The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) commenced on 1 January 2014 and provides access to benefits for basic dental services to children aged 2-17 years.

At Top Ryde Dentists we bulk bill the dental services for eligible children under the new Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) funded by Medicare. There are, however, certain eligibility criteria for the same.

Eligibility basics

• Children aged between 2 –17 years on any one day of the calendar year
• They receive, or their family, guardian or care taker receives, certain government benefits such as Family Tax Benefit Part A for at least part of the calendar year
• They are eligible for Medicare

The total benefit entitlement is capped at $1,000 per child over a two-calendar year period. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule conducts a means test, which requires receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part A or a relevant Australian Government payment. You can check your eligibility with your local Medicare office.

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule provides individual benefits for a range of services including Under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Children eligible for this schedule have access to preventative and treatment services like:

• Checkups
• Cleaning and Scaling
• Fluoride Treatments
• Fissure Sealing
• Fillings
• Extractions
• X-Rays

Benefits are not available for orthodontic or cosmetic dental work and these services cannot be paid for, by any services provided in a hospital.

• Do proper home dental care by twice brushing and once dental flossing every day. It helps to remove dental plaque and reduce the number of bacteria that are responsible for a large number of dental decay and gum disease.
• Visit your dentist every 6 months for check-up and cleaning especially in the unreachable oral areas.
• Ask your dentist for a risk assessment for vulnerability to dental caries and periodontal disease. And based on that provide you proper regimen.
• Be cautious about any sign of inflammation and bleeding of the gum before it turns into an irreversible condition.
• No dental caries reverse without intervention, pursue the treatment before the hole involves the pulp and lead you to costly Root Canal Therapy.
• Root Canal Therapy, if required, should be opt for as it is still better than losing the tooth due to the infection and replacing it with an implant or false teeth.
• If you lose your tooth by any chance do the tooth replacement therapy (i.e. dental implant, fixed bridges, or removable prosthesis) before there would be bone shrinkage, teeth drifting or joint problem which makes the condition more complicated.
• If you see any sign of worn or damaged teeth, we advise you to take it seriously, it could better be managed at the early stages.

Two groups benefit from the dental scheme and we bulk bill for them:

• People with chronic disease and carrying a letter of referral from their family doctor or also known as the EPC form.
• Teenagers who receive a letter of the dental scheme or teen plan. We do a comprehensive oral examination and thorough teeth cleaning and fluoride application for them.
• Currently, there is no bulk billing for the general public.

• Preventive measures such as tooth brushing, in-clinic scaling, cleaning as well as avoiding harmful behavior such as smoking may help in the long-term reduction of dental expenses.
• Health insurance with dental coverage relieves the cost and encourages the insured person for periodic dental check-ups.
• Seek any dental treatments before it is aggravated and becomes costly.
• Ask your GP for any Medicare dental scheme eligibility.
• In your monthly list of expenses, consider the dental expenses and make some savings for that.

Odontoplasty or Enamel shaping is a dentistry procedure that removes parts of the contouring of the outer shell of a tooth to improve the appearance of the tooth. It may be used to correct a very small chip. The removed enamel is irreplaceable, and its application is very limited. It can however be replaced by synthetic enamel like costing made of resin or ceramic materials.

Tooth recontouring, also known as tooth reshaping, is one of few instant treatments now available in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Dental reshaping and contouring is a procedure to correct crooked teeth, chipped teeth, cracked teeth, or even overlapping teeth in just one session. The dental contouring procedure can even be a substitute for braces under certain circumstances. It is also a procedure that incorporates subtle changes to your teeth. A few millimeters of reduction and a few millimeters of tooth-colored laminate might be involved  in this procedure. Tooth reshaping, or dental contouring, is commonly used to alter the length, shape or the position of teeth. There might be a few terms and conditions as well as criteria for this procedure that you have to take a close look at the details.

Tooth bonding system is a process in which a tooth-coloured dental composite which is enamel-like in terms of shape and structure, is applied to a tooth’s surface, sculpted into shape, hardened (mainly with a source of light), and then polished.

This procedure provides strength and support to your teeth while giving it a pristine appearance.

Fixed Prosthodontics or dental bridges are false teeth, known as pontics, which are fused between two porcelain crowns fabricated on abutment neighbouring teeth to fill in the area left open by a missing tooth. This is known as a fixed bridge. This procedure is used to replace one or more missing teeth. Fixed bridges are permanent. They cannot be taken out of your mouth as you might do with removable partial dentures. In areas of your mouth that are under less stress, such as your front teeth, a cantilever bridge may be used. Cantilever bridges are used when there are teeth on only one side of the open space. Bridges work better when teeth are present on both ends of the gaps. It helps to correct some biting issues and even improve your speech. Bridges require your commitment to serious oral hygiene but will last as many as ten years or more provided by having continual home oral hygiene care and periodic professional check-up.

Veneers are ultra-thin, custom-made porcelain laminates that are bonded directly to the teeth. They are an excellent option when it comes to closing gaps or disguising discoloured teeth that do not respond well to whitening procedures. Tooth reduction may be necessary and it is a very minimal procedure. No depending on the procedure is involved due to the fact that they are made extremely thin (about 0.1-0.3mm thick).

Gum Lift is a cosmetic dental procedure that raises and sculpts the gum line. The procedure involves reshaping the tissue and/or underlying bones to create the appearance of longer or more symmetrical teeth. Excessive gum tissue (hyperplastic gingival tissue) can be caused by several factors including braces, medications, and inflammation. To be considered as a candidate for this procedure you need to have your gum checked and fix any underlying periodontal disease. For further information regarding this matter, you may refer to our periodontal disease section.

Teeth whitening dentistry procedure makes you happier and broadens your smile with confidence. Teeth bleaching is the most common cosmetic dental procedure with a variety of options including over-the-counter products, dentist-supervised treatments remain the recommended procedures for lightening discoloured teeth. With a variety of tooth whitening methods available, whitening your teeth has never been more accessible. Are you dreaming of a radiant,white smile?

Before considering whitening your teeth, book an appointment for a check-up and cleaning with your dentist. Surface stains will need to be removed before whitening to achieve optimum results. Your dentist will then determine if you are a candidate for tooth whitening. Please do some research on teeth whitening and bear in mind its effect is neither on pristine teeth nor on filling materials so it should be done prior to any front tooth fillings.

• Teeth that have restorations, such as veneers or having been bonded with white fillings, cannot be whitened with hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. These materials do not whiten past the colour they were originally made. The colour of these types of restorations was determined by the surrounding teeth. If the surrounding teeth are whitened, the restorations will stand out and look artificial. Replacing old or discoloured restorations will allow you to change their appearance. Teeth that have internal staining, discoloration from developmental conditions or have been through root canal treatment may not be affected by the typical whitening process. Internal tooth whitening or permanent restorations may be an option to consider.

• Natural tooth colours that are brown or gray in hue may not produce desired results. Typically, teeth with a yellow hue will produce the best results.
• Pregnant or nursing mothers should avoid whitening their teeth as there is not enough research to determine the safety of tooth whitening products during pregnancy or lactation.
• People with hypersensitive teeth should avoid tooth whitening, because this process may enhance the level of sensitivity they experience.

Enamel, the first layer of the tooth surface, is actually semi-translucent, or clear. The layer underneath the enamel, known as dentin, is typically yellow but may be gray, brown or black in colour. This hue  is seen penetrating through the enamel. In order to whiten the dentine, a peroxide solution is placed on the enamel. This process opens the pores of the enamel, allowing the solution to reach the layer of dentin. The solution will then begin to lighten the dentin, resulting in the appearance of whiter teeth.

Several brands of tooth-whitening products are on the market that all promise one thing- noticeable results.

Professional in-office whitening, professional take-home whitening and over-the-counter whitening products remain the most common ways to whiten your teeth. It is important to have realistic expectations when you evaluating your final results; it may take several treatments to achieve a whiter smile. Whitening results may not be permanent, as your teeth will naturally pick up stains from foods or beverages or from tobacco use. Remember to brush and floss daily, and visit your dentist for regular cleanings and examinations. Tooth whitening results will vary from person to person, so chose an option that will suit your specific need and budget.

Periodontium is the tissue investing and supporting the teeth, including the cementum, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and gingiva.

Gum diseases, also known as, periodontitis and gingivitis are the consequence of inflammation affecting the supporting structures of the teeth. The primary cause of gum disease is plaque bacteria that are habitant of the mouth.

Gingivitis is a sort of gum disease, which can be completely reversed and treated leaving the patients healthy and back to their normal gum health following treatment.

Periodontitis is a serious disease that affects the bone around the tooth, weakening the tooth support. Although it can be treated completely, the bone loss cannot always be rebuilt.

Gingivitis is a common disease among mankind. It ranges from mild to severe and its expansion could either be a single tooth to a entire tooth. Most people suffer from some degree of gingivitis in their lives but in some people, this progresses into destructive periodontitis.  To increase the chance of developing periodontitis, certain risk factors need to be present. 

These risk factors include:

• Poor Oral hygiene
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Immune suppression
• Heavily restored dentition (lots of fillings and crowns)
• Genetic factors (gum diseases tend to run in families)
• Stress

The primary cause of gum disease is plaque that lives in the mouth. All of us have plaque bacteria that live in our mouths. However, some people, who have a combination of risk factors (smoking, stress, poor oral hygiene) at a particular time in their lives, can develop periodontitis or deep gum disease.

In these individuals, the plaque bacteria under the gums begin to grow and multiply as well as stick to the root surfaces of the teeth forming a hard-mineralized layer known as calculus or tartar. This bacteria has the ability to produce its own toxins which attack the supporting structures of the tooth causing bone destruction and soft tissue /gum destruction also known as recession or receding gums.

Once this process starts, the gums, which are naturally attached very firmly to the teeth, detach from the teeth and form gum pockets. Over time the gums can shrink back from the teeth causing a recession.

Once the process has started patients need to seek advice from a dentist or periodontist for treatment as early detection and treatment will lead to the best healing and resolution of the gum problems.

Some of the most common early signs of gum diseases are as follows-

• Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or eating hard food.
• Bloodstains on your pillow after sleeping
• Gums that are receding or shrinking away from the teeth are sometimes known as ‘getting long in the tooth’.
• Red, swollen or tender gums or other aches and pains in your mouth
• Itching sensation from the gums
• Changes in tooth position
• Pus between your gums and teeth
• Bad breath or bad taste
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• A change in the fit of partial dentures.

Dental Implants are titanium screws used to replace missing teeth.

In general implants have a success rate of between 95 – 97 percent in healthy nonsmokers. Among the factors affecting the success of implants are:

1. Health of the patient – certain diseases such as diabetes can further reduce implant success rates.
2. Condition of the jaw bone.
3. Any drugs or medicines taken by the patient.
4. Smoking – this has a very strong negative impact on implant success.
5. Uncontrolled diabetes

It is possible to have an implant placed and have the tooth replacement or crown placed straight away. However, this is not always the best treatment option. Detailed examination and the necessary preparatory steps are essential for providing the best treatment.

The third molars, known simply as wisdom teeth, erupt between the ages of 17 and 21 years old.

An average person’s mouth will comfortably hold 28 of the 32 teeth we are predisposed to have. Since the wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt, there is often little room left to accommodate their size and anatomy. An x-ray that covers the whole anatomical area (i.e. OPG) is necessary for diagnosis and guidance during surgery. Angulations and closeness to the vital anatomical structures determine the difficulty of wisdom teeth surgery. However, it can be easily performed by expert dentists with very minimal pain.

Removable partial dentures are for patients who are missing some of their teeth on a particular arch. Fixed partial dentures, also known as “crown and bridge”, are made from crowns that are fitted on the remaining teeth to act as abutments and pontics made from materials to resemble the missing teeth. Fixed bridges are more expensive than removable appliances but are more stable. We can offer you the best possible advice as well as the price to fit your dental demands.