As soon as the first tooth appears.

Children naturally have a fear for the unknown, and the best way to ensure that their oral health is in order is by making the dental setting a known and playful area as soon as possible. This will help you as a parent on what to expect and you have the opportunity to ask the dentist about any uncertainty you might have.

Every 6 months.

Visits to the dentist can sometimes be intimidating, especially if you do not know what to expect or if you are already in pain due to dental disease. Having regular check-ups will ensure that you do not get nasty surprises and if there are any, they can be addressed before the problem gets too big. Your dentist will inform you of any irregularities, for them to be addressed as soon as possible. Having these check-ups every 6 months can save you stress, pain and money. Like the saying goes, “Prevention is better than cure”.

The short answer is yes!

One thing most patients do not like doing, is to floss. Besides regular brushing it is probably the single most important thing you should do to maintain good oral health. Flossing prevents cavities forming in between teeth and helps remove food that get stuck between them. Bacteria and food between teeth are also causative factors for bad breath and with regular flossing can be avoided.

Tooth removal is a form of dental surgery and is usually done when a tooth can no longer be saved or if it is the cause of other dental problems. During the procedure, the dentist will first numb the tooth so that you do not feel any pain during the process.

You will also be instructed on what to expect during the procedure and directly afterwards. It is especially important to adhere to the instructions given to prevent any complications form arising. During your consultation make sure to get clarity on any questions you may have.

During and directly after the procedure you should not have any pain, remember to take any medication prescribed as indicated and alert the practice immediately should you become worried about anything.

Tooth removal is always the last option to consider when deciding on dental treatment. This is because of the resultant problems that may develop due to tooth removal. These include, but are not limited to other teeth moving, loss of supporting bone structure, loss of function like chewing and not having an apealing appearnace if it is directly in your smile area.

Though tooth removal sometimes cannot be avoided, it should be carefully considered before done, because once a tooth is out, it is out, and replacement might not always be so easy. So always take all treatment options into account before making the decision.

In Namibia, each medical aid has their own limitations on what dental procedures they will cover and the amount. When you report at reception, the staff will contact your medical aid to find out what your benefits are, so that you will be able to make an informed decision on any dental treatment you may require. It may be necessary for the practice to submit a full quotation to your medical aid to give you the best financial advice on your treatment. This however, can take some time.

Below are all the medical aids which the practice subscribes to.

Dental treatment is not cheap, and in a sense is specialised, thus it frequently happens that a medical aid does not cover all the costs of treatments received. The practice will always try its utmost to ensure that the medical aid does pay your account, however, should they not submit payment for any reason, the patient or guardian remains responsible for the account. Remember, dental treatment is a service rendered to a patient and thus the transaction remains between the practice and the patient. It is best to ensure that any account not settled by the medical aid is settled as soon as possible, to avoid bad credit reviews and to maintain a good relationship with the practice that delivers the service.

The teeth whitening process is done with whitening products containing one of two bleaches (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide). These break down stains, which makes the colour less concentrated and your teeth brighter. With the use of a custom made tray, the product is applied only to the teeth that need to be whitened preventing wastage.

Results can be seen as early as the first time it is applied. Follow your dentist instructions and make sure to only use professional bleaching products to prevent permanent damage to be caused to your teeth.

Cosmetic tooth jewellery is made of real gold and applied to your teeth with dental adhesives, which cannot react to any of the fluids in the oral cavity. However, if not applied to your teeth with the correct adhesives or procedure, you may develop cavities next to or under the jewellery.

Patients are advised to have these placed by a professional to prevent irreversible damage being done to their natural teeth. Be aware that it is illegal for unlicense persons to do any dental work or place any dental cosmetics. It is also advisable to only have them placed on healthy teeth and not on previously restored teeth.

If you are unsure, discuss it with the dentist and make an informed decision.