Clinic Faq

These are a few of the commonly asked doubts/questions asked by patients while undergoing or considering dental treatments. This is an attempt to clear a few misconceptions people have about dental procedures.

About the practice

Q – DO YOU ACCEPT NEW PATIENTS?

Yes. We accept new patients. In case of any emergency like acute pain you can get an immediate appointment to treat your problem. Regular cases will be scheduled at the earliest convenient time.

Q – HOW CAN I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT?

You can schedule an appointment by simply calling our office at +91-80-26673439 or+91-0- 9845085230 if your call is not attended by us please leave a message on answering machine or leave a text(sms) message on the mobile we shall call you back at the earliest. Or by e-mail allsmilesdc@hotmail.com if you have any specific enquiry you can use the form available in the personal appointment section.

Q – HOW MANY PATIENTS DO YOU SEE PER DAY?

We are not into mass practice of dentistry. We see limited number of patients any given day based on appointments. We prefer to offer hi quality care to a limited number of people than dilute the quality by taking in large number of people. The chief doctors are full time practitioners. They are always available during the clinical hours for consultations. You are assured of undivided attention by the doctors here.

Q – WHO OWNS Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALLSMILES? IS IT A FRANCHISE SET UP?

Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES is fully owned and managed by chief doctors Dr TRIVIKRAM (Dr VIKRAM) AND Dr SRUTI who come with experince of over 22 years. The practice is founded because of their passion for work and built over the years by their personal reputation and credibility .Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES is not a franchise or part of any corporate dental chain set-up.

Q – HOW ARE THE CONSULTANTS CHOSEN AT Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES?

All consultants are handpicked by the chief doctors based on their competence, approachability and like minded passion for work. Apart from being competent doctors they are also gentle and compassionate human beings. They guarantee that worlds best materials are used and clinical procedures are practiced at Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES in all treatment procedures.

Q – HOW IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE AT Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES?

The infrastructure here is STATE OF THE ART -Conferring to international standards due to the chief doctor’s exposure abroad.

Q – HOW IS Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES BETTER THAN A CORPORATE SET-UP OR A FRANCHISE SET-UP?

Because for us, dental practice is a passion not a business plan. All the treatments here are done with personal attention from the chief doctors under their strict supervision.

Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES DENTAL ADVANTAGE.

Ownership and management: Managed and owned by the chief doctors unlike a franchise setup owned by business groups.

Treatment service: Individualized Service with personal attention from the chief doctors.

Approachability and availability of the chief doctors: The chief doctors are always available and approachable for any kind of enquiry or post operative follow up. You do not need to go through the call centre executives to reach us.

Treatment cost: Affordable.

Track record and credibility: Excellent.

Q – IS TREATMENT AT Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES VERY EXPENSIVE?

The cost of treatments at Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES is true value for your money as you get the world class expertise and hi-quality results. And is lot more affordable than franchise setups.

Q – DOES Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES HAVE ANY OTHER BRANCHES IN BANGALORE OR ANY OTHER CITY?

NO. We do NOT have any branches either in Bangalore or any other cities.

Q – HOW Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES HAS AN EDGE OVER OTHER CLINICS?

We are able to deliver the best care to our patients because we have the required infrastructure and experienced specialists all in one location. Most of the big dental procedures like SMILE DESIGNING, IMPLANTS, and And COSMETIC CORRECTION are ONCE A LIFE TIME treatment procedures which cannot be left to chance. Such procedures require expertise and state of the art infrastructure which are available at Dr TRIVIKRAM'S ALL SMILES. Having doctors who have successfully treated thousands of cases since the year 2002 surely has an edge over other clinics.

We have delivered great results for a lot of patients who have undergone unsuccessful treatments and were unsatisfactory with the results elsewhere. Our office is dedicated to providing the finest possible dental care to all. The fact that at least 50% of our clientele is from areas like WHITEFIELD, INDIRANAGAR, KORAMANGALA, HEBBAL, BANNERAGATTA ROAD AND MARATHAHALLI is the proof of our credibility. We thank your decision to choose us for your dental needs and we take all the steps to minimize the number of visits.

About your first visit.

What is the standard procedure to be followed in a dental clinic on the first visit?

Typically this is the standard procedure that is followed.

• Registration of the patient where the patient has to fill a form giving the details like name ,age and address and a brief medical history and sign a consent for diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• Comprehensive clinical examination and x-rays if required.
• Detailed treatment plan and cost estimate.
• If the patient agrees then the treatment can be started on the same day.

Q – What records should I bring on my first visit?

If you already have any x-rays of teeth or an OPG you are required to bring them on your first visit. If you are on any medication please bring the prescription or the medicines and if you have any medical condition please bring the relevant records.

About the cost of Dental Treatments.

Q – Dr A charges only x amount for a cleaning/RCT/crown. Why is it that Dr B charges more?

Dental clinics/dentists in India are completely self regulated. They do not have any uniform regulations for the infrastructure.They do not abide by any standard specifications for the equipment/materials used during the treatment procedures. There is no authority monitoring the sterilization process in any dental clinic. So if Dr A has spent very less on infrastructure, sterilization equipment and materials then he can offer treatment at x amount.

Someone who is spending more on equipment, materials, and skilled staff will charge more.

Q – Can you give me a cost estimate on the phone for my procedure?

A lot of times what the patient explains on the phone is completely opposite to what the doctor finds in the mouth during a clinical examination. It is better to arrive at a cost estimate after a thorough clinical examination and x-rays if required.

Dental procedures require good expertise and state of the art setup. It is impossible for us to give the cost when clients ask for charges of dental procedures over the phone without bothering to check out the materials we use, the results we deliver. Hence it is always better to visit the clinic, consult the doctor and then commit to the treatment rather than shopping for the price.

Q – What are the accepted modes of payment?

Cash, credit card, debit card. An Identification proof is needed for all card transactions.

About Post Treatment Problems and post operative care

Q – What happens if I encounter problems during or after the treatment? What should I do?

All the patients undergoing treatment are given detailed instructions to be followed during the treatment .They are also explained about the possible problems that can occur. You will be attended to at the earliest if there is anything that needs attention. We advise the patients to follow up at least twice a year for post treatment recall and routine maintenance.

About Dental Treatments:

Q – My tooth has a big cavity, does it need a root canal treatment (RCT). My earlier dentist suggested RCT. Do I really need one?

The decision to do RCT can be taken based on the following factors.

1. Patient’s symptoms.
2. X-ray.
3. Clinical examination.

A good digital x-ray will reveal if the cavity is involving the nerve, then RCT is recommended. In case of borderline scenario where the cavity is deep but not involving the nerve, a decision can be taken after completely removing the decay .If the nerve gets exposed then RCT is necessary. Remember the primary goal of attending to that tooth is to remove the decay from it. So it is best to take a decision on the spot after removing the decay .If RCT is needed to save the tooth then it is recommended.

We have a STANDARD PROTOCOL in such a case- In case of a cavity which we start out as a filling but realize that it is deeper and we feel that RCT is needed- then the patient will be explained about the situation and the cost. If the patient agrees then we can start the RCT right away. Otherwise we can only give a temporary filling not a permanent filling.

Q – My dentist did a deep filling but it is giving me a lot of pain, what to do?

A lot of times patients force the doctor to do a permanent filling even if the doctor feels the need for RCT. They may be simply afraid of the procedure .If the tooth develops symptoms after a filling has been done, then the filling can be removed and a temporary filling can be done. If the symptoms persist RCT is recommended to save the tooth. In our practice also we have come across such situations .So we follow the STANDARD PROTOCOL described in the answer to the second question. This prevents any misunderstanding that can happen if the patient develops pain after a filling.

Q – My tooth never had pain, but after doing a filling the dentist recommended it started to pain. Why?

Dentists recommend fillings for teeth which have cavities. But regular cavities DO NOT give out any symptoms like pain until they are deep and close to the nerve. Sometimes after doing a filling the filling material can cause irritation/allergic reaction to the tooth dentine. It can result in pain.

Q – Are wisdom teeth meant to be extracted?

Not always. Wisdom teeth (the third molars) are the back teeth on either side of each jaw and normally appear between 17 and 25 years of age. More often since there is scarcity of space for them to emerge in the right position, they get stuck in the bone in all possible angulations. Such a situation frequently causes pain radiating to the ear or lower jaw, infection in the tissues surrounding the tooth and recurrent tooth decay due to inaccessibility to maintain hygiene. Only then is it justified to get them removed. If the wisdom teeth have erupted normally without any hassles and if you are able to maintain them well, you don’t need to bother about them.

Q – Why do my gums bleed though I brush my teeth twice a day?

Bleeding gums are not healthy gums. Poor oral hygiene (especially in areas where the toothbrush doesn’t reach) leads to the accumulation of tartar on teeth, which moves deep into the gums causing them to loosen and bleed on touch/brushing. If neglected further, the infection moves on to the bones altering support to the teeth, making them loose over a period of time. Approach a dentist for a professional cleaning to remove tartar; he will also put you on a mouthwash and brief you other oral hygiene aids and their appropriate use. If the infection has already progressed to a certain extent, you may be advised to go for gum surgeries and bone grafts to restore back the healthy status.

Q – Do the dental x-rays cause a lot of radiation?

The radiation caused by the latest DIGITAL X-RAYS is negligible. They use approximately ¼ the of radiation needed for the old analogue x-rays. In simple words the radiation of digital dental x-ray is almost equal to talking on your mobile phone for 5 minutes.

Q – I am very apprehensive; can I talk to any of your patients who have undergone similar treatments?

By all means! If you want to talk to any of our patients about their experience we will be able to give you a reference after taking their consent.

Q – Which is the best tooth paste to use?

There is nothing like the best tooth paste .The job of any tooth paste is to help you in cleaning your teeth. If you follow the right brushing technique any tooth paste will do.

Authored By Dr.K.N Trivikram Rao - Best Dentist, Bangalore

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