News

We’re Open and Here For You

Great news! Our centres are open and ready to provide treatment to support you and your family’s oral health. Improving the oral health of all Australians to world’s best is our true propose and we remain focused on your health and safety.

nib Dental is committed to caring for the health and well-being of our patients, dentists and employees in all our local communities. We are indebted to the wider healthcare community continuing to work tirelessly to contain and treat those with COVID-19.

It’s important to maintain regular check-ups with your dentist. Regular dental check-ups can prevent the need for major dental work in the future and is far more cost effective than allowing problems to go on undetected. Patients with nib health insurance coverage have access to 100% back on check-ups and cleans. Check-ups, cleans and associated services are often subsidised or provided with “no-gaps” to members of other private health insurance funds who have extras or ancillary cover also.

It is almost never too early to get into the healthy habit of six-monthly dental visits. Children as young as three years of age are advised to visit the dentist for a regular check-up and clean so that they become familiarised with their local nib Dental Care centre to help maximise their chances of achieving lifelong dental health.

Visiting us – STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY
Our centres continue to uphold the highest clinical standards in line with our stringent and accredited (QIP) infection prevention and control and recommendations provided by the Australian Dental Association. We have introduced additional measures at this time.

Signs of illness

  • Patients are being asked to report and not attend nib Dental Care centres if they have any of the following symptoms;
    • Fever
    • Cough
    • Sore throat
    • Shortness of breath

Our staff requests this information at several stages including appointment confirmation, online booking and at reception check-in

We have implemented additional protocols:

  • Frequently touched surfaces including our waiting areas, reception desk and door handles are being thoroughly disinfected multiple times a day
  • We have removed any toys, magazines and other unnecessary items from our waiting rooms
  • Social distancing within our waiting and reception areas has been introduced and hand sanitiser is available to all patients upon arrival

When you visit nib Dental Care, you can have peace of mind knowing that significant health precautions are being taken to ensure your safety and importantly maintain your healthy and happy smile.

 

Having Trouble Encouraging Your Kids to Brush Their Teeth

We’re Here to Help!

Working from home, schooling from home and keeping on top of daily routines is a big ask for all parents at the moment. If you need help keeping your child’s dental health in check, we’ve got you covered!  Track and reward your child’s daily brushing with this handy printable Teeth Brushing Chart. Reward with a healthy snack or online activity – maybe not chocolate!

Download Your Teeth Brushing Chart!

Cooking During COVID-19?

 

Feed your family with our top 5 foods for healthy teeth!

We’re all spending much more time at home and cooking during isolation. But don’t forget to think about your family’s teeth when making healthy food choices. These are our top foods for strong teeth.

  1. Cheese, plain milk or sugar-free yoghurt – These dairy foods help protect your tooth enamel by providing the calcium needed to remineralise teeth. Always choose low sugar options.
  2. Chicken and meat – Chicken and meat contain phosphorus which is an important mineral that helps protect tooth enamel, in combination with calcium.
  3. Salmon – Salmon is a great source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is important as it allows your body to absorb and use calcium, in turn protecting tooth enamel.
  4. Crunchy vegetables – Vegetables that contain lots of water and require lots of chewing such as carrots, raw broccoli, raw cauliflower and celery are great for teeth. All of that chewing breaks down plaque and helps freshen your breath.
  5. Crunchy fruits – Fruits with high water content and crunchy texture are great for stimulating saliva and potentially help remove plaque. Best examples are;  Apples, pears and cucumbers.

Did you know?

Saliva contains enzymes that buffer the acids present in food and clean bits of food out of the teeth.

Water helps wash away food debris and maintain saliva levels. Saliva helps against tooth decay because it contains proteins and minerals that counteract enamel eating acids.

Recipes At Home

 

The Easiest (and Tastiest) Banana Bread!

Banana bread has been popular in Australian households for decades but all the extra time at home has made this favourite the internet’s most searched recipe during this period.

Ingredients

Dry
1.5 x cups self raising Flour (sifted)
1 x cup Coconut
1 x cup Brown Sugar* (firmly packed)
1 x tsp Bicarb

Wet
1 x 270ml Tin Coconut Cream (small tin)
2 x Eggs (lightly whisked)
2 or 3 x bananas (mashed)
1 x tsp Vanilla

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees Celsius
  2. Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl and lightly beat
  3. Mix the wet ingredients in another bowl and lightly beat
  4. Add the dry and wet ingredients together and mix
  5. Pour into a lined loaf tin and place in the over for approximately 1 hour 10 minutes (you may need to watch it as all ovens can vary)

For something a little bit different you can add in a few extras depending on what you have left in the fridge or pantry. For example, blueberries, raspberries, pear etc., even white chocolate bits. If you do add in any extras, you’ll only need to use two bananas depending on the banana size.

Happy baking!

 

* Please note that as this recipe does contain sugar, we recommend that in line with keeping your teeth and gums healthy, to brush your teeth after eating this delicious banana bread. If it’s not possible to brush your teeth immediately after eating,  rinsing your mouth with water will help until you can make it to your next brushing.

What To Expect During An Emergency Dental Appointment

Sometimes dental emergencies can’t wait. Feeling dental pain and realising a visit to the dentist is necessary, may be first time you have experienced an emergency dental appointment. This can be a stressful experience for all involved. But knowing what to expect at your visit can alleviate some worry.

We are open and available for emergency dental treatment for you and your family. If you are experiencing dental pain and need an appointment, please call your local clinic or book on our online forms.

nib Dental remains committed to caring for the health and well-being of our patients in our local communities. We have had to make some changes as a result of the impact of COVID-19. On advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), we are deferring non-essential dental treatment at this time. But nib Dental remains available for emergency care.

What is nib Dental doing to ensure patients and staff are safe during Covid-19?
We have introduced additional measures at this time. Patients are being asked to report and not attend nib Dental if they have any of the following symptoms;

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Shortness of breath

We have implemented additional cleaning and hygiene protocols:

  • Frequently touched surfaces including our waiting areas, reception desk and door handles are being thoroughly disinfected multiple times a day
  • We have removed any toys, magazines and other unnecessary items from our waiting rooms
  • Social distancing within our waiting and reception areas has been introduced and hand sanitiser is available to all patients upon arrival

When you visit nib Dental, you can have peace of mind knowing that significant health precautions are being taken to ensure your safety.

I am in pain, is this a dental emergency?

If you are experiencing dental pain, or any structural damage to your teeth, you should see your dentist sooner rather than later. Examples of issues that may require an emergency dental appointment include:

  • Pain in your teeth or gums
  • Tooth infections or abscesses
  • A chipped or broken tooth
  • A tooth being knocked out
  • Denture repairs
  • Lost crowns or fillings
  • Sports injuries

While you organise your appointment with us you can follow some basic care for your dental emergency.

What Should I Do When I Need To Make An Emergency Appointment?

Firstly, contact your local nib Dental Care Centre. During this call you will be asked a series of questions to determine what type of appointment suits your needs. These questions could include how severe your pain, illness, or injuries are. Once you have answered these screening questions it will be determined if you require an urgent same day emergency dental appointment or if we are able to schedule your emergency dental treatment for a later date.

What Happens When I Arrive At The Emergency Dental Appointment?

When you arrive at your emergency appointment you will need with speak to reception who will ask the same screening questions that you were asked previously over the phone. Our staff ask these screening questions a second time to assist determining if there have been any significant changes to your circumstances.

What Should I Expect During An Emergency Dental Appointment?

The primary aim of an emergency dental appointment is to reduce or remove any discomfort you may be experiencing. During the appointment it is our priority to find the cause of pain, rather than focusing on routine dental procedures so you may find that subsequent appointment may be scheduled to follow up on your emergency procedure as well as further additional routine procedures.

What Can I Do To Prevent Dental Emergencies?

Lowering your risk of requiring emergency dental work doesn’t guarantee that it won’t happen to you. By their very nature dental emergencies are unpredictable and can happen at any time. However, to mitigate the risk, here are some basic steps to keep your teeth in top shape:

  • Avoid using your teeth as tools to open packages, lids, sticky tape etc
  • Wear a mouthguard where there’s a risk of dental trauma
  • Minimise chewing hard foods such as lollies, ice, popcorn kernels etc
  • Cut back on sugary foods and drinks to avoid cavities

The cost of your emergency dental appointment will vary depending upon your individual dental needs. Your dentist will discuss the expected costs with you at the time of your appointment.

If you or a family member are in dental pain or in need of an emergency dentist, contact your local nib Dental Care Centre for an urgent care appointment.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risk. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

 

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