FAQ

You should get a dental check-up every six months. People at greater risk for oral diseases should have dental check-ups more than twice a year. Going to your regular check-up will help to keep your gums and teeth healthy as well as detect any early problems such as cavities. The best way to prevent bad breath and periodontal (gum) disease, which has been linked to heart disease, is to visit your dentist on a regular basis.

During pregnancy the change in hormones increases the blood flow to the gums causing them to become inflamed. So it is important to have good oral hygiene and visit the dentist for a routine check-up and cleaning.

The safest course of action is to postpone all unnecessary dental work until after the birth. If dental work is done during pregnancy the second trimester is ideal. However, sometimes emergency dental work such as root canal or tooth extraction is necessary

Many people have jaws that are too small to accommodate wisdom teeth. So if all the other teeth are present and healthy there may not be enough space for the wisdom teeth to come through properly. If part of the wisdom tooth has appeared through the gum and part of it is still covered, the gum may become sore and swollen, known as pericoronitis. If the problem persists, it may be better to have the tooth removed. Wisdom teeth are best removed at a younger age because younger patients have a faster healing capacity, and softer bone allowing for easier removal. This is not to say that wisdom teeth cannot be removed much later in life, but there is an increased risk of complications.

Yes. Extensive research and clinical studies indicate that whitening teeth under the supervision of a dentist is safe. In fact, many dentists consider whitening the safest cosmetic dental procedure available, however is not recommended for children under 13 years of age and pregnant or lactating women.