FAQs

Diabetes is caused by the disordered use of nutrients, mainly glucose, by our body, which is permanent and progressive. In few persons with mild or early stage of the disorder, it can be controlled or reversed by healthy eating, physical activity and by losing weight. Persistent monitoring and reassessment is recommended for them.

There are many different types of thyroid diseases, the most common of which is hypothyroidism, in which the gland produces insufficient thyroid hormone. This hypothyroid state, in the advanced stages, is permanent and needs life-long thyroid hormone replacement to bring the thyroid hormone levels back to normal, along with periodic reassessment. Mild or early stages of hypothyroidism could revert back to normal. Other types of thyroid diseases are not life-long.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck, just below the skin. If there is any significant change in the size and shape of the gland, then it is apparent as a neck swelling. It could involve the whole gland (diffuse goiter) or only a part of the gland (thyroid nodule). Further assessments are required to rule out thyroid cancer, although a vast majority of the lesions are non-cancerous.

Diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases two or three folds. Diabetes is also considered equivalent to a cardiovascular disease. Prevention of heart disease is an important part of the overall treatment of diabetes by addressing multiple risk factors.

Height gain is primarily due to increase in the length of long bones under the influence of multiple hormones and overall good health. The bone growth generally ceases after puberty. If someone has disorders in any of the hormones or any chronic medical disorders not treated well, this could lead to suboptimal height, the timely diagnosis of which could help in gaining the optimal height allowed by genetic factors.

Vitamin D is made by our skin under the influence of sunlight. We need at least 10-15 minutes of sun exposure on our forearms and hands daily. Vitamin D has multiple metabolic effects, predominantly maintaining calcium homeostasis and bone mineralization. Vitamin D deficiency could lead to muscle pain, tingling sensation (nerve irritability), and bone pains.

There are many misconceptions in general public about what foods should be avoided if one has thyroid diseases, many of which are specific to the diagnosis and may not be applicable to you. Therefore, it is always important to clarify with your doctor.

Hair fall could be multi-factorial and is sometimes caused by hormonal disorders (thyroid hormones, Androgen’s). The hair-fall, if present, should prompt you to get a medical checkup.

Healthy eating, physical activity and losing weight (if obese) are key to successful management. Regular physician evaluations and medications may be required for desirable outcomes.

Avoid foods containing high saturated fats such as red meat, pure ghee, butter, and full fat dairy products.

No. If discharge is odourless, not itching, and little in amount without any blood stains, it need not be treated and is considered as normal secretions. The foul smelling, yellow or blood stained discharge with itching sensations need evaulation and treatment.

Every female should examine her breasts periodically during the first week of menses, when the hormonal effects on the breasts have subsided. Once you are familiar with your own breast tissue, you will be able to distinguish between normal lumps and bumps from the abnormal changes. If you find any abnormality, consult a gynecologist. Females with a family history of breast cancer must be especially more vigilant. Every woman over the age of 40, with or without a related history, must carry out annual mammograms, i.e. specialized X-rays of breast or sonography of the breast for the timely detection of abnormal changes in the breast tissue.

HPV, i.e. Human Papilloma Virus vaccine is a vaccine designed against 4 types of viruses, which most commonly causes cervical cancer. So HPV vaccine can prevent cancers caused by these viruses. However, cancers due to other causes such as endometrial, ovarian, vaginal and vulval cancers cannot be prevented with this vaccine. HPV vaccine comes in two types: bivalent and quadrivalent. The HPV vaccine needs to be administered in 3 doses with a schedule of 0, 1, 6 months apart.

Normal pregnancy is one in which the foetus grows inside the uterus. If the pregnancy implants and grows anywhere outside the uterus, it is called an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies should be diagnosed at an early stage and be treated medically before it grows and ruptures. Ruptured ectopic can cause complications and emergencies like sever internal blood loss, shocks & fainting attacks, and requires surgical exploration. Spotting, vaginal bleeding, abdominal pains, and fainting spells early in pregnancy should not be overlooked as this may be the presentation of ectopic after missed menses.

The best contraceptive choice depends on the age, ease, duration, compliance, obstetric status and other co-morbid conditions. Various choices available are condoms, intrauterine devices like Copper T, birth control pills, injections, subdermal implants, and many more.

Visiting the dentist regularly will not only help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, but will also help keep the rest of your body healthy. Dental care is important because it helps prevent tooth decay, protects against periodontal (gum) disease, which can lead to tooth and bone loss, prevents bad breath – brushing, flossing.  Seeing the dentist regularly will help reduce bacteria in your mouth that cause bad breath. Furthermore, it gives you a brighter, attractive smile by preventing your teeth from becoming stained by food, drinks, and tobacco. Last but definitely not the least, it helps strengthen your teeth so that you can enjoy healthy, beautiful smiles for the rest of your life.

Your teeth may feel fine, but it’s still important to see the dentist regularly because there exists a huge range of problems that can exist without you knowing.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that children first see a dentist as early as six months of age and no later than one year of age. During this time, your child’s baby teeth will be coming in and your dentist can examine the health of your child’s first few teeth. After the first visit, be sure to schedule regular checkups every six months.

Children, teens, and adults should all regularly see a dentist at least once every six months. Patients who are at a greater risk for oral cancer or gum disease may be required to see the dentist even more frequently. Your doctor will help determine how often you should visit the dentist for regular checkups.

Research suggests a link between gum disease and diabetes, establishing that diabetic people are more prone to gum disease. If blood glucose levels are poorly controlled, you may be more likely to develop gum disease and could potentially lose teeth. Like all infections, gum disease can be a factor in causing blood sugar levels to rise and make diabetes harder to control. Be sure to see your dentist regularly for check-ups and follow home-care recommendations. If you notice other conditions such as dry mouth or bleeding gums, be sure to talk with your dentist and don’t forget to mention any changes in medications.

About half of women who are pregnant experience pregnancy gingivitis, an uncomfortable condition which could lead to swelling, bleeding, redness, or tenderness in the gum tissue. A more advanced oral health condition called periodontal disease (a serious gum infection that destroys attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold teeth in the mouth) may affect the health of your baby. Studies have shown a relationship between periodontal disease and preterm, low birth-weight babies. In fact, pregnant women with periodontal disease may be 7x more likely to have a baby that’s born too early and too small. The likely culprit is a labor-inducing chemical found in oral bacteria called prostaglandin. Very high levels of prostaglandin are found in women with severe cases of periodontal disease.

There are certain conditions that require pre-medication with an antibiotic prior to dental treatment to prevent adverse effects and infection that can be caused by bacteria that enter the blood stream during certain treatments. You will want to consult with your dentist about this prior to treatment.

Many diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues cannot be seen when the dentist examines the mouth. X-rays can detect damage to oral structures not visible during a regular exam. An X-ray examination may reveal small areas of decay between the teeth or below existing restorations (fillings), infections in the bone periodontal (gum), disease abscesses or cysts developmental abnormalities some types of tumors. Finding and treating dental problems at an early stage can save time, money, and often unnecessary discomfort. If you have a hidden tumor, X-rays may even help save your life. Your dentist will evaluate the need for X-rays based on the conditions present in development. There are many benefits to having X-rays taken. Any additional questions or concerns should be discussed with your dentist.

When the decay in a tooth spreads deep inside and reaches the blood and nerve supply organ called the “pulp”, the person experiences severe pain, swelling or even pus discharge. Sometimes the dying pulp does not show any symptoms. The infected pulp is removed and filled with a suitable material and the tooth is protected with a crown or cap. It helps preserve the natural tooth and avoids unnecessary extraction.

No. We perform root canal therapy under local anesthesia. The medication puts the tooth to sleep so that the procedure is comfortable and no pain is experienced. Your dentist will prescribe you medications to avoid discomfort.

No. Root canal therapy helps preserve the tooth structure in its original place. In order to get to the pulp, a significant amount of tooth structure is removed, which weakens the tooth. However, we we protect it with a crown or cap, leaving you with no side effects.

It may take up to two or three sessions for the treatment of a tooth. A temporary filling is placed to protect the tooth in between the appointments. After this, the cap can be given within three days.

After root canal treatment the tooth in question becomes brittle. A crown covers and protects the tooth from breaking in the future.

Not all teeth can be treated by root canal therapy. The dentist is the best person to advice you on this. Pulling out a tooth creates an imbalance in the whole mouth and leads to a series of problems subsequently. So whenever possible, it is best to treat the tooth with a root canal treatment.

It varies. If you smoke, drink red wine or coffee, or consume other acid-containing foods, your bright smile may begin to yellow more quickly than you expect. In general, a teeth whitening procedure can last up to a few years. And even though the results can fade, occasional touch-ups can be done to regain luster. Ask your dentist about the long-term benefits of teeth whitening.

Commercial whitening toothpastes vary greatly in their ability to whiten teeth. They work by removing surface stains from the teeth with the use of mild abrasives. However, unlike professional whitening, some whitening toothpastes do not alter the intrinsic color of the teeth. Toothpastes that are effective in removing stains can also destroy tooth enamel in the process. These toothpastes use harsh abrasives. With repeated use, harsh abrasives begin to damage tooth enamel and can contribute to increased tooth sensitivity. If you would like to try a whitening toothpaste, consult with your dentist first.

All the procedures that help you look and feel better fall under cosmetic care. For example: smile correction, replacing metal fillings with tooth colored fillings, smile corrections, tooth jewels, veneering, closure of gap between teeth, etc.

No. These fillings in fact add strength and good appearance to a badly worn out or discolored tooth.

Depending on the number of teeth requiring treatment it may take just one visit or several visits to complete the treatment.

Smile designing is a process in which complete oral hard and soft tissues are studied and certain changes are brought about which will have a positive influence on overall asthetics of face.

A veneer is a thin layer of tooth colored material placed over a tooth surface, either to improve the aesthetics of a tooth, or to protect a damaged tooth surface. A composite veneer may be directly placed (built-up in the mouth), or indirectly fabricated in a dental laboratory, and later bonded to the tooth.

A dentist may use one veneer to restore a single tooth that may have been fractured or discolored, or multiple teeth to create a “Hollywood” type of makeover. Many people have small teeth resulting in spaces that may not be easily closed by orthodontics. Some people have worn away the edges of their teeth, which results in a premature appearance, while others may have malpositioned teeth that appear crooked. Multiple veneers can close these spaces, lengthen teeth that have been shortened by wear, fill the black triangles between teeth caused by gum recession, provide a uniform color, shape, and symmetry, making teeth appear naturally beautiful and well aligned.

Family Medicine doctors are trained in all fields of medicine: cardiology, neurology, dermatology, etc. They can help you with acute problems such as infections, wound management and also with chronic problems such as blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid, diabetes, and arthritis. Our GP also focuses on preventative medicine, which includes keeping immunizations up to date, checking for cancer, weight loss and nutrition, thereby helping you stay active and healthy!

Many diseases do not have obvious signs and symptoms until later stages, so it is always good idea to get checked for common medical problems such as blood pressure, heart and thyroid issues, cholesterol levels, and diabetes on a yearly basis, especially if you have risk factors or if any near-family members have medical issues.

Yes! We see kids from ages from 1 month to 18 years old. We can treat their acute infections and also take care of their immunizations. We can monitor their growth and nutrition.

We can help you control your blood sugars by monitoring them on regular basis, make lifestyle changes and adjust medications as needed. We will make sure that diabetes does not affect other parts of your body such as eyes, kidneys, and feet by doing routine examinations.

Lasers remove hair for good, giving you a long-lasting and even permanent result.  In only a few treatments (generally six to eight), we can clear your skin of the unwanted hair that has bothered you for so long.

Hair removal lasers emit a light at a specific wavelength that is known to be absorbed by the pigment (color) in the hair follicle without damaging the surrounding skin. The light is converted to heat energy, which in turns disables the hair follicle so that it will not produce hair.

We use a patented Advanced Contact Cooling System™ to protect your outer skin during a laser hair removal treatment.  The laser’s light emerges through a sapphire crystal window that is pressed against your skin, to instantly remove the heat that gives you a little “pinch” feeling as the laser pulses. Our equipment also emits a patented smooth pulse of light, which delivers a continuous energy level without characteristic spikes in energy that in some of the other lasers cause a sharp sting.  You experience minimum discomfort during a laser treatment, and many of our clients report that the sensation is much more comfortable than waxing, electrolysis, or even tweezing!