1) When should a child start seeing a dentist?   

We usually start seeing children around 18 months. Typically, we have the child watch us clean their parent’s teeth and it becomes a pleasant experience instead of a dreadful one. This builds their confidence and trust in us. Baby teeth keep the space open until the permanent teeth erupt. This allows the permanent teeth to develop in better alignment with each other. If the baby teeth are allowed to decay the permanent teeth might come out crooked since the space was not left open for the permanent teeth to erupt

  2) What is the main problem affecting our community dentally speaking?   

Periodontal disease is the main problem affecting our community. Periodontal Gum disease is the bone loss and possible infection of the structure around your teeth. All of us Asians: Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Filipino people eat mainly rice and we overcook our vegetables. Most of these foods are almost paste-like. It is so much easier for foods of this nature to cling to teeth. If this food is not removed with a tooth brush at least twice a day, it hardens and becomes calculus. The calculus then serves as a constant thorn poking at the gum tissue and over a period of time leads to bone loss. Over the years we basically have good teeth but very poor foundations and eventually the good teeth fall out by themselves without proper support. So if you have red swollen gums, gums that bleed easily or persistent bad taste or bad breath or loose teeth, please call us for a free consultation, so that we can help you solve the problem before it gets out of hand.

  3) What would you advise us to do?

As a community we usually put our teeth at the bottom of our priority list. We also do not bother going to the dentist unless something hurts. We recommend routinely getting a dental check up and getting your teeth cleaned at least every 6 months. This way any periodontal or endodontic problems can be diagnosed and treated in the earlier stages. “A stitch in time saves nine” as they say. This way the treatment rendered will be simpler since the problem can be diagnosed earlier.

  4) What are the warning signs that we should watch out for?

The most typical symptom is bleeding gums. This usually indicates the presence of calculus. If we had a thorn of some kind poking at our hand it would bleed. Similarly calculus poking at the gum tissue over a prolonged period of time would cause the gums to bleed.
The second most common symptom is sensitivity to hot and cold. This usually indicates the presence of cavities or abrasions. Bacteria is normally present in all our mouths and when we eat candy and don’t brush our teeth right away, the bacteria in an attempt to eat the candy that is coating the teeth makes a hole in the tooth also. Once the first hole is made there is no stopping the cavity process because the fibers in the tooth are pyramidal. Once the first hole is made in the tooth the decay grows in a pyramidal fashion following the fibers So what may look like small dots on are teeth could be the sign of larger cavities with wider bases. If you come in every 6 months for a checkup, the problem can be nipped in the bud. For example, a filling can be taken care of as a filling instead of as a root canal because we can find the cavity before it spreads to the nerve that is located in the center of the tooth. Bacteria from decay in teeth can spread to your sinuses, eyes, ears and in some extreme occasions can also causes brain abscesses.
As a rule, we do not pay attention to our teeth unless they start aching. If we have a deep cut in our hands or any other body part we pay attention to it immediately. However, if you look at the human body as a plumbing system made up of pipes, the teeth are a very finite part of the same overall plumbing system.

  5) Do you see any changes over the years regarding the teeth of the community people as we see the second generation emerging?

The children of this generation have started drinking a larger amount of pop and eating more candy than the previous generation. Sugar from candy and pop provides the bacteria in our mouths with a buffet of food and our teeth suffer for it. As a result, not only do we have gum problems because of our soft diets but we have also started to have tooth problems. This problem is more evident among the younger generations and we are seeing a higher necessity for cavity restoration and root canal therapy at this time.

  6) What is a Root Canal?

A Root canal is like a large filling in some way. When the cavity becomes very big it reaches the nerve that is located in the middle of the tooth. This can be very painful and the tooth sometimes cracks off because the decay has hollowed up the tooth from the inside. The (pulp) nerve is removed from the tooth. The area cleaned thoroughly and filled and sealed. This way you get to save your tooth, from being extracted. We offer free consultations to discuss all available options

  7) How do you replace missing teeth?

A) Partial Dentures
If you have a few missing teeth in your mouth, there are removable appliances that are custom made to fit around your existing teeth and replace most of your missing teeth. This helps you chew your food properly and by doing this you digest your food better.
B) Full Dentures
If you are missing all your teeth, custom made full removable dentures can be made to improve your smile and to help you chew your food and digest it better.
C) Crowns
When teeth have very large fillings or teeth with large decay present may need crown placed on them. Crowns strengthen the remaining tooth structure. The crown covers the whole tooth and prevents it from cracking further
D) Bridges
When you have one or more missing teeth, sometimes teeth in front of and behind the empty space are covered with crowns and artificial teeth are made to fill the space in between and are attached to the supporting teeth on either side. This appliance is called a Bridge and it is usually fixed in the mouth with cement.
E) Implants
When you have missing teeth, sometimes, a screw is placed in the area of the mouth where the teeth are missing and a custom made tooth is cemented in the mouth using that screw for support

  8) What are Braces?

Crooked teeth are a cause of bad breadth, cavities and an unaesthetic smile and can be fixed quite easily if treatment is rendered at the right time. Our office offers Orthodontic treatment for most cases. Please stop in for a Free Consultation

  9) Do you advice extracting the Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth come into our mouth when we are 18-25 years old. Sometime they come out straight but sometimes since they develop so late in life there is no room for them to grow in, since we are already fully grown at 18. In some cases, if left in the mouth, they can decay and also damage the teeth in front of them. Come in for a Free Consultation to see if they can be extracted in our office.

  10) What services does your office offer?

We are a staff of 20 people which includes 5 dentists, 5 dental hygienists and 5 dental assistants. We offer all services including regular fillings, root canal therapy, periodontal scaling and root planning, extractions full and partial dentures crowns bridges and braces. We have the latest technology in equipment including panoramic and cephalometric xrays in order to diagnose any problems that you might be having with your teeth. We also offer a computerized intraoral camera which helps you see your dental condition for yourself. We are open on the weekends and accept most insurance. We also offer senior discounts to parents.

  11) Online Registration

You can register online at our website at sirajbaigdds.com. We will call you soon to set up an appointment.