What should I expect in my first visit to your clinic?
Answer: Your initial appointment enables us to review your medical and dental history, discuss your treatment goals and conduct a comprehensive dental examination. Once we gather all essential information, we will share our findings and provide you with information and options to achieve your goals.Are Dental procedures Painful?
Answer: With recent technique of anesthesia and pain control, most dental procedures are comfortable

Questions about tooth whitening from visitors to our site:

  1. What if I have porcelain veneers? Can I whiten those?Answer: According to recent studies, you can whiten your teeth a little if you have porcelain veneers. Teeth bleaching will not whiten the porcelain veneers themselves, but you can whiten the teeth under the veneers. Depending on the translucency of the veneers, the whiter teeth will probably show through to some extent. Porcelain veneers cover just the fronts of the teeth – the teeth bleaching gel can still penetrate from behind the teeth.
  2. Will my teeth become discolored again after bleaching?Answer:Gradual discoloration over a period of time,say,six months or so, is expected.This is due to food colorants and coffee,smokeetc.You can always go in for a short “Touch-up”appointment with the dentist to regain that whiteness.
  3. I have a crown on a front tooth? Will tooth whitening work with a crown?Answer:Ceramic crowns can not be bleached.Its better to go for the desired shade of bleaching first and then match it up with same shade crown.
  4. My teeth have become very sensitive after bleaching. What should I do?Answer: Some amount of sensitivity is expected after bleaching. In-office bleaching is always followed up with application of desensitizer.Sensitivity after AT-home bleaching can be taken care of by use of desensitizing mouthwashes and pastes.However, At-home bleaching should always be done after recommendation of your dentist.
  5. My teeth have tetracycline stains. Can I whiten them?Answer:These stains are the toughest ones to treat and their removal depends upon the degree of staining. In sever cases, laminates are recommended.
  6. What to do for a discolored root canal tooth.Answer:One treatment option is internal tooth bleaching, but the results of this treatment may not be satisfactory to you. In such cases, crown is the best option.

 

  • Is tooth removal always necessary for orthodontic treatment? 

    Answer: Not all patients have to go through teeth removal as more and more cases are being managed non extraction in our clinic. However if the case, after thorough diagnostic protocol, seems to benefit with extractions , we do not hesitate to suggest them for long term stability and health of teeth and supporting tissues.

  • I dont like metal braces, what do I do ? 

    Answer: You dont have to wear a ” metal braces”. With introduction of Ceramic (tooth coloured),Lingual(invisible) braces and clear alignersits possible to get that beautiful smile without any metallic appearence.

  • My friends tell me Orthodontic treatment is painful. Is that true?Answer: Each individual varies in their response to the pressures of braces. We asses our patients from the begining and customise our wire sequence in a manner that minimises the discomfort.

Prevent Accidents

but know what to do if one occurs

Mouth guards are one of the least expensive pieces of protective gear available. They can help preventor minimize tooth and jaw injuries. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends mouth guardsbe worn any time the teeth could come into contact with a ball, a hard object, another player or thepavement. The recommendation applies to organized sports as well as leisure activities like bicycling.If a mouth guard is not worn and an injury occurs, follow these first aid tips.In Case of Broken Teeth

INTRUDED TOOTH EXTRUDED TOOTH LUXATED TOOTH

Knocked OutPermanent Tooth

Time is Critical

A tooth might be saved if cared for properly and reimplanted as soon as possible. Timely treatment

may improve the chances of reattaching an injured tooth.

  • Call your dentist for immediate attention.
  • Locate the tooth; hold it by the crown (the wide part, not the pointed end/root).
  • Remove large pieces of debris, but avoid rubbing or touching the root.
  • Rinse the tooth. Do not scrub. If using a sink, be sure to put the plug in the sink so that the tooth

will not go down the drain if it is dropped.

  • Attempt to gently put the clean tooth back in its socket. Cover with gauze or tissue and bite down

to stabilize it, if possible, or hold the tooth in its socket until seen by the dentist.

  • If the tooth cannot be put back into its socket, store the tooth in liquid until you see the dentist.

Put the tooth in milk or sterile saline solution (contact lens solution with no preservatives). Do not

soak or store the tooth in water because water will kill the cells on the root that are vital for

successfulreimplantation. If milk or saline solution are unavailable, the tooth can be stored in the

cheek where saliva will help provide vitality to the root surface. If stored in the cheek, be careful

not to swallow the tooth.

  • Do not let the tooth dry out.

What is gum disease?
Gum disease, or more correctly called “periodontal disease”, is a bacterial infection in the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. It can be divided into several categories.The first stage is called “gingivitis” and is characterized by gum tissue that is red, puffy, and bleeds easily when touched with a toothbrush, floss or dental instrument.

The second, third, and fourth stages are initial, moderate, and advanced “periodontal disease”, respectively. These stages are different from gingivitis because the infection has destroyed the bone supporting the teeth, causing eventual tooth loss. The treatment is more complicated at these stages, usually consisting of a special cleaning with anesthesia and sometimes gum surgery.

Some signs of periodontal disease are: bleeding gums, redness of gum tissue, swelling of gums around the teeth, odor, receding gums, mobility of teeth.

Periodontal disease can go on for years without pain and without detection unless specific examination procedures are performed.

Accidents

I have bad breath. Is there any treatment for it?
While bad breath might be a symptom of some other disorder, it most likely stems from dental decay and periodontitis.Periodontitis is a disease affecting gums and bone that support the teeth, and it results from inadequate tooth brushing and flossing. In this disease, the irritated gums pull away from the teeth and form pockets between the teeth and the gums. These pockets fill with bacteria and pus which give off a bad odour.

Patients with bad breath need a complete dental evaluation. If gum disease and/or dental decay is diagnosed, it can be treated readily. The patient will no longer have an infection in his or her mouth, and he or she will no longer have the embarrassment of bad breath.

 

Can I replace my silver fillings with white fillings?
Many of our clients have had silver fillings placed into their teeth because they had cavities. These silver fillings are called amalgams. Amalgam fills the space where the decay in the tooth has been removed.However, over time, the amalgam which contains mercury corrodes and leaks which blackens the silver, and many times darkens the tooth as well. This is easily seen as soon as a person opens his or her mouth and can be a source of embarrassment. We can provide you with composite fillings that actually bonds to the tooth for a tight seal. They are strong and stain-resistant, and they are color-matched to the natural tooth, making them “invisible”.

Composite fillings also lack the sensitivity that is often associated with silver amalgam fillings. They are especially suited for smaller cavities and for clients who may be allergic to metal fillings.

 


I have a missing tooth. What happens to my bite now?
Losing a tooth by accident or by extraction is not the end of the matter. When a tooth is missing, the resulting gap will allow nearby teeth to tilt or drift from their normal position, and the teeth above the gap will move downward.Aside from the obvious cosmetic problem, the changed positions of these teeth can lead to severe bite problems causing jaw pain and headaches.

Missing teeth should be replaced to keep other teeth in their normal position. This can be done with a fixed bridge or a dental implant. Both of these treatments offer a good functional and cosmetic result

 

What is a root canal therapy?
Many people flinch when their dentists tell them they need root canal therapy. While we are sympathetic to your fears of pain, we also want you to know that root canal therapy has three purposes:
Stop the tooth ache
Prevent bacteria and pain from spreading into the jaw. Maintain the original tooth instead of replacing it with a bridge, implant or denture.The root canal is actually a channel that runs from the root of the tooth, which connects to the bone, up to the top surface of the tooth. The canal contains blood vessels, nerves, and the complex cells that make up the living tissue inside the tooth. This lifeline inside the tooth is called the pulp.

When a tooth is decayed or cracked, bacteria can get to the pulp. The acid from the bacteria irritates the pulp and it becomes inflamed; it’s the same process you watch when other parts of your body become infected. When the pulp tissue becomes inflamed, it’s harder for blood to flow to the tissue, and the resulting pressure creates pain inside your tooth.

A root canal procedure limits the infection and keeps it from destroying the tooth. During the root canal treatment procedure, the dentist removes the inflamed or infected tissue, carefully cleans, disinfects, and shapes the root canal space inside the tooth, and then fills and seals this space.

It may take one or more appointments to complete the procedure. A protective restoration should be placed after root canal treatment has been completed in order to restore the tooth to function and help prevent tooth fracture.

We think of a root canal as washing the invasive bacteria out of the root, filling it with a biocompatible material that soothes the area, then sealing it back up again.

That means you get to keep your tooth. And that’s a good thing.

 

What happens if I just ignore getting my teeth cleaned?

As the plaque and calculus accumulate, the periodontal disease continues. Supporting tissues around the teeth (gums, periodontal ligaments, bone) are lost.

Periodontal pockets form which trap additional plaque. Bad breath often accompanies this condition. Once the bone that supports the teeth is lost, it will not regrow without surgical intervention.