Your Questions
Answered

If you’re experiencing dental pain (especially in conjunction with fever, bleeding or signs of infection), please contact us immediately. We prioritise emergency appointments to ensure our patients receive prompt relief and care.

In the meantime, over-the-counter medication or a cold compress may offer short-term pain relief, and avoid eating on the affected side of your mouth. If you do take any medication before your emergency appointment, make sure to let your dentist know as it may affect what treatment they suggest.

We understand that life gets busy and dental visits can be overlooked. Even if you haven’t been in years, a dental check-up is one of those ‘never too late’ things you can do to look after your wellbeing. During your consultation our friendly team will examine your mouth, talk to you about any past dental treatments and your daily habits, and if further treatment is required, we’ll let you know.

Book an appointment and let’s get your dental health back on track.

It’s generally recommended to visit the dentist every six months for a routine check-up and cleaning, or at least annually if you can’t manage that frequency. Higher-risk patients should consider visiting more frequently.

Regular visits help us to keep an eye on your oral health over time and stop bigger issues before they occur. Leaving a dental problem too late can lead to more long-lasting, preventable damage.

If our team recognises that you are at a higher risk, we’ll make sure you understand why, and recommend a different schedule based on your individual needs.

First off, know that it’s totally normal to feel anxious about a dental visit, especially if it’s been a while or you’ve had a negative past experience somewhere.

Our team is trained to provide a high level of care with minimal discomfort, and for our more nervous patients, we offer a range of options to help you feel at ease. This includes sleep dentistry, sedation dentistry, VR goggles and noise-cancelling headsets with TVs on the ceiling. Your comfort is our priority, so please speak up if you feel nervous and let’s work on a solution.

What treatment is right for me?

The best way to determine the right treatment for you is to schedule a consultation with our experienced dentists. We’ll discuss your concerns, evaluate your oral health and create a personalised treatment plan that suits your unique needs.

We use the latest in modern dentistry techniques and technology to ensure you receive the highest standard of care.

From digital X-rays to 3D scanning, microscopic examination, advanced therapy techniques and even VR headsets, our clinic is very well equipped to provide you with effective and comfortable treatment.

Yes, we provide dental care for patients of all ages, including children. Our dentists are trained in a variety of recommended paediatric techniques to help make dental care an approachable, safe topic for young ones, ensuring their visit is a positive experience. Find out more here.

We recommend you bring your child in for their first dental check-up as early as 12 to 18 months, and then continue on every six months for preventative maintenance. Early dental visits allow our paediatric team to monitor your child’s oral development, provide essential oral hygiene guidance and establish a positive dental experience from a young age. What happens now can set up their habits for life, so starting early really can work wonders.

Whether veneers or crowns would be better for your teeth depends on the condition of your mouth, your budget and your personal goals.

Veneers are a life-changing procedure and can be acquired on a lower budget. But, while getting crowns is more extensive, this option can treat damaged teeth which would be inappropriate for veneers. If you aren’t sure what will be right for you, talk to our team today and we’ll walk you through your options.

Absolutely! As a part of the veneers process we’ll make sure you get a chance to test drive your new smile before it’s cemented in.

During your Smile Trial you’ll first get to trial virtual veneers, rapidly swapping colours and shapes to see what you like. Then we’ll fit you with temporary veneers that you can walk around with for a week, seeing how it feels while our experts hand-craft your permanent set.

This question is tricky to answer on our website because it very much depends on your budget, your unique needs and the goals you have for your smile.

As a rule of thumb, porcelain veneers are considered the superior option, with composite resin the next best (composite veneers can also be installed in just one visit). Porcelain usually comes at a higher cost, but patients often prefer the look and feel compared to composite.

Still, it’s all about you. We’ll talk about what will work for you best when you come in for your initial veneers consultation.

It’s possible that your mouth will feel a bit different after your veneers … but in a good way!

The reason you’re seeking out veneers treatment is to treat an issue, perhaps misaligned teeth, gaps, cracks, etc. Veneers will help to improve that problem and renew your confidence in your smile, which may naturally feel a bit different at first. After all, you’ve finally got the smile you’ve been waiting for.

But, just like it would if you got new glasses or shoes, it won’t take long for the new you to feel totally normal.

Dental implants not only support your bite and improve the look of your smile, but each implant installed into your jaw can reinforce the jawbone. Your teeth help keep the bones in your jaw stable, and without them, the jaw may begin to deteriorate. By preserving the jawbone, dental implants can also help maintain the natural shape of your face.

So, All-On-4 implants won’t just help to improve your smile now, there are many long-term benefits!

The key difference between the two is in how many posts are implanted to support your new teeth. As the names suggest, All-On-4 uses four posts and All-On-6 uses six. For an All-On-6 procedure, the extra two posts are inserted on each arch in the jawbone as additional anchors for artificial teeth.

Both procedures take about two to three hours under general anaesthetic (assuming there are no extra complexities to consider), and are widely considered effective procedures for treating long-term difficulties with eating, chewing and smiling.

To figure out which is best for you, come see us on Wanda Street in Mulgrave, Melbourne and we’ll help you out.

All-On-4 dental implants are an increasingly popular solution for those who have broken dentures or who hate wearing dentures, have decayed teeth, lost all or most teeth, have loose teeth and advanced gum disease, or who are tired of ill-fitting dentures.

This type of dental implant is designed to give you a full new set of fixed teeth which look, feel and work like natural teeth - without the complexity of adding an implant for each individual missing tooth.

Not everyone is suited for All-On-4 implants. It is generally not recommended for patients with medical conditions such as osteoporosis, if a patient has had radiation therapy or a patient with a compromised immune system. Our friendly team can advise you on whether or not All-On-4 implants are suitable for your needs.

Like all surgeries, you’ll need to heal after your All-On-4 implant treatment and that’s OK, it’s very normal. The actual length of recovery time varies for each individual, so you’ll need to talk to your dentist about what to expect for you.

The procedure itself is minimally invasive and performed under general anaesthetic, so you won’t feel a thing at the time - though there may be a bit of soreness and swelling in the area afterwards. Sedation wears off usually within four to five hours, and someone may have to drive you home.

We’d expect you to be back to regular activity within a few days.

After your surgery, there’s a few things you’ll need to keep in mind while you heal.

First, your dentist will usually prescribe pain relief to take as necessary, to help with any aches and pains post-surgery. You’ll also be given standard guidelines to help you keep your mouth clean and accelerate healing.

From here it’s all about a speedy and streamlined recovery. You’ll be asked to attend follow-up appointments with your dentist so that they can check on the progress of your implants, plus there’ll be some lifestyle changes to think about in the short term. Your new implants will need time to bond and integrate with the bone in your jaw, which means taking it easy for a while and focusing on eating mainly softer foods. Your dentist can advise on what this will look like for you.

All totalled, we generally expect the healing process for All-On-4 dental implant surgery to last about three to four months. At the end of it, our team will call you back in to craft an impression of your gums and implants, after which we can craft your final prosthesis and you can go on to enjoy your brand new smile.

Yes, All-On-4 dental implants, like natural teeth, require regular cleaning to help them last for as long as possible. When you eat, food debris can get on or under the dentures which, if left alone, will decompose through bacterial action. If this bacteria is allowed to build up, it can damage your artificial teeth. See? We really do mean they’ll work like regular teeth.

How to clean your All-On-4 dental implants
You will need:

• Floss
• Mouth wash
• A small brush to go under your implant bridge
• A soft, flexible toothpick to reach crevices
• An electric toothbrush, if possible
• The length, diameter and location of the implants
• Your age
• Quality of your jawbone
• Any periodontal disease
• Your lifestyle (smoking, alcohol and drugs can increase risk)
• Hormonal imbalances
• Pregnancy
• Immunosuppressive drug therapy or chronic infectious diseases

These items are readily available from pharmacies and most dental clinics.

Step 1: Rinsing with mouthwash and using a flexible toothpick, remove food debris from your teeth and mouth.

Step 2: Floss at least once daily to remove additional stuck food material, reaching areas where your toothbrush and toothpick can’t fit. One of the best times to floss is right before bed.

Step 3: Brush your teeth using a regular soft toothbrush, making sure to get both the implants and your gums. Upgrade to an electric toothbrush if you can, as you will likely find it more effective.

Step 4: Clean your tongue and cheeks too. It’s easy to forget your tongue, but food debris and bacteria also build here. Brush the upper surface of your tongue and the inside of your cheeks with your toothbrush.

Step 5: Rinse again, to ensure no food debris or particles are left in your mouth or stuck under the bridge.

Step 6: Visit your dentist every six months. Even with regular cleaning, bacteria can still build in your mouth - and we don’t want it to damage those new dentures. Visiting the dentist regularly will allow an expert to keep an eye on the state of your oral health, and intervene early if a problem looks like it’s coming.

How long do All-On-4 dental implants last?

This is an investment that should last you for decades. In fact, with proper care, you could expect All-On-4 dental implants to last even longer - though this will also partially depend on the material you chose for your implants. Your teeth will experience wear and tear, just like your natural teeth, though the implant posts should never need to be replaced.

Several factors can contribute to how long your implants might last, including:

To help make your implants last, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene and to visit the dentist more regularly. If we spot any risks, we’ll let you know and help you tackle them.

Clear aligners are designed to be discreet and almost invisible. They’re made from a transparent material which blends seamlessly with your natural teeth. While they may be visible to anyone looking up close, they’re generally far less noticeable than traditional braces.

This makes clear aligners a popular choice among individuals seeking a subtle orthodontic treatment option.

Yes, clear aligners are designed with comfort in mind.

They’re crafted from smooth and thin material that should fit snugly over your teeth. While you may experience some initial adjustment as you get used to wearing them (as with anything new), most people find clear aligners to be comfortable and less likely to cause irritation than traditional braces.

No, clear aligners aren’t painful. That’s one of the things which makes it an excellent treatment option for all ages, even those who experience dental phobia or who’ve had bad past experiences.

Just like if you bought new shoes or put on new glasses, there will be a slight adjustment period when you start wearing each set of new aligners. But, it should go away as your mouth gets used to the feeling.

If you are someone who experiences a lot of fear or anxiety over dental treatment, and those worries prevent you from seeking the care you need, sleep dentistry may be right for you.

But, it isn’t just for those with anxieties. We find sleep dentistry can also help patients with:

• Low pain thresholds
• Highly sensitive teeth
• Bad gag reflexes
• A need for very complex dental treatment

If this sounds like you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. Call us on (03) 7019 6347 or book your consultation online..

Yes, anaesthesia and sedation are considered safe - and they’re widely used to put patients to sleep for a range of surgeries.

To ensure it’s right for you, our specialist anaesthetist will gently walk you through a few necessary preparation steps to ensure your experience is as comfortable and safe as possible.

What types of procedures can be done under sleep dentistry?

The good news is that many dental procedures here at Mulgrave Dental can be performed using sleep dentistry, including:

• Wisdom teeth removal
• Fillings
• Same-day dental crowns
• Root canal therapy
• Cosmetic treatments
• And more

Let us know if sleep dentistry is an option you’d like to talk about during your consultation and we’ll let you know if it’s available for your treatment (and, if so, how to access it).

For light sedation, we’d expect you to feel drowsy for a few hours, and most patients can resume normal activities the next day.

For deeper sedation or general anaesthesia, we recommend you take it easy for a full day so you have a chance to fully wake up. Someone will need to drive you home.

No, the chances of any patient waking up during dental surgery while anaesthetised is extremely unlikely. In all our experience here at Mulgrave Dental, it’s never happened once - and we take steps to ensure it never will.

Your anaesthetist will stay with you the whole time during the procedure and ensure you are kept asleep until the surgery has concluded. This means that no matter your circumstances, or how tolerant you might be to the sedation, you will have someone keeping an eye on you to make sure you’re safe and unconscious.