Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A general dentist, like our Dr Nicola, is your primary dental care provider. Think of them as the GP of dentistry—they're your first point of contact for all things dental and oral health-related.

General dentists are qualified to provide a comprehensive range of dental services. At Pure Dental Toowoomba, Dr Nicola performs everything from routine check-ups and teeth cleans to more complex procedures. These include filling cavities, performing root canals, fitting crowns and bridges, treating gum disease and addressing various oral health concerns.

Our general dental services encompass:

• Preventive care and regular check-ups
• Professional teeth cleans
• Restorations
• Treatment for gum disease
• Crown and bridge work
• Dentures
• Emergency dental care
• Teeth whitening
• Oral health education and advice

Achieve and Maintain a Healthy, Beautiful Smile

What sets general dentists apart is their broad expertise and focus on preventive care. Dr Nicola is passionate about helping patients maintain healthy smiles and catching potential issues before they become serious problems. She'll work with you to develop a personalised oral health plan and provide guidance on proper dental hygiene practices. 

While some dental concerns may require referral to a specialist, your general dentist coordinates your oral healthcare and comprehensively understands your dental history and needs. Regular visits to your Toowoomba general dentist are essential for maintaining optimal oral health and a confident smile.

Regular dental check-ups are essential for maintaining oral health, and at Pure Dental Toowoomba, we typically recommend visiting every six months for most patients. However, Dr Nicola may suggest more frequent visits based on your individual needs.

Why twice yearly? These regular visits allow us to:

• Monitor your oral health and catch potential issues early
• Professionally clean your teeth and remove built-up tartar
• Check for signs of tooth decay or gum disease
• Screen for oral cancer
• Assess any changes in your bite or jaw alignment
• Update your dental records and x-rays as needed

Some patients may need to visit more frequently, particularly if they:

• Have a history of gum disease
• Are at higher risk of dental caries
• Smoke or use tobacco products
• Have diabetes or other medical conditions affecting oral health
• Are undergoing specific dental treatments
• Have a weakened immune system

Personalised Dental Care Tailored to You

During your consultation, Dr Nicola will assess your oral health and recommend a check-up schedule tailored to your specific situation. Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Regular dental visits help maintain your oral health and can save you time, discomfort, and expense in the long run.

If you notice any concerns between scheduled visits—such as tooth pain, bleeding gums or unusual changes in your mouth—don't wait for your next check-up. Contact our Toowoomba dental practice straight away, and we'll ensure you receive prompt attention.

At Pure Dental Toowoomba, we strongly recommend fluoride treatments for children as part of their preventive dental care. These treatments provide an extra layer of protection during the crucial years of tooth development.

Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps fortify tooth enamel and prevents decay. While your child may get some fluoride from tap water and toothpaste, professional treatments provide additional benefits:

• Stronger protection against tooth decay
• Enhanced remineralisation of weak spots in the enamel
• Prevention of bacteria growth
• Reduced need for dental work in the future
• Support for developing teeth

Fluoride Treatments Are Simple and Non-Invasive

Dr Nicola typically applies fluoride treatments during routine check-ups. The process is quick and painless and can be done in various child-friendly flavours. It involves applying a fluoride gel to your child's teeth, which only takes a few minutes. 

For most children, we recommend fluoride treatments every six months, though some may benefit from more frequent applications, especially if they:

• Have a history of cavities
• Have deep grooves in their teeth
• Practice less-than-ideal oral hygiene
• Have restricted access to fluoridated water
• Are at higher risk of tooth decay

During your child's visit, Dr Nicola will assess their individual needs and discuss the most appropriate fluoride treatment schedule for their oral health. Remember, these treatments, combined with good oral hygiene habits at home, help set the foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

At Pure Dental Toowoomba, we provide professional teeth whitening treatments to help you achieve the bright, confident smile you've always wanted. Under the expert care of Dr Nicola, we offer both Poladay and Polanight whitening systems, giving you flexible options to suit your lifestyle and preferences.

We also offer in-chair teeth whitening at our Toowoomba dental clinic with ZOOM. This is an excellent option for patients who would like to achieve and enjoy immediate results. 

Understanding Professional Teeth Whitening in Toowoomba

Poladay is perfect for those who prefer to whiten their teeth during the day, while Polanight is designed for overnight whitening while you sleep. Both systems have been trusted by dental professionals for years and provide safe, reliable and impressive results.

What makes our whitening treatments special is their customisation options. We understand that everyone's whitening goals differ, so we offer various product strengths. This allows us to help you achieve your desired level of whiteness while maintaining a natural-looking smile that enhances your appearance without looking artificial. 

Our whitening treatments are:

• Safe and regulated
• Proven effective through years of clinical use
• Convenient to fit your schedule
• Customisable to your desired results
• Administered under professional supervision

During your consultation at our Toowoomba clinic, Dr Nicola will assess your dental health and discuss your whitening goals to recommend the most suitable treatment option. We'll also ensure you have all the information and support needed to achieve the best possible results from your whitening treatment.

We offer comprehensive emergency dental care in Toowoomba to address urgent oral health concerns. Dr Nicola and our experienced team understand that dental emergencies can be painful and distressing, so we strive to provide prompt treatment when you need it most.

Emergency Dental Services at Pure Dental Toowoomba

Our primary goal during a tooth emergency is to alleviate discomfort and get you back on the path to wellness as soon as possible. Here are some of the emergency treatments we provide:

• Toothache and facial swelling—We treat severe tooth pain and swelling, which may result from infections, abscesses, or deep cavities. We provide immediate pain relief and address the underlying cause.
• Care for traumatic dental injuries—These could include knocked-out teeth, broken or chipped teeth, and injuries to the gums or soft tissues of the mouth. Quick action can often save a damaged tooth.
• Management of lost restorations — Includes fillings, crowns or other dental work that may cause discomfort or leave teeth vulnerable to further damage.

If you experience a dental emergency, we make every effort to see you on the same day. Remember that immediate attention to dental emergencies can prevent more serious complications and may save your natural teeth.

If you're unsure whether your situation requires emergency care, don't hesitate to call our Toowoomba dental clinic. We're here to assess your condition and provide appropriate guidance for your specific situation.

Dental crowns are brilliant solutions for various dental concerns, and at Pure Dental Toowoomba, Dr Nicola regularly uses them to restore our patients' smiles and dental function.

Think of a crown as a custom-made "cap" that fits snugly over your natural tooth. These reliable restorations can address several dental issues, including protecting and strengthening teeth weakened by decay, cracks, or large fillings. If you've recently had root canal treatment, a crown protects your treated tooth.

How We Can Use Dental Crowns in Toowoomba

Crowns are particularly useful for repairing severely worn-down or broken teeth. They're also fantastic for improving the appearance of misshapen or severely discoloured teeth that haven't responded well to whitening treatments.

In cases where you have a missing tooth, crowns play a vital role in dental bridges and implant restorations. They create a natural-looking tooth replacement that blends seamlessly with your surrounding teeth.

We craft our dental crowns from high-quality materials, such as ceramic porcelain, that closely match your tooth colour, ensuring they look completely natural. The procedure typically requires two visits—one for preparation and taking impressions and another to fit your permanent crown.

The best part? With proper care and regular dental check-ups, your crown can last for many years, providing both functional and aesthetic benefits. If you think a dental crown might be right for you, see Dr Nicola for a thorough assessment of your specific needs.

Restorative dentistry is all about bringing your smile back to its best, both in terms of how it works and how it looks. At Pure Dental Toowoomba, Dr Nicola offers a comprehensive range of restorative treatments to help repair and restore damaged, decayed or missing teeth.

Restorative Treatment at Pure Dental Toowoomba

Think of restorative dentistry as the branch of dental care that focuses on fixing dental problems that affect your ability to bite, chew and smile confidently. This could include these treatments:

• Restorations to repair cavities
• Crowns to protect damaged teeth
• Bridges to replace missing teeth
• Dental implants to provide permanent tooth replacement solutions

We often use restorative treatments to address common issues such as tooth decay, cracked or broken teeth, worn-down teeth from grinding, and gaps from missing teeth. The goal is always to preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible while ensuring your restored teeth function properly and look natural.

One of the wonderful aspects of modern restorative dentistry is that we have access to materials that closely match your natural tooth colour. Whether you need a simple filling or a complete tooth replacement, we can ensure your dental work blends seamlessly with your smile.

Personalised Treatment for Your Unique Smile

At Pure Dental Toowoomba, we take a personalised approach to restorative dentistry, creating treatment plans that suit your specific needs, lifestyle and budget. If you have any dental problems, we encourage you to consult with your trusted Toowoomba dentist to discuss your restoration needs and options.

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnoea, though the two conditions are often connected. At Pure Dental Toowoomba, Dr Nicola regularly helps patients understand the difference between simple snoring and sleep apnoea and their treatment options.

Understanding Sleep Apnoea

While snoring is common and affects many Australians, sleep apnoea is a more serious condition where breathing actually stops temporarily during sleep. Think of it this way—snoring is like a noisy tap that's still running, while sleep apnoea is like a tap that keeps turning off and on throughout the night.

You might be surprised to learn that plenty of people snore without having sleep apnoea. Simple snoring can be caused by various factors, including nasal congestion, being overweight, drinking alcohol before bed or simply the natural relaxation of throat muscles during sleep.

However, if your snoring is accompanied by symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, or if your partner notices that you stop breathing during sleep, these could be signs of sleep apnoea that warrant further investigation.

Sleep Apnoea Treatment in Toowoomba

The good news is that Dr Nicola can help assess your situation and, if necessary, provide solutions such as custom-made oral appliances to help manage snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnoea. If you're concerned about your snoring or sleep quality, we encourage you to book an appointment to thoroughly assess your situation.

General anaesthesia (GA) is a carefully controlled state of unconsciousness that allows adults or children to undergo dental procedures comfortably and without any awareness or pain. At Pure Dental Toowoomba, we understand that some patients may feel anxious about GA, so we take the time to explain the process thoroughly.

Understanding Sleep Dentistry in Toowoomba

Unlike local anaesthesia, which numbs just a specific area, general anaesthesia puts you into a complete sleep state. It's administered by a qualified anaesthetist who carefully monitors your vital signs throughout the entire procedure. We have a regular slot with an anaesthetist booked at St Andrews Hospital in Toowoomba, where Dr Nicola performs oral surgery while you are asleep. Think of it as a very deep, medically-induced sleep where you won't feel, hear or remember anything from the procedure.

We typically recommend general anaesthesia for more complex dental procedures, particularly lengthy treatments, or for adults or children with severe dental anxiety. It can also be helpful for patients who have difficulty sitting still for long periods or those with special needs.

The process is very safe, and the anaesthetist and our dental team will continuously monitor you throughout your procedure. Before any treatment, Dr Nicola will thoroughly assess your medical history to ensure general anaesthesia in Toowoomba is a suitable option for you.

After your procedure, you'll need someone to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours as the effects of the anaesthesia gradually wear off. We'll provide you with detailed post-procedure care instructions and are always available to answer any questions you might have about the process.

Not everyone needs their wisdom teeth removed, and at Pure Dental Toowoomba, Dr Nicola takes a thorough, individual approach to assessing whether extraction is necessary for each patient.

Why We Recommend Extracting Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are those back molars that typically emerge in your late teens or early twenties. They can sometimes develop perfectly well and cause no problems at all. However, there are several situations where removal might be recommended.

For instance, if your jaw doesn't have enough space for these teeth to emerge properly, they might become impacted (stuck beneath the gumline) or grow at awkward angles that could damage neighbouring teeth.

We often recommend wisdom tooth extraction in Toowoomba when we spot signs of potential problems, such as:

• Recurring infections or inflammation around partially emerged wisdom teeth
• Damage to nearby teeth or bone
• Crowding that could undo previous orthodontic work
• Decay in wisdom teeth that are difficult to clean properly
• Cysts or tumours developing around impacted wisdom teeth

The good news is that modern dental techniques have made wisdom tooth removal much more comfortable than in years past. If you're concerned about your wisdom teeth, Dr Nicola can assess their position using x-rays and discuss whether removal would benefit you. We'll never recommend extraction unless we believe it's genuinely necessary for your long-term oral health.

Remember, it's often better to remove problematic wisdom teeth early, before they cause complications or when recovery is easier and faster.