12 Questions answered

Can Probiotics help to treat and prevent tooth infections?

The cause of your tooth infection must first be understood. Is it due to deep tooth decay? Probiotics will not be able to help where decay has become so deep that it has infected the pulp or nerve in the center of the tooth. In such a situation, root canal treatment would be the appropriate treatment. I have found a particular kind of probiotic designed specifically for dental use helpful in the management of periodontal infections (gum disease). This probiotic is a chewable lozenge used twice a day for 3 months.

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Answered By

Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

How to fix a gummy smile if gum contouring was not effective? (photo)

Hello YN N, There are a few ways to help reduce a gummy smile. The choice of method will depend on the proportion of your face, such as the length of your lips, bone and teeth position. You could use Botox, it is temporary but it will give you an idea of how you will look with less gum showing. If you like the way you look, you can consider lip re-positioning surgery. Orthodontics may be able to raise the position of your teeth. In some cases where a lot of gum is showing and depending on the proportion of the face, surgery can be considered to shorten the mid-third of the face.

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Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

When is it worth it to go for dental implant surgery?

Hello Ashley, Implants help to replace lost teeth. Teeth are replaced for three primary reasons: a) for function - to allow you to eat and speak well b) for appearance - lost teeth can leave embarrassing gaps in your smile and make you look older c) to prevent drifting of adjacent teeth and prevent overloading of remaining teeth. When a tooth is lost, it can lead to neighbouring teeth tilting and moving out of alignment. This can affect the health of remaining teeth. There are different ways of replacing lost teeth.

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Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

What are cost effective methods to fix crooked teeth in a 32 year old? (photo)

Hello Evee, You have described your teeth as "crooked". I take that to mean that you see your teeth as being in the wrong positions i. e. not aligned or "straight". Crooked teeth can be moved to the right position i. e. "straightened". Moving teeth will require braces or clear aligners. You have asked for the cost-effective method. Metal braces cost less than ceramic braces or clear aligners. I would not recommend veneers or crowns as they do not correct the position of your teeth but merely mask their positions.

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Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

How to treat a chipped surface on my front tooth?

Breaking a tooth can be distressing. Take consolation that with modern dentistry there is much that can be done to help you. The management of a chipped tooth will depend much on the extent of the injury or damage to the tooth. Cosmetic contouring If the chip of the tooth is very minor, for example, just a little edge of a tooth, often nothing needs to be done. If the chipped area bothers your tongue or it affects your appearance, some gentle re-contouring can be done. This will make it more comfortable for your tongue and make the chip less noticeable.

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Answered By

Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

When is a good age for children to get their braces done?

There is no one best time to start treatment with braces. The decision to start treatment is based on many factors like the nature of the problem, the stage of growth and the level of co-operation or motivation of the child to get treatment. It is good practice to take your child for regular checkups and ask if a problem of crooked teeth is anticipated. A child can be examined at the ages of 7 years, 9 years and 12 years to check for problems related to the alignment of teeth and jaws.

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Answered By

Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

Can protruding front teeth be fixed with veneers?

Whether Veneers or Orthodontic procedures are the solution for you depends on many factors. Are you concerned with the gap between the teeth only or also the protrusion of the teeth? If you have protruded teeth, it may be more appropriate for the teeth position to be corrected with orthodontics. And by correcting the protrusion, chances are that the gap will close naturally. Whether you can close the gap between the teeth - without correcting the position -- will depend on the size of the gap relative to the width of your teeth.

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Answered By

Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

How safe are self teeth-whitening treatments in Singapore?

The agent proven to be effective for teeth whitening is hydrogen peroxide. Only clinics are allowed to prescribe hydrogen peroxide at the concentration which can effectively whiten teeth in a short time. This is what the Ministry of Health (MOH) has to say about teeth whitening products available over the counter (taken from the MOH website): " Under the Health Products (Cosmetic Products-ASEAN Cosmetic Directive) Regulations 2007, as long as the concentration of hydrogen peroxide or other similar chemicals present in a finished oral hygiene product is less than or equal to 0.

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Answered By

Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

How can one relieve gum pain caused by dentures?

Hello Meng Fai Chew, There are several reasons for having pain on chewing. It could be that the denture is loose and moving around when she bites and that movement hurts her gums. If so, the denture will need to be adjusted or modified to fit her gums better. Your mother has been wearing full dentures for nearly 30 years. Many people do not know that when teeth are extracted, the jaw bone shrinks because the bone is no longer needed to hold teeth. It is very similar to your muscles. If you do not use your muscles to do exercise, then the muscles will shrink.

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Answered By

Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

When do I need to use chewies for Invisalign?

Hello Z, Invisalign aligners move teeth into position by gently applying pressure on the teeth. For movement to occur accurately and fully, it is essential that the aligners fit over the teeth well. Chewies are used to help seat the aligner onto your teeth fully. Did you ask your dentist about whether you need to use chewies? If you have doubts about your treatment it is best to ask your dentist directly. Good patient - doctor communication is one of the keys of successful treatment.

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Answered By

Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

When is it necessary to see a specialist for wisdom tooth extraction in Singapore?

Hello Z, In Singapore, general dentists are trained to remove wisdom teeth. You can see your general dentist to have an assessment of the position of your wisdom teeth with X-rays and determine the difficulty of removing the tooth. If your dentist feels that there may be difficulty e. g, the wisdom tooth is dangerously close to a nerve, then your dentist will refer you to an appropriate specialist. If there are no problems anticipated with your tooth, then your general dentist would be well able to remove it. Certainly, you can see a specialist directly to remove your wisdom tooth.

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Answered By

Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

How can I claim Medisave for dental treatment in Singapore?

There are very specific criteria for making a Medisave claim. Medisave can only be claimed for surgical procedures like removal of impacted wisdom teeth or broken roots, insertion of implants, jaw surgery etc. Medisave cannot be used for routine dental work like fillings, simple extractions, crowns, dentures, root canal treatment. It certainly cannot be used for cosmetic procedures like straightening of teeth or teeth whitening. If you are planning a procedure that qualifies for Medisave deduction, your dental clinic can advise you on how the claim can be done.

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Answered By

Dr Asha Karunakaran

Dentist

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10 Sinaran Drive Novena Medical Centre Square 2 #09 - 26 Singapore 307506

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* This profile has been last updated on October 26, 2020.