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Experienced Dentists and Orthodontist in Dhaka, Bangladesh
We know that coming to the dentist can sometimes be uncomfortable for people, so we do all we can to make you comfortable. We strive to get to know you as a person by doing our best to understand what makes you uncomfortable and alleviate those issues.
If you suffer from severe anxiety about dental procedures, we offer mild sedation with a nitrous oxide/oxygen mix, which you breathe through a small mask. You'll remain conscious, but you'll feel extremely relaxed. Most patients with dental anxiety find that nitrous oxide helps them remain calm throughout even lengthy dental procedures.
If you are interested, we are happy to explain procedures to you in detail and give you the opportunity to view a video demonstrating how certain procedures are conducted. You can also learn more about our dental anxiety procedures by visiting our sedation dentistry services webpage.
The short answer is: Everyone is different, so Smile Gallery recommends recall frequency on a patient-by-patient basis. Most of our patients come every six months, and it's clear that skipping a six-month checkup can cause a lot if issues down the road.
The longer answer is: Twice a year is easy to remember, but there's no solid science behind that number-in fact With new information emerging every year about the link between inflammation of the gums and overall health, we think it is smart.
The science has always showed that most people will have enough calculus (also known as tartar, or hardened dental plaque) on their teeth by three or four months to need a cleaning. Remember, plaque is a soft film of bacteria that forms on your teeth. It can be brushed or flossed away. If you don't practice good oral hygiene, which helps limit the amount of plaque that stays on your teeth, the plaque hardens into calculus (also called tartar).
Here's a kind of scary statistic: the amount of calculus (or tartar) on your teeth basically doubles each month. That means that at four months after a professional cleaning, you will have twice the amount you had at three months. The longer you wait to have the tartar removed from your teeth, the worse it gets-if you wait until seven months to get your teeth cleaned, you'll have double the amount of calculus you had at six months, when most everyone has a fair amount of calculus! The more hard tartar you have on your teeth, the more difficult your visit with us.
Payment is required as dental services are rendered, and we are happy to provide you with an estimate for your recommended treatment plan.
Our office accepts cash, personal checks as forms of payment.
Our office will file claims with your insurance company. You are responsible for your co-payment and deductible, as well as any expenses that are not covered by your insurance company.
Tooth sensitivity is very common: more than 40 million adults in the US experience sensitive teeth at some time or another.* Sensitive teeth are caused by nerve irritation deep in the tooth in a layer of tissue called dentin, which is found beneath the hard outer enamel. This problem most commonly occurs when you have worn tooth enamel or your gums have receded. Consuming large quantities of acid-containing foods or drinks (citrus juices, soft drinks, acidic fruits, wine, etc.); suffering from bulimia or severe acid reflux; certain medications; brushing too hard with hard-bristled brushes; and simple poor dental hygiene all can be reasons why enamel and/or gums get damaged, causing tooth sensitivity.
In addition, with virtually any dental procedure-implants, extractions, whitening, and others-sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks is a potential side effect. After a procedure like this, you may notice temporary sensitivity to certain sweet foods, air, or extreme temperature.
Warning: Sometimes tooth sensitivity is caused by an underlying problem such as a cavity or abscess. If you have sensitivity in any tooth or teeth for more than a week-and you haven't had any dental work done-please give us a call so we can diagnose the cause of your sensitivity. If you have had an extraction or other oral surgery, please let us know if your sensitivity lasts for more than two weeks.
If your teeth are still sensitive after all of these standard recommendations, and Dr. Welch has ruled out any serious oral health concern, we may suggest treatment for tooth hypersensitivity. Protective coatings, prescription fluoride gel, and dietary changes all may be part of tooth sensitivity treatment that will relieve your symptoms.
There can be many causes for a toothache and the pain can vary from mild to extreme. Of course the best thing to do with any month pain is to have a dentist take a look and diagnosis what is going on. Tooth pain can be serious and an infected tooth could even be life threatening. Call our office and make an appointment so we can examine you and find out the cause of your pain, but we can cover the most common causes and possible treatments.
Sometimes the cause of a toothache can be something simple as some food caught between your teeth. The most common thing is a popcorn shell. Gently flossing and brushing may remove the debris and stop the pain. A warm salt water rinse can help healing. Another common cause is sinus issues that can feel like a toothache especially on the top teeth. If you feel like you have been having sinus problems and then your teeth start hurting it could be pain from your sinus. Normally several teeth will fell sore. Sinus medications may help with the pain if that is the issue.
Let's get the scary stuff out of the way first: If you are experiencing severe jaw pain that has come on suddenly, especially if it's accompanied by shortness of breath, dizziness, and/or nausea, you may be having a heart attack: call 9-1-1 immediately!
Now, rest assured, in most cases, jaw pain is not cause for a visit to the emergency room. Certainly, there are serious causes of jaw pain that do indicate significant health concerns. However, most jaw pain is caused by something that is minor and relatively easily addressed.
Let's start with the most common causes of jaw pain:
Remember a toothache can be a serious issue. Call our office as soon as possible to have it checked out and to determine what the best treatment for you is. Prevention is always the best, so routine visits and x rays can prevent many problems before they become painful.
Silver fillings do contain mercury, while white fillings do not. While some people have concern about mercury in silver fillings, properly placed silver fillings and white fillings are both excellent, safe solutions for filling cavities left by tooth decay. Dr. Welch will help you evaluate dental and aesthetic factors to choose the filling that is right for you.
Silver fillings do contain mercury. In fact, "silver" or amalgam fillings are mixtures of metals, including silver, mercury, tin, and copper. Sometimes, the combination also includes zinc, indium, or palladium. Mercury typically makes up about 50% of dental amalgam by weight; an amalgam filling is made by mixing liquid mercury with a powdered alloy of the other metals to make a putty-like substance, which is what's used as a "filling." Millions of people in the US have amalgam fillings, because the technology has been around for more than 150 years, it's the least expensive type of filling material, and amalgam fillings are strong and long-lasting.
In recent years, there has been quite a bit of public discussion and scientific review of the safety of dental amalgam, as patients are exposed to a small amount of mercury vapor that is released during the filling process and as the filling wears over time. (Large doses of exposure to mercury vapor has strongly negative effects on the brain and kidneys.)
The FDA reviewed the spectrum of scientific research to determine whether mercury-based fillings are of concern, and based on current evidence, the FDA deems amalgam fillings safe for adults and children 6 and above. Most research reviews conclude that your fillings expose you to less mercury than most people are exposed to by their environment and the foods they eat. In a very few cases, an individual has an allergy or sensitivity to mercury or another component of the dental amalgam; obviously, if you have a known sensitivity or allergy to any of these materials, amalgam fillings are a bad idea for you.
Many people we see at Scott A. Welch, DDS, choose to have white fillings (also known as composite fillings) because they can be more aesthetically pleasing than silver fillings or because they have concern about the mercury in amalgam fillings. White or tooth-colored fillings do not contain mercury or any metal; they are made from a mix of tooth-colored plastic and glass. Dentists fill a decayed tooth with layers of the composite, using a special light to bond the filling to the tooth surface and harden each layer as it's placed.
There are benefits to using composite fillings, including a more natural look and support for the remaining tooth structure (because the resin bonds to the tooth surface). However, composite fillings are a bit more expensive than amalgam fillings, because the technique is more complex and it takes longer to place them. In addition, in larger cavities, composites frequently wear out more quickly than silver fillings.
Dental x-rays deliver the least radiation of any medical x-rays -2-4 images of your back teeth deliver .005 millisieverts of radiation. In comparison, the average North American is exposed to 3.1 millisieverts annually from natural sources.
Today's conventional x-ray machines use high-speed film, reducing your exposure to radiation. Some dentists-like Dr. Welch-use digital x-rays, which emit approximately 80% less radiation than conventional machines. Even our Panorex machine, which makes a panoramic picture of the bones in upper and lower jaws, is a digital machine.
If you are undergoing radiation therapy for cancer or other conditions, or if you've had multiple x-rays recently for any other reason, please let your doctor and dentist know so we can help you limit your necessary exposure.
Pregnant women should skip x-rays in most cases, although most experts say that standard diagnostic x-rays during pregnancy are safe. Repeated exposure to radiation during gestation can damage the developing child's cells, which in turn may increase the likelihood of cancer occurring during childhood. While the risk is virtually non-existant that a developing fetus could receive damaging exposure to radiation when you get a typical dental x-ray, we prefer not to take the risk. That said, if you do have a serious dental emergency that requires x-rays while you are pregnant, we will take all possible precautions to shield your developing child from exposure to radiation.
Women who are trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding need not delay x-rays. If you know there's a good chance that you are pregnant, please let us know so we can take proper precautions.
Sure, we can spot a great many dental problems by observation and exploration of the mouth, teeth, and gums. However, x-rays are essential when we design and prepare implants, dentures, and braces, as well as perform some dental procedures. In addition, dental x-rays are a powerful diagnostic tool that show dentists many problems that aren't visible to the naked eye.
Diagnosing these conditions and beginning treatment early in their development will save you pain, money, and future tooth and gum problems.
Did you know that there's a link between dental diseases and some other serious medical conditions like heart disease? It's time to start seeing dental health as an essential part of your overall wellbeing. At Scott A. Welch, D.D.S., we work hard to do our part: When you come in to our Greensboro dental office for Preventive care, we make it our priority to make your tooth checkup as comfortable, relaxed, and informative as possible.
In addition to a dental examination by Dr. Welch, our qualified dental hygienists use Preventive dentistry techniques to help stop cavities and prevent other oral health problems by thoroughly cleaning your teeth and gums, removing plaque, and checking for periodontal (gum) disease, cavities and bite problems. If you need advice about the most effective ways to clean your teeth and gums, or you have questions about dental procedures, cosmetic concerns, or other dental topics, call our Greensboro dental office. We are here to help.
Your health and safety are our top priorities at Scott A. Welch, DDS, and we follow sterilization and cross-contamination avoidance processes recommended by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). To ensure that saliva- and blood-borne pathogens-viruses and bacteria-don't spread from patient to patient, we follow strict sterilization procedures and use disposable tools and supplies whenever possible.
Tools like mouth mirrors, dental scalers, and forceps are sterilized according to ADA recommendations using an autoclave, which disinfects with high-pressure, saturated steam. We place equipment needing sterilization into a special sterilization pouch, which looks like paper on one side and has a clear window on the other. The pouch is then put into an autoclave for a set period of time for sterilization. These special bags have color indicators that change color when items within are sterilized, ensuring we never use unsterilized equipment on a patient. (Our autoclave also is monitored externally by UNC-we send test strips weekly for assessment to be sure the machine is working correctly.)
Some kinds of tools have single-use components to ensure their sterility. For example, the suction device that pulls saliva out of your mouth and the air/water syringe both have replaceable tips, which are disposed of after use for a single patient. Gloves, syringe needles, cotton rolls, and other items likewise are used for one patient, then disposed of in the safest possible manner, again according to ADA guidelines
Experienced Dentists and Orthodontist in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Whether your gums bleed at home when you floss or at the dental office when being cleaned or examined by the dentist and/or hygienist, it's usually not a good sign: bleeding gums are an indicator of inflammation at the gum line. Inflamed gums are definitely more likely to bleed when worked on or around-like when our hygienists are flossing and scaling your teeth.
The short answer is, "no." The most common cause of bleeding gums is inadequate brushing and flossing, which leads to accumulation of bacterial plaque (which hardens to tartar) where the teeth meet the gums. In this case, inflamed gums are referred to as gingivitis, which is treatable and controllable. A regular routine of at least twice-daily brushing and flossing daily will most likely keep plaque at bay, and your gums won't get irritated. If you keep up that good routine, you're not likely to notice bleeding at your next checkup
If left untreated, though, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, a condition in which tissue is so seriously inflamed that it results in loosening and potential loss of teeth.
There are other causes of bleeding gums, some more serious than others:
If we notice your gums bleeding during an office visit, we'll discuss it with you and try to determine the cause. If your gums are bleeding when you brush and/or floss at home, please give us a call to set up an appointment. It's always better to catch dental problems early, when you have a better chance of fixing them.
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a bacterial tooth infection, and it's a common concern for adults. It can be caused by plaque buildup, smoking, changes in metabolism or hormone levels, or certain medical conditions like diabetes. While teenagers may develop gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease, most people don't show any signs of serious gum disease-periodontitis-until they are in their 30s or 40s. Men are more likely to develop it than women. Luckily, treatment is easy if it's identified in its early stages, so gum disease is curable.
Persistent bad breath, loose teeth, inflamed gums, sensitive gums, or gums that bleed easily are all signs that you may have gum disease. If you have gum disease, it may be painful to chew, your teeth may feel loose, and you may have receding gums (often meaning your teeth look longer!).
When plaque is allowed to develop and remain on teeth, it hardens into tartar, which only a professional cleaning can remove. If plaque and tartar are not removed, they begin spreading below the gum line, which pulls away from the teeth. Bacteria thrive in the space that's created between the gums and teeth, causing gum disease. In general, there are two stages of gum disease:
Some people do have a genetic tendency to be susceptible to gum disease, hormonal changes such as those during pregnancy, and diabetes and other illnesses can make the mouth more susceptible to infection. While we don't know exactly what causes periodontal disease, we do know that there are some serious risk factors, including inadequate dental hygiene and smoking tobacco products.
Smokers and smokeless tobacco users are six times more likely than non-smokers to have serious gum disease. Why? Tobacco users have more tartar on their teeth and deeper pockets between teeth and gums, decreased blood flow in the gums that affects how gums heal, and mouths that are more susceptible to infection by aggressive bacteria. Bottom line: Smoking increases your risk of gum disease, and if you have gum disease already, smoking makes it worse.
Diabetics are more likely to have gum disease than non-diabetics, primarily because diabetics are more susceptible to infections in general. High blood sugar results in high levels of sugar in body tissue, making the tissue a natural host for bacteria that cause infection. Interestingly, research has shown that gum disease can make it harder for diabetics to control their blood sugar-severe gum disease actually may increase blood sugar-so the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease appears to go both ways.
If you are a diabetic, dental checkups should be an essential part of your ongoing healthcare plan. Keeping your teeth and gums in their best possible health will reduce your possibility of experiencing complications from the infections that cause gum disease.
People with gum disease are nearly twice as likely to have coronary artery disease (heart disease) than those who have healthy gums.* Studies have suggested that common oral health problems like periodontal disease can be as clearly correlated with heart disease as cholesterol levels. Keep in mind that no one has proven that gum disease causes heart disease; the two conditions have simply been shown to co-exist frequently.
The "why" of the gum disease/heart disease relationship is still under intense scientific research. We do know that oral bacteria can find their way to the bloodstream through the gums. Some researchers believe that these oral bacteria cause blood cells they come in contact with to swell, narrowing an artery in the heart. Research is still ongoing about the connection between oral health and heart health, but most medical professionals believe that a patient who suffers from severe periodontal disease may also be likely to have cardiovascular problems.
If you are worried about heart disease, treating your teeth and gums well shouldn't be the only step you take toward cardiovascular health. Whether or not periodontal disease is a potential risk factor in heart disease, good oral hygiene is simply a good idea!
Periodontal (gum) disease is a bacterial tooth infection that can be treated easily if detected early. However, many people aren't aware they have gum disease or fail to treat it properly, and it progresses to seriously damaged gums, lost teeth, and problems with the mouth bones that hold the teeth. In recent years, quite a few studies have shown that periodontal disease can make people more prone to kidney disease, among other conditions.
Also known as chronic renal disease, chronic kidney disease is a serious condition in which kidney function decreases over time, eventually causing kidney failure if not treated in time. In the general population of people-all ages, all races, etc. people who have periodontal disease or are missing teeth are just about twice as likely to have chronic kidney disease.* However, African Americans, Pacific Islanders, and American Indians are at increased risk of kidney disease. In fact, African Americans with normal kidney function but suffering from periodontal disease developed chronic kidney disease at four times the rate of those who had no gum disease.**
If you are experiencing persistent bad breath, loose teeth, inflamed and sensitive gums, or gums that bleed easily, you may have gum disease. Please make an appointment with us as soon as possible for a diagnosis. We will clean your teeth well, help fix any damage the disease has already caused your teeth or gums, and recommend an ongoing oral hygiene plan to reduce your likelihood of the gum disease progressing further.
Each new piece of research that emerges about the links between periodontal disease and other life-threatening diseases reinforces the importance of excellent dental hygiene and regular checkups with your dentist. Your health is in your hands and it may begin with a good toothbrush and some floss!
Gingivitis and gum disease are not technically contagious. Scientists don't fully understand what causes some people to have more harmful bacteria in the plaque that develops on their teeth between dental visits. Research has shown that most people who are susceptible to gingivitis have an underlying medical condition like diabetes, HIV, or other immune system disease; they're experiencing hormonal changes; or they are taking a medication that suppresses their immune system, making it more susceptible to bacteria. It's worth noting that if one of your close blood relations has periodontal disease, it may mean you're genetically more susceptible to the gum disease, even if you are currently experiencing no symptoms of gum inflammation. Blood relatives are your cousins, brothers, sisters, grandparents, your parents and their brothers and sisters.
Remember, gum disease is your mouth's reaction to infection by bacteria thriving under your gums. The bacteria that could cause your gums and teeth to get damaged are spread through saliva. If you or a family member have gum disease, it's better to be safe than sorry: limit contact with their saliva, and don't share utensils or dental equipment.
Gingivitis, gum disease, and periodontal disease are all terms used to describe forms of bacterial growth in your mouth. Typically, dentists refer to gingivitis as the first stage of bacterial infection in your gums, while gum disease or periodontitis is the more advanced stage of the condition. Bacteria are normally in our bodies, and most cause no harm. However, in some individuals, the bad bacteria in the plaque that forms on our teeth thrive in the warm, moist mouth environment, causing significant irritation of the gums. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums, while in periodontitis, the bacteria actually begin to break down the bone and connective tissues of your teeth and gums.
Gingivitis is inflammation of gums. The main symptoms of gingivitis are red, swollen gums, and bleeding when tooth brushing. This mild form of gum disease can be reversed through daily brushing and flossing, along with regular professional dental care.
The symptoms of periodontitis/gum disease include: red, swollen gums; bleeding during and after brushing; frequent bad breath; receding gums; and loose, shifting teeth. Periodontitis is disease of the gums, a more serious concern because the gums actually pull away from the teeth, leaving spaces ("pockets") between teeth and gums where bacteria can thrive.
Most cases of gingivitis can be treated by regular dental visits to remove plaque buildup, along with routine dental care at home: no less than twice-daily brushing, flossing daily, and using an anti-plaque or anti-microbial mouthwash once a day. In severe cases, gingivitis may require an antibiotic to help your body fight bacteria that are causing the inflammation.
If gum disease has progressed to more severe periodontitis, the dentist will have to perform advanced dental procedures to regain your dental health. In most cases, the first step is dental scaling and planing. Scaling involves removing plaque and tartar below the gumline, while planing requires smoothing the tooth's roots, which will allow gums to re-attach to the roots. You'll probably require antibiotics and a special mouthwash after this procedure, and you'll need to ensure that you maintain excellent dental hygiene habits to prevent recurrence of the disease. If your periodontitis is especially advanced, and you still have pockets in the gums around your teeth after scaling and planing, you may need to have oral surgery to remove tartar deposits deep in the pockets or reduce the size of the pockets, which will make it easier for you and the dentist to keep your teeth and gums clean in the future. In the worst cases, bone and tissue grafts may be necessary to help regenerate any bone or tissue you've lost due to the severe bacterial infection.
Experienced Dentists and Orthodontist in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Braces are used by your orthodontist to help you improve the look and feel of your smile!
There are several different types of braces to choose from, including:
There is no age limit to consider orthodontics.
Even if the majority of orthodontic patients are children or adolescents, more than 25% of Canadians under orthodontic care are adults. In our practice, this proportion is even greater.
We regularly and successfully treat patients between 40 and 70+ years of age.
The basic biological process allowing the teeth to move is the same for all healthy individuals, regardless of their age.
In adults, the absence of growth may make it necessary to use different treatment modalities or to have different treatment objectives than with a growing population.
The recent technologies that we introduced in our practice in the past few years are particularly suited for adults by making treatment more efficient, accessible and comfortable than ever before for the adult population.
It is never too late to improve your dental condition with orthodontics.
No. If indicated, the replacement of any missing teeth will have to be done by your general dentist who is better equipped and qualified to do this kind of work.
However, if the missing teeth are located in the anterior area, where esthetics can be problematic, a prosthetic tooth will be included in our retention appliance(s) as a temporary solution until you can plan a more "permanent" alternative with your dentist.
The need to extract permanent teeth for orthodontic treatment depends on many factors. The most common reason to extract sound teeth is a severe space deficiency in the dental arches that can be corrected by using the space created by these extractions. The techniques and protocols we now use in our practice make the need to extract for that reason less frequent than ever before.
There are additional indications to extract one or many permanent teeth such as if:
In general, having braces doesn't "hurt". It is possible however that after certain visits, such as when braces are first put on the teeth or when major adjustments are made, that some teeth become sensitive for a few days. In that case, a light analgesic such as Tylenol, Advil or what you usually take for headaches may help.
The DAMON technology and protocols we use require forces to move the teeth that are lighter than conventional orthodontic techniques. Consequently, patients should feel minimal discomfort following adjustment visits.
Treatment duration depends on may factors such as:
A "compromised" treatment is a treatment in which the objectives or goals or the orthodontic corrections are different than the ones that could be reached in a "global" or comprehensive treatment. In fact, it is a "compromise" in which the patient and the orthodontist have agreed that certain corrections will not be made even if they are possible. The main reasons motivating a patient to consider a limited treatment are:
Experienced Dentists and Orthodontist in Dhaka, Bangladesh
In addition to digital radiography, we utilize special operating microscopes. Magnification and fiber optic illumination are helpful in aiding the doctor to see tiny details inside your tooth.
Electric Apex Locators: In certain cases electric apex locators can minimize the number of x-rays needed to complete root canal treatment.
Ultrasonics: Ultrasonic instruments can be valuable to remove or loosen obstructions that would otherwise prevent reliable endodontic therapy.
Experienced Dentists and Orthodontist in Dhaka, Bangladesh
No. Changes in dental occlusion and tooth position take place during the entire lifespan; these changes are most often seen as crowding, especially of the lower front teeth. Wisdom tooth eruption takes place around the same time as the crowding of lower front teeth begins.
The area of my lower wisdom tooth was giving me trouble.
Symptoms may appear seven to ten days after a surgical removal. The ache and the swelling are at their worst three to five days after the procedure. The recovery is normal if painkillers alleviate the ache. However, if there are any general symptoms, such as fever or increasing swelling, you have an inflammation that requires treatment. In that case contact your dentist.
Recovery after a normal upper wisdom tooth removal is usually quick, as long as you remember to avoid any strenuous activities, at least on the day of removal.