We are OPEN over Christmas and New Years!

Open Hours are as follows:

Sat 23rd 8am-1pm Sun 24th Closed Mon 25th Christmas Day Closed Tues 26th Boxing Day Day closed Wed 27th 9am-4pm Thurs 28th 9am-4pm Fri 29th 9am-4pm

Sat 30th 8am-1pm

Sun 31st Closed

Mon 1st New Years Day Closed

Tues 2nd 8am-5pm business as usual :)

What a busy year it has been so far, with only one week left of school till the school holidays our school holiday appointments are quickly booking out.

We have some new additions to the practice, to meet the demands of our busy practice we were delighted that Rachel Levitch an Oral Health Therapist has joined our team. She is calm, kind and very thorough and a great asset to Little Smiles.

We value our big and little patients immensely so have invested in a new claw machine filled with toys for our littlest patients, all children who have treatment will leave with a toy.

We have not forgotten the adults so when you visit next make sure you ask our friendly staff to make you a coffee in our barista style coffee machine, with just a touch of the touch screen you can have a latte, cappuccino, mocha, flat white or delicious hot chocolate.

Fruit Infused Water!

This great idea for general health is unfortunately not great for your oral health! Fruit which is high in acid and creates and acidic environment in your water bottle and therefor your mouth!

Having acidic saliva is a direct link to dental decay, if you drink fruit infused water we recommend using a straw placed at the back of your mouth, ideally rinsing with pure water straight after.

Eating fruit on its own is a great option followed by plenty of water.

We have now had the last sitting of Federal Parliament, and after many months of persistent lobbying by the ADA and the formation of key partnerships between the ADA and the ALP, Greens and members of the Crossbench, the Government has not attempted to introduce the necessary legislation to close the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). Given the looming expiry (31 December, 2016) of funding to the states and territories for public dental services via the National Partnership Agreement, the Government is expected to make an announcement shortly about interim arrangements so that jurisdictions can continue to treat patients beyond that date. This means that despite announcements to the contrary, the CDBS will remain operational for both public and private dental sectors into 2017. The ADA strongly encourages dental practitioners and staff to continue to promote the CDBS and its benefits to as many eligible families as possible over the Christmas holiday and into the new year. Patients need to deliver a clear message to their local member and Senators that the scheme is one worthy of retention as it is providing invaluable care to many children who may not otherwise be able to afford dental care. While it’s unclear exactly what the future holds for the CDBS, the ADA is committed to working with the crossbench and key senators to ensure the CDBS remains in place permanently. It remains one of the three pillars of the ADA’s Australian Dental Health Plan. Any dental practice currently participating in the CDBS should note that the Department of Human Services is making some changes to its online checking and claiming processes through HPOS. The ADA has sought advice as to the extent and implications of these changes and will issue advise when more is known.

http://www.ada.org.au/News-Media/News-and-Release/Latest-News/CDBS-Update

Philips Zoom is proven to whiten up to 8 shades in one visit and up to 14 shades for patients with deep stains when following the Philips Zoom In-Chair Whitening System!

1- Start Young: Baby Teeth are Important too!

You can never start too early with teaching your children how to take care of their teeth! Even before their 1st tooth pops out at around 6 months you can start cleaning their gums and giving them something to chew on when they start teething.

And a BIG NO NO – Like HUGE – don’t EVER put your baby down with a bottle of anything but water – not even milk!

At around age 3 they should have all of their 20 baby teeth! Even though they will lose them all by the time they are 12, they still play a huge role! Baby teeth help children chew, speak normally, and also hold space in the jaws for the adult teeth to come in later.

Sometimes parents are tempted to do nothing when their child has a cavity since they will be losing their teeth down the road, but untreated tooth decay can lead to other problems…

It can lead to pain, making it hard to eat or sleep properly. The cavity could cause the tooth to abscess (a puss filled sack on the gums). Infection can sometimes harm the permanent teeth that are still developing. And in some cases, it may cause serious or even life-threatening infections.

Starting good oral health habits early can help protect their teeth for decades to come!

2- Learn How to Work the Toothbrush

Everyone knows they should brush their teeth everyday, but very few know the correct way to do it.

It really does make a world of difference if your kids can master these 2 habits! Go ahead and help your child practice so they can seriously impress their hygienist at their next dental cleaning!

Remember, you will need to help your child brush their teeth until they’re about 6 or 7 years old, and then switch to supervising and offering support until they are around the age of 10 or 11.

How to Brush

As soon as the teeth come in, it’s time to start brushing! It is recommended that you brush twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed.

Use a soft bristled toothbrush (NEVER HARD), or a powered toothbrush Use a pea-sized drop of toothpaste for children 2 – 6 years old. For children under 2, use only water or non-flouridated toothpaste. Angle the toothbrush (45°) towards the gums, so it is contact with both the tooth and the gums. Use a small circular or jiggling up and down motion. Brush about 2-3 teeth at a time for a few seconds, before moving on. Make sure to brush all the surfaces of the teeth – Inner, Outer & Biting Surfaces. Brush for about 2 minutes (or about 1 min for baby teeth). Finish by brushing the tongue to help freshen the breath and remove bacteria.

3- Find Where the Sugar Bugs Like to Hide

Now that your child is a master brusher and flosser, I challenge you to take it to the next step and see where all those sugar bugs are hiding.

One way you can do this is get some disclosing solution or tablets and disclose your child’s teeth after they brush. You can also do it before they brush to see where the plaque is, but if you want to really evaluate how well they are brushing go ahead and do it after.

Wherever the teeth are stained, that is where the plaque is. The darker the stain, the more plaque that is accumulating in those areas.

Once your child has fine tuned their brushing technique, go ahead and see if they can pass a teeth disclosing test. If they have little to no stain do a happy dance, and then set them free to brush their teeth without supervision!

4- Say Bye-Bye to Thumbs and Dummie's

It’s so cute, especially when they are little, but as time goes on a child’s sucking habits can cause problems with tooth alignment and the proper growth of their mouth.

Dummies should not be used after age two, and finger or thumb sucking should end by age four! So if your child is still holding onto any of those habits it’s time to put your foot down.

Ideas for Stopping Thumb Sucking:

Praise them whenever you catch them not sucking their thumb! Sometimes they suck their thumb when they feel insecure, so help them through any anxiety and help comfort them. When your child avoids sucking their thumb during a difficult time, go ahead and Reward them! Bandage the thumb or put a sock over the hand at night. If all else fails, discuss with your dentist about using a mouth appliance or a bitter-tasting liquid to coat the thumb or thumbnail.

5- Protect Those Pearly Whites with Sealants

Once those permanent molars start coming in (usually around the age of 6), do them a huge favor and get them sealed!!!

The chewing surfaces of the back teeth have deep pits and grooves that are hard to clean; even the toothbrush bristles are too big to fit inside and thoroughly clean them.

A sealant is a material that helps fill the grooves of the teeth so it can help keep plaque and acid away from causing cavities. Sealing a tooth is like painting your nails – it’s fast, painless, does the job, and even looks pretty.

6- Prevent Dental Injuries – Guard Up!

One way to keep the teeth in the mouth, is to get a properly fitted mouthguard and make sure your child wears it during sports activities.

Mouthguard’s help to cushion the impact that may otherwise cause broken teeth, jaw injuries, or cuts to the lip, tongue, or face.

They are highly recommended when playing contact sports, such as boxing, football, basketball, hockey and lacrosse. However, even in non-contact sports like gymnastics or skateboarding, mouth guards may help prevent dental injuries!

7- Eat Dessert First!

Nothing is wrong with dessert, just eat it first

As far as teeth go, WHAT we eat isn’t nearly as important as WHEN & HOW often we eat it.

For instance, when we eat a piece of cake during dinner, the other food and water we are consuming helps to rinse most of the food particles away. This helps the mouth from developing the acid that decays teeth.

On the other hand, if you sip soda and snack on cake and cookies all afternoon, your teeth are being constantly bombarded with sugar bugs that are very acidic. The plaque will keep these harmful acids against the teeth, and the longer they are there, the higher the risk you have for tooth decay.

That’s why it’s critical you help teach your child to limit between-meal snacking, especially on cookies, candy, and other sweet or sticky foods.

Save the cake and cookies for mealtime, when the mouth makes more saliva to help rinse it away!

8- Got Fluoride? – It Helps Make the Teeth Healthy & Strong

If your child drinks fluoridated water that’s great – they will most likely have less cavities for you to worry about.

When a child’s teeth are still forming, fluoride works by making tooth enamel more resistant to the acid that causes tooth decay. Fluoride also helps repair areas where the acid attacks have already begun.

Children can get added protection from fluoride from multiple sources:

Toothpaste Mouth Rinses (Act) Flouride Treatments in the Dental Office Flouridated Tap Water Or from Flouride Tablets, Drops, Lozenges (these are usually recommended if you don’t have access to fluoridated water).

If you’re not sure if your water has fluoride you can check with your water company. Also, if your child regularly drinks unflouridated water or bottled water you may want to discuss other fluoride options.

9- Make Going to the Dentist Fun (Not Scary!)

Don’t wait to take your child to the dentist until they are in pain or a dental emergency happens – everyone hates the dentist enough, so don’t make it even worse.

Actually, going to the dentist can be a lot of fun and a great experience.

Regular dental visits are essential to keeping a healthy smile. During the dental visit, your dentist will check your child’s mouth for tooth decay and growth patterns that may pose a problem in the future.

By receiving regular cleanings, fluoride treatments, and applying sealants, it can save you money and reduce the time you spend hanging out with your dentist – even though I’m sure it’s fun

10- Teeth 911: Know How to Handle Dental Emergencies

Knowing how to handle a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving and losing your child’s tooth. As soon as parent’s see blood and missing teeth they switch to freak-out mode, so take a look at some of these tips so you can remain calm even during a dental emergency.

There are actually only a couple of true dental emergencies, the rest can usually wait until the sun is up before calling your dentist. The only time you’re allowed to make 2 am phone calls to your dentist is when you or your child has a…

Knocked-Out-Tooth

Baby Tooth – If something happens to any of your child’s primary teeth, or “baby teeth,” you should take your child to the dentist as soon as you can. If a tooth is completely out, do not try to inset it back in the socket. Although it is normal for children to lose primary teeth, an accident that damages a primary tooth could also harm the permanent “adult” tooth underneath.

Adult Tooth – A baby tooth should not be implanted back in the mouth, but a permanent tooth should. Hold the tooth by the crown, and if it is dirty, rinse the root with water. Do not scrub the tooth or remove any attached bits of tissue. If possible, gently insert and hold the tooth in its socket with a clean wash cloth or gauze. If this isn’t possible, or if your child cannot safely hold the tooth in their mouth, put the tooth in a container with milk, saliva or water. Take your child to the dentist as quickly as you can (within about an hour if possible). Don’t forget to bring the tooth and any tooth pieces you can find!

The only other true dental emergencies you need to seek attention for immediately is if you suspect a broken jaw, or if there is bleeding in the mouth that won’t stop. Besides that, most other dental issues can most likely wait until your dentist is back in the office to go get it checked out!

Little Smiles Family Dental are happy to announce we offer patient finance options for your dental treatment.

MiFund is Patient Financing that is designed to improve your life by accessing high quality Dental treatment sooner.

Simple Online Process: The MiFund online application allows patients a quick, simple method of applying for finance.

Fair Pricing: MiFund charges you no fees to apply, and a fair, fixed interest rate, so there are no surprises, allowing you to manage your cash better.

Access the treatment you need sooner: Our fast application and settlement process allows you to have confidence to book the treatment that you need now.

No need to postpone, or use expensive financing.

Visit their website for further information: www.mifund.com.au

Little Smiles Family Dental is celebrating Dental Health Week and your invited!

Please join us at the surgery on Friday 5th August from 1pm.

- Food and Beverages

- Colouring in competition

- Show Bags

- Balloons with toothbrushes up for grabs

- Dental Q & A's

Dental Health Week, which takes place in the first full week of August, is the Australian Dental Association’s major annual oral health promotion event. Its aim is to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health in every aspect of their lives.

This year Dental Health Week, which runs from 1 to 7 August, is focusing on the significant way that hormones can play havoc with a woman’s oral health, an especially important topic in light of a recent study that revealed that many women are unaware of the significant impact that various life stages have on the health of their teeth and gums. The reality is that major life events like pregnancy, puberty, menstruation and menopause, dramatically affect the state of a your dental health if you are a woman. Throughout the course of Dental Health Week, you will be encouraged to take a more preventive, hands-on approach to your dental health as you learn more about the ways your teeth, gums and mouth are affected during each of the pivotal phases of your life.

#dentalhelathweek #wemakegoingtothedentistfun

Is my Child Eligible?

If you receive a Government Benefit such as Family Tax Benefit Part A,

your child may be eligible.

You can easily check this by calling Medicare on 132 011

What is included?

- Check ups

- Cleans

- Xrays

- Preventative Fissure Sealants

- General Dentistry

Call us today to reserve you child's free dental appointment 02 9986 0600

*subject to medicare eligibility and available funding

When a tooth is knocked out!

Teeth can be knocked out of a person's mouth by various accidents, for example, at home, playgrounds, in sport or motor vehicle accidents.

THESE TEETH CAN BE SAVED BY ACTING FAST!

What should you do:

Remain calm Find the tooth Handle the tooth by the crown only (whiter part)

If the tooth is clean; replant immediately, use the other teeth as a guide. Have the patient hold the tooth in place with finger pressure or bite on a handkerchief to keep the tooth in place. Seek immediate dental treatment, remember time is critical.

If the tooth is dirty; Clean and replant as soon as possible. If available, rinse in milk then reimplant. If milk is not immediately available rinse BRIEFLY in cold water or have the patient gently suck the tooth clean and reimplant. Seek immediate dental treatment, remember time is critical.

If unable to replant; keep the tooth moist by either; placing it completely submerged in Milk ot alternatively sealing it in a plastic wrap (eg Glad Wrap), or placing it in the patients mouth next to the cheek. DO NOT store the tooth in water or detergents. Seek immediate dental treatment, remember time is critical.

If the tooth appears to be broken; replant in socket or place in milk or plastic wrap. Seek immediate dental treatment, remember time is critical.

What you must not do:

Do not hold the root surface Do not scrape or rub the root surface Do not let the tooth dry out Do not rinse in water for or than a few seconds Do not store the tooth in water Do not delay seeking dental treatment

What will the dentist do?

If the tooth has been replanted the dentist will make sure that it is correctly positioned. If its not been replanted, then the dentist will replant it.

The tooth must be splinted in place for a short time. Your dentist will also examine the mouth for other injuries and advise how to care for the injured tooth.

Your dentist may also recommend antibiotics and possibly a tetanus booster to prevent infection due to contamination of the tooth and wound.

The tooth may need further treatment to avoid any further problems developing- your dentist will discuss this with you.

While it's important for toddlers to use low fluoride toothpaste specially formulated for kids, children over the age of 6 can use standard fluoride toothpaste which is often much better value. And remember you only need a small amount.

Little Smiles Family Dental has collaborated with personal loans specialist now FINANCEwww.nowfinance.com.au to help all our customers cover any unexpected dental expenses resulting from urgent treatment or to help those wanting to invest in comprehensive cosmetic dental procedures.

If you’re worried about how you’re going to cover your dental expenses, we are able to help you. Contact us to discuss the procedures or treatments you are considering or believe you need, and we will provide you with a quote and put you in contact with now FINANCE who can arrange payment.

What are the Features and Benefits?

Enjoy a fixed, competitive interest rateFlexible repayment options of weekly and fortnightlyUnsecured personal loans between $4,000 and $25,000Applications are personally reviewed and assessed individually by a personRepay your personal loan between 18 – 60 monthsAccess to your own personal loan specialistCover your medical expenses upfront, then make your loan repayments later

What are the Main Eligibility Criteria?

You must be an Australian citizen, or permanent resident.Be over the age of 18 years at loan application. Be employed. Full-time, part-time, and self-employed applications are allowed (loan acceptance dependant on income levels). Centrelink payments can only be used in conjunction with PAYG incomeNo unpaid defaults, court judgements or bankruptcy.You must have two acceptable forms of identification (passport, Medicare, driver’s license, proof of address).

If you are interested in applying for a now FINANCE personal loan to pay for your procedures or treatments from Little Smiles Family Dental, simply contact us at the surgery on 02 9986 0600.

Dr Carolina Jackson

Dr Carolina Jackson is pleased to announce that Associate Professor Angus Cameron has joined the team at Little Smiles Family Dental to provide part-time specialist paediatric dentistry services to children on the Northern Beaches and North Shore.

Clinical Associate Professor Angus Cameron is one of the foremost paediatric dentists in Australia.

The first to graduate in NSW as a specialist in paediatric dentistry, he has been working at Westmead Hospital for 30 years. He has extensive experience in both public and private sectors and has been head of the Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at Westmead for the last 18 years and is a Visiting Senior Specialist at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Angus is currently Clinical Associate Professor and Head of Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Sydney and holds teaching appointments at the University of Newcastle, Charles Sturt University and the University of Leeds. He is a visiting consultant with Northern Territory Oral Health and has a great passion for remote and rural oral health working with indigenous children.

Angus is well-known for the world-wide leading textbook: Handbook of Paediatric Dentistry of which he is co-editor. He lectures widely throughout Australia and internationally. He is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the International College of Dentists and the Academy of Dentistry International.

His main interests are in the management of children with special needs, dental anomalies, paediatric oral medicine, and the management of young children with decay. He also has a particular interest in newborns with feeding difficulties and also runs a clinic specialising in infant feeding and tongue-ties.

Perhaps most importantly for our Little Smiles patients, Angus is absolutely amazing with children and makes them feel incredibly relaxed and comfortable.

Angus will be at the Little Smiles Mona Vale practice every Thursday. A referral is not required to see Angus.

Please contact us on 9986 0600 to discuss your child's specialist paediatric dentistry needs.

Dr Carolina Jackson

Princess Grace enjoying tea and balloons with Jo, before her very first dental check up with the lovely Teigan. Happy Friday everyone!

Father and son dental check ups and matching tattoos. Fun times at Little Smiles Family Dental!

We’re absolutely thrilled that Dr Louise Barr - one of the most gentle, caring and professional dentists Dr Carolina Jackson has ever had the pleasure to work with - is back today after time off to recover from a skiing accident. Dr Louise will be available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays here at Little Smiles Family Dental in Mona Vale. Call us on 9986 0600 to make an appointment.

We’d just like to say a BIG thank you to all of the amazing emergency services personnel helping everyone affected by the storms. They’re doing an amazing job and we’re very grateful. Thank you for helping us!