Find Answers to Common Questions Q. What do I do if I have an emergency when the office is closed? Ans: If you have a dental emergency, please give us a call at +91 471 235 00 40 and you will be routed to the appropriate person for assistance. We are always only a phone call away. Q. How often should I have my teeth cleaned? Ans: Everyone is different. Most of our patients do very well having their teeth cleaned and checked twice a year. However, some people are more likely to have gum problems due to genetics (family history of periodontal disease), lifestyle (smoking) or possibly due to some medications, which can have different oral side effects. These patients usually are seen every three or four months, sometimes in conjunction with visits to the periodontist (gum specialist). Each patient is evaluated on an individual basis and we try to tailor your recall program to your specific needs. Q. What is bonding? Ans: In general, bonding is the process of attaching or “bonding” something to a tooth. In today’s dentistry, that something can be many different things from a simple filling, crown, onlay, veneer or even a bridge. The process usually involves several specific steps with very specific adhesives to achieve a very strong, long lasting bond to the tooth. Usually, the term bonding refers to the placement or “bonding” of tooth-colored material for cosmetic purposes on the front teeth to fix small chips, close spaces or correct some minor misalignment. Major corrections of this type are usually best achieved through the use of “bonded”veneers or crowns. Q. What is the difference between a crown and an onlay? Ans: As teeth get filled and re-filled over the years, they eventually get to the point where there is very little actual tooth left and a filling alone is not strong enough to resist the tremendous chewing forces of day-to-day use, risking possible fracture and loss of the tooth. At this point, a crown or an onlay is usually the preferred choice to restore long term, predictable function. Both essentially provide a new chewing surface and protect the underlying remaining tooth. The onlay is really a partial crown and the decision of which to use is made by the dentist based on how much actual tooth is left after all the old filling and underlying decay is removed. The onlay is the more conservative choice allowing us to preserve more of the natural tooth and is our first choice whenever possible. Q. What is the advantage of digital X-rays? Ans: There are many, but from the patient’s perspective, the biggest one is the reduced radiation required. Because the sensors we use are so much more sensitive than conventional x-ray film, we only need to use 1/3 to ½ of the radiation that was required with the old system. From a practical perspective, the images are now instantaneous and corrections can be made right away, developing chemicals are no longer needed and storage, handling and sending of digital images is much more efficient.Dr. Kamals Pearl White Dental Care
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 09:14:12 +0000