General Check-up General check-up is a routine examination of both the teeth as well as the gums and tongue. It is important that everyone gets a routine examination once in 6 months, so as to catch any problems in a developing stage itself, before it becomes too big. The most common problems detected during these check-ups is decay & tartar build up. Decay when detected, if it is small in size, the health of tooth, and the subsequent filling that is done last much longer. Decay if neglected leads to painful abscesses and sleepless nights, and emergency treatment like root canals. These are more expensive when compared to a small filling done in a small cavity. Tartar deposits are another cause of gum recession and weakening of teeth due to loss of bone support. This too can be very easily avoided by an examination and determining if cleaning is needed. As gum disease advances, it becomes more complex to treat the case, and in some cases there is a loss of teeth because case is untreatable. This are the reasons why one must get a routine half yearly examination done. Book an appointment now for a routine check-up. Cleaning of Teeth Cleaning of teeth is a systematic and scientific removal of all accumulated tartar (calculus), which does not cause any damage to the tooth surface but safely removes all the accumulated calculus. Tartar or calculus is a gradually solidified film of trapped microbes & bacteria, which is an irritant to the gums (gingiva), and if not removed results in gums getting infected, and receding. This recession, if not treated, does spread to the bone, and loss of bone support to tooth, and eventual loss of tooth. One can check around the teeth to see if a white or brown accumulation of debris around the tooth, which is indicative of tartar build up. Scaling is a simple an effective remedy for this situation, and is painless. It involves using an electronic device (ultrasonic scaler) which generates high frequency vibrations transmitted to a stainless steel tip, which loosens the calculus and leaves behind a clean tooth surface. Because the steel tip is softer than the tooth, it will gouge or damage the tooth surface, and in trained hands, is very safe and effective in tartar removal. In many cases, due to extreme buildup above the gums, or sometimes even below the gums, more than one session is needed to ensure all surfaces are clean & healthy. Doctors at DentalOne will ensure one has a painless experience while get teeth cleaned. Book an appointment now for a good experience​. X-Rays (Radiographs) X-Rays or more technically correct term Radiographs, are a very important tool for doctors to see into the internal structure of teeth and bone. This is all common knowledge now. However there is a worry among some patients with regards to safety, hence this will be addressed first. Dental X-Rays are very safe (http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/?pg=sfty_xray), and each X-Rays is equal to one day’s normal exposure to background radiation. During pregnancy all radiographs should be avoided as far as possible, but if very much needed, then a safety lead apron must be used to protect the pregnant patient There are 3 commonly used types of X-Rays in dental practice, the Intra Oral X-Rays, OPG & CBCT. Intra Oral X-Rays is probably the most common type of X-Rays taken among all medical reasons to take X-Rays, and is among the safest radiographs. A film is placed in the mouth, and a X-Rays devices (generator) is placed at an appropriate position and a brief exposure to X-Rays, and the film captures all the details. The film need to be processed to make the image visible and readable. A newer and modern option is a digital sensor instead of film, and this is called an RVG. RVG offers some advantages in faster processing speed of 3 seconds, no polluting chemicals involved for image processing, and much lower exposure compared to regular film. But it also has a relative disadvantage of having a thicker sensor which may not so comfortable for a few patients. But the benefit of much reduced dosage makes it more desirable. OPG or Panoramic Radiographs is another type of radiograph where the film is much larger and placed in a special machine that rotates around the patient, and captures the entire upper & lower jaw in one go. The film is much larger and shows enough detail for the doctor to read the image. There are both film based and digital sensor based OPG systems in use today. CBCT (Cone Beam CT) is a specialized form of CT developed for Dental & ENT use, and uses much less radiation than a regular CT, but give very detailed 3D images with precise measurements. This tool is invaluable in planning for procedures like Dental Implants. Depending on the requirement, the doctors at DentalOne make take an Intra Oral image or make ask for OPG or CBCT Teeth polishing Teeth polishing is needed when teeth are stained, or after a cleaning procedure. Teeth staining is due to many causes, some of which are Smoking, chewing tobacco, consumption of “pan masala” type of products, excessive tea or coffee consumption, and even betel nut consumption. If the tooth surface is rough, there is a higher degree of staining, and stains will recur much faster. Hence if the doctor notices rough surface, it is advised to polish the tooth. In many cases, due to misaligned teeth, some areas of the teeth are not accessible to regular brushing, and these tend to accumulate stains. Doctors are able to reach these hard to reach areas, and the stains can be removed. Tooth polishing can be done in one of two methods. A polishing paste with a rubber cup or a brush is used to polish. Alternately an Air Polisher unit also can be used, with a special polishing powder, which uses high pressure air & water and effectively cleans the tooth surface. Since the cleaning powders or pastes used are not very aggressive, they are safe and will not harm the tooth. Fresh Breath Clinic Halitosis or Bad breath is an invisible but common irritant, and unfortunately most people are unaware of this socially unacceptable state. Bad breath has numerous causes and treatment is based on underlying cuases. Fresh Breath & Hygiene clinic addresses this issue specifically, with a thorough assessment of current oral hygiene and subsequent evaluation for causes of bad breath. Treatment may include cleaning, elimination of all cavities, specific prescription mouth rinses, and other procedures aimed at removing the cause of halitosis. At DentalOne, doctors are trained to specifically address this embarrassing problem. Tooth Removal (Extraction) Tooth removal or extraction is suggested only when other options of treating or retaining the tooth are not possible. Extraction is not a painful process and when done properly with adequate medication, the area heals up without any complications. It is safe and can be done controlled diabetics & controlled hypertension patients as well. Many a times an antibiotic cover is given prior to the extraction. The doctor will decide on the medication requirement and also based on the patient’s health. The procedure itself involves numbing (anesthetising) the area with painless injections, and with specialized techniques the tooth in question is loosened from the bone (socket) and taken out. Post extraction instructions would be given, including a soft bland diet, and other instructions. The extraction wound heals up without complications, in about a week’s time. Doctors at DentalOne are well trained to take care of this delicate but important procedure.