Dental Prevention and Treatment

Cleaning & Preventative Care

Professional cleanings involve removing plaque, tartar, and calcium deposits that have built up on the teeth over time. Brushing your teeth regularly can control these build-ups and discourage bacteria growth, but regular professional cleanings thoroughly clean your teeth, further prevent bacteria growth, and help you maintain healthy and beautiful teeth longer. A thorough professional cleaning will involve de-scaling, cleaning, polishing, and often a topical fluoride treatment.

Another preventative dental procedure is applying sealants. A dental sealant is a thin film painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent cavities, and protects enamel from plaque and acids that cannot be reached by the bristles of your toothbrush.

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Chronic halitosis, or bad breath, can be a genuine concern and potential embarrassment, but there are treatments available.

Bad breath is usually caused by bacteria, the decay of food particles, other debris in your mouth, or by issues related to generally poor oral hygiene. However, sometimes medical issues such as sinus infections, diabetes, or kidney and liver problems may even be the cause.

Although it may be embarrassing to mention, your dentist can help and is likely the first person to detect the cause and recommend a solution. Please feel free to ask.

Dentures

The key to living with new dentures is to make certain they fit you comfortably, and this will typically take 4-5 appointments: 1) the initial diagnosis, 2) the making of an impression and a “wax bite”, 3) a “try in” to ensure proper colour, shape and fit, and 4/5) the final fit(s) with any minor adjustments.

New denture wearers need time to get accustomed to their “new teeth” because even the best-fitting dentures may feel awkward at first. Nevertheless, most people get used to them very quickly.

To ensure that you are completely comfortable with your new dentures, it is important to continue having regular dental check-ups so the dentist can examine oral tissues and maintain the proper fit.

Tooth Coloured Filings

In our office, we offer tooth-coloured fillings that look and feel just like real tooth material, improve your smile, and avoid the use of mercury. This material can be used to restore teeth that have fractured or decayed, or can be used cosmetically to change the size, colour, and shape of your teeth.

Inlays & Onlays

Inlays and onlays can be made of porcelain, composite resin, or even gold and are fitted into the cavity of a tooth and cemented into place. By using special high strength resins, inlays and onlays can actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75%. Typically, this procedure is completed in two appointments.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are designed to replace missing teeth and give you the proper smile and bite that you need. Once your implants are in place, and with proper care and regular visits to the dentist, your implants will last for many years.

Root Canal

Root canal is one of those dental procedures that can cause some anxiety, but the process is really quite simple and quick.

Root canal refers simply to the process of removing the soft tissue inside a tooth, specifically when this tissue has become infected and is causing pain. This is a result of the tooth not being able to heal itself, it is important to clean out and sterilize the tooth to prevent the infection from spreading to the gums or even to the bone.

The dentist cleans and sterilizes the inside of the tooth (the canal) and then a special filling material is placed inside. At that point, you will likely need a filling and/or a crown to strengthen the tooth and reconstruct its original shape.

A root canal can typically be completed in just one visit.

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is a unique procedure required when a tooth needs to be restored, but there is not enough tooth structure above the gum line to support a crown or filling. As a result, crown lengthening is such a specialized procedure that not all dental offices offer said treatment.

Night Guards / Sport Guards

PDF: “AGD-FactSheet-Bruxism”

Night guards are devices used by people who grind their teeth. Teeth grinding (known as “bruxism”) can happen during the day or night, it can cause significant jaw pain and discomfort, and if left unaddressed can damage enamel and even chip or break teeth.

A dental night guard should be custom fitted to your teeth. The dentist will take an impression of your teeth and the lab will fabricate a night guard that will perfectly fit the teeth on your upper or lower jaw. The night guards that are commercially available over the counter are not comfortable to wear and can even damage your soft tissue, teeth, and even the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Sport guards are similar to night guards, but these are specifically designed to prevent damage to your teeth (especially front teeth) that can occur in contact sports like rugby, football, hockey, and boxing. Like night guards, sport guards should be fitted to your teeth by your dentist to provide the best protection.

Gum Disease (Periodontics)

Gum disease is the result of bacterial plaque biofilm accumulation on teeth and surrounding gingival. The progress of the disease is influence by local factors (e.g. tooth anatomy), general factors (e.g. diabetes), medications (e.g. anti-depressants), and genetics. By regular and professional cleanings, the situation can be kept under control thus, offering a longer life span to existing teeth and dental work. Periodontal disease has been associated with pre-term low weight birth, heart problems, and poor control of diabetes.

Emergency Dental Care

In our office, we see and fix dental emergencies all the time.

If you have an emergency dental problem or require emergency treatment – toothache, abscess, emergency extractions, broken teeth, emergency root canal – our office will do everything we can to accommodate you as quickly as possible. Just contact our office, explain your situation, and we will do our very best to fit you in that same day.