Frequently Asked Questions
Many people are curious about what to expect when they come to the dentist and want to be as informed as possible before their visit. We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions about routine visits and treatments. If there is anything else you would like to know, please get in touch.
Attending regular checkups will help to keep your gums and teeth healthy as well as detect any early problems such as gum disease, oral cancer and cavities. The best way to maintain good oral health is to visit your dentist/ hygienist every 6 months. Factors such as periodontal and gum disease, poor oral hygiene and certain medical conditions are what the dentist or hygienist takes into consideration when deciding how often you need your dental cleaning and check up. We say that prevention is better than cure. By attending every 6 months, patients will be less likely to require serious treatment as their dentist will spot problems early on.
Two major reasons of bad breathe are bacteria and decaying food bits. There are hundreds of areas of your mouth where they can get lodged. Brushing is not enough. Flossing or interdental cleaning is a must, you brush the front and back of teeth so why not the sides? Poor oral hygiene eventually will lead to periodontal (gum) disease, which can cause bad breath.
Keeping your mouth moist is helpful, by drinking plenty of water every day to help your body make saliva. An occasional swish of the mouth with water can loosen bits of food. Occasional Sugar-free gum or sugar-free breath mints can help you keep breath fresh and prevent plaque from forming. More importantly visiting your dentist or hygienist regularly can reduce bad breathe caused by dental problems and you can be advised on methods that may help your oral hygiene. Your dentist or dental hygienist can remove any build-up on your teeth and treat any gum disease that has already appeared. But daily dental care is up to you. . If it turns out that the problem isn’t in the mouth, a G.P appointment is advisable. Sinus problems, stomach problems, and certain foods and medications, and other factors can contribute to bad breath.
Hygienists are focused on keeping teeth and gums healthy and educating patients about preventive measures to help keep teeth and gums healthy. Patients who have gum disease may need more treatment and regular follow-up with the hygienist. Gum disease can also become more severe during pregnancy and women may require visits during the pregnancy.
The hygienist examines gums for signs of disease, remove stains, plaque and tartar from the teeth, perform deep scaling to treat advanced gum disease and educates patients on their role in disease prevention and treatment. Frequent visits to the hygienist helps maintain healthy gums and good oral health.
Wisdom teeth are the third molar teeth, also described as ‘eights’ because of their position in the mouth. They are the last of the permanent teeth to develop.
Because the wisdom teeth are the last to develop and the last to come up there may not be enough space left for them. Also they may develop in an abnormal alignment.
No. Each case is individual and judged on its merits, other measures are available to control the problem and may be appropriate in your case.
Home whitening is when you have custom made trays and gel to use at your convenience, you can wear them for a hour at a time or overnight depending on what the dentist recommends and suits you. To get good results you would need to wear them every day for at least a week.
Laser whitening is carried out in the dental surgery by the dentist.
At IFSC Dental Care, we recommend at home whitening as it is a gentler way to obtain the results you want, without risking tooth sensitivity.
At IFSC Dental Care we use POLA Advanced tooth whitening system. Our dentists will assess your needs and provide you with everything you need for your at home whitening kit.
Some people experience no pain or sensitivity with their teeth. However, some patients may experience some kind of sensitivity after whitening. The product we use
Pain is very often only experienced when decay has reached the nerve in tooth. Waiting until this happens will mean much more extensive and expensive treatment is required to save the tooth or the tooth may be lost.
No. A crown is needed if not enough sound tooth structure is present to hold a filling or for some cosmetic reason. A root treated tooth may not have enough sound tooth left to hold a filling but very often there is still sufficient tooth left to allow a filling to be placed.
White fillings are tooth coloured plastic composites. They are bonded to the tooth structure and are not obvious to the naked eye.
Composite fillings are set using a special light. Metal fillings are a mixture of metal alloys and mercury. This mixture is a called an amalgam. It is placed into the tooth and dhaped while soft. The amalgam sets after about one hour.
Hygienists are focused on keeping teeth and gums healthy and educating patients about preventive measures to help keep teeth and gums healthy. Patients who have gum disease may need more treatment and regular follow-up with the hygienist. Gum disease can also become more severe during pregnancy and women may require visits during the pregnancy.
The hygienist examines gums for signs of disease, remove stains, plaque and tartar from the teeth, perform deep scaling to treat advanced gum disease and educates patients on their role in disease prevention and treatment. Frequent visits to the hygienist helps maintain healthy gums and good oral health.
Two major reasons of bad breathe are bacteria and decaying food bits. There are hundreds of areas of your mouth where they can get lodged. Brushing is not enough. Flossing or interdental cleaning is a must, you brush the front and back of teeth so why not the sides? Poor oral hygiene eventually will lead to periodontal (gum) disease, which can cause bad breath.
Keeping your mouth moist is helpful, by drinking plenty of water every day to help your body make saliva. An occasional swish of the mouth with water can loosen bits of food. Occasional Sugar-free gum or sugar-free breath mints can help you keep breath fresh and prevent plaque from forming. More importantly visiting your dentist or hygienist regularly can reduce bad breathe caused by dental problems and you can be advised on methods that may help your oral hygiene. Your dentist or dental hygienist can remove any build-up on your teeth and treat any gum disease that has already appeared. But daily dental care is up to you. . If it turns out that the problem isn’t in the mouth, a G.P appointment is advisable. Sinus problems, stomach problems, and certain foods and medications, and other factors can contribute to bad breath.
You can find a comprehensive list commonly asked questions about Invisalign here