Preventive Dentistry

Preventative Care

The first and most important step to healthy teeth is regular brushing and flossing. Together with healthy eating habits and regular dental check-ups, most of the dental problems, such as cavities and gum diseases, can well be avoided altogether. Moreover, good oral health is essential for maintaining our general health. Because we only have one set of permanent teeth, it is never too early to teach children how to care for their teeth, so that it can become a habit for a lifetime.

• Care at home: brushing and flossing
• Regular check-ups, and professional cleaning and fluoride

Brushing and Flossing

Brushing twice daily, and flossing at least once a day, will prevent your teeth and gums from possible problems. Brushing 3 times a day after each meal is perfect; however, do not brush too often, as compulsive brushing can aggravate the gums and cause erosion of enamel. Brushing should be done in a gentle, circular motion that should last for 2-3 minutes, without missing to brush the inner surfaces of teeth where it is harder to reach. Try to brush each tooth one by one, preferably in front of the mirror to make sure you are not missing any spots.

Every patient who comes into our practice will receive a thorough and comprehensive consultation to start, before any kind of treatment that might be needed. Our experienced team of professionals will cater to your dental needs, using the latest technologies and equipment to ensure efficiency, quality, and the best possible comfort for your visits.

• Teeth are meant to last a lifetime! To achieve and maintain good oral health, regular visits to your dentist is recommended!
• During your routine dental visit, we will examine your entire mouth (teeth & gums):
• Check your teeth for decay, faulty fillings, cracks, and wear.
• Check your gums to ensure that they are healthy. Bleeding gums is a sign of gum disease.
• Cheek bones, cheeks, tongue, palate and other parts of the mouth and face for any unusual swellings or surface changes.
• Give you advice on, your diet, smoking and alcohol use and any teeth-cleaning habits.
• Update your medical history. Many diseases can affect your mouth and teeth. For example, people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing periodontal disease.

Update your medication with dosages. Some medicines cause dry mouth, which can increase the risk of cavities. An updated medication list will ensure that any drugs we prescribe doesn’t interact with drugs you are already taking. Take X-rays when necessary. Normally every 24 months for decay screening. X rays can be very helpful in detecting dental problems which may not be apparent during the clinical examination.

Leaving problems untreated could make them more difficult to treat in the future, so it’s best to deal with problems early on, or, if possible, to prevent them altogether. With routine dental visit we will become familiar with your health. This will allow us to notice changes or problems more easily during future visits. Preventive dentistry is the modern way of helping you keep a healthy mouth. It helps you to keep your teeth and could mean less dental treatment in the future.

The two main causes of tooth loss are decay and gum disease. The better we prevent or deal with these two problems, the more chance you have of keeping your teeth for life. We would recommend a course of treatment to get your mouth into good condition, and then work out a ‘maintenance plan’ to help you keep it that way.

Full mouth consultation

Whether you come to our practice with a pain in your mouth, or just for a general check-up, we take a good look at your full mouth, including gums and pockets, to ensure we provide you with the most appropriate treatment/prevention you might require. It is recommended that you have your dental check-up every 6 months to detect early stages of tooth decay or gum disease. At the consultation, we use digital x-ray to check the hidden areas deep down…roots and bones that are not visible otherwise. Taking an x-ray is crucial for detecting tooth decay and periodontal disease.

• During your routine dental visit we will examine your entire mouth (teeth & gums), head and neck area:
• Check your teeth for decay, faulty fillings, cracks and wear.
• Check your gums to ensure that they are healthy. Bleeding gums is a sign of gum disease.
• Cheek bones, cheeks, tongue, palate and other parts of the mouth and face for any unusual swellings or surface changes.
• Give you advice on, your diet, smoking and alcohol use and any teeth-cleaning habits.

Update your medical history. Many diseases can affect your mouth and teeth. For example, people with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing periodontal disease. Update your medication with dosages. Some medicines cause dry mouth, which can increase the risk of cavities. An updated medication list will ensure that any drugs we prescribe doesn’t interact with drugs you are already taking.

Take X-rays when necessary. Normally every 24 months for decay screening. X rays can be very helpful in detecting dental problems which may not be apparent during the clinical examination.

For a Full Mouth Consultation come and see us at Dr.Sushma Dental.

Fillings/Cavities Treatment

When decay is detected, it is removed and then the tooth is filled with tooth-coloured material called composite. Composite comes in various shades, so there will always be a matching shade for your teeth. Unlike the traditional silver filling, the composite looks so natural. It’s matched to the natural shade of your teeth, and it doesn’t look like you had a filling. It is also very strong and durable. All our treatments are pain-free and we prioritise the patient’s comfort first. So feel assured that you will be well-looked-after at our clinic.

How to prevent tooth decay There are two simple ways to dramatically reduce your risk of developing tooth decay:

Brush your teeth twice a day: Brushing your teeth regularly will manually remove plaque before it has a chance to become a problem. It’s important to floss once a day too, to make sure you reach the plaque in between your teeth. If plaque does get the chance to harden and turn in to tartar, all is not lost – but you will need to see your dentist to have it removed.

Reduce the sugar in your diet : As we’ve already learnt, the bacteria in plaque feed on sugar and produce the destructive acids that cause tooth decay. Therefore, reducing your intake of the sweet stuff can also help to cut your risk of tooth decay. Where your teeth and sugar intake is concerned, frequency is just as important as quantity. Every time you enjoy something sugary, it takes your mouth around 30 minutes to neutralise the resulting acidity. So, if you’re constantly snacking, this will create the perfect environment for tooth decay. Similarly, cutting back on acidic foods and drinks will also help you to cut your risk of erosion and tooth decay.

If you have any concerns about tooth decay, contact Dr.Sushma Dental to arrange your dental health check. Dental treatments carry risks. Before proceeding, you should seek an opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.