Chithra Durgam, DDS
Contributing dentist and clinical reviewer
Dr. Chithra Durgam is a licensed general dentist practicing in North Bergen, New Jersey. She writes patient-facing guides for Dental Evidence and reviews its clinical answers and research briefs before they are indexed.
Practice website: adentalonline.com
Clinical review
Reviewed clinical answers and research briefs on this site carry this reviewer’s name and the date of sign-off. Generated summaries that have not been reviewed are kept out of search indexing. Review checks that each claim is supported by the cited study and that the clinical framing matches current practice; it is not a substitute for examining a patient.
Articles
- Why Does My Tooth Hurt When I Drink Cold Water?Cold water tooth pain: worn enamel, gum recession, cavities, cracked teeth, and leaking fillings are the usual causes; sharp lingering pain needs a dentist.
- How Long Does a Root Canal Take?Root canal treatment usually takes 60–90 minutes per appointment. Learn why some teeth need two visits and when to schedule a crown afterward.
- Can Menopause Cause Bone Loss in the Jaw?Menopause can cause jawbone loss: falling estrogen lowers jaw bone density, raising risks of loose teeth, gum disease, and implant complications.
- Why Does My Tooth Hurt When I Chew?Pain when chewing: cracked tooth, deep cavity, failing filling or crown, abscess, gum disease, or sinus pressure — and when to see a dentist.
- How Long Is Recovery After LANAP?LANAP recovery guidance: daily activity, eating, brushing, follow-up visits, and the difference between early comfort and periodontal healing.
- Can I Go to the ER for a Dental Emergency?ER dental emergency: go for spreading swelling, fever, or trouble breathing; most tooth pain belongs with an emergency dentist first.
- Can I Get a Same-Day Dentist Appointment?Same-day dentist appointment: most offices hold urgent slots; call at opening, describe pain, swelling, or trauma, and ask for a referral if they are full.
- Is a Root Canal Painful?Root canal pain: modern treatment is done under local anesthesia, feels similar to a filling, and relieves the pain of the infected tooth causing it.
- What Happens If I Ignore a Dental Abscess?Ignoring a dental abscess: the infection spreads to bone, face, and neck, and in rare cases the airway or bloodstream. It will not heal without treatment.
- LANAP Laser Gum Treatment: Procedure and EvidenceLearn what LANAP laser gum treatment involves, who may be a candidate, how it differs from deep cleaning, and what studies show.
- What Should I Do If I Knock Out a Tooth?A knocked-out tooth: handle it by the crown, rinse, replant or store in milk, and see a dentist within 30–60 minutes to save it.
- Am I a Candidate for Invisalign?Invisalign candidacy factors: bite complexity, gum and bone health, existing dental work, and daily wear. Learn what a clinical assessment checks.
- Can Adults Get Braces?Adults can get braces at any age: gum and bone health matter more than age, treatment time runs similar to teens, and lifelong retention protects the result.
- What Counts as a Dental Emergency?Severe pain, uncontrolled bleeding, swelling, a knocked-out tooth, or spreading infection are dental emergencies; lost fillings and mild sensitivity can wait.
- Airway Analysis in Orthodontics: Screening and ReferralEvidence-based airway analysis in orthodontics, including screening, CBCT limits, referral for suspected sleep-disordered breathing, and treatment boundaries.
- Menopause and Dry Mouth: Causes and What HelpsDry mouth during menopause or perimenopause: what research shows, other possible causes, medication questions, and practical ways to get relief.
- Can Bleeding Gums Be Reversed?Bleeding gums are reversible at the gingivitis stage with better brushing, flossing, and a cleaning; bone lost to periodontitis does not return.
Blog posts reviewed
- Dental Shade Matching Process: Clinical Color AccuracyA dental shade-matching process with visual and digital techniques, a lab shade prescription worksheet, and a checklist for clinical color accuracy.
- Dental Narrative Examples: SRP, Crowns and Insurance TemplatesDental insurance narrative examples for SRP, crowns, core buildups and endodontic retreatment, with documentation checklists and a narrative builder.
Clinical answers reviewed
- ACTIVA BioACTIVE-Restorative vs ACTIVA Presto vs Predicta Bioactive Bulk
- AH Plus vs BC Sealer: how do their properties and clinical outcomes compare?
- Amlodipine gingival overgrowth: alternatives and management
- Antibiotics for acute dental abscess: what current guidelines recommend
- Compare Filtek Supreme vs Estelite Sigma Quick vs GC Essentia for posterior composites
- Compare wondeful fluoride to embrace by pulpdent
- Create an evidence-grounded step-by-step dental clinical workflow for: In-Office Teeth Whitening. Include supported indications, contraindications, sequencing, decision points, and follow-up.
- Do you need to hold Eliquis before a dental extraction?
- Does a bioceramic sealer reduce pain after root canal treatment compared with AH Plus?
- Does endocarditis prophylaxis before dental procedures work, and when is it recommended?
- Does potassium iodide after SDF reduce staining without reducing caries arrest?
- Does Zoloft or sertraline increase dental implant failure risk?
- Embrace sealant vs 3m clinpro sealant
- GLP-1 agonist fasting guidelines before dental surgery
- How do I manage a patient presenting with dry socket?
- How long should Xarelto be held before a dental extraction?
- How often should silver diamine fluoride be reapplied to arrest caries?
- How to close an oral antral communication after extraction
- How to identify oral abscess
- Immediate vs delayed implant after extraction
- Is a Fosamax drug holiday necessary before dental implants?
- Is silver diamine fluoride effective for root caries in older adults?
- Metoprolol and epinephrine interaction in dental local anesthesia
- Ozempic and semaglutide risks with dental anesthesia and sedation
- Prolia and dental extractions: what does the evidence say about timing and drug holidays?
- Regenerative endodontics for immature permanent teeth after trauma
- Smoking cessation before implant placement
- Suboxone and dental decay: what does the evidence show?
- Warfarin in dentistry: INR thresholds and dental extraction guidance
- What evidence addresses acute pain after a tooth extraction?
- What is the best way to find mb2 canal in first maxillary molars?
- What is the indication for #8 immediate implant after extraction
- What post-operative instructions should patients follow after wisdom tooth extraction?
- What to do if patient has pain on tooth to biting and sensitivty but no infection or pap
- When does silver diamine fluoride outperform fluoride varnish for caries arrest?
- Which bioceramic sealer has the highest radiopacity?
- Which cardiac conditions does the AHA list for premedication?
- Which direct composite has the best polishability and color stability compared with OMNICHROMA?
- Which direct composite has the best polishability and color stability?
- Which is better: Essix retainers or fixed retainers?
Research briefs reviewed
- Silver diamine fluoride: what the trials say about arrest, intervals and staining
- Hydroxyapatite vs fluoride toothpaste
- Pain relief after tooth extraction: what the trials found
- Does one-shade composite actually match? What the trials measured
- Bulk-fill composites: curing depth, chairtime and dual cure
- Do you hold blood thinners, Prolia, or Ozempic before dental procedures?