FAQs

You may be CONCERNED about…
What is Cosmetic Dental makeover?

Cosmetic dental makeover is the process of improving the appearance of your smile through one or more cosmetic dental procedures, such as:
Dental veneers
Porcelain crowns and bridges
Composite bonding
Tooth implants
Teeth whitening

Cosmetic dentistry can improve your smile in a subtle way by tooth whitening or changing a discoloured filling. For more profound changes, porcelain veneers or all porcelain crowns may be required. Before any procedure is considered a thorough check-up is performed and a discussion with Dr Tong is required.

What does Teeth Whitening at the dentist involve?

Even despite regular teeth cleaning, teeth can discolor over time, whether it’s from smoking, coffee, red wine or simply getting older. The good news is, it is possible to reverse this discoloration to a certain extent by tooth-whitening.
When done properly, tooth-whitening is safe, effective and gives you a natural, younger smile. It can be done at home or in the dentist chair. With home whitening, custom-made whitening trays are worn. However, in-office procedures use a UV light (the Zoom light) to achieve the same results but within a shorter period of time. A check-up is necessary to make sure you will benefit from this procedure. Please contact us to find out more about tooth-whitening.

At what age should my child first visit the dentist?

We recommend bringing your child for their first dental examination between the age of two to two-and-a-half years. It can be beneficial for you to bring your child with you to your own dental check-up to familiarise them with the dental environment. At the first appointment, we will focus on checking the teeth, reinforcing teeth cleaning techniques and giving dietary advice to parents. Early prevention and good habits will give your child the best possible start in caring for their teeth.

Are dental x-rays safe? Are they really necessary?

Dental x-rays or radiographs are essential in helping the dentist diagnose conditions such as dental decay in between the teeth, gum disease, dental nerve infections, fractured teeth, etc. Previous crowns and fillings can also be checked for underlying problems. Studies have shown that dental x-rays emit the lowest amount of radiation when compared to natural (outer space) and atmospheric radiation. In addition, we take every precaution to ensure that we take x-rays only when necessary, for example, during new patient appointments, checking wisdom teeth, etc. It is always helpful to bring your previous x-rays, especially if they are within the last year or so.

How often should I visit the dentist? Must I go if I don’t have any pain?

We recommend visiting the dentist for regular check-ups every six months to ensure clean and healthy teeth and gums. Dental disease can develop painlessly, therefore it is not advisable to wait until you are in pain before going to see the dentist. We endeavor to see patients in pain the same day so please give us a call on +852 34210067 if something doesn’t feel right.

What are Veneers?

Veneers are thin porcelain covers that are placed on top of your teeth to improve the colour and shape of your teeth, for example, they can be used to make small teeth appear larger, or fix badly stained teeth.

What are wisdom teeth? Why do I need them removed?

Wisdom teeth usually appear in your late teens or early twenties. Being the last teeth to erupt they can often be misaligned, which can crowd or damage adjacent teeth. They can also sometimes be impacted, which means they are unable to break through the gum. These problems can cause infection, pain, swelling, limited mouth opening and even general illness with fever, which is why you may need them removed. The procedure can be simple, or complicated, depending on the severity of the impaction. Before extraction is undertaken, a thorough examination of conditions in the mouth, together with appropriate x-rays and CT scans may be required to ensure the wisdom teeth are removed safely, without damage to important structures and nerves in the mouth.

What is the difference between traditional metal wire braces and Invisalign?

Invisalign treatment involves the wearing of a series of custom-made, clear plastic, removable aligners that gradually move the teeth. There are no metal brackets or wires to tighten, like conventional braces. The aligners are made of smooth and virtually invisible plastic which you wear over your teeth. These aligners are changed about every two weeks until treatment is completed. Another major difference is that for Invisalign treatment, extraction of teeth to allow movement of teeth is often not required.

What is Orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a specialist area of dentistry to correct teeth and jaws that are positioned improperly. Most people think of it as getting braces. However, we also use Invisalign.

Why would I need gum treatment?

Gum disease is caused by infection of the gum by bacterial plaque with resulting damage to the supporting tissues, especially the bone around the teeth. You can have gum disease without really knowing, as it is not necessarily accompanied by a sore tooth or sore gums. Gum disease can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. Gum treatment, such as scaling and root planning, can save the gums and teeth. Gum disease is also known as periodontal disease.

What is a Root Canal treatment?

Tooth decay and advanced gum disease can sometimes damage the nerves inside the tooth. Root canal treatment involves the removal and cleaning of the infected nerve. If the tooth is badly damaged a crown may be required to protect the tooth. Most of the time, a root canal is a relatively simple procedure with little or no discomfort involving one to three visits.

What are Crowns and Bridges?

A crown is a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over a tooth. It is used to strengthen and protect the tooth structure. There are different types of crowns and different reasons why they might be recommended. Crowns can be made of gold, porcelain fused to gold, or – these days – without a metal substructure.
A dental bridge covers or ‘bridges’ the gap between missing teeth.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the most stable and comfortable way to replace missing teeth. The procedure involves surgical placement of small titanium fixtures into the jaw which will then integrate with the bone to give a strong foundation. Approximately 6-8 weeks later a crown is attached to the implant to complete the treatment.
The procedure is not painful and will save the rest of your teeth from unnecessary loading which occurs when teeth are missing.

What are fillings?

Fillings can be used to repair cracked or damaged teeth, or to treat a cavity by removing the decayed portion and ‘filling’ that area. There are several different filling materials available – gold, porcelain or tooth-coloured composite materials, amongst others. The procedure involves numbing the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic.

If your question is not answered here, call us!