01
Which holiday days are you open?
Every day of the religious holiday, including the eve, and on public holidays as well. These are exactly the periods when finding an on-call dentist is hardest, so the clinic keeps the same hours as any other day. Calling before you come lets us tell you the expected wait.
02
I am visiting from another city — will you see me?
Of course. After emergency care you are given the details to pass to your own dentist — what was done, which materials were used and what the next step should be — so that your treatment continues from where it was left rather than starting again. Radiographs can be shared digitally.
03
Is it busy during the holiday?
Yes, attendance rises during those periods because finding an on-call dentist elsewhere is harder. Calling before you come is worth it: we can tell you the expected wait in advance and prepare for your arrival, so a journey made in pain is not followed by an unnecessary wait.
04
Can root canal treatment be done during the holiday?
Yes. In the emergency session the root canal is opened, the pressure released and the pain stopped. The root filling and the restoration on top are completed at later appointments — that sequence is both safer and better for the long-term survival of the tooth.
05
Should I book a check-up before the holiday?
We do recommend it. A short examination and, where needed, a panoramic radiograph reveal in advance the teeth most likely to cause trouble while you are away: a deep filling close to the nerve, a cracked cusp, a partly erupted wisdom tooth. Dealing with those beforehand is far easier than finding a dentist in an unfamiliar place.
06
Are you open every day of the holiday?
Yes. The clinic is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that includes public holidays, religious holidays and weekends. Calling before you come is still worth it: preparation is completed while you travel and you are not kept waiting when you arrive.
07
Should I go to a hospital emergency department?
Hospital emergency departments prioritise medical emergencies and can usually only offer analgesia; removing the cause requires a dental clinic.
08
There is a white coating on my tongue. Should I clean it too?
Yes, cleaning your tongue belongs to daily care. The grooved surface at the back holds bacteria and shed cells, and this coating is one of the commonest sources of bad breath. Sweep gently from back to front a few times with a tongue scraper or the soft bristles of your brush, then rinse. If you gag, start further forward. A coating that persists or hurts should be examined.
09
My breath still smells even though I brush regularly. What could cause it?
Most bad breath starts in the mouth: the bacterial coating on the tongue, uncleaned contact areas, tartar, inflamed gums, decay and old fillings with broken margins. A dry mouth and irregular eating make it more noticeable. If the smell persists after these are treated, sinus, tonsil, reflux or systemic causes are investigated. The sensible first step is a detailed dental examination.
10
My mouth is always dry. Can that harm my teeth, and what can I do?
Yes. Saliva buffers acid, returns minerals to enamel and washes debris away, so less of it means faster decay and more gum problems. Some blood-pressure, allergy, diuretic and antidepressant medicines, mouth breathing and certain conditions cause dryness. Sip water through the day, chew sugar-free gum, and cut down on caffeine and alcohol. Extra fluoride and more frequent check-ups are usually advised.
11
I smoke but my gums never bleed. Am I still at risk?
Yes. The absence of bleeding is not reassurance. Smoking constricts the small vessels in the gums, masking bleeding, the most visible sign of inflammation, so the disease advances quietly and is often noticed late. It also slows healing, increases tartar and staining, and worsens the outcome of gum treatment and implants. Smokers need more frequent pocket charting and support to quit.
12
I have diabetes. Do my gums need extra attention?
Yes, and the relationship runs both ways. Poorly controlled blood sugar impairs the response to infection and slows healing, so gum disease progresses faster. In turn, advanced gum inflammation can make blood sugar harder to control. Diabetic patients are therefore advised to have more frequent check-ups, regular scaling and careful interdental cleaning. Tell us your medicines and recent readings when you book.
13
Do I need to see a dentist when nothing hurts?
Yes, because early decay and early gum disease are usually painless. By the time it hurts, the problem is generally larger and the treatment more involved. A routine visit includes pocket measurements, a check of contact areas and old fillings, and radiographs where hidden areas need assessing. Six-monthly visits suit most adults, and higher-risk patients come more often. Our clinic is open around the clock.
14
I love sweets. Does the amount matter more, or how often I eat them?
Frequency matters more than quantity. After every sugary snack the mouth turns acidic and enamel loses minerals for a while, and saliva needs time to reverse that. Sipping sweet drinks or nibbling all day keeps the mouth acidic constantly. Having sweets right after a main meal, choosing water between meals, and not sipping sugary drinks slowly lowers the risk of decay.
15
Can I brush right after orange juice or a fizzy drink?
It is better to wait around half an hour. Acidic drinks temporarily soften the enamel surface, and brushing then can increase wear. While you wait, rinse with water or chew sugar-free gum to boost saliva, which buffers the acid and lets the enamel harden again. Keeping acidic drinks to mealtimes rather than spreading them through the day also protects enamel.
16
I am exhausted at night. Can I brush only in the morning?
The night-time brush is the more important of the two, so try not to skip it. Saliva flow drops markedly during sleep, so its washing and buffering effect is reduced and any plaque left behind keeps producing acid for hours. Plaque at the gumline also starts inflammation. Brush with fluoride paste and clean between the teeth before bed, then take nothing but water.
17
My gums have been swollen and bleeding since I became pregnant. Is it temporary?
In pregnancy, hormonal changes increase the gum's inflammatory response to plaque, so swelling and bleeding are common and usually settle after birth. Even so, it should not simply be left, as it can progress. Brush twice daily with a soft brush, clean between the teeth consistently, and have a professional cleaning when needed. Tell us you are pregnant and how far along, so treatment is timed appropriately.
18
Are gingivitis and periodontitis the same thing? What is the difference?
They are not the same. In the first stage the inflammation stays in the gum: redness, swelling and bleeding, with no loss of supporting bone, and it largely reverses with cleaning and good home care. Left untreated, the inflammation reaches the fibres and bone holding the tooth, and that loss is permanent. Pockets deepen, gums recede and teeth may loosen. Probing and radiographs distinguish the two.
19
My lower front teeth have started to feel loose. Can they be saved?
In many cases, acting early reduces the mobility. First the cause is identified: loss of supporting bone, advanced inflammation, clenching or an uneven bite. Cleaning below the gumline brings the inflammation under control, and the bite may be adjusted or the teeth splinted together for support. Lost bone does not return, but the process can be halted. Options narrow as looseness increases, so have it assessed.
20
My gum is swollen with a throbbing pain. Can it wait until morning?
Do not leave it. Our clinic is open twenty-four hours a day, so it can be assessed at night. A gum abscess forms when bacteria become trapped and it does not resolve on its own. If the swelling spreads towards the eye, neck or throat, or there is fever or difficulty swallowing or breathing, go to a hospital emergency department at once. Do not apply heat or place painkillers on the gum.
21
I have braces and struggle to clean around them. What should I use?
With braces, plaque gathers quickly around the brackets, so you need more tools. Alongside your normal brush, small interdental brushes and a single-tufted brush reach around each bracket. A floss threader or pre-threaded flossers get floss under the wire, and a water flosser helps as well. Clean after every meal, use fluoride toothpaste, and keep your review appointments.
22
I have an implant. Since it cannot decay, do I still need to clean around it?
Yes, absolutely. An
implant cannot decay, but the gum and bone around it can become inflamed, and plaque build-up there can cause loss of support and eventually of the implant. The area where the restoration meets the gum is the critical zone. Clean daily with a soft brush, a correctly sized interdental brush and implant-specific floss, and keep regular professional maintenance visits.
23
My child's baby teeth will fall out anyway. Are fluoride and sealants still worth it?
Yes. Baby teeth support chewing and speech and hold space for the permanent teeth, so losing them early can cause crowding. Fluoride application makes enamel more resistant to acid. A fissure sealant fills the deep grooves of the back teeth with a flowable material, protecting areas a brush cannot reach; it is painless and quick. These measures add to daily brushing and less frequent sugar, not replace them.
24
How many stages does implant treatment take, and what happens at each one?
Implant treatment usually runs in three stages. First an examination with radiographs, and tomography when needed, to assess the bone and plan the space. Then the implant is placed in the jawbone under local anaesthesia, which is normally short and comfortable. After healing, impressions are taken and the crown or prosthesis is fitted. Total time varies with your bone and healing.
25
How long until the tooth goes on my implant, and why the wait?
In most cases it is a few months, often shorter in the lower jaw. The wait allows bone to bond to the implant surface, a process called osseointegration. Loading the screw before that bond forms can loosen or lose the implant. A temporary solution can be planned meanwhile, and your check-ups decide the exact timing.
26
When can I eat normally after implant surgery?
Wait until the anaesthesia wears off, then start with warm, soft foods. For the first days avoid very hot, hard or spicy items and chew on the other side. Most patients return to a normal diet gradually once the area settles and sutures are removed. Straws and smoking are discouraged early because they can disturb healing.
27
My face swelled and aches after the implant. Is that normal?
Swelling, slight bruising and throbbing during the first two or three days are expected and usually fade. Cold packs, keeping your head raised and taking prescribed medication help. If swelling increases after day four, or you have fever, discharge, bad odour or severe ongoing pain, that is not expected. Our clinic is open around the clock, so call us and come in.
28
My tooth was pulled years ago. Can you tell if I have enough bone?
We measure it rather than guess. Alongside the examination, a three-dimensional scan shows bone height, width and distance to the nerve and sinus. Long-standing gaps often show bone loss, but that rarely rules implants out. Where bone is thin, grafting or sinus elevation can prepare the site, and we explain your options afterwards.
29
They said bone powder will be added. What does a graft actually do?
A graft is bone-building material used to rebuild missing volume so an implant has solid support. It may come from your own bone or from biocompatible ready-made materials. It acts as a scaffold that your own cells gradually turn into real bone, so healing can take a little longer. Sometimes graft and implant are done in one session.
30
They said my sinus is too close in the upper back. Can I still have an implant?
Usually yes. When upper back teeth are missing the sinus can expand downwards, leaving less bone height. A procedure gently lifts the sinus floor and places graft material underneath to create room for the implant. Depending on remaining bone this is done in the same session or separately, guided by your scan and general health.
