FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please feel free to call us if you have additional inquiry.
Tel: 03-4147 1527
GENERAL
1. Q: Is it possible to keep my teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime?
A: Yes, with routine dental and preventive care combined with excellent oral hygiene.
2. Q: Is dental treatment painful?
A: No, when proper techniques are used, dental treatment can be extremely comfortable and pain free.
3. Q: Is it important to floss our teeth?
A: Yes. Flossing once a day prevents the buildup of plaque & deters the onset of gingivitis & periodontal disease.
4. Q: What does it mean when my gums bleed when I brush and floss?
A: This a sign that Periodontal Disease is present and needs to be treated. This is what leads to tooth loss.
5. Q: What causes tooth loss?
A: Tooth decay & periodontal disease are the most common causes of tooth loss. Tooth decay takes place when most of the tooth's mineral
makeup has been dissolved away & a hole (cavity) has formed. While tooth decay primarily affects children, periodontal disease, or gum
disease, affects mostly adults. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums caused by the buildup of plaque, & its earliest stage is
known as gingivitis.
6. Q: What is gingivitis?
A: Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums around the roots of the teeth. It marks the early stage of periodontal disease & it is characterized by
red, swollen gums.
7. Q: What are the treatments for periodontal disease?
A: If periodontal disease is caught at an early stage (when it has not progressed beyond the point of gingivitis), it can be treated with scaling
and root-planing (removing plaque around the tooth & smoothing the roots' surfaces). If the disease progresses to a later stage, the patient
may need surgical treatment, which involves cutting the gums, eliminating the hardened plaque build-up, & repairing the damaged bone.
8. Q: Are dental x-rays harmful?
A: No, our equipment is state of the art and minimizes patient exposure.
9. Q: What can be done with my gaps?
A: Gaps may range from wide spaces between the teeth, to a missing tooth or teeth. Gaps, or diastematas, are efficiently closed by use of
bonding with composite resin, veneers or crowning.
10. Q: What can be done with my worn and irregular teeth?
A: Worn teeth are usually a sign of "bite problems". Worn teeth can be restored with some form of reconstruction, veneers and/or crowns.
11.Q: How do you know if you have an inflamed/infected tooth nerve?
A: Some signs are heat and cold sensitivity, swelling and pain, or a bad taste in your mouth. Or, you may experience no symptoms at all,
and not realize that you have a dental problem until your Dentist discovers this before you get symptoms.
12. Q: When should a child have his/her first dental appointment?
A: A child should have his first dental appointment no later than his third birthday. Many dentists recommend a child have his first
appointment when the first tooth comes in.
13. Q: Who needs to have their wisdom teeth extracted?
A: Anyone who is in danger of developing impacted wisdom teeth (third molars that only partially erupt or get trapped or stuck in the jaw)
should have them removed so that they do not damage adjacent molars & cause other oral problems. In addition, anyone who is getting
dentures should have their wisdom teeth removed.
14. Q: What is cosmetic dentistry?
A: Also known as "aesthetic dentistry" cosmetic dentistry is a branch of dentistry that implements many different procedures to improve the
beauty of your smile.
WHITENING
15. Q: Is it possible to make my teeth whiter?
A: Yes, we offer professional teeth whitening.
16. Q: What is tooth whitening?
A: It is a bleaching process that lightens discoloration of enamel and dentin.
17. Q: How long does Whitening take?
A: The complete procedure takes less than an hour. The procedure begins with a preparation period followed as little as by 45 minutes of
bleaching. And who may benefit from tooth whitening? Almost anyone.
FILLING
18. Q: Do I have to have amalgam fillings?
A: No, porcelain or white composite fillings are our treatment of choice.
DENTURE
19. Q: What are dentures & who needs them?
A: Dentures are a partial or complete set of artificial teeth used to occupy the upper or lower jaw, usually attached to a plate. Simply put,
dentures are a set of false teeth. If you have lost most or all of your teeth, you are a perfect candidate for complete dentures. If you still
have some natural teeth remaining, a partial denture is recommended to help improve chewing ability, speech, & support for facial
muscles.
ORTHODONTICS
20. Q: WHAT IS INITIAL ORTHODONTICS EXAM?
A: In order to determine your specific needs, an orthodontist will completely evaluate your mouth. This will likely include:
-Impressions of your teeth, from which models are made (these are useful for the orthodontist, and will remind you exactly how your teeth
looked before correction).
-Photographs of your teeth, face, and smile
-X-rays of your head and teeth
-Your medical health history and dental health history
21. Q: HOW TO CLEAN MY TEETH WITH BRACES?
A: Brush between wires and gums to loosen any food particles. There are special toothbrushes for this, check with us for recommendations.
i) Start on the outside of your upper teeth, positioning the bristles at a 45 degree angle, toward the gum. Brush two to three teeth at a
time using a circular motion, about ten strokes.
ii) Next, brush the inner surfaces in the same manner. Brush the chewing surfaces. Repeat the same process for the lower teeth as for the
upper ones.
iii) Rinse your mouth as well as your toothbrush. Check your teeth in a mirror to make sure you’ve brushed all tooth surfaces.
iv) Floss daily between braces using a floss threader. Toothpicks, stimudents, and other interdental devices work well under brackets.
22. Q: WHAT NOT TO EAT BY THE ONE WITH BRACES?
A: You can eat just about anything, but there are some exceptions. We feel that getting used to braces also usually means making a few
adjustments in your eating habits. This is because some food might damage your braces or cause problems for your teeth. Here’s a list of
items to avoid (or some ways they can still be enjoyed with caution):
-Apples (don’t bite into a whole one! Cut it into wedges first.), Candy (caramels, taffy, nut brittles, fruit-flavored chewy candies, gummi
anything!), Carrots (avoid sticks, cut into thin curls), Corn on the cob (remove the kernels from the cob, then enjoy!), Corn chips/crisp tacos,
Hard foods (they’re tough on braces, causing bending and breaking), Ice (no crunching!), Lemon juice/lemons (pure lemon juice is very
hard on your tooth enamel), Nuts, Pizza crust/crusty breads (outer edges), Popcorn, Pretzels (the large, hard varieties), Sticky foods (can
bend wires and pull off brackets), Sugary foods (avoid these as much as possible; if you do eat them, brush your teeth or at least rinse
your mouth with water)
DENTAL IMPLANT
23. Q: WHAT ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?
A: A dental implant is a titanium metal replacement for a root of a tooth that is surgically implanted in the jawbone. As the body heals for
approximately two to six months after the surgery, the bone around the implant fuses to the implant through a process called
osseointegration. After the healing phase is complete, the implants are used to anchor crowns, bridges, or dentures.
24. Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
A: We begin with a thorough evaluation of the patient’s medical and dental history, and a full clinical examination of the entire mouth and
missing tooth area. The clinical exam should also include specific X-rays. After assessing the patient, a comprehensive treatment plan
can be devised. From that point, implants are surgically placed in the jawbone under local anesthesia. The length of the healing time is
based on the quality and quantity of bone, as well as the type of implant placed. After adequate healing is allowed to occur, the implant
can be used to support a crown, bridge, or denture.
ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
25. Q: WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL?
A: Root canal is necessary when the nerve or blood supply of the tooth (also known as the pulp) is infected due to injury or decay. Root
canal treatment involves removal of the diseased pulp, followed by the cleaning and sealing of the pulp chamber & root canal.
26. Q: WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ROOT CANAL DESEASE?
A: Root canal disease can manifest itself with a wide variety and combination of symptoms. Common symptoms of root canal disease
include:
-Lingering sensitivity to cold liquids, Lingering sensitivity to hot liquids, Sensitivity to sweets, Pain to biting pressure, Pain that is referred
from a tooth to another area, such as the neck, temple, or the ear, Spontaneous toothache, such as that experienced while reading a
magazine, watching television, etc., Constant or intermittent pain, Severe pain, Throbbing pain, Pain that may occur in response to
atmospheric pressure changes, such as when flying or scuba diving, Pain that may occur in response to postural changes, such as when
going from a standing to a reclining position, Swelling. If you have any of these symptoms and concerns, please contact us because you
might have root canal disease or another dental problem. Some of these symptoms may also be attributable to decay, defective fillings,
periodontal diseases, cracked teeth, or other tooth or bite-related problems. On other occasions, the symptoms may even be caused by
disorders that are not related to the teeth.
27. Q: WHY ROOT CANAL?
A: Many people alarmed when their dentists tell them they need root canal therapy. While dentists are sympathetic to fears of pain, we also
want you to know that root canal therapy has three purposes:
i)Stop the toothache
ii)Prevent bacteria and pain from spreading into the jaw
iii)Maintain the original tooth instead of replacing it with a denture or bridge
The root canal is actually a channel that runs from the root of the tooth, which connects to the bone, up to the top surface of the tooth. The
canal contains blood vessels, nerves, and the complex cells that make up the living tissue inside the tooth. This lifeline inside the tooth is
called the pulp. When a tooth is decayed or cracked, bacteria can get to the pulp. The acid from the bacteria irritates the pulp and it
becomes inflamed; it’s the same process you watch when other parts of your body become infected. When the pulp tissue becomes
inflamed, it’s harder for blood to flow to the tissue, and the resulting pressure creates pain inside your tooth.
28. Q: WHAT ARE ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE?
A: A root canal procedure limits the infection and keeps it from destroying the tooth. During the root canal treatment procedure, the dentist
removes the inflamed or infected tissue, carefully cleans, disinfects, and shapes the root canal space inside the tooth, and then fills and
seals this space. It may take one or more appointments to complete the procedure. A protective restoration should be placed after root
canal treatment has been completed in order to restore the tooth to function and help prevent tooth fracture. We think of a root canal as
washing the invasive bacteria out of the root, filling it with a biocompatible material that soothes the area, then sealing it back up again.
Fill it with a solid filling or a crown, and you’re as good as new.
Tel: 03-4147 1527
GENERAL
1. Q: Is it possible to keep my teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime?
A: Yes, with routine dental and preventive care combined with excellent oral hygiene.
2. Q: Is dental treatment painful?
A: No, when proper techniques are used, dental treatment can be extremely comfortable and pain free.
3. Q: Is it important to floss our teeth?
A: Yes. Flossing once a day prevents the buildup of plaque & deters the onset of gingivitis & periodontal disease.
4. Q: What does it mean when my gums bleed when I brush and floss?
A: This a sign that Periodontal Disease is present and needs to be treated. This is what leads to tooth loss.
5. Q: What causes tooth loss?
A: Tooth decay & periodontal disease are the most common causes of tooth loss. Tooth decay takes place when most of the tooth's mineral
makeup has been dissolved away & a hole (cavity) has formed. While tooth decay primarily affects children, periodontal disease, or gum
disease, affects mostly adults. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums caused by the buildup of plaque, & its earliest stage is
known as gingivitis.
6. Q: What is gingivitis?
A: Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums around the roots of the teeth. It marks the early stage of periodontal disease & it is characterized by
red, swollen gums.
7. Q: What are the treatments for periodontal disease?
A: If periodontal disease is caught at an early stage (when it has not progressed beyond the point of gingivitis), it can be treated with scaling
and root-planing (removing plaque around the tooth & smoothing the roots' surfaces). If the disease progresses to a later stage, the patient
may need surgical treatment, which involves cutting the gums, eliminating the hardened plaque build-up, & repairing the damaged bone.
8. Q: Are dental x-rays harmful?
A: No, our equipment is state of the art and minimizes patient exposure.
9. Q: What can be done with my gaps?
A: Gaps may range from wide spaces between the teeth, to a missing tooth or teeth. Gaps, or diastematas, are efficiently closed by use of
bonding with composite resin, veneers or crowning.
10. Q: What can be done with my worn and irregular teeth?
A: Worn teeth are usually a sign of "bite problems". Worn teeth can be restored with some form of reconstruction, veneers and/or crowns.
11.Q: How do you know if you have an inflamed/infected tooth nerve?
A: Some signs are heat and cold sensitivity, swelling and pain, or a bad taste in your mouth. Or, you may experience no symptoms at all,
and not realize that you have a dental problem until your Dentist discovers this before you get symptoms.
12. Q: When should a child have his/her first dental appointment?
A: A child should have his first dental appointment no later than his third birthday. Many dentists recommend a child have his first
appointment when the first tooth comes in.
13. Q: Who needs to have their wisdom teeth extracted?
A: Anyone who is in danger of developing impacted wisdom teeth (third molars that only partially erupt or get trapped or stuck in the jaw)
should have them removed so that they do not damage adjacent molars & cause other oral problems. In addition, anyone who is getting
dentures should have their wisdom teeth removed.
14. Q: What is cosmetic dentistry?
A: Also known as "aesthetic dentistry" cosmetic dentistry is a branch of dentistry that implements many different procedures to improve the
beauty of your smile.
WHITENING
15. Q: Is it possible to make my teeth whiter?
A: Yes, we offer professional teeth whitening.
16. Q: What is tooth whitening?
A: It is a bleaching process that lightens discoloration of enamel and dentin.
17. Q: How long does Whitening take?
A: The complete procedure takes less than an hour. The procedure begins with a preparation period followed as little as by 45 minutes of
bleaching. And who may benefit from tooth whitening? Almost anyone.
FILLING
18. Q: Do I have to have amalgam fillings?
A: No, porcelain or white composite fillings are our treatment of choice.
DENTURE
19. Q: What are dentures & who needs them?
A: Dentures are a partial or complete set of artificial teeth used to occupy the upper or lower jaw, usually attached to a plate. Simply put,
dentures are a set of false teeth. If you have lost most or all of your teeth, you are a perfect candidate for complete dentures. If you still
have some natural teeth remaining, a partial denture is recommended to help improve chewing ability, speech, & support for facial
muscles.
ORTHODONTICS
20. Q: WHAT IS INITIAL ORTHODONTICS EXAM?
A: In order to determine your specific needs, an orthodontist will completely evaluate your mouth. This will likely include:
-Impressions of your teeth, from which models are made (these are useful for the orthodontist, and will remind you exactly how your teeth
looked before correction).
-Photographs of your teeth, face, and smile
-X-rays of your head and teeth
-Your medical health history and dental health history
21. Q: HOW TO CLEAN MY TEETH WITH BRACES?
A: Brush between wires and gums to loosen any food particles. There are special toothbrushes for this, check with us for recommendations.
i) Start on the outside of your upper teeth, positioning the bristles at a 45 degree angle, toward the gum. Brush two to three teeth at a
time using a circular motion, about ten strokes.
ii) Next, brush the inner surfaces in the same manner. Brush the chewing surfaces. Repeat the same process for the lower teeth as for the
upper ones.
iii) Rinse your mouth as well as your toothbrush. Check your teeth in a mirror to make sure you’ve brushed all tooth surfaces.
iv) Floss daily between braces using a floss threader. Toothpicks, stimudents, and other interdental devices work well under brackets.
22. Q: WHAT NOT TO EAT BY THE ONE WITH BRACES?
A: You can eat just about anything, but there are some exceptions. We feel that getting used to braces also usually means making a few
adjustments in your eating habits. This is because some food might damage your braces or cause problems for your teeth. Here’s a list of
items to avoid (or some ways they can still be enjoyed with caution):
-Apples (don’t bite into a whole one! Cut it into wedges first.), Candy (caramels, taffy, nut brittles, fruit-flavored chewy candies, gummi
anything!), Carrots (avoid sticks, cut into thin curls), Corn on the cob (remove the kernels from the cob, then enjoy!), Corn chips/crisp tacos,
Hard foods (they’re tough on braces, causing bending and breaking), Ice (no crunching!), Lemon juice/lemons (pure lemon juice is very
hard on your tooth enamel), Nuts, Pizza crust/crusty breads (outer edges), Popcorn, Pretzels (the large, hard varieties), Sticky foods (can
bend wires and pull off brackets), Sugary foods (avoid these as much as possible; if you do eat them, brush your teeth or at least rinse
your mouth with water)
DENTAL IMPLANT
23. Q: WHAT ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?
A: A dental implant is a titanium metal replacement for a root of a tooth that is surgically implanted in the jawbone. As the body heals for
approximately two to six months after the surgery, the bone around the implant fuses to the implant through a process called
osseointegration. After the healing phase is complete, the implants are used to anchor crowns, bridges, or dentures.
24. Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS?
A: We begin with a thorough evaluation of the patient’s medical and dental history, and a full clinical examination of the entire mouth and
missing tooth area. The clinical exam should also include specific X-rays. After assessing the patient, a comprehensive treatment plan
can be devised. From that point, implants are surgically placed in the jawbone under local anesthesia. The length of the healing time is
based on the quality and quantity of bone, as well as the type of implant placed. After adequate healing is allowed to occur, the implant
can be used to support a crown, bridge, or denture.
ROOT CANAL TREATMENT
25. Q: WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL?
A: Root canal is necessary when the nerve or blood supply of the tooth (also known as the pulp) is infected due to injury or decay. Root
canal treatment involves removal of the diseased pulp, followed by the cleaning and sealing of the pulp chamber & root canal.
26. Q: WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF ROOT CANAL DESEASE?
A: Root canal disease can manifest itself with a wide variety and combination of symptoms. Common symptoms of root canal disease
include:
-Lingering sensitivity to cold liquids, Lingering sensitivity to hot liquids, Sensitivity to sweets, Pain to biting pressure, Pain that is referred
from a tooth to another area, such as the neck, temple, or the ear, Spontaneous toothache, such as that experienced while reading a
magazine, watching television, etc., Constant or intermittent pain, Severe pain, Throbbing pain, Pain that may occur in response to
atmospheric pressure changes, such as when flying or scuba diving, Pain that may occur in response to postural changes, such as when
going from a standing to a reclining position, Swelling. If you have any of these symptoms and concerns, please contact us because you
might have root canal disease or another dental problem. Some of these symptoms may also be attributable to decay, defective fillings,
periodontal diseases, cracked teeth, or other tooth or bite-related problems. On other occasions, the symptoms may even be caused by
disorders that are not related to the teeth.
27. Q: WHY ROOT CANAL?
A: Many people alarmed when their dentists tell them they need root canal therapy. While dentists are sympathetic to fears of pain, we also
want you to know that root canal therapy has three purposes:
i)Stop the toothache
ii)Prevent bacteria and pain from spreading into the jaw
iii)Maintain the original tooth instead of replacing it with a denture or bridge
The root canal is actually a channel that runs from the root of the tooth, which connects to the bone, up to the top surface of the tooth. The
canal contains blood vessels, nerves, and the complex cells that make up the living tissue inside the tooth. This lifeline inside the tooth is
called the pulp. When a tooth is decayed or cracked, bacteria can get to the pulp. The acid from the bacteria irritates the pulp and it
becomes inflamed; it’s the same process you watch when other parts of your body become infected. When the pulp tissue becomes
inflamed, it’s harder for blood to flow to the tissue, and the resulting pressure creates pain inside your tooth.
28. Q: WHAT ARE ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE?
A: A root canal procedure limits the infection and keeps it from destroying the tooth. During the root canal treatment procedure, the dentist
removes the inflamed or infected tissue, carefully cleans, disinfects, and shapes the root canal space inside the tooth, and then fills and
seals this space. It may take one or more appointments to complete the procedure. A protective restoration should be placed after root
canal treatment has been completed in order to restore the tooth to function and help prevent tooth fracture. We think of a root canal as
washing the invasive bacteria out of the root, filling it with a biocompatible material that soothes the area, then sealing it back up again.
Fill it with a solid filling or a crown, and you’re as good as new.