Frequently asked questions — dental care in Cluj-Napoca

The vast majority of dental problems don't cause pain until they reach advanced stages — some never cause pain at all. Left untreated, they can lead to far more complex, costly procedures, or even tooth loss.

Regular check-ups give you the peace of mind that everything is under control, since any dental condition is much easier and quicker to treat in its early stages. And if everything looks good, we can carry out preventive treatments — strengthening the enamel and guiding you toward optimal hygiene — to keep your smile healthy in the long run.

Dental pain cannot be resolved with medication alone. Whether it's an infection or a complicated cavity, painkillers only temporarily reduce the pain while the condition continues to progress. The source of the problem needs to be professionally treated — antibiotics alone do not resolve a dental infection.

Ideally, children should be brought in as soon as their first baby teeth have erupted, around the age of 2–3. Baby teeth deteriorate easily and, although they will eventually be replaced, losing them too early can affect the alignment of the permanent teeth — which may require orthodontic treatment later on.

After an extraction, once the anesthetic wears off, it is normal to feel mild pain or discomfort in the area. Since this is a surgical procedure, there may be some light bleeding; if you rinse with water, it may appear pink — this is normal.

Post-extraction instructions:

• If the pain becomes unbearable, you may take any painkiller you normally use, unless another has been prescribed.
• Avoid chewing on the side where the extraction was performed.
• Avoid very hot or very cold food and drinks — the area is sensitive.
• Avoid carbonated drinks, as they can delay healing.
• Avoid smoking for at least 1–2 days.
• Avoid habits that may disturb the suture: chewing the inside of your cheek, repeatedly touching the stitches with your tongue, etc.
• If the extraction was in the upper jaw, avoid sneezing with your mouth closed, blowing your nose forcefully, or creating pressure in your mouth.
• Hygiene remains important: do not brush directly over the extraction site, but you may gently rinse with mouthwash after brushing — tilt your head side to side to move the liquid around, without using your cheeks to swish.
• If bleeding does not stop or returns after a while, please contact us as soon as possible.

The instructions are similar to those after an extraction. Once the anesthetic wears off, it is normal to experience some pain or local discomfort, as well as light bleeding.

Post-insertion instructions:

• If the pain becomes unbearable, you may take any painkiller you normally use, unless another has been prescribed.
• Avoid chewing on the side where the implant was placed.
• Avoid very hot or very cold food and drinks.
• Avoid carbonated drinks.
• Avoid smoking for at least 1–2 days.
• Avoid habits that may disturb the suture: chewing the inside of your cheek, repeatedly touching the stitches with your tongue, etc.
• If the implant was placed in the upper jaw, avoid sneezing with your mouth closed, blowing your nose forcefully, or creating pressure in your mouth.
• Hygiene remains important: do not brush directly over the insertion site, but you may gently rinse with mouthwash after brushing — tilt your head side to side, without using your cheeks to swish.
• If bleeding does not stop or returns after a while, please contact us as soon as possible.

Please come in 7–10 days after placement to have the stitches removed. If this window is exceeded, the stitches may become covered by tissue, making removal more difficult — and potentially requiring additional anesthesia.

Brushing correctly twice a day is sufficient: once in the morning after waking up or after breakfast, and once in the evening after your last meal.

Dental floss should be used regularly, at least every 2–3 days, to clean the spaces between teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach.

Mouthwash is useful for reducing bacteria on the tongue and the inside of the cheeks — it doesn't replace brushing, but complements it. Your dentist can recommend additional methods and products based on your specific needs.

Correct brushing is the most effective preventive measure against cavities and gum disease. The technique is described below, but feel free to ask for a demonstration at your next appointment.

• Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to the brush.
• Start with the chewing surfaces — short back-and-forth strokes.
• With your mouth open, brush each tooth from the gum line toward the tip, both on the front and the back.
• You can also gently brush your tongue at the end, with strokes from back to front.
• Rinse, and use mouthwash if you wish.
• A correct brushing session should take no more than 2 minutes.

• Cut a generous length and wrap the ends around your index fingers, leaving a small section free in the middle.
• Slide the floss between your teeth with slow back-and-forth movements, without sudden pressure — otherwise it may snap down and hit the gum papilla.
• Once past the contact point, continue with back-and-forth strokes, wiping the tooth surface from bottom to top to bring debris outward, not toward the gum.
• To remove the floss, don't pull it back the way it came in — release one end and pull through with the other.
• Repeat for all interdental spaces, cleaning both surfaces of each gap.

There are various mouthwashes available — some contain alcohol, others are alcohol-free (some contain chlorhexidine). It is recommended to alternate between them periodically — much like antibiotics, bacteria can become resistant to the same product after 1–2 months of continuous use.

You can rinse twice after brushing: pour half mouthwash and half water into a glass, rinse for 15–30 seconds, and do not rinse with water afterward — unless the taste is too strong or the alcohol burns in certain areas.

Different toothpastes serve specific purposes — fluoride toothpaste for those prone to frequent cavities, desensitizing toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Your dentist will let you know if you need a particular one. Otherwise, as long as you brush correctly, you can use whichever toothpaste you prefer.

A manual toothbrush used correctly is almost as effective as an electric one. An electric toothbrush makes the process easier and faster, but it isn't essential. What truly matters is always using soft bristles — a brush that is too hard can cause more harm than good.

Some treatments require avoiding smoking for a few days to ensure proper healing. We will always recommend quitting, but we understand it isn't easy. As long as you follow the post-treatment instructions and maintain a somewhat more rigorous hygiene routine, it should not be a problem.

Consuming sugary foods increases the acidity of saliva, which encourages bacterial growth and the breakdown of tooth enamel — this is how cavities form. Sweets don't need to be eliminated entirely, but they should ideally be consumed as dessert after a meal, not as a snack between meals. Frequent snacking keeps saliva acidic throughout the entire day.

Gum stimulates saliva production and can help with bad breath, but it does not replace brushing. Also be mindful of the ingredients — gums with added sugar can do more harm than good.

X-rays allow us to identify problems that cannot be detected by visual examination alone: cavities hidden between teeth, infections within the bone, or the quality of a completed treatment. Some treatments require monitoring over time — not because they were done incorrectly, but because individual anatomy or the body's response can influence how they progress.

We understand — and we know that coming in despite that fear takes real courage. Our team is fully prepared to do everything possible to make you feel calm and safe.

There are situations where a small amount of discomfort is unavoidable — the anesthetic injection or draining an infection, for example — but everything is under control and we do our utmost to minimize it. Outside of these moments, all treatments are performed under anesthesia and should be completely pain-free.

If you have a specific concern, please tell us — we would be glad to address it together.