frequently asked questions

You and your dentist together should decide how often you need to visit – your dentist will make a suggestion based on the state of your oral health.

• Brush properly twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste
• Floss once a day
• Eat a well-balanced diet, including food from all food groups, and limit sugary, starchy and acid food and drink to meal times
• Chew ORBIT Complete sugarfree gum after eating and drinking

How often you need to have x-rays depends on your oral health. A healthy adult who has not had cavities or other problems for some time shouldn’t need x-rays at every appointment. If your dental situation is less stable and your dentist is monitoring your progress, you may require more frequent x-rays.

The first step in choosing a new dentist is to list your needs, which might include:

• Location
• Hours of practice
• Language(s) spoken
• Generalist or specialist practice

Ask your family and friends if they can recommend a dentist. Other members of your community, such as your doctor, may be able to offer suggestions. You should also be able to find dentists via your local dental association or local government health authority. Once you have narrowed your list to two or three names, call the dentists to see if they are accepting new patients.

Pregnancy brings about significant changes in your body which may affect your gums. Because of hormonal changes that can result in increased tissue sensitivity to dental plaque resulting in more pronounced gum inflammation and bleeding, pregnant women are more likely to show signs of gum disease.

Gum disease can be prevented by a good daily dental cleaning routine. Smoking can make gum disease worse – talk to your dentist or midwife if you are trying to give up (it is widely recommended that women planning to have a baby do give up smoking).

Morning sickness can also aggravate damage to your teeth. Recurrent vomiting means your teeth are regularly exposed to acid that can erode them – remember to rinse your mouth out with water, milk or a fluoride mouthwash immediately after you are sick to wash away the acid. Alternatively, chew sugarfree gum to accelerate the beneficial effects of saliva. Ideally you should leave a minimum of half an hour before brushing as the acid softens the tooth surface - if you brush your teeth straight away you increase the chance of wearing teeth away.

Make an appointment to see your dentist for a routine check-up early in your pregnancy and remember to tell your dentist you are expecting a baby in order to get appropriate advice and treatment.

It's important to get an early start on dental care, so that your child will learn that visiting the dentist is a regular part of health care. It may be a good idea to take your children along to your own appointments to get them used to the dental surgery.

The first step is to choose a dentist for your child. It may be your own dentist or one who specialises in treating children (called a pediatric dentist). Once you have selected a dentist, call the office to find out at what age he or she prefers to see child patients for the first time. Some dentists suggest a visit by age one, while others like to see children once all of their baby teeth have erupted. It's important to make the first visit a positive experience for your child - one reason why it's best to visit before a problem develops. If you think there is a problem, however, take your child to the dentist right away, no matter what age.

If you are a nervous dental patient, ask your spouse or another family member to take the child for the appointment. If your child senses that you are nervous, he or she may feel nervous too. When you talk to your child about going to the dentist, explain what will happen without adding things like "it won't hurt" or "don't be scared".

If you cannot afford to pay your entire bill at once, ask your dentist about the availability of payment plans. If you cannot afford care, even with a payment plan, contact your local dental association for more information or advice. It may also be a good idea to take out a dental insurance policy whereby you can make small payments on a monthly basis.

The good news is that you can avoid costly dental work by brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly for a check-up. Regular check-ups cost money, but they are less expensive than fixing serious dental problems that stem from neglect.

Ask questions. It sounds simple enough, but sometimes we feel embarrassed to ask simple questions. There is no need to feel that way.

You will feel much better, and be able to make a better decision, if you understand the dental procedure that is recommended to you. If you don't say anything, your dentist may think that you already understand.

Here are some tips when asking questions. Ask:

• If you can see any pictures of the procedure or what it looks like when it is done;
• How many times your dentist has done this procedure in the past;
• How much it will cost;
• How long it will take;
• If it will need to be redone in the future;
• If there are alternatives to the procedure and, if so, what are the pros and cons of each option.

The final decision about how and when to proceed with any treatment is yours. To help you understand what is involved in the treatment, your dentist may give you some printed material to read.

If, after all of your questions have been answered, you are still uncertain, you may wish to get a second opinion from another dentist. Often a second opinion will give you confidence that your dentist has planned the right treatment for you.

Hygienists (also called dental hygienists) are specially trained to work with the dentist to help patients care for their teeth. The role is a combination of a clinician, treating and preventing gum (periodontal) disease and decay (caries), and an educator, teaching and motivating patients to care for their own teeth and gums.

The hygienist’s primary role is to prevent and treat periodontal disease. At the initial visit the hygienist will carry out a basic examination to assess your periodontal health status and use a fine instrument to measure and chart the depth of any ‘pockets’ around your teeth. The hygienist will then carry out a range of professional cleaning tasks specific to each patient’s particular requirements, including scaling and polishing the teeth, root planing, which may be under local anaesthetic and taking x-rays if needed.

The hygienist can advise on a range of oral health procedures, including brushing and flossing, as well as interdental cleaning and subgingival (below the gum) cleaning. He or she may also apply particular medications and solutions to the mouth and gums to kill bacteria and prevent gum disease. Your hygienist will then develop with you a maintenance programme for your mouth to keep it as clean and healthy as possible.

How often you should visit will vary depending on your oral health. You should visit the hygienist to help maintain good oral hygiene and anticipate problems that may arise. If your oral health is poor or in an initial phase of treatment, the dentist may recommend appointments every two, three or four weeks. After that, it may be at monthly, three-monthly or six-monthly intervals.

Ask questions and ask for any procedures to be demonstrated. Between visits, carry out any recommended cleaning procedures as best you can – although the dental team plays a crucial part in maintaining the hygiene of your mouth, the most important person responsible for your oral health is you!