We can make your teeth look whiter with teeth whitening, straighten them out discreetly with invisible braces and even reshape your gums to get rid of a gummy smile.
To find out more about dental treatment in Mackay get in touch with our friendly, modern practice.
Advanced services offered by your local dentist
For many people, the only time we visit a dentist in Mackay is if we have a cavity, or for a yearly check-up. But there are many things a dentist can do that you might not be aware of. At Walkerston Dental in Walkerston we offer a range of advanced services to our patients.
Help with snoring and sleep apnoea
One thing that surprises a lot of people is that a dentist in Mackay can often help with sleeping problems such as snoring and sleep apnoea. Sleep apnoea is a serious condition that affects many people, where the throat muscles relax too much during sleep and obstruct breathing. A dentist can help by fitting you with a special custom-made appliance that holds the lower jaw forward just slightly while you sleep, which can help to keep the airway open.
Jaw pain and teeth grinding
If you are one of the many people who grind your teeth in your sleep, you may not realise the long-term damage it can do to your teeth, gums and jaw joint. The condition of grinding or clenching your teeth, known as bruxism, can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, a painful disorder that can cause chronic headaches and neck and shoulder pain. If you wake up with an aching jaw or notice your teeth are becoming worn, sensitive or chipped, come and visit a dentist in Mackay to see if we can help.
Wide range of cosmetic dentistry treatments
Often people are not aware of some of the cosmetic dentistry treatments on offer nowadays. Advances in dental technology mean there are many treatments that have been introduced or made much easier in recent years. Invisible braces and aligners, gum reshaping and teeth whitening are all services you can get at a dentist in Mackay, as well as traditional crowns and veneers.
Advanced technology
Here at Walkerston Dental we do everything we can to make diagnosis and treatment as comfortable, fast and accurate as we can. In order to help with this, we use advanced technology such as intra-oral cameras, digital x-rays, full face x-ray and implant planning software. We want your visit to a dentist in Mackay to go as smoothly as possible.
