FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
It is important that the first dental visit is pleasant, comfortable and not anxiety-producing. Children are encouraged to visit the dentist when they turn one and then regularly every 4-6 months. Regular visits are important to instill a positive dental attitude and to reinforce life-long habits to maintain good oral hygiene. Visiting the dentist when your child has problems does not allow this.
Help your child get ready to see the dentist by:
- Being a good role model at home; Maintain a good and balanced diet, start a routine and encourage your child to brush their teeth every morning and before bedtime.
- Read them books about visiting the dentist. For example, “Peppa Pig visits the dentist”, Dora’s or Barney’s first dental visit.
- Try role playing at home by getting your child to lie on your lap and open wide whilst you count their teeth.
- Do not bribe your child into going to the dentist or use a dental visit as a punishment.
- Do not allow anyone to tell your child unpleasant stories about dental visits. Avoid using terms such as “pain”, “Don’t be scared”.
- You can bring in your child’s favorite toothbrush and toothpaste so that we can demonstrate the proper technique on him/her.
1. The friendly dentist will personally greet your child in the waiting
room and invite him/her to one of our colorful treatment rooms.
2. We will speak to your child to get to know him/her better and you can
inform us of any of your concerns at the start of the treatment.
3. We will slowly introduce your child to our dental chair and instruments
one by one.
4. Try to allow the dentist to lead the session so that your child can be as
involved as possible. Our dentist and dental assistant will provide lots of
encouragement along the way. Your child may not be able to co-operate
if too many adults are talking at the same time.
5. Every child is different, he/she may breeze through the entire dental
examination and scaling and polishing session or he/she may just be able
to co-operate with a short introductory visit. We may not be able to do
any treatment on your child’s first visit and a proper scaling and
polishing can only be done on the 2nd or 3rd visit. Our dentist will assess
and decide how long the session should be.
6. Your child will be rewarded with a special present for being so brave.
Our aim is for your child to have fun and to leave the clinic happy!
Teeth cleanings are an essential part of maintaining oral and overall health. Cleanings are referred to as “scaling and polishing” (or sometimes in dental speak, “prophylaxis” which basically means “to prevent beforehand”). The procedure may be preventive in order to reduce the chances of disease arising, or as a treatment where existing gum disease is present. We recommend seeing your dentist at least every 6 monthly for a check and clean.
After your general checkup and clean with your dentist, he or she may recommend fluoride application. This is especially useful in patients with a higher risk of developing caries (tooth decay).
Fluoride is a natural mineral that builds strong teeth and prevents cavities. It supports healthy tooth enamel and fights the bacteria that harm teeth and gums.
Professional fluoride treatments typically take only a few minutes.
Fissure sealant is a small filling that is placed on the grooves of the biting surface of posterior teeth. The grooves and pits of molars are areas that are particularly difficult to clean thoroughly. Food and bacteria tend to stick to them and cause decay over time.
The sealant forms a protective layer that keeps food and bacteria from getting stuck in the tiny grooves in the teeth and prevents tooth decay.
Tooth-coloured fillings are also known as composite fillings and serve to restore the form, function, and aesthetics of the tooth. They also help to reduce the risk of further decay and can help in the relief of pain or sensitivity.