1. Who is a dentist?

A dentist is a doctor who deals with your oral health problems. This includes your mouth, jaw, teeth, and gums. Dentists perform teeth cleaning, filling, extraction, root canal treatment, and advise on oral diseases including tooth decay, gum disease, and mouth cancer. There are different types of dentists for various dental concerns. 

2. How does a dentist numb your mouth?

For some procedures, your dentist may need to numb areas of your mouth so that the procedure is not painful. Dentists use a class of chemicals called local anesthetics, which numb only the particular area of your mouth that they are applied to. Local anesthetics are administered via injection near the affected area. 

3. At what age should kids start going to the dentist?

It is usually recommended that you take your child to the dentist within 6 months of eruption of their first tooth. The first visit may include a full examination of the child’s teeth, jaws, gums, and oral tissues to check for their growth and development.

4. Which mirror is used by dentists?

Dentists use a concave mirror (with an inwardly bent reflecting surface and a polished outward surface) for examining your teeth. A concave mirror provides a larger and brighter image of your mouth without inverting the image, making it easier for the dentist to see the back of your mouth. 

5. Can dentists fix rotten teeth?

In rotten or decayed teeth, an infection has spread into the dental pulp (innermost layer of your tooth), and sometimes, even under the tooth and into the gums. Depending on the damage, your dentist can either fill in the cavity, advise on root canal treatment, add crowns to the teeth, or extract the teeth, and replace them with false teeth.

6. What do dentists use for dental fillings?

There are various materials available for dental filling. Your teeth can be filled with gold, porcelain, silver amalgam (a mixture of mercury with silver, tin, zinc, and copper), glass ionomer, or tooth-coloured composite resin fillings. All these materials cost different and are used based on the location and extent of tooth decay.

7. What does a cosmetic dentist do?

A cosmetic dentist provides oral care focused on improving the appearance of your mouth, teeth, gums, and smile. Common procedures in cosmetic dentistry include teeth whitening, veneers (dental laminates which are tooth-coloured and used to cover the front of the teeth to improve their appearance), crowns, fillings, implants, and dental bonding. It can involve minor procedures to major surgeries and may help improve your confidence in your smile.

8. Can dentists know that you smoke?

Yes, dentists can easily tell if you smoke. Smoking impacts your teeth and gums in various ways, all of which can be identified by your dentist. The noticeable signs of smoking include yellow teeth (nicotine stains), plaque buildup, receding gums, and bad breath.