Dental FAQs — Chembur

Urban Smiles is Chembur's trusted family dental clinic. Dr. Prasanna Dhatavkar holds BDS, MDS, FIOI (USA), and PhD — credentials rare in the locality. We focus on transparent pricing, evening hours, and real outcomes over marketing claims.

Monday to Saturday, 11 AM to 9 PM. Sunday by appointment. Working professionals in Chembur can come after office hours without taking leave.

Yes. We process most major Indian insurance providers and corporate health plans. Bring your policy card and we handle documentation.

Single-rooted tooth RCT starts from ₹4,500. Molar root canals range ₹6,500–₹9,500 depending on canals and crown material. We quote the full cost upfront — no surprises.

Modern dentistry is largely pain-free. We use topical + local anaesthesia before any procedure. Most patients report only mild pressure, not pain. For anxious patients, we offer additional comfort measures.

Yes. We have a dedicated pediatric dentistry setup. First visits are kept playful, short, and fear-free.

Appointments are preferred so we can give you full attention. Emergencies are accommodated same-day — call +91 77439 77555 or WhatsApp.

With proper care, dental implants last 20+ years. The crown on top may need replacement after 10–15 years. Regular cleanings every 6 months are essential.

Yes — we encourage it. Bring previous X-rays and reports. Our ₹300 consultation includes a full exam and honest treatment plan with pricing options.

Shop no 5 & 10, Vani Apartment, A wing, CG Rd, besides Vikas Centre, Vasant Vihar Complex, Chembur, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400074.

Typically 3–5 months. Surgery is one visit (60–90 min); osseointegration takes 8–16 weeks; crown delivery is 2–3 visits after that.

Surgery is done under local anaesthesia; most patients report less discomfort than a wisdom tooth extraction. N₂O conscious sedation is available if you're anxious. We won't pretend it's nothing — we'll walk you through what to expect honestly.

Often yes, with planning. Controlled HbA1c, smoking-reduction protocols and bone grafting expand candidacy. CBCT decides the actual answer for your case.

From ₹25,000 — includes the fixture, abutment, standard zirconia crown and CBCT planning. Bone grafting, sinus lift or premium fixture brands raise it. Every line item is named in the written quote.

A bridge requires filing two healthy neighbours; an implant doesn't touch them. Bridges are quicker; implants typically last 15–25+ years with care. We recommend whichever is right clinically, not whichever earns more.

15–25+ years is realistic with good hygiene and six-monthly recall. Peri-implantitis (gum disease around the implant) is the main long-term risk; maintenance is planned from day one.

Common. Atraumatic extraction, socket graft to preserve bone, then implant in 3–4 months. Sometimes immediate placement is possible — CBCT decides.

Yes — when an arch is fully or near-fully edentulous and bone supports it. We don't recommend All-on-4 when fewer or more implants would serve the patient better.

Sometimes, with immediate-load when bone permits. More often we plan two trips: surgery and provisional first, definitive crown 3–4 months later. Treatment dates align with travel.

Published failure rates are 2–5% over 10 years. Our last-audited rate is approximately 3%. Within the warranty window, the fixture is re-placed at no fixture cost; labour and material costs may apply.

Mild cases from ₹55,000; moderate ₹85,000–₹1,20,000; complex / full-mouth ₹1,40,000–₹1,85,000. Metal braces from ₹30,000; ceramic from ₹50,000. The quote covers all aligner trays, attachments, progress scans and year-1 retainers — not a per-tray fee.

For most adult and teen cases — yes: discreet, removable, fewer chair visits. For severe rotations, surgical jaw discrepancies, or cases needing strong torque control, fixed braces are still faster and more predictable. We'll say which fits you.

Mild cases: 4–6 months. Moderate: 8–12 months. Complex: 12–18 months. Fixed braces typically run 12–24 months. We give you a planned end-date at the simulation step.

Mild pressure for 2–3 days after each new pair, settling by day 4. Most patients describe it as awareness rather than pain. Fixed braces tend to ache more after each adjustment.

No — remove them to eat or drink anything other than water. The trade-off is no food restrictions when they're out, unlike fixed braces.

Nightly for the first year, then long-term part-time wear is the realistic standard. Teeth drift back without retention; relapse is the single most common complaint we treat.

Every 6–8 weeks for a 15-minute progress scan. Far fewer chair visits than monthly braces adjustments.

Invisalign is one brand of clear aligners. We provide Invisalign as a certified provider, plus other FDA-approved systems at different price points. The clinical workflow (scan → simulate → attachments → trays → refinements → retainers) stays the same.

Sometimes, for very mild cases. Often not, when attachments, IPR or mid-course refinement are needed and a clinician isn't involved. We see relapse and unfinished cases regularly. We'll be honest if a mail-order route would actually work for your case.

Surgery is under local anaesthesia; pulp is confirmed numb before access. Most patients rate the discomfort lower than a deep filling. We won't use the word "painless" — we'll walk you through what to expect honestly.

Front tooth ~₹4,500, premolar ~₹5,500, molar ~₹7,000. Crown is separate — ₹4,500 (PFM) to ₹14,000 (full zirconia). Re-treatment of a failed previous RCT runs ₹9,500–₹13,000. Written quote before we start.

In about 80% of cases, yes. Exceptions are teeth with active pus, severely curved or calcified canals, and re-treatment cases — those benefit from a two-visit approach for better disinfection and healing.

With a crown on top and 6-monthly recall, 15–25+ years is realistic. Without a crown, the unprotected tooth fractures within 2 years far too often — we won't skip the crown to keep the bill low.

The infection won't resolve on its own. Best case: chronic low-grade abscess. Worst case: tooth loss, jawbone infection, or facial cellulitis requiring hospitalisation. Treating it early is the cheap option.

Almost always yes when the tooth is structurally restorable. Saving the natural tooth is biomechanically superior; extraction + implant + crown also costs 3–4× more upfront and adds 3–5 months of healing.

A non-vital tooth becomes brittle and loses its blood supply. A crown distributes chewing forces and prevents vertical root fracture — the single biggest cause of late RCT failure.

A few hours — once the local anaesthesia wears off. Stick to soft food and chew on the opposite side until the permanent crown is fitted.

In-office laser whitening at Urban Smiles starts from ₹8,500 — includes gum protection, 3 bleaching cycles, fluoride desensitiser and a printed shade report. Take-home custom-tray kits from ₹5,000. Combination (in-office + kit) ₹12,000.

Yes — at dentist-supervised concentrations using Philips Zoom or Opalescence Boost. The gel lifts stains from within enamel without removing the enamel itself. Over-the-counter kits at unregulated strengths are the risk, not dentist-applied gel.

18–36 months depending on lifestyle. Heavy coffee, tea, turmeric or tobacco shortens the result; a simple maintenance session every 12–18 months keeps it.

No — only natural enamel bleaches. If you have front crowns or veneers, we flag the mismatch risk before we start. We may recommend whitening first, then shade-matching any new restorations to the brighter result.

About 20% of patients have mild cold sensitivity for 24–48 hours. Our protocol includes fluoride remineralisation at the end of every session — that's the primary prevention. Sensitive toothpaste for 3 days covers the rest.

In-office: 6–8 shade lift in one visit, highest gel concentration under supervision. Take-home: gentler, lower cost, gradual over 10–14 days. Both reach similar final shades; in-office gets there faster.

Not until those are treated. Whitening on inflamed gums causes severe sensitivity and can worsen recession. We treat gum disease or cavities first, then whiten.

2–3 weeks before is ideal. That gives time for sensitivity to settle and the colour to stabilise — and a top-up if the first session didn't reach the target shade.

emax veneers from ₹9,500 per tooth; feldspathic / fully hand-layered ₹14,000–₹18,000; zirconia ₹12,000–₹16,000; composite veneers from ₹4,500. Most smile-line cases use 8 veneers — we never over-prescribe to 10 or 12 just to lift the bill.

For most patients, 6–8 cover what people see when you smile. Smile-line analysis during the DSD preview tells us exactly. Going to 10 or 12 is rarely the right call — we'll say so explicitly.

Conventional veneers reshape ~0.3–0.5 mm of enamel — less than a typical filling. Ultra-thin / no-prep options (often called Lumineers) reshape even less. Composite veneers are largely additive. Conservative reduction is the modern standard.

Porcelain (emax / feldspathic): 10–15 years on average; some patients reach 20+. Zirconia: similar. Composite: 4–7 years before refresh. Lifespan is decided by night-guard use, hygiene and bite — not by the porcelain itself.

When designed and bonded well, no. Translucency, edge variation, surface micro-texture and a natural smile arc are what avoid the "Hollywood row of tiles" look. DSD avoids that mismatch by design.

Aligners fix alignment, not colour or shape. Veneers fix colour, shape and minor alignment. Crowns are for heavily broken or RCT-treated teeth. The honest answer often blends two — for example, aligners first, then a small number of veneers. DSD shows you both routes side by side.

Usually yes — we whiten the teeth that won't be veneered first, then shade-match the veneers to the brightened result. Whitening doesn't change the colour of porcelain, so the sequence matters.

Conventional porcelain veneers: no, some enamel is reshaped. Composite veneers and ultra-thin / no-prep veneers: largely reversible. We'll be explicit at the consult about which route fits your case.

PFM (metal-ceramic) crown: ₹4,500. Zirconia: ₹9,500. Emax porcelain: ₹12,000. 3-unit ceramic bridge: ₹22,500–₹35,000. Written quote before any prep — no surprises on the day.

Zirconia and emax: 15–20 years. PFM: 10–15 years. Metal: 20+ years but not aesthetic. With 6-monthly recall and no grinding without a night guard, many last longer. We offer a 10-year written warranty on material failure.

Zirconia: stronger, better for back teeth and bridges under heavy bite load. Emax: more translucent, better optical match to front-tooth enamel. We match material to position and bite force, not to price point.

For small-to-medium decay: a filling is right. For damage covering more than half the tooth surface, fractures, or post-RCT teeth: a crown is the structural repair that prevents root fracture. A filling there is a short-term patch that costs you later.

No. Local anaesthesia is standard for prep. Mild gum soreness for 24 hours post-visit; ibuprofen covers it. The tooth itself won't hurt — it's numbed.

For select single-tooth emergencies, yes — in-house CAD/CAM milling delivers the crown in the same visit. Ask at the consult whether your case qualifies.

A bridge spans a gap using two neighbouring teeth as anchors, which requires reshaping healthy enamel. An implant replaces the root independently — no neighbours touched, no bone resorption in the gap, typically lasts 15–25+ years. Bridges are faster and less expensive upfront; we explain the 10–15 year trade-off honestly.

Almost always — especially on back teeth. A non-vital tooth loses moisture and becomes brittle. A crown distributes bite forces and prevents vertical root fracture, the main cause of late RCT failure. Skipping it to save money is a false saving.

DSD is a standardised planning method that uses HD photos, intraoral 3D scans and design software to simulate your new smile on screen before any treatment. The key benefit is that you approve the look before any enamel is prepared, reshaped or bonded.

₹2,000 for the full DSD preview — includes photography, intraoral scan, 2–3 design variants and a printed simulation. Standard consultation remains ₹300 if you only need an opinion.

No. DSD is used to plan veneers, aligners, implants, crowns, whitening, full-mouth rehab — any cosmetic or restorative work where seeing the result before committing matters.

Directionally accurate — the shape and shade match the plan closely. It is not a fabrication guarantee. The in-mouth mock-up (bisacrylic try-in) is the more reliable physical preview before bonding.

About 60–75 minutes — 15 min photography, 10 min scan, 30 min simulation review and options discussion, 10 min sequencing conversation. You leave with a printed simulation.

Yes — that is the protocol. No pressure to commit on the day. The printed simulation and digital files are yours.

You tell us during the review. The simulation is adjusted live at the consult until you approve a variant. The point of the session is for you to choose — not for us to choose for you.

It integrates them. DSD maps where aligners, implants and veneers each sit in the plan — so you see the full picture rather than getting piecemeal opinions. Complex cases may need a separate clinical workup after the DSD step.

By age 1, or within 6 months of the first tooth appearing — whichever comes first. The Indian and American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry both recommend this. The earlier, the more we can prevent rather than treat.

First-visit consultation: ₹300. Fluoride varnish: ₹800. Sealants: ₹800 per tooth. Tooth-coloured filling: ₹1,500–₹2,500. Pulpectomy (baby-tooth root canal): ₹4,500–₹6,500. Most families spend ₹2,000–₹3,000 per year on routine prevention — far less than restorative work later.

We do a "ride the chair" no-treatment visit first. Tell-show-do: we explain every instrument before touching the child with it. N₂O (laughing gas) for those who need extra help settling. No restraint, no forcing. Most scared kids are cooperative by visit 2 — and asking when the next visit is by visit 3.

Yes. We use paediatric-setting digital RVG, which emits ~90% less radiation than conventional film X-rays. We take them only when clinically indicated — not routinely at every visit. Total radiation from one paediatric dental X-ray is roughly equal to one day of normal background radiation.

Screening at age 7 — we look for crossbites, crowding and jaw discrepancies. Active treatment usually starts age 10–13 for fixed braces; Invisalign Teen works from the early teens. Early screening catches issues that are far simpler (and cheaper) to fix before all adult teeth are in.

Under age 4: usually outgrown without treatment. After age 5–6: it starts to affect the upper jaw width and front-tooth position. We offer habit-breaker appliances — gentle, not punitive, and effective within 2–3 months for most children.

Yes — if it's a molar or if the cavity is significant. Baby molars don't fall out until age 11–12; an untreated cavity becomes an abscess that can damage the permanent tooth developing right beneath it. "It's just a baby tooth" is the most expensive assumption in paediatric dentistry.

Fluoride toothpaste from first tooth, sealants on first and second molars when they erupt, no milk bottle or sippy cup in bed, sweets at mealtimes not between, 6-monthly check-ups. This combination prevents the large majority of childhood decay.

No. Healthy gums don't bleed. Bleeding is the first sign of gingivitis — bacterial inflammation that, if ignored, progresses to periodontitis with irreversible bone loss. Caught at the bleeding stage, gum disease is completely reversible with scaling.

Routine scaling: ₹1,500. Root planing (deep cleaning): ₹3,500 per quadrant. Diode laser therapy: ₹5,000 per session. Gum surgery for severe cases: ₹8,000–₹15,000. 3-monthly maintenance visits: ~₹1,500 per visit.

Routine scaling: no, or mild discomfort at worst. Root planing is done under local anaesthesia — no sharp pain during, mild soreness for 2–3 days after. Diode laser therapy is less painful than root planing alone.

Gingivitis (stage 1) — yes, completely reversed with scaling + hygiene improvements. Periodontitis (stage 2+) — controlled but not cured; bone that is lost doesn't regrow without surgery. Regular 3-monthly maintenance keeps it stable.

Yes — strong, peer-reviewed bidirectional links. Periodontal inflammation worsens HbA1c control in diabetics and is independently associated with cardiovascular disease risk. Treating gum disease is part of systemic health management, not a cosmetic add-on.

Not until the gum disease is treated. Whitening on inflamed gums causes severe sensitivity and worsens recession. We treat gums first, then whiten.

Only if pocket depths remain >6 mm, bone defects are present, or furcation involvement is significant after 3 months of non-surgical treatment. 80% of patients at Urban Smiles are stabilised with scaling + laser alone.

Every 3 months — not the standard 6. Gum disease is a chronic condition; the research shows that a 3-month maintenance interval is what prevents relapse. After 2 years of stable pockets we may extend to 4 months.

Simple extraction ~₹1,500; surgical extraction ~₹3,500; impacted wisdom tooth ~₹4,500–₹7,500 depending on angulation and depth. CBCT ~₹2,500 if nerve proximity needs mapping. Socket-preservation grafting ~₹8,000–₹15,000 when an implant is planned.

During: local anaesthesia is the standard; you'll feel pressure, not sharp pain. N₂O sedation is available if you're anxious. After: mild-to-moderate soreness for 3–5 days, manageable with prescribed painkillers. We won't use the word "painless" — we walk you through what to expect honestly.

Only when it's symptomatic, infected, damaging the neighbouring tooth, blocking orthodontics, or impossible to clean reliably. We don't recommend "preventive removal of all four" without a clinical reason.

Simple extraction: 2–3 days back to normal. Surgical / wisdom-tooth: 5–7 days, most patients back to office work within 48 hours. Heavy gym + alcohol back at 5–7 days.

Soft, cool foods on day 1 — dahi, smoothies (no straw), soup, mashed rice, well-cooked dal. Avoid hot drinks, straws, smoking and alcohol for 48 hours. Chew on the opposite side for a week.

A painful complication where the protective blood clot is lost from the socket, exposing bone. Smoking, vigorous rinsing, spitting, straws and the contraceptive pill all raise the risk. Following the written post-op instructions is the prevention.

In selected cases — especially anterior teeth with intact bone walls and no active infection. CBCT decides. When immediate placement isn't safe, socket-preservation grafting and a 3–4 month staged approach is the next-best protocol.

Not always. Simple extractions: usually not. Infected, surgical or grafted cases: usually a short course (3–5 days). We prescribe only when clinically indicated — over-prescription is a problem we work hard to avoid.

From ₹1,75,000 per arch (All-on-4 with provisional bridge). Both arches with final zirconia, grafting and premium fixtures land in the ₹3,50,000–₹6,00,000 range. Crown-only rehab without implants: ₹1,20,000–₹2,50,000. A written quote covers every line item before any drilling.

All-on-4 is a full-arch fixed prosthesis on 4 implants placed at strategic angles. It suits patients with adequate bone and a fully or near-fully edentulous arch. We don't recommend it when All-on-6 or All-on-8 would distribute bite forces better in your specific bone.

3–9 months. Phase 1 (stabilisation) is 4–6 weeks; implant surgery and provisional bridge fit into one or two visits; osseointegration runs 8–16 weeks; final zirconia prosthesis is 2–3 visits across a week. You have functional teeth throughout.

For most patients, yes. All-on-4 is fixed, doesn't move while eating, restores most chewing function, doesn't cover the palate, and stops further bone loss in the implant-loaded zones. Dentures still suit patients who can't accept surgery — we'll be honest if that fits you better.

Age alone is not the limit. We have rehabilitated patients in their 80s. Bone quality, controlled diabetes, cardiac status and ability to tolerate the surgical phase all matter — every one of these is assessed at the consult.

In selected All-on-4 cases with adequate bone, yes — extractions, implant placement and a same-day fixed provisional bridge can happen in one visit. The definitive zirconia prosthesis is delivered 3–4 months later, after osseointegration.

Most Indian retail dental policies exclude implants outright. Some corporate plans cover the surgical or extraction phases — we check your specific policy wording before quoting. EMI is the more reliable lever; 0% for up to 12 months across our partners.

Implants typically last 15–25+ years with hygiene and 6-monthly recall. The bridge or crown on top usually needs review or replacement at the 12–15 year mark. Wearing the prescribed night guard and 4-monthly recall in year 1 are the single biggest predictors of longevity.

Sometimes, when bone supports an immediate-load full-arch protocol. More often we plan two trips: surgery + provisional first, definitive prosthesis 3–4 months later. We align dates with travel and coordinate aftercare back home.

Routine scaling + polishing + fluoride + oral-cancer exam: ₹1,500. Heavy tartar or pre-gum-treatment deep cleaning: ₹2,500. Bitewing X-rays when indicated: ₹500 each. No hidden charges; that's what the visit costs.

Every 6 months for most people. Every 3–4 months if you smoke, drink a lot of tea/coffee/wine, or have a history of gum disease. Every 3 months if you're diabetic or have a cardiovascular condition.

No — this is the most persistent myth in Indian dentistry. Scaling removes tartar; teeth feel "different" afterwards because they are finally clean, not because anything was loosened. It is the buildup of tartar that causes gum recession and mobility. Skipping scaling is what loosens teeth.

It removes surface extrinsic staining from tea, coffee and tobacco — teeth look measurably whiter after a clean. For deeper intrinsic yellowing, a whitening treatment gives the additional lift.

No for healthy gums. Mild discomfort if you have heavy tartar or significant gum inflammation — first-time patients after a long gap may feel sensitivity at the gum margin. Subsequent visits after 6-monthly recall are noticeably easier.

Bitewing X-rays catch between-tooth cavities and early bone loss that the clinical exam misses. We take them every 18–24 months, not every visit. When indicated, digital RVG emits ~90% less radiation than conventional film.

Yes — it's recommended, not just safe. Pregnancy hormones cause pregnancy gingivitis in most women; professional cleaning and fluoride reduce cavity risk for both mother and infant. We avoid elective X-rays in the first trimester.

Many corporate and family dental plans cover one to two prophylaxis visits per year. We check your policy wording and handle pre-authorisation in-house. Out-of-pocket, ₹1,500 every 6 months is far cheaper than the fillings and gum treatment that follow from skipping it.