Patient guides
Straight answers to common dental questions
General, plain-language information to help you understand your options. It isn't a diagnosis — for advice about your own teeth, book a check-up. Published by Dr Smile Dental Care, Parel.
Treatments · 5 min read
Is root canal treatment painful?
What a root canal actually feels like, why the toothache before it is usually worse than the treatment, what recovery is like and when to call your dentist.
Read the guideTreatments · 4 min read
Braces vs clear aligners: which is right for you?
An honest comparison of braces and clear aligners — how each works, what they can treat, daily life, cleaning, treatment time and how to decide.
Read the guideUrgent care · 5 min read
What to do in a dental emergency
Step-by-step first aid for toothache, a knocked-out or broken tooth, a lost filling or crown, and swelling — plus when to go to a hospital instead of a dentist.
Read the guideChildren · 4 min read
When should a child first see a dentist?
When to book your child's first dental visit, what happens at it, how to prepare, and simple habits that protect milk teeth from decay.
Read the guideEveryday care · 4 min read
How often do you need a dental check-up and cleaning?
Why 'every six months' is a starting point, not a rule — how your dentist sets the right check-up and cleaning interval, and what happens at each visit.
Read the guideEveryday care · 4 min read
Tooth sensitivity: causes and fixes
Why teeth become sensitive to cold, hot or sweet, what you can do at home, the treatments a dentist can offer, and the signs that it's more than sensitivity.
Read the guideTreatments · 4 min read
Dental implant vs bridge vs denture: replacing a missing tooth
How implants, bridges and dentures compare for replacing missing teeth — how each works, who suits which, treatment time, care, and what happens if you leave a gap.
Read the guideEveryday care · 4 min read
Bleeding gums: causes and when to worry
Why gums bleed when you brush, how gingivitis differs from gum disease, what helps at home, and the warning signs that need a dentist or a doctor.
Read the guide