The main causes for bleeding gum are deposits on tooth surfaces leading to swelling of gums. The swelling is usually not visible but usually manifests as bleeding in the gums. Other cause includes acute gum infection and system changes in the body.
2.Why & how often should I go for tooth cleaning by a dentist?
Normal brushing need not remove all the debris from your mouth especially from unreachable or neglected areas of mouth. In this areas hard deposits of debris called calculus is formed (‘Tartar’ is the more common term), These deposits cannot be removed by normal brushing and leads to gum bleeding & mobility of teeth. So professional cleaning of teeth by a dentist is advisable. For younger patients once a year cleaning should be done and for elderly patients it is recommended every six months depending on their oral hygiene.
3.What are the causes for bad breath/ halitosis?
Bad breath can be due to dental reasons like poor oral hygiene, tartar, large open cavities on tooth, artificial dentures, smoking, drinking etc. Medical conditions like diabetics, throat infections, kidney problems etc., could also cause bad breath.
4.Why is my teeth sensitive & what can be done to make it stronger?
It can be caused by loss of enamel/dentin due to faulty brushing, increased consumption of acidic beverages. There are tooth pastes for sensitive teeth which are available .Filling or replacing the worn out enamel/dentin of the tooth should also be done.
5.My teeth are mobile , what could be the reason?
Mobility of teeth is mainly due to loss of bone support, abnormal biting habits and deposits (Tartar) on the teeth which leads to destruction of bone around the tooth leading to tooth mobility. You need to consult a Periodontist (Gum Specialist).
6.Why are there stains in the teeth?
Stains are mainly of two types
-Extrinsic are mainly due to tobacco use, poor oral hygiene,certain bacteria,drinking excess tea,coffee etc.
-Intrinsic stains are mainly due to certain medication (tetracycline), fluoride excess etc.
These stains can be removed by scaling / cleaning of teeth and by Bleaching procedures.
7.Is cleaning/Scaling harmful to teeth or not?
It is a misconception that cleaning is harmful to teeth. On the contrary, not cleaning teeth regularly can lead to many deleterious effects on the tooth and gums. No cutting of the tooth is done during scaling of the teeth .Slight amount of bleeding or sensitivity can occur but they are in no way harmful.
8.What is flap surgery?
It is a procedure done to separate the gums in the affected area to enable proper cleaning of the root surface of tooth. It is a minor surgical procedure and when done by a specialist can yield excellent results.
9.When is Periodontal Surgery indicated?
o In case of recurrent bleeding even after professional scaling.
o In case of tooth & pockets where complete removal of root irritants is not possible.
o History of recurrent swelling and inflammation of gums.
10.Why gums are receding? What do I do?
Due to mainly conditions such as improper brushing, advancing age, wearing of tooth surface, gum diseases etc. Corrective techniques include grafting techniques, Correction of brushing techniques.
Conservative Dentistry/Endodontics
1.Why do my teeth decay?
Decay or caries is caused by many factors like microorganisms food like carbohydrates and susceptible tooth structure. In simple terms it happens when bacteria acts on food lodged between or in tooth to produce an acid which dissolves the enamel/dentin.
2.How can I avoid it?
Meticulous oral hygiene, brushing, flossing and periodic checkup can to a great extent help stop tooth decay or manage to control it.
3.What should I do if I notice tooth decay?
Get a check up done by a professional dentist as soon as possible. Small decay (cavities) can be filled with suitable materials. We have tooth colored materials like composites and other restorations such as silver amalgam, ceramics etc.
4.How do I know whether a tooth is decayed?
Most common symptom is food lodgment in a tooth, sensitivity while taking hot or cold food or pain in the affected tooth.
5.Why do I get a toothache?
Tooth is made up of enamel on the outer surface, dentin inside. These two protect an area called pulp which contains nerves, blood vessels etc. When decay of the tooth approaches the pulp, pain or sensitivity starts. If ignored, it leads to severe pain called as toothache.
6.What can be done with a tooth with severe pain?
Normal filling as described earlier cannot be done in this case. Here a Root Canal Treatment (RCT) has to be performed. The pulp has to be removed from root canals, the canals cleaned and filled with an inert material. The tooth then becomes “dead” or in dental terms- “non-vital”.
7.Is it (RCT) a painful procedure?
No, it is performed under local anesthesia and is almost pain free.
8.Why can’t we just remove the painful teeth?
It is very easy to remove the teeth but it can lead to whole lot of complication. The cheeks can collapse, chewing of food can be affected, opposite tooth can move down or adjacent teeth can tilt making an abnormal bite. Also it can cause an esthetic problem. So it is a much better option to retain the tooth.
9.Is it compulsory to cap or crown a RCT done tooth?
YES, because they tend to fracture if left as such, since it is a dead tooth along with the fact that the decay has affected a major portion of the tooth. It is advisable to crown or cap the RCT done decayed tooth, for a long term prognosis.
Cosmetic Dentistry
1.Can decay in my front tooth be corrected and how?
YES, we have a whole range of materials such as composite materials and ceramics to correct the defects. It can be done with utmost perfections so that it goes unnoticed. For the perfect filling, special skill and Specialization is required.
2.Can my smile be changed?
YES, smile designing is an emerging field of dentistry. It can be designed to suit your personality, age and profile.
3.What about whitening, if I want to have a brighter smile?
Various bleaching procedures are available to give you a bright radiant smile to boost your personality. Colgate platinum and Viva ‘paint on’ bleaching systems are available to suit your time and budget.
4.Is bleaching harmful /Painful?
It is a completely harmless yet very effective procedure. A bright smile not only improves your personality but also gives you a whole lot of confidence.
Orthodontics
1.How do I know if my child is in need of orthodontic treatment?
It is usually difficult for you to determine if treatment is necessary because there are many problems that can occur even though the front teeth look straight. Also, there are some problems that look intimidating and complex which will resolve on their own. Asking your general dentist is good reference, but consulting an orthodontist is the best course of action.
2.What are the early symptoms of orthodontic problems?
Although determining if treatment is necessary is difficult for you to assess, the following symptoms may help in prompting you to seek our orthodontic advice.
Ask your child to open their mouth, and let you look at their teeth. If you see any signs of crooked teeth, gaps between your child's teeth or overlapping teeth, your child may need orthodontic treatment.
Ask your child to bite all the way down, but keeping their lips open so you can see their teeth. • Do the front top teeth line up with the bottom? • Do the top teeth protrude out away from the bottom teeth? • Do the top front teeth cover more than 50% of the bottom teeth? • Are the top teeth behind the bottom teeth? All these are indicators for potential orthodontic treatment.
Look at the alignment of your child's jaw. • Does the jaw shift off center when your child bites down? If you see any misalignment or shifting of the jaw, your child may have a skeletal problem, which requires early orthodontic intervention.
These are only some of the obvious symptoms of orthodontic problems.
3.What age should my child be seen by an orthodontist?
The Indian Orthodontic Society recommends that your child be evaluated by age 7. Early detection of some orthodontic problems is important in order to take early corrective action and avoid more difficult treatment later.
4.Can you be too old for braces?
No, age is not a factor, only the health of your gums and bone which support your teeth. About 25% of our orthodontic patients are adults and that number is still growing!
5.Will it hurt?
Orthodontic treatment has improved dramatically. As a rule, braces make your teeth sore for a few days, but it is not painful. This annoyance can be relieved with an over-the-counter pain reliever. Today's braces are smaller, more comfortable and use technology that reduces the discomfort. We use the latest in miniature braces and the highest quality of orthodontic materials in order to reduce discomfort and treatment time.
6.Can I still have braces if I have missing teeth ?
Yes. When teeth are missing, adjacent teeth will drift into the empty space. This will cause a functional, esthetic or periodontal problem. Orthodontic treatment will correct and prevent these problems and will also provide proper alignment for your dentist to replace the missing teeth.
7.What is the length or duration of orthodontic treatment?
Braces may be on between 6 months to 20 months, or longer depending on the age of the patient, the severity of the problem, the patient's cooperation, and the degree of movement possible.
8.What are extraction and non-extraction therapy, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Extraction therapy is a technique where some teeth are removed to make room for the other teeth in your child's mouth. This is in contrast to non-extraction therapy where one expands a patients' jaw and shave down some teeth to make everything fit. We are committed to extracting permanent teeth only when absolutely necessary.
9.Is orthodontic care expensive?
When orthodontic treatment is implemented at the proper time, treatment is often less costly than the dental care required to treat the more serious problems that can develop years later.
10.What foods can I eat?
Most foods can be eaten comfortably with orthodontic braces in place if you pay special attention to the way in which the food is eaten. Hard foods such as candies, nuts and certain vegetables and fruit e.g. carrots and apples, can damage the braces - distorting the wires and dislodging the brackets off the teeth surfaces. These foods should be avoided to prevent damage to your orthodontic appliances. Sticky and chewy foods such as candies and toffees are best avoided, since they get stuck to tooth surfaces and can damage the braces or get stuck to tooth surfaces and cause decay of the teeth. Foods rich in refined sugars and foods that adhere to tooth surfaces are particularly bad for the accumulation of plaque, which causes the demineralization of teeth and eventual decay of tooth surfaces.
Getting used to the braces in the early stages of treatment as well as good maintenance and home-care to ensure the braces and teeth are always clean will alleviate problems of decalcification and breakage which may occur.
