FAQs

IV Sedation refers to the use of pharmacological agents administered intravenously to induce a state of deep relaxation to calm a patient during a dental appointment.

You will remain conscious during IV sedation but the drugs used to produce either partial or full memory loss (amnesia) for the period of time for your dental appointment. As a result, time will appear to pass very quickly and you will not recall much or even anything of what happened.

The difference between IV sedation and general anaesthetic, is that your body remains conscious and in control of its own breathing while under IV sedation. During general anaesthetic, you become completely unconscious and your breathing is aided by a machine. This must be done in a hospital setting, while sedation dentistry can be carried out in the comfortable rooms.

We can provide you with inhalation sedation dentistry for procedures which are non-invasive if you suffer from anxiety. Dental anxiety is common and we can assure you that we will do everything we can to ensure you are comfortable throughout your appointment.

Your dentist will closely monitor you throughout the entire appointment by tracking your blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, oxygen level, and pulse, to make sure you are both safe and comfortable.

Upon administration of the IV medication, you will quickly begin to feel relaxed and at ease. As a result of the drugs used, time will pass very quickly and before you know it you will regain your awareness and you will most likely not remember much of the procedure.

There is no set amount of recovery time because every patient is different. While recovery from IV administered drugs is not complete at the end of dental treatment but most patients begin to feel more alert soon after the IV medication is stopped. You should not drive or operate heavy machinery for at least 24 hours after the end of your appointment.

No, you need to be escorted home by a responsible adult.  You should rest for the remainder of the day and have an adult stay with you until you’re fully alert.

• Don’t perform any strenuous or hazardous activities and don’t drive a motor vehicle for the rest of the day.
• Don’t eat a heavy meal immediately.
• Don’t drink alcohol for the rest of the day.

If you experience any unusual problems, call Smiles Dental Care for advice.

No, root canal therapy can actually relieve your pain. The procedure will be performed under local anaesthetic so you will not experience any discomfort.

We have a range of sedation techniques to ensure that any surgical procedure we perform will be comfortable. Root canals are minimally invasive and nowadays are very comfortable for the patient before and after treatment. Dr. Amol is also very gentle and caring and will listen to and explain any concerns you have about your procedure.

This usually varies from time to time. Root canals can be done in one, two or multiple appointments, depending on the tooth and its current condition. Each visit or appointment can take from under 1 hour, to over 2 hours.

There is nothing better for your oral health than the preservation and maintenance of your natural teeth in order to maintain optimal oral health, a root canal treatment can assist in saving your natural tooth. If a tooth is removed you will need to replace it as failure to do this may lead to other dental problems, such as the drifting of other teeth, bite problems, TMJ pain. Root canal treatment can actually prevent additional treatments such as dental implants.

The most essential part is to maintain your daily oral hygiene routine by brushing your teeth twice a day and to floss daily to prevent periodontal pockets from forming between your teeth. Smoking and diet can also affect your risk of decay and disease which is why we recommend cutting down on sugary foods and acidic foods.

You should also regularly visit your dentist to prevent any oral health problems. We recommend you see us every six months and to book an appointment if you have any dental concerns.

Root canal treatment is no more painful than receiving a regular filling. You may experience some discomfort and it is normal to feel some tenderness in the area for a few days after your treatment, but this is usually manageable through the use of regular over-the-counter pain relievers. Root canal therapy will actually remove the pain from your infected pulp and you should instead feel better once your treatment is over.

A missing tooth can be replaced with either a dental bridge or dental implant. Implants are the preferred method of replacement as they are a permanent solution, while bridges are a temporary solution (although they still last for a number of years).

As we have the best interests of our patients at heart we will generally recommend a dental implant as we believe it delivers a better solution.

Lasers are used in dentistry to make an incision in soft tissue. They have virtually eliminated the need for scalpels and other more invasive tools. Laser dentistry is used in many dental procedures including dental surgery and gummy smile treatment to shape the gums.

White fillings not only look better, but they are also better for your health and tooth structure. Because they are close to the same colour as your natural tooth, white fillings are nearly invisible in the mouth. Amalgam fillings can cause your natural tooth to crack, which can lead to permanent damage of the existing tooth structure, making it difficult (and sometimes impossible) to restore the tooth.

Dental implants are a long-lasting solution to replace a missing tooth. The implant acts just look a normal tooth would, and, thanks to the longevity of the materials used, generally does not need to be replaced.

A crown can generally last between five and 10 years, though this can vary depending on how hard your bite is, what foods you eat, and how well you look after your dental health. In some cases, it is even possible that you crown may last longer than ten years.

At Smiles Dental Care we offer two kinds of braces – traditional and fast. Both methods achieve the same results, but as its name suggests, the fast braces achieve the results a little quicker. Make your appointment at Smiles Dental Care today to find out which option would best suit you.

Oral health is an integral part of your overall wellbeing. By visiting Smiles Dental Care every six months we can help you to prevent gum disease and tooth decay, or catch it before it worsens thanks to the wonderful technology we have available, allowing us to detect issues earlier.

Do you clench or grind your teeth? A splint is a device designed to protect your teeth while you are sleeping. Contact Smiles Dental Care today to find out how a dental splint could help you.

Smiles Dental Care offers a take-home tooth whitening treatment. Tooth colour varies from person to person, and therefore the results achieved will also vary.