FAQ

A good smile involves in it more than just healthy teeth and gums. It is a blend of symmetry, color, shape and lines that create a balanced harmonious smile. Many of us have good and healthy teeth as well as gums but are yet unhappy with our smiles. In such an instance we can go in for a smile evaluation to an esthetic dentist who will evaluate the smile for its missing, predominant or underplayed features and then proceed with their correction through various means. This process is called smile designing.

Tooth removal is always performed under local anesthesia, hence it is painless. Wisdom tooth removal is unique, in that the teeth are situated posterior most in the mouth and carry the risk of spreading infections into adjacent areas. Also sometimes the shape and position of these may necessitate surgical removal.

One should visit the dentist at least twice a year for regular checkups. However, if there is toothache, bleeding gums, sensitive teeth or any other dental problem, one is advised to visit the dentist immediately.

All toothpastes work as foaming agents that help to clean your teeth of plaque and food remnants. The choice of most toothpastes is governed by their medicinal content and flavour. Any fluoridated toothpaste is a good general toothpaste for the family. Medicated toothpastes are available for specific purposes and should be used under the advise of your dentist only.

There are many mouthwashes available in the market, which are nothing but mild antiseptics that refreshes the mouth. These can be used as temporary solutions to combat bad breathe. Prolonged usage of a mouthwash is however not advisable.

Children do get cranky when teething since they may experience the signs like drooling, irritability, restlessness and loss of appetite. Fever, illness and diarrhoea are not symptoms of teething. If your child presents with the latter signs, they need to be evaluated by your paeditrician. The best solution to comfort the child is to have the child chew on a cold or frozen rubber teething ring. Topical anesthetics/gels are not advisable.

Teeth will not become loose because of the cleaning procedure. The teeth are held firmly in place due to the gums and the bone around them. The tartar gathered around the teeth causes infection of the gums and bone. This infection leads to receding of bone and gum levels and thus creates gaps between teeth. This tartar if not removed periodically (Once in Every 6 Months) can cause loosening of teeth. The cleaning procedure will help to remove tartar and stop the gum and bone from receding.

One of the most devastating effects of tobacco is the development of oral cancer. The risk of oral cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked each day and the number of years that the person has been smoking. Some of the other oral side effects of tobacco are tooth stains, delayed healing of oral wounds, increased severity of gum disease and bad breath and not to be forgotten reduced mouth opening due to submucous fibrosis.

These are titanium tooth supports, which are surgically fixed into the jaw to replace missing teeth. Once embedded into the bone, they serve as supports to the crown and bridge by taking support from the bone and not from the adjacent teeth and hence do not require grinding of any adjacent teeth for replacement of missing teeth.

Yes, one should clean the baby's teeth with soft baby tooth brush and give them water after every meal to ensure that the mouth is free of any food remnants. Also, regular tongue cleaning using a soft cloth/silicon tongue cleaner is advised.

The braces apply continuous, slow pressure over a period of time on the teeth and help in moving them into the proper positions. Bands, wires and elastics are placed on the teeth to move them in the right direction. Moving teeth into a functional and an esthetically pleasing position can take a few months to years depending on the amount of correction required, the age, the severity of the case and also the motivational levels of the patient.

The primary means to oral hygiene is proper and methodical brushing of teeth. This cleans away the plaque on a daily basis and also helps to keep the breath fresh. Brushing teeth at least twice a day using fluoridated toothpaste is recommended to keep them clean. The fluoride in the toothpaste makes the enamel more resistant to attack by the decay-forming acids in the mouth. The toothbrush selected should have a firm, comfortable grip with soft rounded bristles on a contoured head and replaced every 3-4 months for best results or as soon as the bristles are frayed.

Step 1 - Place bristles along the gumline at a 45 degree angle. Bristles should contact both the tooth surface and the gumline.

Step 2 - Gently brush the outer tooth surfaces of 2-3 teeth using a vibrating back and forth rolling motion. Move brush to the next group of 2-3 teeth and repeat.

Step 3 - Maintain a 45 degree angle with bristles contacting the tooth surface and gumline. Gently brush using back, forth and rolling motion along all of the inner tooth surfaces.

Step 4 - Tilt brush vertically behind the front teeth. Make several up and down strokes using the front half of the brush.

Step 5 - Place the brush against the biting surface of the teeth and use a gentle back and forth scrubbing motion. Brush the tongue, use tongue cleaner from back to front to remove odor producing bacteria.

There could be various reasons why one would face a problem of bleeding gums like accumulation of tartar around the necks of teeth, using a hard bristle tooth brush and intake of certain medications like anti-epileptic drugs. It calls for immediate attention by a dental professional to detect the cause and suggest suitable treatment options.

Chewing sugarless gum stimulates flow of saliva. Saliva works as a natural mouthwash by dissolving the volatile sulfur molecules, which make the breath smell bad. Saliva also neutralizes acids produced by plaque bacteria and helps to clear the mouth of food that plaque bacteria usually feast on.

The misconception that braces can only work for kids is not true, as people of any age can avail for this type of treatment. The treatment time may however be longer for adult patients as the bone is denser in them. But with newer treatment options like invisible, ceramic and lingual braces, esthetics and time of treatment are also not a problem.

Yes, it is possible to brighten your teeth by a procedure called teeth whitening. It is a simple procedure with predictable results and can be done at the dental clinic (Office Bleaching) and followed by a home bleach treatment if required. Superficial stains caused by smoking or excess intake of tea/coffee and wine can be effectively and conservatively removed for an instantly brighter smile.

Though brushing cleans the teeth, the toothbrush cannot clean the plaque which is stuck within the gaps between 2 teeth and under the gum line. Flossing daily keeps the teeth clean and prevents the buildup of plaque in the difficult areas. Dental floss is a special cord made of nylon which helps remove food particles stuck between two adjacent teeth and near the gums. Approximately 18 inches (40 centimeters) of floss is wrapped securely around the index fingers. With the help of the index fingers and thumbs the floss is gently guided between 2 teeth and eased up and down, going below the gum line to dislodge the plaque and food particles.

Bad breath or halitosis is a common problem which could be prevalent not only due to dental problems but also some systemic diseases like diabetes, stomach upset, etc. Bad breath can arise due to negligence of oral hygiene, pyorrhoea in gums, food lodgement in decayed teeth, unclean tongue, etc. After doing a professional clean up you would be either suggested the use of a mouthwash, taught proper brushing/flossing techniques and/or treated for dental decay or gum problems.

Root canal treatment is advised in cases where the nerve within the tooth is affected either due to decay, trauma or fracture. It involves the removal of the damaged or diseased pulp or nerve, cleaning and shaping the root canal and subsequently filling the canals with a suitable material. This treatment is done under anesthesia and hence painless.