Your child’s first teeth are as important as permanent teeth and require daily care as they allow your child to chew and speak properly.
Decay in primary teeth is commonly caused by prolonged contact of sweet liquids, food acids or food with the teeth.
Here are some helpful tips:
• Supervise your child’s brushing until you are confident they can do it alone.
• Set a timer for at least two minutes.
• Watch your child and point out any areas they have missed.
• Teach your child to brush teeth in a particular order to ensure cleaning of every tooth surface.
It is important to start brushing as soon as the teeth erupt using a small head and soft rounded bristles. Make sure your child’s teeth are brushed daily, preferably twice a day, morning and evening.

Dr Poornima Srinivas worked in a number of practices before buying an established practice at Pennant Hills, part of Sydney’s middle class northern suburbs ‘The Hills’ district. The practice Dr Srinivas purchased had been established for nearly 30 years but had room for only 2 chairs. It had been euphemistically described as ‘close and friendly’, which really meant that it was so tight the staff could not move without bumping into each other. The other doubtful marketing device it employed was a form of exclusivity where the entrance was hidden from all but the most dedicated investigators.
Nevertheless, Dr Srinivas’s charisma and clinical skills coupled with enthusiastic staff overcame these restrictions as
much as was possible. She was so successful that within two years, she was considering the move to bigger and better positioned premises. Levitch Design Associates (LDA) had designed one of the practices Dr Srinavas had previously worked in. She loved what they had achieved in space planning, surgery layout, colours, and finishes. Dr Srinavas used a buying agent to locate suitable sites in the Pennant Hills business area then contacted LDA to investigate the sites for their suitability. After investigating several options, a unit was chosen in a commercial building on the main arterial road, within walking distance from the station and parking.

Dr Srinavas was pleased to know that LDA now offered a complete Design and Construct service that included graphics,
stationery, signage, website, furniture and artworks. She shopped around with other fit out companies to compare prices and this confirmed that LDA was competitively priced. The strata unit had 129 square metres, which allowed for 3 surgeries,
a consultation room, lab, sterilising area, staff room, small practitioners office and an OPG room. “We finally have the space
we need,” said the practice manager, after they moved in. The unit next to hers was also on the market, but it was left as possible room for expansion in the future. The Hills’ demographic could be described as family oriented, educated and motivated so Dr Srinivas chose the name “Hills Dental Design” as she wanted to emphasise the customised nature
of the dentistry offered. The LDA marketing department then created a striking logo incorporating the name and a tagline that articulated what the aspirational public personally want from dentistry: “Confidence, Grace and Style”. It is also a short hand way of describing Dr Srinivas and the practice. The practice should continue to attract new patients who can be
confident that a graceful practitioner in a stylish practice will provide them with a makeover no less stunning than what she has achieved already.

“Setting up a practice from scratch can be very daunting,” Dr Srinivas said. “There is so much that can go wrong. I approached Levitch Design Associates (LDA) with full confidence that they could deliver the results I wanted in a professional matter. It only took 4 meetings for my dream to come true. Once we decided on the floor plan and interiors, LDA had it all covered with minimal interference to my schedule. “I was a bit worried as to how my clients would respond to the new premises, as the old practice had been around for decades. But we’ve been pleasantly surprised. Our patients absolutely love our new premises. We haven’t lost any patients due to the move and I have full confidence that we will attract many more. It is a joy to come to the new practice every day and we hope we transfer this positive energy on to our patients and to our families. “The move from conception to finish was so smooth that it feels unreal. I would like to thank my Practice Manager and the team at LDA for their support and positive feedback, making the transition smooth.”

Summary
The Practice
Practice Name: Hills Dental Design
Principal: Dr Poornima Srinivas
Type of Practice: General
Location: Pennant Hills, Sydney
Size: 129 square metres
Dental Chairs: 3
The Team
Design & Construction: Levitch Design Associates
Graphics & Marketing: Antony Poate
Interior Design: Phoebe Morrison
Furniture, Decorative Items & Artworks: Phoebe Morrison
Graphics & Marketing: Wayne Allsop
Equipment
Dental Units: A-dec 1040
X-Ray: Owandy IMAX Touch
Suction: Cattani Turbo Smart A
Compressor: Cattani K3200

Why do you need a mouthguard?
Wearing a custom fitted mouthguard helps absorb & spread the impact of a blow to your face which may result to an injury to your mouth or jaw.

When should I wear a mouthguard?
Mouthguards should be worn when playing sport or training.

Which mouthguard to wear
There is your cheap over the counter type or a professionally fitted mouthguard.
The Australian Dental Association recommends you choose a custom fitted mouthguard as it provides maximum protection; these are available from your dentist.
Over the counter mouthguards do not provide enough protection. Its worthwhile investing in a custom fitted mouthguard as dental injuries can be very costly.

Custom fitted mouthguards
• Comfortable
• Well-fitting
• Allows you to speak properly
• Won’t shift or fall out
• Won’t restrict your breathing

Over the counter mouthguards
These mouthguards are less effective. You have mouthguards which are stock which are not fitted ones which can be placed in hot water & self-fitting by biting into the mould.

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Severely eroded teeth may need to have such treatment like Veneers, Crown and Bridge, Root Canal or even to the extent of extraction depending on the severity.

If you have been diagnosed with dental erosion, Dr Srinivas may suggest a combination of treatments depending on the individual case. Early diagnosis will restrict the treatment to prescribing medications such as high fluoridated toothpaste or application of topical cream called Tooth Mousse which is available from our treatment rooms.

Simple tips
• After consuming an acidic food or drink, rinse your mouth with water
• Drink more tap water
• Avoid or at least restrict your acidic food and drink intake
• Drink plain milk

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call us we will be happy to answer any questions.
P:(02) 9484 1913

Dr Poornima Srinivas & the Hills Dental Team.

Our new rooms offer a much nicer environment for our patients, and also allow us to provide the level of service we strive for. Our waiting room is spacious with natural light and comfortable furnishings – just the thing you need to calm the nerves. (Yes, we know: nobody likes the dentist!)

When our Dental Assistants escort you from the waiting room, you will be taken to a modern surgery with everything we will need to provide the best, up to date care available. And to take your mind of things, we now have flat screen Televisions mounted to the ceiling. So while you catch up on the latest news or daytime soap, we’ll look after your teeth. Before you know it, it will all be over!

Another reason for our excitement is our private consultation room where we could discuss your treatment in an upright position. Here you will have the opportunity to ask questions which we will answer with demonstrations, images and other forms of material to make sure you understand what is involved in your dental care plan. This is also where we will discuss your treatment options and costs with you so you’ll know what you’re in for before we will start any procedure. No nasty surprises!

After your procedure, our reception staff will look after you away from waiting patients, so you won’t feel uncomfortable discussing your account, payment options or any questions you may have about your procedure or aftercare. They will also do their best to book your future appointments at a date and time which is convenient for you.

Visiting the dentist does not have to be a nightmare. Any medical procedure may have some level of pain or discomfort, and we understand that not everyone is happy to see a needle. We are sensitive to our patients’ needs and we do our best to accommodate personal preferences.

We take a sincere interest in our patients and over time get to know them very well. We love to chat about your overseas holiday, the birth of your grandchild or how well the kids are doing at school. It is not uncommon to receive photos of new babies and cards with good news, exchange books we loved to read or swap recipes of our favourite cakes!

Thanks for sharing this journey with us. We realise that this would not be possible without the continued support of our patients and we are very thankful for that! If you haven’t yet been to the new practice, we would love for you to pop in anytime for a chat.

Bad breath is caused by odor-producing bacteria that grow in the mouth. When you don’t brush and floss regularly, bacteria accumulate on the bits of food left in your mouth and between your teeth. The sulfur compounds released by these bacteria make your breath smell.

Certain foods, especially ones like garlic and onions that contain pungent oils, can contribute to bad breath because the oils are carried to your lungs and out through your mouth. Smoking is also a major cause of bad breath, as well as a serious contributor to potential gum disease.

There are lots of myths about taking care of bad breath. Here are three things you may have heard about bad breath that are not true:

Myth #1: Mouthwash will make bad breath go away.

Mouthwash only gets rid of bad breath temporarily. If you do use mouthwash, look for an antiseptic (kills the germs that cause bad breath) and plaque-reducing one.  Also, ask our dental hygienist for her recommendations on your next visit.

Myth #2: As long as you brush your teeth, you shouldn’t have bad breath.

The truth is that most people only brush their teeth for 30 to 45 seconds, which just isn’t long enough. To sufficiently clean all the surfaces of your teeth, you should brush for at least 2 minutes at least twice a day. Remember to brush your tongue too; bacteria love to hang out there, and many toothbrushes now have a specific tongue cleaner on the back.

 It’s equally important to floss because brushing alone won’t remove harmful plaque and food particles that become stuck between your teeth and gums.

Myth #3: If you breathe into your hand, you’ll know when you have bad breath.

Wrong! When you breathe, you don’t use your throat the same way you do when you talk. When you talk, you tend to bring out the odors from the back of your mouth (where bad breath originates), which simply breathing doesn’t do. Also, because we tend to get used to our own smells, it’s hard for a person to tell if he or she has bad breath.

If you’re concerned about bad breath, one of the most important preventions is to make sure you’re taking care of your teeth and mouth properly. Some sugar-free gums and mints can temporarily mask odors, too.

If you already brush and floss properly and visit your dentist for regular cleanings but your bad breath persists, then you may have a medical problem like sinusitus or gum disease, so please talk to us or your Doctor about it on your next visit.

Then Onlays are the answer for you! One of the big improvements offered by modern dentistry, Inlays and Onlays are restorations used to repair teeth that have a mild to moderate amount of decay. Because they can be created from tooth coloured materials, they are virtually undetectable to the naked eye, and are therefore also often used to replace metal fillings for a more natural look.

Onlays have excellent durability, lasting up to 15 years, and because their use requires a minimum removal of the tooth structure, they also help conserve the tooth. As they save damaged teeth, they act as a preventative measure allaying the future need of more extensive treatment such as crowns, bridges or implants.

Additional benefits include:

• Elimination of tooth sensitivity and prevention of tooth loss.
• Stronger teeth because of their structure, and because they do not expand or contract in response to temperature.
• Increased conservation of your natural tooth as they require less tooth reduction than the use of crowns.
• A more natural, attractive appearance due to them matching your teeth colour.

Call today to book your consultation and discover what affordable solution we can offer you!

Paediatric Dental Practices are generally solely dedicated to the oral health of infants, children and adolescents, and so can provide comprehensive care in areas including management of very severe or complex dental conditions, dental treatment for children with medical conditions, emergency and ongoing care following trauma and infection, oral surgery and interceptive orthodontics.

As a family dental care provider we have a focus on providing for all your childs general dental needs, including providing a comprehensive developmental check. At that time we also do a full clean, scale and fluoride treatment, and educate you and them about the best way to clean their teeth, and what needs to be done on an ongoing basis to ensure that they enjoy great oral health for life.

We are passionate about providing a caring, comfortable and friendly environment for your child so that their first dental experience is a positive and pleasant one, and that is why we have so many happy families who keep coming back to enjoy our modern, affordable and first class family dental care.

If your question isn’t answered here, please call on us on 9484 1913 and we will be very happy to help you……

Does your practice look after children’s dental care?

 Yes we do!  At their first appointment we do a detailed assessment of teeth and gum health and development,  a full dental hygiene and oral health check-up and then depending on the findings, your dentist will advise on any further treatment required.

 What is involved in the initial consultation?

We believe in going that extra mile for you; so at your first appointment we take a series of X-rays and thoroughly examine the teeth and gums so that we know exactly what your current state of oral health is. We’ll then discuss all the options with you, and tailor an individual treatment plan according your needs and budget.

How much time do we need to allow for the appointment?

We make sure to allow plenty of time for your 1^st appointment so that we can answer any questions you have without you feeling rushed, so allow for an hour.

 Do you have HICAPS?

Yes we do, from all health funds who provide it for dental treatments, you need to bring your health fund card with you at your appointment and then you are only required to pay the gap remaining

Do you look after patients who are under the Medicare scheme for dental treatment?

Yes we do. The current scheme provides up to $4200 in dental care for patients referred by their doctor on the grounds they have a chronic medical condition aggravated by oral health problems.

This scheme currently under review by the Federal Government, so please speak to us or to your doctor for the latest information and to check for your likely eligibility

Do we do teeth whitening at our practice?

Yes, we do, chair side teeth whitening, which is a professional and highly effective treatment that gives optimum bleaching results. The procedure takes up to an hour, and you must take care to avoid certain food and beverages for 24 hours afterwards to avoid restaining.

 Do you have a Hygienist?

Yes we do, Yolanda Tanpascual-Li, who has many years of experience and training (read her blog article for further information about her skills and experience)

She does a thorough but gentle clean and scale which is very important for your ongoing oral health, and you will need to allow one hour for this appointment.

Do you do wisdom teeth extraction?

 We are fortunate to have the dental surgery expertise of Dr Simon Briggs www.simonbriggs.com.au  who provides this and other treatments as required when he visits our practice.

It can be performed by him under intravenous sedation if desired, to make it a relaxed and pain-free procedure for you.

Why would you keep your stained, discoloured teeth when our affordable teeth whitening treatment can instantly brighten your smile and take years off your age by effectively removing that staining and discolouration, and help you to achieve a beautiful vibrant smile in as little as one consultation.

Also known as Teeth Bleaching, this is a common procedure which is completely safe and provides exceptional results.

Why don’t your teeth look as good as they used to? Well unfortunately adult teeth become darker both from age and due to staining from the pigments in substances such as coffee, tea, common foodstuffs, red wine and tobacco. So because most of us partake of at least some of these regularly this is a common problem,  which makes teeth whitening among our most popular cosmetic dental procedures.

And what’s not to like, because it can significantly improve the appearance of your teeth at much less cost and inconvenience than other techniques!

 So call today and book your teeth whitening treatment that will give your smile a new lease of life, you’ll be so glad you did!