This recommendation is given to ensure optimal oral health in the same way you would maintain your car with regular service intervals. Regular visits to your dentist can prevent diseases like Gingivitis and Periodontitis.

You should start brushing your child's teeth as soon as the first tooth appears.

Children as young as two years should be taken to the dentist for a first non-threatening 'visit' in order to make them used to the dentist. This will prevent a trip to the dentist becoming a traumatic experience.

Application of sealants to your child's permanent molars can prevent cavities on the chewing surfaces. It is an easy and completely pain-free procedure that can last for years. This procedure should not replace good oral health and children should be supervised to brush their teeth twice a day. Speak to your dentist if you are unsure of a good brushing technique.

In the true sense of the word medical aid is just that - an aid in payment. A medical aid is not a complete medical funding, and should only be seen as aiding the payment to the medical practitioner. Most medical aids will aid you in paying for a treatment option but that treatment option may not be the best or optimal treatment that can be done; for instance medical aids may aid in paying only for outdated silver metal fillings, however the optimal filling would be a white composite filling.

A root canal is the removal of the infected or damaged nerve of the tooth, and these nerves reside inside canals in the tooth. A root canal may be necessary if the nerves have become damaged, infected, exposed due to trauma to the teeth or if you have an abscess of your tooth due to an infection that is primarily caused by cavities.

An emergency root canal is the procedure of first cleaning out the nerve canal(s) in order to ensure that they are free from bacteria that can cause further infection. In order to ensure that the canals have been thoroughly cleaned, medication is placed inside these canals. This needs to stay in for one week, after which the canals can be sealed during the final root canal procedure.

Finance for your treatments is available through an independent provider. Call First Health Finance on 0800 212 537 or visit www.fhf.co.za for info. The practice is not a licenced credit provider - for this reason no credit arrangements can be made with the practice.

Contact us to arrange a consultation for a quote. Once we have provided you with this quote, it can be submitted to the medical aid in order to establish which procedures will be covered.

Oral sedation that includes a specific oral medication to suit the profile of the patient

Intravenous sedation where a specialised doctor will place the patient under sedation in the dental chair at the practice. This is recommended for larger procedures like dentectomies (removal of all teeth and roots in the jaw for preparation of placing a full denture)

Theater can be arranged for general anaesthesia which will include involved procedures like removal of impactions (wisdoms) procedures for children under 5 years.

Most medical aids will cover any treatment in theater for children up to the age of 5, where after medical aid authorisation needs to be obtained on a case by case basis. Private rates can be negotiated by the practice with the anaesthetist and day clinic or hospital.

We would recommend arranging a first consultation where your fears and needs are explained to the dentist so that a customised treatment modality can be offered, which may include anxiety control in the form of oral medication for your specific situation. We also offer sedation in theatre as well as Intravenous (IV) sedation in the chair done by a doctor.