The practice blog

Advice for your smile

Prevention and oral health articles written and clinically reviewed by the practice's professionals.

Advice for your smile

41 articles

Surgery·2 min read

Wisdom teeth: when they really need removing

Not all wisdom teeth need extraction: the serious criteria for deciding, between pain, impaction and simple monitoring.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Your first visit, step by step: what actually happens

No surprises: exactly how a first visit works with us, what we look at, what we ask you and what you leave knowing.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

How a treatment plan is built (and what an estimate must contain)

Why we always give you a written plan, how priorities are set, and which items you should insist on finding. Useful for reading a second opinion too.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Sensitive teeth: why it happens and what to do

That jolt from cold or sweets has precise causes: worn enamel, receding gums, bruxism. The remedies that work, from Dr. Massimo Ferrara.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Orthodontics·2 min read

From file to smile: how a digital orthodontic plan is built

Scan, case study, simulation, aligner production, check-ups. What happens behind the scenes between the first visit and your first aligner.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Technology·2 min read

Sterilisation: the journey an instrument makes before touching you

What really happens between one patient and the next. The stages of the sterilisation cycle, why they are traced, and what you can legitimately ask to see.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Children·2 min read

Sport and teeth: mouthguards and dental trauma

Football, basketball, bikes: dental trauma in children is frequent and often avoidable. How custom mouthguards work and what to do in an emergency.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Smoking and oral health: what really happens in your mouth

Stains, gums, implants and mucosa: tobacco is the mouth's number one enemy according to WHO. What changes when you quit.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Orthodontics·2 min read

Retention after braces: the phase that decides the result

When the braces come off the work is not over. Why teeth tend to drift back, what types of retainer exist and how long they must be worn.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Technology·2 min read

Dental radiographs: how much are you really exposed to

The most frequent question about 3D CBCT and X-rays. How dose is reasoned about, why they are not prescribed out of habit, and when they genuinely are needed.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Plaque and tartar: what is the difference (and why it matters)

Plaque and tartar are not the same thing: one you remove yourself every day, the other only at the practice. Understanding the difference changes how you brush.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Periodontitis: how to recognise it and what can be done

Periodontitis rarely hurts until it is advanced: the warning signs, the risk factors and how it is treated, according to WHO and EFP guidance.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Orthodontics·2 min read

Crooked teeth as an adult: can you still do something?

There is no age limit for aligning teeth: what changes are the timings and the prerequisites, not the possibility. What we assess before starting with an adult.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Orthodontics·2 min read

Orthodontic mini-screws: what they are and when they help

Small temporary anchors enabling tooth movements once impossible without surgery. How they work, explained by Dr. Irene Ferrara.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Wellbeing·2 min read

Local anaesthesia: how it works and why it sometimes «doesn't take»

What the anaesthetic actually does, how long numbness lasts, and why some situations need a different technique. Plus post-appointment precautions.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Technology·2 min read

Intraoral scanner: taking an impression without putty

No more trays and gagging: a digital impression is an optical scan. How it actually works, what changes for you and where it makes a clinical difference.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Floss or interdental brush? How to really clean between teeth

A toothbrush does not reach a third of your tooth surfaces. Which tool you need, how to use it, and what the Cochrane reviews say.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Children·2 min read

Fissure sealants: what they are and when to do them

A simple, non-invasive procedure that protects children's newly erupted molars. How it works, at what age it is assessed and how long it lasts.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Electric or manual toothbrush? What the evidence says

The question we are asked most often. The Cochrane review has a clear answer, with one important detail that almost nobody mentions.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Diabetes and your mouth: a link that works both ways

Diabetes increases the risk of gum disease, and periodontitis makes glycaemic control harder. What that means for your check-ups.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Prosthetics·2 min read

Removable dentures: living well with them

Dentures are not a surrender: with well-designed prosthetics and a few daily rules you eat, speak and smile with serenity.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Implantology·2 min read

Dental implant: every step, from diagnosis to crown

What happens before, during and after. Why the diagnostic phase matters more than the surgery, and what the real healing timescales are.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Wellbeing·2 min read

Fear of the dentist: what we concretely do about it

Not «just relax». The real measures we use with anxious patients, from the first appointment to the stop signal, up to conscious sedation.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Aesthetics·2 min read

Crown or inlay: how a damaged tooth is rebuilt

When a filling is no longer enough. The difference between an inlay and a crown, when each is chosen, and why the amount of healthy tissue left matters.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Technology·2 min read

Why we photograph your teeth (and what those photos are really for)

They are not for social media. Photographic records are a diagnostic, comparison and communication tool: here is how we use them.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Wellbeing·2 min read

Canker sores and stomatitis: a quick guide

Small, very painful and almost always harmless: what aphthous ulcers are, what triggers them and when a visit is needed instead.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Bad breath: real causes and serious remedies

Halitosis almost always starts in the mouth: tongue, plaque and gums. What really works and what is just marketing.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Pregnancy and oral health: what changes and what to do

In pregnancy, sensitive gums and nausea test your mouth. The Italian Ministry of Health recommendations for perinatal oral health.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Children·2 min read

Nutrition and children's teeth: a guide for parents

Sugar, snacks and drinks: what the WHO says and what parents can do to protect their children's teeth from an early age.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Aesthetics·2 min read

Dental veneers: who they are for (and who they aren't)

Ceramic veneers correct tooth colour and shape with natural results. Real indications, limits and alternatives, from Dr. Massimo Ferrara.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Implantology·2 min read

Dental implants: how they work and how long they last

What a dental implant is, how the procedure works, how long implants last and when they are indicated. A guide by Dr. Massimo Ferrara, Master's in Implant Surgery.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Technology·2 min read

Dental 3D CBCT scans: when are they really needed?

CBCT gives a 3D map of the mouth at contained doses, but must be used only when justified. The European criteria explained by Dr. Massimo Ferrara.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Wellbeing·2 min read

Bruxism and night guards: why you grind your teeth

Grinding or clenching wears enamel and strains the jaw joint. How to recognise bruxism and how a custom night guard works. A guide by Dr. Massimo Ferrara.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Children·2 min read

Braces for children: fixed, removable or interceptive?

Which appliance does your child really need? The differences between interceptive orthodontics, removable and fixed braces, explained by Dr. Irene Ferrara.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Bleeding gums: what they really mean

Blood when you brush is not normal: it is the first sign of gingivitis. What to do right away and when to worry, according to WHO evidence.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Children·2 min read

Baby bottle tooth decay: what it is and how to prevent it

Baby bottle decay affects the milk teeth of young children. Dr. Irene Ferrara explains how to recognise it and the golden rules to prevent it.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Orthodontics·2 min read

Invisalign or Spark? A guide to clear aligners

Invisible braces in Bari: the differences between Invisalign and Spark, how aligner treatment works and who it suits. A guide by Dr. Irene Ferrara.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Wellbeing·2 min read

Conscious sedation: goodbye to fear of the dentist

Conscious sedation with nitrous oxide lets adults and children face dental care without anxiety. How it works and who it is for.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara

Prevention·2 min read

Painless dental hygiene: the GBT method

Guided Biofilm Therapy makes teeth cleaning gentle and effective: no aggressive instruments, just air, ultra-fine powders and an 8-step protocol.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Children·2 min read

Children's first orthodontic visit: when is the right time?

At what age should children see an orthodontist? Dr. Irene Ferrara explains why age 6 is the right moment and what happens during the first visit.

by Dr.ssa Irene Ferrara

Aesthetics·2 min read

Professional teeth whitening: the complete guide

Whiter teeth, safely: how professional whitening works, how long results last and why DIY kits can damage your enamel.

by Dr. Massimo Ferrara