Preventative Dentistry in West Perth, WA

Dr Kinsella and his team understand that your smile plays an integral role in how you communicate with the world. The key to having a strong and healthy smile is having regular dental cleans and check-ups, which is why we focus on preventive care at our West Perth dental clinic.

Routine dental cleans and check-ups every six months can help you maintain your healthy and unique smile while also helping you avoid spending extra time and money in the dental chair.

Preventive Dental Care and Your Overall Health

Dr Kinsella is committed to helping our patients protect their dental health and their overall well-being.family at the dentist in perth wa

By taking good care of your dental health, it means that you are also looking out for your whole-body as well. As science has shown us, dental health is directly connected with whole-body health, and many signs of disease can first manifest in the mouth. For example, bleeding gums and bad breath (halitosis) can be signs of diabetes, and certain autoimmune diseases also have their own set of mouth-related indicators, such as ulcers. Without receiving regular dental exams and cleans, you can miss the opportunity to protect your physical health and receive early treatment to mitigate any potential risks. 

Early detection is the key to successfully managing gum disease, and sometimes even reversing it before any damage to your smile occurs. When you catch tooth decay in its earliest stages, you may be able to treat cavities with a less invasive and less expensive filling. Tooth decay that goes undetected and untreated may progress further into your tooth until it reaches your nerve and causes a painful infection. An infected tooth may need root canal treatment and a dental crown to restore it to its former glory. 

Regular teeth cleans and check-ups every six months will also help you avoid the problems associated with gum disease and tooth decay because Dr Kinsella screens you for these concerns during every examination. Dr Kinsella will also check your current dental fillings and crowns to ensure they are functioning properly and not breaking down or worn. Keeping your dental restorations strong and healthy may prevent future inconvenient emergencies where you have to deal with a lost or broken restoration, which could cause discomfort.

Preventive dental appointments can help you guard your smile against many of these common problems and more! 

The Mouth-Body Connection

As mentioned previously, science has shown us a direct connection with the bacteria that cause gum disease and that which cause other health concerns, such as:

  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Arthritis
  • Respiratory disease
  • Dementia
  • Complications during pregnancy
  • Low birth weight in babies

Gum disease is an infection of the support system for your teeth, which is your gums and jawbone. The bacteria that cause that infection can enter your bloodstream and travel to other areas of your body, where it may contribute to the inflammation that causes these other non-dental concerns, and vice versa.

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease in which you may notice that your gums are irritated, red, swollen, or bleed when you brush and floss your teeth. If we detect gum disease early enough, you'll have a better chance of successfully treating it and even reversing gingivitis in some cases.

Consistent preventive appointments with your West Perth dentist removes the plaque and bacteria that cause gum disease to protect your smile and dental health.

What Happens During My Clean and Check-Up?

There are a few important things that take place during your clean and check-up appointment. First, your hygienist gently removes the plaque build-up from your teeth that causes problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Your hygienist uses specialised tools that can easily access plaque and calculus build-up in hard-to-reach places that you might've missed at home. Your hygienist can easily remove these smile-harming bacteria from your teeth so your teeth look and feel clean and fresh. 

Next, your dentist in West Perth will thoroughly examine your teeth to look for any concerns with your current tooth fillings, crowns, or other restorations, while also checking for tooth decay, cavities, or gum disease. When he detects decay early, and you are proactive about treating it, it is easier to restore your tooth with procedures that don’t cost as much and are less invasive in most cases.

Doing Your Part at Home

woman brushing her teeth in perthFollowing a daily routine of brushing your teeth twice and flossing once is the best way to do your part at home to protect your smile. Using proper brushing techniques to ensure that you're removing the most plaque build-up from your teeth will help to guard your smile.

You might also talk with Dr Kinsella about switching to an electric toothbrush to help you with some of the hard work of brushing your teeth. Besides brushing your teeth for you, an electric toothbrush helps by timing your brushing session, so you complete the full recommended two minutes. It also alerts you if you're pressing too hard, which can cause irreversible damage to your gums.

You may want to consult with your dental team about adding products to your home care routine like an antibacterial mouth rinse that can help you reduce bacteria in your mouth and also freshen your breath.

Early Detection of Oral Cancer Can Be Life-Saving

Oral cancer can be a silent killer because it is hard to detect on your own since there are not many symptoms or pain associated with it at first. Dr Kinsella screens his patients for oral cancer during every preventive examination because the earlier we detect it, the better your chances are of successfully treating it.

The reason that oral cancer is so deadly is that it's often not detected until its later stages, which means it's had time to progress and could be more difficult to treat. Preventive examinations are so important because your dentist in West Perth can often detect oral cancer earlier than you may be able to on your own.

Some signs and symptoms of oral cancer to be aware of are:

  • Red or white patches in your mouth or soft tissues
  • A sore or lesion that doesn't go away within 14 days
  • A lump or mass in your mouth or neck
  • Difficulty or pain when eating or swallowing
  • Numbness in your mouth or face

You can be your own best advocate in protecting yourself from oral cancer by arranging an examination with Dr Kinsella as soon as you notice any of these changes. It could mean the difference between saving and losing your life to this silent disease.

We Want to Help You Understand Your Dental Healthfamily at the dentist in perth

Your dental health and overall health are closely related, and the more you know, the better decisions you can make about the treatment that is right for you. Because we understand that we are important members of your health care team, Dr Kinsella and his team take time to talk with you so we can educate you about your dental health and how it impacts your overall health. We consider ourselves your partners in dental health care, and we want to see you smiling for many years to come.

If you have concerns about your dental health, we always welcome your questions and phone calls at our West Perth dental clinic. When you visit us every six months, your preventive dental appointments are another great time to ask us questions and learn more about protecting your dental health with the right treatment and products for your unique smile. 

Let Us Help You Maintain Your Healthy Smile in Perth

At Dr Matthew Kinsella General, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, we want to partner with you to maintain excellent dental health and overall health. We welcome your call to our dental surgery in West Perth to arrange a booking.