Oral Health Resolutions for 2020

With the New Year at hand, most of us have already begun to consider what we should choose for New Year’s resolutions, and at dental offices, it is traditional to suggest dental resolutions for our patients and readers.

At Dentists on Vincent, however, we’re focusing inward this year – on our resolutions to help support you. So, with our wishes for a Happy New Year, here are our resolutions, for the New Year and beyond!

Perhaps most important, Dentists on Vincent – resolves to follow the dental conduct code of the Dental Board of Australia, which says, in part:

This code seeks to assist and support registered health practitioners to deliver effective regulated health services within an ethical framework. Practitioners must make the care of patients or clients their first concern and to practise safely and effectively. Maintaining a high level of professional competence and conduct is essential for proper care.

The code contains standards for practitioner behaviour concerning:

• working with clients or patients
• providing excellent care, including shared decision-making
• working with other practitioners
• reducing risk
• working within the healthcare system
• professional demeanour and ethical conduct
• maintaining professional performance
• ensuring practitioner health

In addition to following that code, we also:

• Respect your concerns. At Dentists on Vincent – we know dentistry makes some people anxious. We do our best to make your visits as comfortable and listen to your interests and accommodate and alleviate them.
• Resolve to meet you with a friendly hello and warm smile. We want you to feel comfortable in our office.
• Give maximum value, giving top-notch dental services at competitive prices.
• We resolve to respond to you in a timely way, and in a way that addresses any issues you might have.
• Build an office environment of safety, comfort, and peace of mind.
• Respect your schedule. We ensure that your appointment starts when scheduled and ends when you expect it to.
• Stay current on current dental knowledge and techniques through ongoing education and training.
• We treat everyone equitably, regardless of age, race, religion, creed, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, or current health.
• Provide a calm dental experience using appropriate anaesthesia, tools and behavioural techniques.
• Use appropriate technologies to improve dental care, balancing cutting-edge tools and techniques with proven treatments.
• Entirely and honestly analyse your need for treatment before making recommendations.
• Treat you well – we want our office to feel like family!
• Discuss viable alternative treatments.
• Give you a full understanding of any potential treatment, including accurate information on potential expense.
• Follow the industry-standard, or above, sterilisation procedures to ensure your health and safety, and provide a hygienic environment for your dental care.
• Use our knowledge and experience to demonstrate how to manage and improve oral health.

What you can do

Of course, we have a few, short, suggested resolutions for you!

Brush and floss regularly. But you already knew this, right?

Check-in with us. Regular check-ups are a vital party of maintaining your dental health, and they are a resolution you can keep. Schedule your regular dental check-ups for the year, now, and you will be set to go!

Buy new toothbrushes four times a year. Toothbrushes have a lifespan of about three months. Making a swap at the new year will help keep your teeth clean for the next three months, and by Easter, it will be time to get another one.

Eat and drink properly. Avoid sugars, carbohydrates, and acids to make your dental health resolution successful. Drinking water with your snack, and rinsing after eating, make it more difficult for food to stick to your teeth.

Quit all tobacco products. Tobacco use can damage your mouth in multiple ways, increasing your risk for tooth discolouration, tooth decay, receding gums, gum disease, and even throat, lung and oral cancers. Smokers are nearly twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers.

Avoid alcohol and coffee. There are multiple ways alcohol can harm your teeth. First, alcoholic beverages often come with a heavy dose of sugar, which feeds dangerous oral bacteria.

Besides, alcohol can cause dehydration, which leads to decreased saliva, which in turn leads to enamel-damaging bacteria and tooth decay.

Beware the staining that can come with alcoholic drinks. Red wine is extremely well known for this staining ability. This is also true of non-alcoholic drinks such as tea and coffee.

This is another reason to brush thoroughly and rinsing your mouth with water after drinking can also help.

Chew sugarless gum. Research shows chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes following meals can help prevent tooth decay.

Look for gum that contains several therapeutic agents that aid in saliva production and help prevent plaque build-up and tooth decay. Remember that as effective as chewing gum it, it does not replace regular brushing and flossing!

A Brighter Dental Experience in Leederville

Dentists on Vincent offers a friendly environment in a lovely heritage building which doesn’t feel like you’re at the dentist!

Our dental practice offers a child-friendly environment as we address their apprehension towards treatment.

We take the time to explain to you all of your options and how we can provide you with a smile you can be proud of.

Dr Lamattina is very gentle, and your mouth will feel great and look fantastic.

We offer convenient times to come in and get your treatment completed, and it’s easy to find us just off the freeway.

Don’t put it off any longer, call us now for a consultation appointment and see what we can do to give you a feeling of confidence and esteem in yourself.

Visit your Leederville dentist today!

Dentists on Vincent serves local communities in West Leederville, Northbridge, North Perth, Wembley, Floreat, Mount Hawthorn, Subiaco, Menora, Coolbinia and Jolimont.

For more information, call us on (08) 9242 4400 or request your appointment online.

We are located at 322 Vincent St in Leederville.

PARKING/PUBLIC TRANSPORT

There is ample car parking across the road from the practice

There are cafes and eateries within walking distance

LOCATION

Dentists on Vincent is located in Leederville, 14 min from Northbridge and only short stroll from Leederville Oval and Water Corporation