The Australian Government introduced the Medicare Levy Surcharge to promote and encourage those with high incomes to get private hospital cover and reduce the burden on existing public health facilities.

How does the Medicare Levy work? 

Medicare Levy is imposed on most of us at a rate of 2% to support and fund medicare.

For those of us who earn over $90,000 as singles (or $180,000 as couples), an additional medicare levy surcharge is applied of 1-1.5% for those without Private Hospital Insurance.

Private hospital insurance can help you play less though reducing the additional surcharge fee but not the underlying fixed rate of 2 percent as shown in the table below (as at 1 April 2016)

Do I need to keep private hospital insurance cover for the full year to reduced the Medicare Levy Surcharge?

The Medicare Levy Surcharge is pro rata meaning every day you hold the private hospital insurance you receive a benefit of playing less tax. However, you will pay the surcharge for each day you do not hold hospital insurance according to your income at rates listed in the table below.

How does the Medicare Levy Surcharge work for my family?

Private Hospital Insurance must cover the family including dependent children to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

What does tooth whitening do?

Tooth whitening can be a highly effective, yet very simple way, of lightening the colour of teeth. It cannot make a colour change, but lightens the existing colour. For more information see Australian Dental Association

What does the procedure involve?

At Seaford Dental we use a home whitening system called SDI Pola Day, which uses the active ingredient Hydrogen Peroxide, which is very safe and effective.

First the dentist records the 'before' colour of your teeth so we can see the difference clearly when your treatment is finished. Then we make you a custom bleaching tray by taking an impression of your mouth (see picture below).

At home you place a small amount of whitening gel in the tray, and then wear it for 1-2 hours a day over 2 weeks or until the desired result is achieved.

If your teeth become sensitive consult your dentist and if advised you may need to stop or take a break for 2-3 days before starting again.

How long does the procedure take?

The impression appointment takes around 15 minutes, and then you will need a further appointment try in your custom made trays to check for good fit. Then you can continue the treatment at home.

Will I be happy with the results?

Treatment results will vary for reasons including original shade of your teeth and for many other factors. Teeth will darken over time. The amount depends on how well you maintain your oral hygiene with brushing and flossing, and if you smoke, drink tea, coffee or wine. Note, that some people have little or no whitening effect with a course of whitening treatment.

What about whitening toothpaste?

Whitening toothpaste are abrasive and can remove external stain from your teeth. However, they are very abrasive and long term use causes damage to your teeth. We DO NOT recommend the use of these toothpastes.

When might whitening not work?

Whitening works on lightening the colour of your existing teeth. Whitening only works on your natural teeth and not on crowns or fillings or denture teeth. 

Are there any risks?

All medical and dental treatments involve some risk. At Seaford Dental, we use the latest in techniques and thoroughly assess your suitability before we whiten your teeth. However side effects of whitening may include, but are not limited to:

•  Sensitivity to hot or cold (we recommend a sensitive toothpaste if this occurs)

• Short term sensitivity to air against teeth

• Whitening patches on gum line. This happens if you overfill your trays

Can anyone have it done?

Whitening is not available for people including those who:

• are pregnant

• tooth coating aberrations

• have tooth sensitivity to hot or cold- you may still be able to whiten, but it may take a little longer. Talk to your dentist

Why do I need a night guard?

A dentist may have told you that you grind your teeth. Excessive grinding or clenching of teeth that isn't part of normal chewing is called 'bruxism'. It can happen at night or day, but during sleep people have no control over it.

What causes it?

The exact cause is unknown, but studies have shown that it is likely a combination of factors, including:

• Physical stress like being sick or having nutritional deficiencies

• Psychological stress or anxiety

• Abnormal anatomy of teeth and jaw giving an improper bite leading to bruxism

How is it diagnosed?

An accurate diagnosis is very important to make sure you get the right treatment. During your general check up your dentist will assess your teeth, any tooth wear or fractures, your bite, jaw, x-rays and any pain you are having. Sometimes, plaster molds are needed to examine the way teeth fit together.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Your dentist may be able to see if you clench or grind your teeth, although sometimes it may go untreated for a long period of time. Some of the symptoms include:

• Sensitivity to hot/cold or pain in teeth

• Cracks and fractures of fillings and teeth 

• Loose teeth

• Noises that your partner or family may notice while you sleep of your teeth grinding together

• Chronic facial pain or tension headaches

• Jaw and neck pain or stiffness leading to difficulty chewing and opening

• Increased facial muscle size around the jaw

• Pain that feels like earache that is actually in the jaw

• Increased wear of fillings and teeth, flattening them and exposing the yellow dentine inside the teeth 

A little bit of grinding now may not seem like a big deal now, but 5-10 years of grinding can dramatically change your smile and appearance.

What can I do if diagnosed?

Treatment involves removing the cause if possible (reduce stress, illness) including behaviour therapy. Further to this, your teeth can either be maintained to stop further damage or restored to their original state as much as possible through rebuilding.  

Stabilisation to reduce future wear of your teeth

Night guards, are the main treatment for bruxism. A night guard is a small plastic covering worn over your teeth at night/day to open the jaw and prevent further grinding.

In some patients, the action of wearing a guard makes them stop grinding, while others will continue to grind through the guard.

In severe cases of bruxism, referral to a specialist dentist may be required.

How can the damaged teeth be repaired?

Treatment depends on the severity of the grinding. Fillings, crowns or inlays can be used to replace lost tooth structure. If the grinding has exposed a tooth's nerve, or teeth have cracked, root canal treatment may be required to keep the teeth. In severe cases, extractions may be necessary.

How do I use my guard?

The first few weeks you wear it are like wearing in new shoes. if will feel strange and you might wake up with it out or even thrown across the room! But over time you will get used to it and won't be able to sleep without it.

Most people wear their guard only at night, but you can use it at any time you are stressed or notice you are clenching.

Two things can happen when you wear a guard. Either you will continue to grind through the soft plastic, and need be a constant wearer, or you will break the habit after 3 months or so and only need to wear the guard sporadically in times of stress.

Always try to bring your guard with you to your dental appointments and reviews so your dentist can review your clenching or adjust it to fit new fillings as needed.

How should I clean my guard?

The best way is to brush it with your tooth brush, with water and small amount of hand soap. Toothpaste can be abrasive and damage your guard.

Protect your teeth to get a great smile

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) is used to save teeth that have infection or inflammation of the tooth nerve (pulp) that would otherwise need extraction. This inflammation can be due to:

• Breakdown of a filling or crown 

• A deep cavity

• Trauma 

• Gum disease

• Cracks or chips in the tooth

Root canal treatment involves removing the infected/inflamed nerve of the tooth and disinfecting the canals/internal pipes of your tooth.

Most people prefer to have root canal treatment rather than having a tooth extracted, because no matter how good an artificial tooth is, your own tooth is usually better for biting, chewing and easier to clean too. Losing teeth can also cause nearby teeth to tilt into the space left behind, changing your bite, so chewing can be uncomfortable. Cleaning these tilted teeth can also be very difficult, leading to more decay and gum disease.

Root canal treatment usually has a success rate of 85% although this varies depending on your case. Success rates are best when the tooth is treated as soon as possible. When the infection is older, the success rate is lower.

Does it hurt?

A local anesthetic is used and in most cases it should feel no different to having an ordinary filling done.

Can I see a specialist?

Yes, you can always see a specialist. Please ask your dentist.

What does it involve?

The aim of the treatment is to disinfect your tooth. The tooth's internal structure is filled with a natural rubber filling so that the infection does not come back again.

At the first appointment, the tooth is assessed with a x-ray. Then a rubber dam (a sheet of latex) is put on the tooth to keep it clean and dry during the treatment. Let us know if you have a latex allergy.

After local anesthesia is given, the tooth nerve is removed. Any abscesses, which may be present, can also be drained at this time. The root canal is then cleaned, shaped and filled with an antibacterial dressing. A temporary filling is put in and the tooth is left to settle.

Sometimes there is pain or discomforting lasting a few days after treatment. A mild pain reliever can help with this.

Multiple visits may be needed to finish shaping the inside of the tooth. Several xrays are needed to check the shape and the length of the root canals during treatment to get the best result.

The tooth is checked at a later visit and when all the infection has cleared, the tooth is permanently filled with a natural rubber filling to seal the tooth to prevent bacteria re-entering. 

Will the tooth be safe to use after treatment?

Yes. However, a large filling or crown is needed to strengthen your tooth to withstand strong biting forces during eating. Without a large filling or crown, the tooth can fracture in a away that cannot be fixed leading to early tooth loss.

Are there any risks?

As with all dental treatment, there are some risks. The following is a list of some, not all, of the possible complications:

• Pain or Discomfort - Sometimes there is pain for a few days after treatment. This can be managed with basic pain reliving medications. If pain is severe or lasts more than a few days, tell your dentist as additional treatment may be required.

• Loss of tooth - Even with the best possible treatment, the Root Canal Treatment can sometimes be unsuccessful, and the tooth may need to be retreated or extracted. The final filling or crown is very important to seal the tooth and ensure bacteria doesn't re-enter the tooth.

• Infection - If a tooth is heavily infected before treatment or a crown is not placed to seal the tooth, it may become re-infected.

• Discoloration - Sometimes a 'dead' tooth can naturally darken with time. If this happens we can treat it with bleaching or a crown.

• Weakness - Root canal treated teeth are not as strong as regular teeth, so a crown is recommended to prevent fracture.

• Altered feeling - The tooth can feel a bit different from your other teeth during and after treatment. This usually lessons with time. If it doesn't, further treatment may be needed.

• Re-treatment - Sometimes, months or years after the treatment, reinfection or pain can occur, usually due to bacteria getting in through further decay, trauma, or cracks. This means that more root canal treatment may be needed or the tooth may need to be extracted.

• File Fracture - Very fine metal files are used to clean the inside of the tooth. Sometimes they break during use, and special procedures are needed to remove it, or you may be referred to an endodontist. How this effects the tooth long term depends on many factors, like how far into treatment it broke. Your dentist will talk to you about your specific case if it occurs.

• Apicectomy - In very rare cases of severe, persistent infection, the end of the root may need to be removed. This is called an apicectomy. When a larger part of the root is removed, it is called a root resection. If this becomes necessary, your dentist will discuss it with you in more detail.