Q:  At what age does my child need to start going to the dentist?

 

A: The ideal age is two years. Take your child with you when you have your annual check-up. The psychological part of dentistry is just as important as everything else. By taking your child with you he/she will get use to the look and smell of the dental office.

 

Q: When I brush my teeth my gums bleed. What should I do?

 

A: Bleeding gums is a sign that something is wrong. It is your body's way to tell you that you need to pay attention to your mouth. The bleeding is caused by the accumulation of bacteria underneath the gumline. Your gums in turn will get infected. Your body will try to get rid of them by increasing the blood flow to that area. Visit your oral hygienist as soon as possible.

 

Q: What is a root canal treatment and why is it painful?

 

A: See the 'Patient education' page for a full description of the procedure. Root canal treatments are only painful when done while there is an acute infection around that tooth. Your dentist will give you antibiotics to drink to help clear up the infection. Some people are unlucky when it comes to root canal treatments. It is of the utmost importance to open up an extremely painful tooth. It is the only way to get rid of the pain, even though you have to endure an increased level of pain for 10 to 20 minutes. In the end, once it is done, the pain will disappear.

 

Q: How often do I need to go to the dentist?

 

A: Every six months. Believe it or not but new tooth decay can form within six months and you may not always experience symptoms. If you have a heavily filled or crowned mouth it is important to maintain your mouth. This can only be achieved by visiting your dentist and oral hygienist.

 

Q: For how long does the numbness last?

 

A: Each person's metabolism will determine the time. Depending on the amount and type of injection it will last between 3-6 hours.

 

Q: How soon after dental treatment can I eat?

 

A: Your treating dentist will inform you after each treatment. It differs from treatment to treatment.

 

Q: For how long after dental treatment am I supposed to feel pain?

 

A: A realistic time would be to wait for 2-3 weeks to see whether the symptoms subsides. Dental treatment is surprisingly more invasive than one would think. Your teeth and surrounding tissue will need time to adjust to the treatment. Extreme temperature changes and dehydration during treatment will leave teeth sensitive for at least a couple of weeks. It is important though that the symptoms improve from day to day. If the symptoms stay the same after a few days it is advisable to return to your dentist.

 

Q: Should I give fluoride supplements to my child?

 

A: No. In the modern era that we are living there is enough fluoride in the water that we consume, to supplement our diet sufficiently. Giving your child extra fluoride may lead to a disease called fluorosis( White to yellow to brown marks on permanent teeth with even developmental cavities)

 

 

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