It is important to attend a dentist on a regular basis as any potential problems will be identified early and appropriate action taken. Tooth decay can, if left untreated, cause the total loss of a tooth within a year. For this reason it is important to attend every 6 months but at a maximum once per year.

Some full denture wearer’s assume that because they have no teeth that they needn’t see a dentist. With increasing age the chance of oral cancer’s or other lesions forming within the mouth increases and it is therefore important for your dentist to check this. Dentures will also become loose with age due to the bone resorbing and may need replacing or the fitting surface relining.

It can be safely said that tooth colored fillings are better than silver/ mercury fillings in most cases. Silver fillings have an unpleasant appearance. Also they tend to fracture the tooth itself over time.

Tooth colored fillings on the other hand are “bonded” to the teeth and hence actually support and strengthen the tooth. Also their color merges with that of the tooth and nobody can tell the difference.

The single most important benefit of root canal therapy is that your tooth is saved and remains in your mouth as it is. No artificial replacement is better than what is natural and god gifted.

Extraction may lead to other dental problems and related treatments. For ex. drifting of teeth into the extraction space & changes in the original bite. You may need to get the adjacent teeth treated that do not otherwise need dental treatment in order to restore the missing tooth.

Follow good oral hygiene practices, including brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day-especially around the crown area where the gum meets the tooth. This will help maintaining the crown as well as the tooth underneath and the surrounding gums.

On average, dental crowns last between 5 and 15 years. The life span of a crown depends on the amount of “wear and tear” the crown is exposed to, how well you follow good oral hygiene practices, and your personal mouth-related habits eg. avoid grinding or clenching your teeth, chewing ice, biting your fingernails and using your teeth to open packaging !

Erupting wisdom teeth can cause a lot of pain.It can make you sick with an earache, stiff head, runny nose and other pains in your body. Don’t mess around, get to your dentist and take care of this tooth.

After teeth whitening, the effect lasts for about 12-nths. However, this varies from person to person. The results last longer if you avoid food & drinks that cause staining of teeth. For eg: tea, coffee, red wine. Smoking increases the chances of relapse manifolds. Last but not least, personal hygiene plays a very important role. Not keeping the teeth clean will result in breakdown, as well as tooth discoloration.

Tooth whitening only works on your natural teeth and it won’t affect your crowns, bridges & veneers. One thing to consider in case you have crowns and bridges is that after the whitening there might be a substantial difference between their color and the color of your teeth.

Dental veneers are made from porcelain or composite resin. Both these materials have their share of advantages & disadvantages.

The advantage of porcelain veneers is that they resist stains better than composite resin veneers and better mimic the reflecting properties of natural teeth. However, porcelain veneers have a greater risk of cracking than composite resin, as it is a harder material.

Composite resin veneers require less shaving of the tooth surface before placement, and so they are a better option for those with sensitive teeth.

We advice you to discuss with your dentist the best option suitable for you.

Dental veneers should be taken care of as if they are your natural teeth. Thus, continue brushing twice a day and flossing as normal. Although porcelain veneers resist stains, we advise caution on stain-causing foods and beverages like red wine, coffee and tea.

Adults and children should change their toothbrush every 3 months because they become worn out and are not as effective as they initially were. Exceptions to this would be if you were using an electric tooth brush, and the manufacturer states otherwise. Some electric rechargable toothbrushes have very good brush heads that only need to be changed every 6 months. If you have gum disease, you should change your toothbrush every 4 – 6 weeks because bacteria can harbor in the bristles. You should always rinse your toothbrush out with hot water after every use and change it after you have been sick.

You must brush your teeth twice a day. Brushing at night is more important than in the morning. When we have food in the evening and we don’t brush before retiring then the bacteria have a full 8-10 hours to attack the enamel and cause cavities. Brushing before sleeping is a must. Rinse after each snack or meal.

In order to prevent dental problems, your child should see your dentist when the first tooth appears or no later than his/her first birthday.

Thumb and pacifier sucking habits will generally only become a problem if they go on for a very long period of time. Usually children stop these habits on their own, but if they are still sucking their thumbs or fingers past the age of three, a mouth appliance may be recommended by your dentist.