Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): General Dentistry

No, it does not. Enamel is the hardest tissue in the body, but it never regrows.

Once your tooth is through the gums, it's there. That's it. It doesn't grow anymore. So, any toothpaste, mouthwash, or any dental product that says it can help you grow your enamel back or rejuvenate it is lying to you.

Do not buy it.

At North Brisbane Dental Clinic, you can count on Dr Georgia Sheahan and our team of dentists and dental hygienists to share honest, time-tested methods for preserving your enamel for a lifetime. 

Your North Brisbane Dental Clinic Awaits

We welcome patients of all ages from North Brisbane, Wooloowin, Lutwyche, Clayfield, Windsor, Grange, Gordon Park, Kalinga, Kedron, Stafford, Ascot, Chermside and Everton Hills. Our focus on prevention can help every family member enjoy healthy, beautiful smiles for a lifetime. A great place to start is with a check-up and clean. We welcome you to give us a call to get started.

Dr Brodie Hawker demonstrates how to properly floss your teeth and discusses why it is so important.

Flossing is super important because:

1. It helps prevent decay between your teeth.
2. It helps to keep your gums healthy.
3. It helps prevent stinky breath.

What If My Gums Bleed?

Lots of people are concerned that flossing causes bleeding. It's actually underlying inflammation caused by bacteria between your teeth that causes the bleeding. So, the more you floss, the less bleeding you should have. 

How Often Do I Need to Floss My Teeth?

Ideally, you should floss at least once a day at night time before you brush your teeth. 

You will want to have a nice long piece of floss because we're going to wrap it around a few fingers, so you get a grip on it. I like to control it with my thumb and my index fingers. That just makes it easier to make sure you can direct it right in between each tooth. 

I usually start in the middle, work my way to the back on one side, and then come back to the middle and work my way to the back on that side.

Rub the floss up and down against one tooth underneath the gum there, and make sure you're flossing the surface next door as well. It might take a bit of practice, but I'm sure you'll be flossing like a pro in no time.

Welcome to North Brisbane Dental Clinic

Brushing and flossing at home is an essential part of your oral health care regimen. Regular check-ups and cleans with your dentist are the others. We welcome new patients of all ages from North Brisbane, Wooloowin, Lutwyche, Clayfield, Windsor, Grange, Gordon Park, Kalinga, Kedron, Stafford, Ascot, Chermside and Everton Hills. 

Patient education is a valued part of preventive dentistry for our patients. If you ever have questions about how to complement your professional dental visits with your care at home, we are here to help.

We generally recommend all of our patients have their teeth examined and professionally cleaned every six months.

Some people may feel this is too often, particularly if your teeth are not causing trouble. But the important thing to realise is that when dental problems start, it's important to nip it in the bud before it can become anything major. This preventive dentistry approach will save you time and money in the future.

What If I Don't Feel Any Tooth Pain?

Pain is not a good indicator of dental disease. Most dental problems are not painful until they're well advanced. So, if you wait for something in your mouth to break, or if you wait for it to start hurting before you get looked at, the chances are that the underlying problem has already been there for a long time, and it's going to be a lot more expensive and troublesome to fix. 

If we can intercept problems very early on before they start causing pain, then you will be much better off, both financially and from a health perspective.

We Warmly Welcome New Patients

If you are new to the North Brisbane area or simply want a new dental home, we welcome you to contact North Brisbane Dental Clinic. We welcome patients of all ages so your entire family can enjoy improved oral health and happy smiles.

If you have dental anxiety, the first thing you should do is realise you are not alone. Not by a long shot. We come across this every single day. Some people are nervous because of a bad experience they’ve had in the past, while a lot of people can’t quite explain why they’re so anxious at the dentist, but they just are. Either way, we’re here to help. 

If you’re nervous, we usually spend our first visit just chatting. We have a look at your teeth, work out what, if anything, needs doing, and then discuss how we’re going to do it together. There are a few tips we can give you to help make your dental visit more relaxing. 

Bring in headphones to block out the noises and listen to some of your favourite music while we work. 

Bring a friend or other support person. Visitors are always welcome in our treatment rooms, and sometimes it helps having someone you trust in the room to hold your hand. 

We offer nitrous oxide for our treatments, which is a fast acting anti-anxiety gas. You breath it in through your nose while we work, and while you remain fully conscious throughout, it helps you feel more relaxed and mellow. It also wears off within a few minutes, so you can drive afterwards. 

Sometimes our dentist may prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for you to take prior to your treatment. This is something that needs to be discussed on a case by case basis. 

The main thing to remember is, if you’re not comfortable with something, we just don’t do it. At any point throughout your treatment, raising your hand lets us know we need to stop. If you need a break, we give you one. If something hurts, we fix it so that it doesn’t. If you don’t like something, we try to do it another way. We listen to you and adapt our treatment approach based on your needs.  

If you’d like to find out more, or book in to meet with one of our lovely dentists, then call us on 36328100 or visit our website to book online. We hope to meet you soon. 

Usually, the reason your gums bleed is simple. Some people get stressed out about bleeding. Don't worry; we can help.

What happens is you will get plaque on your teeth and gums; it irritates the gums, and the bacteria lead to infection and inflammation.

Usually, all you need is to improve your oral hygiene at home and make a trip to our North Brisbane dental clinic for a thorough dental clean. Removing the tartar from the teeth and between the teeth and gums will help gingivitis settle down.

Should I Still Brush and Floss If My Gums Are Bleeding?

The common mistake people make when they start to bleed is to think, 'I better be careful and not brush that area and not floss that area.'

That's the exact opposite of what you should be doing. If you're bleeding, it means your gums need extra cleaning, not less.

So, if you notice bleeding or your gums feel tender, ensure you're brushing and flossing the area thoroughly and carefully. And if the bleeding doesn't settle down in a few days, please get in touch with us to arrange a dental clean and exam.

Is It Time for Your Next Dental Clean and Check-Up?

Dr Georgia Sheahan welcomes patients of all ages to North Brisbane Dental Clinic. Many of our patients from the Wooloowin and North Brisbane area are appreciative when they learn that we are a judgement-free dental practice full of caring professionals who aim to help you regain your oral health.

It shouldn't! At North Brisbane Dental Clinic, our dentists are kind and gentle. We've all been on the receiving end of dental treatment and certainly remember how nerve wracking it can be, even when you have complete trust in your dentist. If you're in the hands of a dentist who doesn't really care if they hurt you or not, it's going to hurt. When you're in the hands of a dentist who cares, we take the extra effort to do things more gently. In the right hands (ours!) dental treatment can be completely pain free.

We take our time when preparing patients for their procedures – both in the consultation and treatment. We explain everything thoroughly and review medical history records for our patients to ensure that we can provide comfortable treatment.

Every patient receives dental work of utmost precision and excellence with a minimum of discomfort. Anaesthetic takes a bit longer to reach full effectiveness for some people than others. We make sure to leave plenty of time to achieve maximum comfort for your procedure.

We put our patients in charge. If you ever feel uncomfortable or like you need a break, you can simply let us know and we will stop and address your concerns. If you feel any discomfort at all, at any time, please do let us know so we can rectify that. For complex procedures, such as root canals, we use the latest equipment for faster and more precise treatment. 

We understand that many people feel apprehensive about dentistry. Our friendly and professional team puts even our most fearful patients at ease. For patients who need a little help relaxing, we also offer nitrous oxide sedation. Nitrous oxide is a mild sedative that is safe for most patients. It leaves the system quickly so you will feel normal within a few minutes after your appointment.

You may be experiencing bruxism!

Bruxism is the clenching and grinding of teeth. It can occur awake, or during sleep and is commonly associated with stress. Sleep bruxism can be noisy, reported by your partner, and is often associated with headaches, stiffness and jaw aches on waking. 

Most bruxism is mild and little damage occurs. Conservative treatment measures include muscle relaxation therapy, heat compression and reducing caffeine and alcohol consumption. To protect teeth from wear and fracture, an individualised occlusal splint can be fabricated for the upper jaw to prevent direct tooth damage. Let us know at your next consultation and our dentists can assess what treatment would be best for you. 

In this age of gluten vigilance, we were recently asked this question and we've since done our research. As it turns out, some toothpastes do have gluten. Having said that, you're not supposed to ingest it anyway. However, if you have coeliac disease and don't want to risk it, there are some brands (eg Colgate) that claim to have no gluten in their toothpaste. This is great to hear, but remember to always check the label!

Are you concerned that you may have bad breath? Or have you tried to get rid of this embarrassing problem with no success? Here, Dr Brodie Hill explains some of the most common causes of bad breath (halitosis) and how to eliminate them.

Halitosis can be caused by a variety of factors, including dental caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease, plaque, tongue debris and reflux. Once correctly identifies, all of these issues can be effectively managed. There's no need to live with bad breath!

By the time a tooth actually begins to cause pain, the problem is usually quite severe, and has been there for a long time. Most types of dental disease do not cause any pain at all, and are not easily visible, which can give you a false sense of security.

For example, if you have a cavity (decay / caries) form in a tooth, it will usually take months or years for it to actually cause you any pain. This is why it is crucial to maintain regular visits to the dentist so that any problems can be intercepted early on. Nipping a problem in the bud early is cheaper and less painful than waiting for it to start hurting.

If your dentist has advised you that you need fillings, this is because you have decay in one or more of your teeth. 

Dental decay is an infectious disease that destroys tooth structure. It occurs when the acids produced by bacteria dissolve the hard outer layer of a tooth (enamel), allowing the bacteria to penetrate the inner structures of the tooth. This results in a cavity being formed in the tooth.

Dental decay is caused by several factors, including diet (too much sugar and acids), oral hygiene (irregular brushing and flossing), and underlying medical conditions such as reflux.

Over time, metal fillings can make your smile look dark and even feel sensitive when exposed to cold air or chilled drinks. Many of our patients want to replace their metal dentistry with durable, tooth-coloured options.

If you are ready for a change, we can remove old metal fillings and replace them with resin composite designed to match the surrounding teeth. Composite comes in a variety of shades that will blend in perfectly and complement, rather than distract from your smile.

How White Fillings Work

One of the many benefits of tooth-coloured fillings is that they require us to remove less healthy tooth structure. Composite does not expand or contract like metal fillings when exposed to temperature changes.

Once all metal material or decay is removed from the tooth, Dr Georgia Sheahan, Dr Kristine El-Atem or Dr Darius Khadembaschi will apply colour-matched composite in layers to fill in the cavity and cure it with a special light. Once we fill the cavity, the dentist will shape and polish the filling for a smooth finish.

Composite can also be used to correct small cosmetic imperfection such as chips or minor gaps between teeth.

Replacing metal dentistry with tooth-coloured options can add confidence when you smile.

Dental X-rays (or radiographs) are an essential part of the dental examination. Without them, your dentist can see approximately 80% of the surfaces of your teeth. So around 20% of your teeth are invisible to the naked eye. X-rays are needed to see this hidden 20%, as well as to check underneath any existing dental work (fillings or crowns) you may have. 

Having said that, x-rays are not required for every single checkup. While we advise you have your teeth checked and cleaned every 6 months, we recommend x-rays every 2-3 years, depending on your level of caries risk and any symptoms you may have.

At North Brisbane Dental Clinic, we use state-of-the-art digital x-rays, which means the radiation exposure for each x-ray is less than what you would be exposed to by flying on a plane to London!

In this short video, Dr Brodie Hawker explains exactly how you should be flossing your teeth. 

We provide a number of tooth-replacement options to meet the needs of our patients. Dental implants are not medically or financially possible for some patients, so having alternatives is essential. In addition to dental bridges, we also offer a number of denture options to replace a few or all of your missing teeth.

Not only do dentures make it possible to eat a wider variety of foods, but they also fill out the facial features by supporting the muscle and tissue that make up the face. 

Dentures are much more comfortable and attractive than they used to be. Our dentists use high-quality materials to fabricate dentures that look natural and fit comfortably.

We offer the following types of dentures at North Brisbane Dental Clinic:

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures replace teeth on the upper or lower arch when you still have natural teeth remaining. Using your teeth as an anchor, partial dentures complete the chewing surface and the appearance of your smile. Partial dentures come in a variety of materials so you and your dentist can decide on a pink resin base, a durable metal base, or a flexible option.

Complete Dentures

To replace all missing teeth at once, complete dentures use suction to attach to the bony ridge just beneath the gums. Complete dentures no longer look boxy or false as denture teeth materials have improved dramatically.

If patients have difficulty with ill-fitting dentures, we can replace or reline them for greater comfort. We also offer implant-retained dentures to secure the denture plate in place.