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149 plain-English answers — written and reviewed by Dr Rick Iskandar · updated July 2026
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149 topicsOral Surgery & Extractions
Tooth extraction
The careful removal of a tooth that can't be saved.
Wisdom tooth removal
Removing wisdom teeth that are impacted or causing problems.
Dry socket
A painful but treatable healing hiccup after an extraction.
Surgical (sectional) extraction
A gentle surgical approach for teeth that can't be lifted out whole.
Bone grafting
Rebuilding jawbone to support an implant or preserve the ridge.
Sinus lift
Adding bone beneath the sinus so an upper back implant can be placed.
Socket & ridge preservation
A graft placed at extraction to protect the bone for a future implant.
Exposure of an impacted canine
A small procedure that helps a stuck canine come into line with braces.
Frenectomy & tongue-tie release
Releasing a tight band of tissue under the lip or tongue.
Oral biopsy
Sampling a mouth lesion so it can be checked under a microscope.
Numbness after local anaesthetic
When numbness lingers longer than expected, and what it means.
MRONJ (medication & jaw healing)
How certain bone medications affect dental surgery, and how we reduce the risk.
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)
Using a small sample of your own blood to support healing.
Caring for your mouth after oral surgery
Simple aftercare that helps you heal comfortably and avoid problems.
Implants
Dental implants
A titanium post that replaces a missing tooth root and holds a new tooth.
Teeth on implants (All-on-X)
A full arch of fixed teeth supported by several implants.
Implant-supported crown
A single replacement tooth that attaches to one dental implant.
Implant-supported bridge
Several joined teeth on implants that replace a row of missing teeth.
Implant-retained denture (overdenture)
A removable denture that clips onto implants for a firmer hold.
Zirconia implants
A tooth-coloured ceramic alternative to titanium dental implants.
Peri-implantitis
An infection around an implant that can damage the bone holding it.
Caring for your implants
Daily cleaning and regular check-ups keep your implants healthy for years.
Black triangles around implants
Small dark gaps that can appear between teeth or implants at the gumline.
Periodontics & Gums
Gum disease (periodontitis)
A bacterial infection of the gums and bone that support your teeth.
Non-surgical periodontal therapy
A deep clean below the gumline to treat gum disease without surgery.
Surgical periodontal therapy
Gum surgery to clean deep areas and repair damage from gum disease.
Gum grafting
Adding gum tissue to cover exposed roots or strengthen thin gums.
Receding gums
Gums that pull back from the teeth, exposing more of the root.
Crown lengthening
A small procedure to expose more tooth, for health or appearance.
Gum disease & your general health
Gum disease is linked with several whole-body health conditions.
Inflamed gum around a crown
Red, sore gum around a crown that may need a check and a clean.
Prosthodontics (Crowns, Bridges & Dentures)
Dental crown
A custom cap that covers and protects a damaged or weakened tooth.
Dental bridge
A fixed way to replace one or more missing teeth using nearby teeth for support.
Complete (full) denture
A removable set of teeth that replaces all the teeth in one or both jaws.
Partial denture
A removable plate that replaces some missing teeth and clips onto the others.
Immediate dentures
A denture fitted on the same day teeth are removed, so you are not left without teeth.
Denture reline & repair
Adjusting or fixing a denture so it fits well and works as it should.
Post & core / build-up
A support built inside a root-treated tooth to hold a crown securely.
Inlay / onlay
A custom-made filling that repairs a tooth when a normal filling is not enough.
Caring for your denture
Simple daily habits keep your denture clean, comfortable and lasting longer.
Caring for new & temporary restorations
How to protect new fillings, crowns and temporary work while they settle.
Endodontics
Root canal treatment
Treatment that saves a tooth by removing infected or damaged tissue inside it.
Root canal retreatment
Repeating root canal treatment when a tooth does not heal or becomes infected again.
Apicoectomy (surgical endodontics)
Minor surgery to remove infection from the tip of a tooth's root.
Pulp capping
Placing a protective dressing over the nerve to help avoid a root canal.
Root resorption
A process where the body slowly breaks down part of a tooth's structure.
Cracked tooth & the nerve
How a cracked tooth can irritate the nerve and what can be done about it.
Root canal or extraction?
The honest comparison, when a tooth's nerve is beyond saving.
Restorative & Tooth Problems
Tooth decay
Damage to the tooth caused by acid from plaque bacteria.
Tooth-coloured (composite) filling
A tooth-coloured filling that repairs a tooth and blends in naturally.
Cracked tooth
A crack in a tooth that can cause pain when biting or with hot and cold.
Cracked / failing filling
An old or cracked filling that no longer seals or supports the tooth.
Tooth wear
Gradual loss of tooth surface from grinding, acid or rubbing.
Tooth erosion
Tooth surface dissolved by acid from food, drinks or the stomach.
Toothbrush abrasion
Tooth surface worn away by rubbing, often from hard brushing.
Abfraction lesions
A smooth, C-shaped notch at the gumline linked to heavy biting forces.
Sensitive teeth
Short, sharp tooth pain from cold, heat, sweet or touch.
Discoloured tooth
A tooth that looks darker or stained compared with its neighbours.
Replacing silver (amalgam) fillings
Swapping old silver fillings for tooth-coloured ones.
Dental sealants
A thin protective coating that shields the chewing surface from decay.
Structurally compromised tooth
A tooth weakened by decay, cracks or large fillings.
Loose tooth
An adult tooth that moves more than it should.
Can a cavity heal itself?
Very early decay can be stopped and even reversed — a true cavity cannot.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Veneers
Thin shells bonded to the front of teeth to improve their look.
Smile design / smile makeover
Planning a set of changes to improve how your smile looks.
Teeth whitening — in-chair
A professional whitening treatment done in a single visit.
Teeth whitening — take-home
Custom trays and gel to whiten your teeth gradually at home.
Composite (cosmetic) bonding
Tooth-coloured resin shaped onto teeth to improve their look.
Gum aesthetics
Reshaping the gum line to balance how your smile looks.
Final cementation of aesthetic restorations
The visit where your finished restoration is fixed in place.
White spots on teeth
Chalky patches with several different causes — and several different fixes.
Veneers, crowns or bonding?
Three ways to change how a front tooth looks — from least to most tooth-altering.
Orthodontics
Why orthodontics?
Straightening teeth can improve how your bite works, looks and stays clean.
Clear aligners (Invisalign)
Clear, removable trays that gently move teeth a little at a time.
Crowded & crooked teeth
When teeth overlap or twist because there is not enough room in the jaw.
Congenitally missing teeth
Some people are born without one or more adult teeth ever forming.
Orthodontic extrusion
Gently easing a tooth or root upward to save it or reshape the gum.
Palatal expansion
Widening a narrow upper jaw to make more room and improve the bite.
Surgically-facilitated orthodontics
Combining minor surgery with braces to speed or assist tooth movement.
Risks of direct-to-consumer aligners
Mail-order aligners skip in-person checks, which can lead to real problems.
Retainers
Retainers hold your teeth in place after braces or aligners.
TMD, Occlusion & Bruxism
Bruxism (grinding & clenching)
Grinding or clenching your teeth, often during sleep and without knowing.
Night guard (occlusal splint)
A custom splint worn over your teeth to protect them from grinding.
TMJ / jaw joint disorders
Pain or problems in the jaw joints and the muscles that move them.
Bite problems (malocclusion)
When upper and lower teeth do not meet the way they ideally should.
Equilibration (bite adjustment)
Carefully reshaping tooth surfaces so your bite meets more evenly.
Kois deprogrammer
A removable device that relaxes jaw muscles to help check your true bite.
Jaw exercises
Gentle exercises to ease jaw muscle tension and improve movement.
Caring for your night guard
Simple daily care keeps your night guard clean and lasting longer.
Sleep & Airway
Sleep-disordered breathing (adults)
Breathing that is disturbed during sleep, from snoring to sleep apnoea.
Sleep-disordered breathing (children)
Disturbed breathing in a child's sleep, which deserves careful checking.
Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnoea
A custom mouth device that holds the jaw forward to ease mild sleep apnoea.
Snoring in children
Frequent loud snoring in a child can be worth having checked.
Sleep hygiene
Simple daily habits that help you fall asleep and sleep more soundly.
Airway & dental development
How the jaws and airway grow can affect breathing and tooth position.
Sedation & Anxiety
Managing dental anxiety
Practical ways we help you feel calm and in control at the dentist.
Nitrous oxide (happy gas)
A light, breathable gas that helps you relax during dental treatment.
Oral sedation
A tablet that helps you feel drowsy and calm during your visit.
IV sedation
Deeper sedation given through a vein for relaxed, comfortable treatment.
General anaesthetic for dentistry
Being fully asleep in hospital for certain dental procedures.
Preparing for your sedation appointment
Simple steps to get ready safely for your sedation appointment.
Oral Medicine & Pathology
Oral cancer
What oral cancer is, and why regular check-ups help find changes early.
Mouth ulcers & lesions
Common sore spots in the mouth, and when they need checking.
Burning mouth syndrome
An ongoing burning feeling in the mouth with no obvious cause.
Dry mouth (xerostomia)
When you do not make enough saliva, and why it matters for your teeth.
HPV & oral health
How the common HPV virus can relate to the mouth and throat.
Oral pathogen testing
A test that identifies the bacteria linked to gum disease.
Cold sores
Blisters on the lip caused by a common virus — different from mouth ulcers.
Tonsil stones
Small white lumps in the tonsils that can cause bad breath and a foreign-body feeling.
Sinus pressure & tooth pain
Why blocked sinuses make upper back teeth ache — and how we tell it apart from a tooth problem.
Geographic tongue
Harmless map-like patches that move around the tongue.
Diagnostics & Imaging
Prevention, Hygiene & Lifestyle
Check-up & clean (routine visit)
A regular visit to check your teeth and gums and remove built-up plaque.
Brushing technique
Brushing twice a day removes the plaque that causes decay and gum disease.
Flossing & interdental cleaning
Cleaning between your teeth each day reaches the spots a brush cannot.
Fluoride
Fluoride strengthens enamel and helps protect your teeth from decay.
Diet, sugar & acid
What and how often you eat and drink shapes your risk of decay and erosion.
Smoking, vaping & oral health
Smoking and vaping harm your gums, healing and overall mouth health.
Bad breath (halitosis)
Lasting bad breath usually starts in the mouth and can be improved.
Mouthrinses
Mouthrinses can support your routine but do not replace brushing and flossing.
Adverse effects of antibiotics
Antibiotics treat some infections but can cause side effects and are not always needed.
Metabolic syndrome & oral health
Metabolic syndrome and gum health are linked and can affect each other.
Dental fads: charcoal, oil pulling & DIY whitening
What the evidence says about charcoal toothpaste, oil pulling and home whitening hacks.
Sports mouthguards
A custom-fitted guard is the cheapest dental insurance in sport.
Paediatric Dentistry
Your child's first visit
An early, friendly first visit helps your child feel at ease at the dentist.
Teething
Teething is the normal, temporary discomfort as baby teeth come through.
Thumb & dummy sucking
Thumb and dummy sucking is normal early on but is best stopped by about age three.
Early childhood (bottle) decay
Decay in baby teeth, often linked to sugary drinks in a bottle, can be prevented.
Fissure sealants for children
A protective coating on back teeth helps stop decay starting in the grooves.
Space maintainers
A small device that holds space when a baby tooth is lost too early.
Children & tooth grinding
Grinding during sleep is common in children and usually settles on its own.
Children's mouth sores
Mouth sores in children are usually minor and clear up within a week or two.
Baby teeth: when they come and go
What's normal for teeth arriving, wobbling and falling out — and what's worth checking.
Children's toothpaste: how much and when
The right fluoride, the right amount, at the right age.
Dental Emergencies
Knocked-out (avulsed) tooth
A knocked-out adult tooth is an emergency; act fast to save it.
Chipped or broken tooth
A chipped or broken tooth should be seen soon, even if it does not hurt.
Lost filling or crown
A lost filling or crown is usually not urgent but should be seen promptly.
Toothache
Toothache has many causes and should be checked to treat the source.
Dental abscess & facial swelling
A dental abscess is an infection that needs prompt treatment.
Bleeding after an extraction
Some oozing after an extraction is normal and usually settles with pressure.
Injury to a baby tooth
An injured baby tooth should be checked, but never re-implant one if knocked out.
Medical & Special Situations
Blood thinners & dental surgery
What to know about blood-thinning medicines before dental surgery.
Pregnancy & oral health
Looking after your teeth and gums safely during pregnancy.
Diabetes & dental care
Why diabetes and your mouth health are closely connected.
Oral care for older adults
Keeping teeth, gums and dentures healthy as you get older.
Medicines & dry mouth
Many common medicines can reduce saliva and dry your mouth.
Dental tourism & overseas treatment
What to weigh up before combining major dental work with an overseas trip.
Every page is written and reviewed by practising clinicians.
Dr Rick Iskandar · Reviewed June 2026 · Sources: Australian Dental Association, specialty college guidance
✓ Clinician-reviewed
General information — not a substitute for personal advice from your dental team. Please discuss your individual situation with your dentist.
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