our services

restorative dentistry

At Dixon Dental, our dentists use a variety of options to restore the look and functionality of your teeth. We offer a full range of tooth coloured restorations which include:

  • At Dixon Dental we use composite resin fillings, often called “tooth-coloured fillings”. Composite is commonly used in dentistry as a shade can be selected to blend well with the natural tooth colour.

  • A dental crown (also known as a cap) fits exactly over the natural tooth to save and strengthen a tooth when significant amounts of tooth structure are lost due to dental decay or trauma. A crown will not only strengthen a tooth, it can also restore the natural size, shape and appearance.

    At Dixon Dental, crowns are completed over two visits. The first visit involves the shaping of the tooth and taking a very accurate impression. The crown is then made in a dental laboratory here in Gympie to the exact specifications of the dentist. A second visit is scheduled a week later to seat and cement the crown in place and to ensure that it fits exactly into your bite.

  • Veneers are very thin, tooth-coloured shells that fit exactly over the front surface of your teeth to improve the appearance of your smile. They will cover stained or discoloured teeth, correct misshapen teeth and teeth that are chipped or broken. They may also be able to fill in gaps between teeth that are widely spaced.

    There are two types of veneers.

    Porcelain veneers are made in a dental laboratory to the exact shape of your tooth. They are strong and look very natural and resist staining.

    Composite veneers also look very natural. They are made directly onto your tooth by the dentist. They are more prone to staining than porcelain veneers, but they are easily re-polished if that should occur. The cost of a composite veneer is quite a lot less than that of a porcelain veneer.

    Depending on your needs and your problem one type or another may be preferable. At Dixon Dental your dentist will be able to advise the best option for you.

  • Although there is a perceived concern about root canal treatment it is a routine procedure here at Dixon Dental.

    Root Canal Treatment relieves pain caused by an infection, abscess or damage to the root pulp. It is often the only option to save your tooth. With local anaesthetic and with a cover over the tooth you should be quite comfortable.

    The procedure is separated into two visits. The first will clean out the canal and the second places the filling and restores the tooth with either a filling or a crown. After treatment the tooth feels exactly like any other tooth except that it will not feel hot and cold.

  • While no one wants to have any tooth extracted, it is occasionally necessary. If there are options to save the tooth your dentist will certainly explain this to you. The choice of whether to have an extraction will be yours.

    If you do need to have a tooth removed, you will be given local anaesthetic so that you will not feel any discomfort. If required there are also other options such as twilight sedation which you can discuss with your dentist.

    Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt at about age 17. It is certainly not inevitable that you will need your wisdom teeth removed.

    Wisdom teeth are just the same as any other tooth and can be functional and useful. They will generally not need to be removed if they are healthy, not causing pain and are able to be cleaned routinely every day.

    If they are painful or are causing constant problems removal may be an option. Wisdom teeth that are fully erupted are, in general, no more difficult to remove than any other tooth. If you are concerned you should discuss the problem with your dentist. You can be assured that you will be given options so that the procedure is pain free and as comfortable as possible.

  • A denture is a removable appliance that is used when all or some of the teeth are missing. Full dentures are used when all the teeth are missing and a partial denture is used when some of your own teeth remain.

    Dentures look very natural and will allow you to eat and smile with confidence. A denture can never be as good as your own teeth, and they certainly will feel different for a time, but they gradually become comfortable and will feel natural to you. As Paul often says, “A denture isn’t a replacement for teeth! It’s a replacement for no teeth!”

    Dentures improve the appearance of the face, not only because they replace missing teeth, but because they support the facial muscles. When teeth are lost some of the surrounding bone is also lost allowing the facial muscles to sag. This creates an aged appearance. Well made dentures can correct the bite and create a more youthful look.

    Making dentures is a skilled task. The dentist will assess your individual needs and assess what type of denture would suit you best. He will then take very accurate impressions of your jaws and an off-site Dental Laboratory will make the denture to the specifications of the dentist

    Dentures take some getting used to and will need to be adjusted in the initial weeks and months. Denture adjustments are part of the service and do not incur any additional cost.

  • Many people clench or grind their teeth at night, often causing broken teeth, jaw pain and headaches. This is also often associated with snoring.

    There may be a number of reasons for this, but the most common reasons are difficulty breathing at night and pain that causes lightened sleep.

    Breathing difficulty at night is referred to as sleep apnoea. It is an issue that needs thorough investigation and correct diagnosis.

    Paul has attended many courses and spent many hours studying in this area and will be able to advise you on how best to proceed. He is not a specialist sleep physician but he will advise you if he thinks that your problems need referring to a specialist in the area.

    Children also suffer from sleep apnoea and the symptoms are different for different age groups but generally if you notice any of these symptoms in yourself, your partner or child it is worth investigating.

    Regular snoring. Disturbed sleep with frequent waking periods. Day time tiredness or sleepiness. Irritable behaviour. Memory and concentration difficulties. Aggressive behaviour. Morning headaches.

    There are various treatments available for sleep apnoea issues and wearing a night guard may be one of the options. If you think you may have sleep apnoea come in and talk to Paul so that he can put you on the right track for good health.

  • As we age it is natural that our teeth become darker. This happens because the tooth lays down more dentin internally causing them to be more opaque and making them look darker.

    It is important to remember, however, that no one has totally white teeth. Babies have the whitest teeth and even their teeth are not paper white.

    You can achieve equally good results by bleaching your teeth in the comfort of your own home as you can if you go through the process in the surgery. At home bleaching is far less expensive to you, and while you may have to repeat the process a few times, most people achieve desired results in only a few sessions. You are also in control of how white your teeth are as you can continue to bleach or stop at any time.

    There are two main ways of achieving whiter teeth at home.

    Custom made trays and dental bleaching gel.

    At Dixon Dental we think that this is probably the best way to whiten your teeth. First, we will construct a custom made, thin plastic tray that exactly fits your mouth, then you use it at home with special whitening gel.

    There are two advantages to this method. The first is that because the tray is specially made to exactly fit your mouth you will find that the whitening gel remains in the tray better and is less likely to cause any irritation to your gums. The second reason is that you can re-use the trays over and over.

    You will inevitably find that over time your teeth will darken up again, this occurs no matter what process you use for whitening, but you can simply purchase more whitening gel and if it is months or years later you can re-whiten your teeth using the same tray.

    Take Home Bleaching Kit

    The kits which we sell here have proven to be very effective and popular. They are certainly the least expensive way to achieve white teeth. In the kit are several pre-filled trays that you place in your mouth and leave for the stipulated length of time. You can use as many or as few of the trays as you like until you achieve the desired level of whitening. The trays are not made specifically to fit your mouth so the chance of the bleaching gel escaping and causing irritation is greater and, of course, you cannot reuse the trays. When your teeth darken again over time you will need to purchase another kit. Having said that they do produce good results.

preventative dentistry

Dental Examinations • Oral Cancer Examinations • X-Rays • Teeth Cleaning • Oral Health Education

emergency care

At Dixon Dental we will always endeavour to see you promptly if you are in severe pain with a toothache.  If it is after hours you will find an emergency number on our answering machine. Other problems that may require attention include: a knocked out tooth; abscesses, damage to braces or orthodontic appliances and broken teeth. Please phone so that the problem can be assessed and you can be assisted.