General Dentistry and Preventive Dentistry in Norwest, NSW
At Willow Dental Care, we believe that a healthy smile starts with simple, consistent care. General and preventive dentistry is about caring for your overall oral health building a relationship with a dental team who truly knows you and your needs.
Our approach is gentle, thorough, and always tailored to you. We take the time to explain what we’re doing, what we’re seeing and how you can keep your smile in top shape at home. From your very first appointment, we’ll make sure you feel comfortable, informed and cared for like part of the family.
What Is General Dentistry?
General dentistry in Norwest, NSW, can involve emergency care, routine care or simple or complex treatment. At Willow Dental Care, we can arrange general dental treatment for your immediate and long-term needs. We will always prioritise relief of pain and stabilising your overall health and wellbeing.
General dentistry uses a variety of procedures to diagnose the problem through assessment and x-rays aimed at restoring the health and function of your teeth, bite, smile and oral health. At Willow Dental Care, we use personalised preventive care and advice to aim for every patient to be in a state of dental wellness. Dental wellness is our vision for patients who avoid the ongoing cycle of fillings and complex treatment and simply need their six-month oral health maintenance.
We invite you to book an appointment with our general dentists in Norwest, NSW.
Benefits of General and Preventive Dentistry
General and preventive dental care are meant to keep your teeth, gums and mouth healthy before problems have a chance to start. With regular check-ups, cleanings and early intervention, our patients avoid many common dental issues and enjoy a healthy smile for years to come. Here are three key benefits of maintaining your routine care.
Catches Problems Early
Keeps Your Smile Healthy
Supports Whole-Body Health
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you worried about coming to the dentist? Dr Shabnam from Willow Dental Care in Norwest, NSW discusses dental anxiety and how the team at Willow Dental Care help put you at ease.
At Willow Dental Care Norwest, we use a fluoride varnish, one of most effective forms of preventive fluoride treatment. The fluoride acts to harden the enamel surfaces of healthy teeth, as well as to reverse any early enamel decay. It helps with tooth sensitivity and to protect exposed root surfaces. It is also a great protective factor during orthodontic treatment when it is often hard for children and teenagers to clean around braces. Your teeth may feel sticky afterwards, which is quite normal. To achieve the most cavity fighting effect from your fluoride treatment, please avoid hard foods, alcohol, brushing or flossing for 4 hours, and avoid eating/drinking/rinsing for 30 minutes.
Not a fan of fluoride? You're not the only one! For this very reason, we have a range of flavoured fluorides available to make the experience more pleasant (including mint, caramel, melon, bubblegum and pina colada). To book an appointment at our Norwest clinic, call us on 02 8610 6697 or book online here.
Our General Dentistry and Preventive Services
Healthy Teeth for Life
Dental decay and gum disease are the two main causes of damaged and lost teeth. Both these conditions involve a complex interaction in the oral environment with bacteria. Our Willow Dental Care team partners with you and your loved ones to provide any professional care and advise on your own routines and home care to prevent these diseases.
Gingivitis and Gum Disease
If you have bleeding gums, this is because your gums are inflamed due to bacterial build-up under your gums or between your teeth. This sign is a warning that your mouth is not as healthy as it should be.
Often, the build-up is hardened 'calculus' or 'tartar' and stuck to your teeth. We recommend booking a visit with Dr Shabnam Vawda or Dr Lyndall Gourlay for an assessment of your gum health and professional cleaning. This will remove the bacterial deposits that cause gum disease and inflammation.
Tooth Decay
Preventing decay is important for all people. It requires a personalised strategy in both regular dental visits and in-home care. Things to consider are your age, diet and hygiene habits. At Willow Dental Care, we take time to question why our patients might have decay and look for a solution to prevent decay in the future.
BLOGS
Are you worried about your bleeding gums?
Your gums are the supporting structures of your teeth. If the foundations of a house are cracked and rotten, the house will fail. Similarly, healthy gums are needed to keep your teeth for your lifetime. Red, puffy and bleeding gums are signs of inflammation.
One of the important things that we ...
Electric toothbrush vs Manual tooth brush
Scientific studies show that electric or powered toothbrushes remove more plaque and reduce gum inflammation more than manual toothbrushes over both short and long periods of time.
Who can benefit from using an electric toothbrush?
- Patients who try their best but just can't keep their teeth adequately clean with a manual ...
Other Preventive Services in Norwest, NSW
We also consider your habits and hobbies in preventing the risk of damage to your teeth, such as a fracture or a knocked tooth. These injuries can have a significant impact, often requiring ongoing treatment and management. We are keen to help you prevent this from happening to you or your loved ones.
Mouthguards to Protect Your Smile
Mouthguards are an important protection for teeth and jaws in contact sports and are mandatory for many sports. The boil-and-bite type mouthguard from the chemist does not provide the same protection as a custom-made mouthguard. A custom-made mouthguard fits the exact shape of your mouth, meaning it fully absorbs the shock of impact on your teeth. It is also more comfortable due to its exact fit, making it easier to leave in place throughout your sporting activity.
Teeth Grinding and TMJ Disorder
At Willow Dental Care, we will keep a close eye on signs of tooth wear and the health of your jaw joints (TMJ). Many patients clench their teeth and grind, causing wear to their teeth or damage to their jaw joint. For many patients, this happens during their sleep and can cause chronic headaches.
We are concerned about these habits and their impact. We explore the possible 'root cause' with you and either provide treatment or, if needed, refer you to the right specialists for a solution that can help change your overall sense of wellbeing. Often, a blocked upper airway, sleep apnoea, or even reflux can be the cause. Occasionally, an oral appliance can be worn to help with snoring or to prevent tooth wear and jaw damage.
Oral Cancer Screening
At your check-up, you will find that Willow Dental Care dentists will be assessing your face and neck and the soft tissues of your mouth for oral cancer. Please inform your Norwest dentist of ulcers and lumps that don’t heal or go away, or any limitation you have with swallowing or eating. To reduce the risk of oral cancer, we recommend limiting alcohol consumption and quitting smoking. Regular check-ups will allow for early detection to improve the success of treatment.
We Welcome Your Call
Need preventive dental care or general dentistry services? We welcome your call to book an appointment.
OUR TEAM
General Dentistry and Preventive Dentistry Technology
Intraoral Cameras - To Show You What We See
One of the best ways we can communicate with transparency is to show you what we see in your mouth. At Willow Dental Care, every treatment room has a Mouthwatch intraoral camera. With an intraoral camera, we can show you images of your teeth and gums and save them in your record. We find the visual image that helps you understand your particular dental issues and participate in the decision making about treatment. It also allows us to monitor the stability and maintenance of your oral health over time. These photographs will become an integral part of most of your visits to Norwest.