Oral health
The best questions to ask and red flags to avoid at the dentist
Advocating for yourself at the dentist is important. Here’s how.
- by Knvul Sheikh
Latest
Explainer
Health
‘A prevailing fixation’: Why do we love straight, white teeth?
Teeth are essential to everyday life – and they carry our secrets long after we’re gone. What do they know? (And what makes a “perfect” smile?)
- by Angus Holland
Arctic-white teeth shine all over our TVs. But is the veneer trend doomed?
Many patients who are getting “re-dos” and others are regretting going down the path in the first place.
- by Stephanie Darling
Opinion
For subscribers
My dentist charged me thousands for a mouth full of unnecessary fillings
Though the cavity from the wisdom tooth had healed nicely, the pain in the molar had worsened, sending me back to the chair for the fourth time. Then I got a second opinion.
- by Carol Hart
What would it cost to give everyone free checkups at the dentist?
The government will consider eight potential ways of expanding Medicare to help improve the smiles of Australians for between $2 billion and $11 billion a year.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Exclusive
Perth
Dental care ‘out of reach’ for West Australians as cost-of-living pressures bite
The average cost of a standard dental check-up for West Australians has hit $233, eclipsing the national average and adding weight to mounting evidence that oral health care is out of reach for most Australians.
Exclusive
Healthcare
Where a trip to the dentist will hurt your wallet the most
Australians are paying an average of $230 for a standard check-up and clean at the dentist – or up to $300 when they visit a new clinic.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Opinion
For subscribers
Give me crooked vampire teeth over a fake pearly white smile any day
Though I have become begrudgingly accustomed to my dysfunctional mouth, I exist in a world that does not share my acceptance.
- by Shona Hendley
You might think you take good care of your teeth. But do you really?
A healthy oral microbiome affects our overall health and doesn’t take much to maintain, but most of us aren’t doing it.
- by Sarah Berry
The ‘quiet disease’ lingering in our mouths
Around three in 10 adults have early-stage gum disease. Here’s how to recognise and treat it.
- by Melinda Wenner Moyer
‘Like a set of piano keys’: Why Australians are opting for veneers
Cosmetic dentistry is on the rise, but what’s behind our obsession with perfect teeth?
- by Nell Geraets