A Day In the Dental Clinic

How regularly do you go to the dentist? By right we should visit the dentist twice yearly or every six month. Just like you're required to do a oil change every 3 months when you're using normal engine oil (3,000km),  you'll likely try to stretch your oil changes intervals by keep your car running longer more mileage.

I made a pledge to visit the dentist at least once a year, I'd try to avoid having a toothache especially during long festivals holiday where most of the clinic will be closed.


Most people who do not go for a regular check up think they can just walk in the dentist's office like a regular appointment at a GP doctor. No, it doesn't work that way. You need  to make an appointment with the dentist and state your purpose for visit.

This is to allow the dentist to plan patient appointment scheduling as most of day is already booked for the day.


Are you afraid of going to the dentist? Let's face it, no one will say "I just can't wait to go to the dentist!". When someone says "I like it" then he/she is not the right frame of mind.

While waiting for your turn, it's like waiting to go be executed! It can make grown men tremble, not me as I am used to it. When I was a kid, once a month I have to go the government run Penang dental training college. We're the guinea pig or white mice supplied to dental nurse training in exchange for free dental check up.

The Dentist also provide the services of dentures.
 She will fit you and then she sends out to a lab where they
make them up. Forgot to make an appointment for Mom.

Good look not only goes well with a beautiful natural smile but also need having a good set of teeth.

Naturally it is important to keep good oral hygiene not because of good look; equally important is for general health as well. Poor hygiene can easily lead to all sort of dental problem such as gum disease, infection, heart problems and others.

Dentist poster to keep gums and teeth healthy

Although we play our role on keeping our teeth clean by regularly brushing our teeth, it still required regular check up as dental cleaning  by dentist will ensure you’re maintaining a good oral health by close up visual examination and check your previous history dental check up.

Dental cavity or tooth decay refer to the destruction of tooth structure and can affect both the enamel  (the outer coating of the tooth) and dentin(the softer layer beneath the enamel) of the tooth.
Many bacteria live in the human mouth, they accumulate (along with saliva,food particles and other substances) on the surface called plaque.
Some of the bacteria in plaque turn into acid that will dissolve minerals from the surface of the tooth and over time cause cavity.


If diagnosed early, any gum disease may be treated and reversed before the gum has reached the advanced stage. The dentist will help your teeth back on the right path.


We’ve know gum disease is a major factor that leading to loss of tooth, what do we have to do to prevent gum disease?

1- Dental check up twice yearly.
2- Cleaning your tooth at least twice daily for 2 minutes.
3- Besides brushing, flossing and goggling with mouth wash.
4- Use a tongue cleaner to remove bacteria/stain so helping to eliminate the bad breathe

Tongue Cleaner - Remove Bad Breath cause, not practised by many people 

5- Stop smoking, cut down on alcohol and avoid craving for high diet in carbohydrates sugary food (sugar and starch) which is irresistible. Mmm, tasty cake!
6- Ensure the water you brush your teeth and drink contains fluoridated water. Your water filter must  not remove fluoride from water.
7- Tooth brush need to replace regularly at least every 3 months to avoid germs in it. Do not put a cap on the toothbrush, the moisture that gets trapped under the cap will promotes the growth of bacteria.
8- To detect dental problem early, broken fillings, cavities and gum disease all in early stage so that it can be easily treated before surgery or removal of teeth is the last option treatment available.

Sensitive teeth occur when the underlying layer of your teeth -- the dentin --
becomes exposed as a result of receding gum tissue

Sensodyne toothpaste is the #1 recommended toothpaste for sensitive teeth,
free sample given by the clinic

Everyone knows how to brush their teeth they reckon but are they brushing the right way? When I was a kid, I was always reminded and demonstrated proper brushing method using a dental prop. The nurse will says, first you brush the outer layer of the teeth....

How to brush your teeth correctly poster

What you can do to ensure healthy gums

A Day in the Dental clinic

I make sure I had put if off long enough for a visit at a dentist clinic before I definitely must go for a yearly check up.

Before going to clinic I tried not to ate anything first. If I did I make sure I brush my teeth before my appointment with the dentist. It's a common courtesy.

My dentist is a female doctor. I prefer having a lady doctor as I assume they’re gentler, more observant and understanding. She would always asked me to relax myself as sometimes my tongue will feel stiff when I'm anxiety or stress. Furthermore she constantly remind me to let her know if I feel pain.

I went inside the office and sat in the dental patient chair.  I leaned back and let her look down into my mouth.
She would do a check signs of tooth decay by examining my tooth surface by using a dental instrument tool called an explorer and a mirror, to look for any cavities. Decayed enamel should feel softer when poked compared to healthy enamel.

The stages of periodontal disease

Upon completion of examination she will inform me the result and what treatment is suitable for me.
Good look not only goes well with a beautiful natural smile but also need having a good set of teeth.

Naturally it is important to keep good oral hygiene not because of good look as it is for general health as well. Poor hygiene can easily lead to dental problem such as gum disease, infection, heart problems and others.

Although we play our part in keeping our teeth by regular cleaning , it still required regular dental check up and professional teeth cleaning on all those hard to reach back teeth.

A normal dental cleaning is recommended even there's nothing wrong with your teeth. Only a professional cleaning by your dentist is capable of thoroughly clean up your teeth from plaque (a soft sticky bacteria film and food waste debris) that builds up on teeth.After 24 hours plaque hardens into calculus or better known as tartar. At this stage it does not come off with the brush anymore.

The purpose of the cleaning and polishing is to leave the surfaces of the teeth clean and smooth so that bacteria are unable to stick to them and you have a better chance of keeping the teeth clean during your regular home care

The dental hygienist or dentist uses specialised instruments to gently remove these deposits without harming the teeth.

What happens at a typical dental cleaning?

1 – Teeth Scaling is a treatment to remove plaque and tartar, the dentist will use an ultrasonic scaler to provide deep cleaning above and below the gum line. The scaler tips are curved and rounded and are always movement motion around the teeth. They are by no means sharp tip since their purpose is to knock off tartar loose and will not to cut into the teeth.

It emits a high pitched humming sound, just like using an electric toothbrush in your mouth. With larger deposits that have hardened on, it may take a longer time to remove these, think of it like trying to remove with a scrubbing brush to a soiled pot, the dental tip has to get the areas clean and smooth with a longer time if the stain that has been left over a long time.

Just like when you eat something with a knife and fork, dentist uses scaler and dental mirror while cleaning your teeth. Dental mirrors are used by the dentist to view a mirror image of the teeth in locations of the mouth where visibility is difficult to have a look.


Some patient is absolutely terrified of the sound of ultrasonic high pitched humming while waiting for their turn. Can't they invent  a ultrasonic scaler minus the noise?

Thinking about that sound sends shivers down your spine! You'll imagine the patient in the office being  shackled by a chair like a POW currently being tortured by SS to gain Top Secret information.

2- Polishing — when your teeth have been thoroughly cleaned, they are polished to remove stains on the smooth tooth surface. The polish contains an abrasive substance paste with fluoride, and is polished using a small rotating rubber cup or brush attached to the dental hand piece.

3- Flossing - Floss removes plaque and debris that sticks to teeth and gums in between teeth, polishes tooth surfaces, and controls bad breath. Dental floss may be made of either plastic (nylon, Teflon or polyethylene) or silk, and can be flavoured or unflavoured, and waxed or unwaxed.

It is safer to floss your teeth than use toothpicks as it leans between teeth and removes plaque without damaging your gums.

4- Last word of dentist - My dentist give some advice before I leave the office. Make sure I brush the hard to reach back teeth.


Ah, so nice after all the torturing treatment has finally ended. Thank you Doc, see you next year TarTar