The dental visits most people make during their lifetime are for simple maintenance like cleaning or having cavities filled. With the increased popularity and availability of cosmetic dentistry, other visits will include teeth whitening, crowns and bridges and of course, orthodontics. However, there are occasions where more extensive dental work is needed which possibly may require dental surgery. Some of this surgery may be able to be performed in the dental chair, but for other procedures, hospitalisation may be necessary, along with a general anaesthetic. To perform this type of dental surgery requires specialised qualifications and experience, so this work is typically not performed by a general dentist.

One of the most common procedures that may require extensive dental surgery is the removal of wisdom teeth. If the extraction is a routine one, most dentists Bundaberg would confidently perform this procedure. If the extraction is more complicated, for example, if the wisdom teeth are impacted i.e. have not erupted fully through the gum into their expected alignment, the patient may elect to be hospitalised.

Dental implants are another procedure that may require more than a typical visit to a general dentist, especially if there is more than one, or in extreme cases, a full arch. This specialist surgery inserts a metal cylinder into the jawbone to replace the root from the missing tooth. A connector, usually a screw, is then attached to the implant and finally the tooth is attached to the connector. The choice of having a general anaesthetic is always the right of the patient, but for extensive dental surgery, it is often a much more comfortable option.


This is especially true in cases where the patient may require bone augmentation to support the implant. This is usually performed either before or during the dental implant surgery. Bone augmentation is the process of placing filler bone in a space to encourage the patient’s own natural bone to grow around it. Once a tooth is removed from the jaw, the tooth root is no longer there to support the bone, which begins to recede from the jaw almost immediately. This loss continues over time, but can be stopped by the placement of dental implants.

In most patients who have orthodontic treatments to straighten and correctly align teeth, there is little in the way of major surgery required to support the procedure long-term. However, sometimes, the bite function is still causing the patient problems or their facial profile needs adjusting. Jaw surgery is one of the methods used to correct these issues, and this type of dental surgery Bundaberg would normally be performed by specialists in a hospital and under general anaesthetic.

While some patients may elect to have much of this surgery performed under a local anaesthetic in the dental chair, the more extensive surgery should be undertaken with all the infection control precautions that hospitalisation offers. This is specialist surgery performed by highly trained surgeons and it seems only common sense that patients would take advantage of these skills.

Tooth whitening is one of the most popular dental procedures currently being requested of dental professionals, with some research suggesting that it is being driven by our celebrity-obsessed culture. Most magazine photographs show the glitterati with dazzling, white smiles but we have no way of knowing if that whiteness is natural, or was produced by an air brushing artist. If the average person is expecting a similar dramatic result from their dentist, they are bound to be disappointed. There are benefits to be had from tooth whitening, but there are also possible drawbacks, and only a dental professional can provide an accurate assessment on an individual basis.

It must first be understood that not everyone’s teeth are suitable for whitening. If the teeth and gums are not in a clean and healthy condition beforehand, the procedure could cause further damage, and even if this is not the case, the teeth may still be unsuitable for whitening. Only a dentist Bundaberg is qualified to make this assessment.

To make an accurate assessment, a dentist will check the hardness of the enamel, look for existing sensitivity or decay, receding gums or other evidence of gum disease, and existing fillings, crowns or veneers. The cause of the discoloration will also be assessed e.g. diet and age are factors, and also whether it is surface discoloration or coming from inside the teeth. Only then will a dentist recommend a specific tooth whitening product or process.

If done correctly after a professional assessment, most people experience no problems with tooth whitening. However, do-it-yourself kits used or applied incorrectly can cause damaged, inflamed or blistered gums, softening of the enamel and severe sensitivity. Also, existing crowns, veneers and fillings will not change color, so there is a danger of having teeth in a number of different shades.

If applying the treatment at home, instructions must be strictly followed. A common way of thinking is that if the recommended amount is good, then more must be better. This is not a good idea because some products, if used for long periods of time in excessive doses, can cause irreparable damage to teeth. In fact, products containing more than a 6% concentration of whitening agent should only be used by a qualified dentist.


The most difficult issue for a dentist to manage is the unrealistic expectations of the patient. As long as people understand that their smile won’t change from a yellowish-grey to a movie-star white, the improvement is noticeable and appreciated. A realistic result from a tooth whitening Bundaberg treatment is a one or two shade difference.


This change is subtle enough for people to notice that something is different but they can’t quite put their finger on it. The smile is more attractive, the contrast against the skin tone makes the person look younger and because they look better they feel more confident. Tooth whitening may not be for everyone, but it does make a difference for many people.