patient education

Did you know that periodontal disease (gum disease) is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults?
With early detection and treatment of periodontal disease, it is possible for most people to keep their teeth for a lifetime. Periodontal treatment is to assist the patient in achieving and maintaining periodontal health leading to optimal oral health, which is an integral part of ones well being.

Baby Bottle Syndrome is caused by frequent or long term drinking of liquids that contain sugars including milk, formula, fruit juices, soda and any sweetened drink.
Each time your child consumes a sugary liquid, bacteria consume the sugars, and produce acid byproducts. The acid attacks their teeth, and after numerous attacks tooth decay occurs. This is commonly referred to as Baby Bottle Syndrome. We suggest filling the bottle with water instead if your child needs to go to bed with a bottle. Always wipe your child’s teeth and gums with a damp washcloth to remove the plaque after they have been fed. It can be quite serious if your child’s teeth become infected due to decay. They could develop such problems as poor eating habits, speech impediments, crooked teeth, discoloration or damage to adult teeth. So please keep your baby’s smile a healthy one.

Root Canals

Are root canals painful?
If caught in time and with proper dental anesthesia, root canal treatments should be comfortable. Some tenderness may occur after and between your visits. Difficulty is usually related to delaying treatment for a long time leading to a badly infected tooth which is difficult to anesthetize. You can expect the tooth to still be tender and pressure sensitive for a few days. You can eat whenever you feel comfortable however you should avoid chewing on the side of your root canal. Soft food is recommended for the first while and you need to keep yourself hydrated. We will recommend pain medication as needed.

How successful is a root canal?
Following a root canal the tooth becomes brittle and susceptible to fractures therefore a crown is usually recommended to prevent breakage. If you follow the recommendation and proper care set by your dentist, the tooth should last a reasonable length of time.

What is the alternative to a root canal?
Extraction. Tooth removal is rarely the best solution. When your tooth is removed the space created needs to be replaced by either a permanent bridge or implant.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root replacement and is used to replace missing teeth or act as a anchor for dentures. There are several types, but the most widely accepted and successful is the osseointegrated implant. Osseointegrated means there is a structural and functional connection between the living bone and the implant.
A typical implant consists of a titanium screw, with a roughened surface. The surface is treated either etching or sandblasting to increase the integration potential of the implant. For edentulous (without teeth) jaw sites, a pilot hole is bored into the recipient bone, taking care to avoid vital structures (in particular the inferior alveolar nerve within the lower jaw). This pilot hole is then expanded by using progressively wider drills. Care is taken not to damage the cells responsible for bone formation by overheating. A cooling saline spray keeps the temperature of the bone to below 47 degrees Celsius (approximately 117 degrees Fahrenheit). The implant screw can be self-tapping, and is screwed into place at a precise torque so as not to overload the surrounding bone. Once in the bone, a cover screw is placed and the operation site is allowed to heal for a few months for integration to occur.
After some months the implant is uncovered and a healing abutment and temporary crown is placed onto the implant. This encourages the gum to grow in the desired shape to approximate a natural tooth's gums and allows assessment of the final aesthetics of the restored tooth. Once this has occurred a permanent crown will be constructed and placed on the implant.
* Please note: Bone replacement will be necessary in case of lack of adequately thick bone, which could hold the implant. Substances used during the process of bone replacement can be the own bone of the patient (auto transplantation) or artificially produced bone substance. This procedure can be done for the upper and lower jaw.

Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners that are custom-molded to fit you. The virtually invisible aligners gradually reposition your teeth into a smile you'll be proud of.

The convenience and ease of use of the Invisalign system have made it the choice of over half a million people. In fact, Invisalign has been effective in giving hundreds of thousands of people amazing new smiles.

No metal wires or bands to irritate your mouth, and best of all, most people won't notice you're in treatment. Invisalign®, the clear alternative to braces.

The procedure is simple. It begins with a short preparation to cover your lips and gums, leaving only your teeth exposed. The operator then applies the Zoom2 gel, which was designed to be used specifically with the Zoom2 high intensity light (not laser). The gel and light work together to gently penetrate your teeth, breaking up the stains and discoloration. During this time, you can relax in out serene, spa-like atmosphere, watch television or listen to music. The gel is applied for 3 fifteen minute sessions for a total treatment time of 45 minutes. (Time will vary depending on patient and amount of stain). Finally you go home with your brighter, whiter smile!
*Please Note: Some patients may experience sensitivity during the treatment. The minimal heat generated by the Zoom!2® light is the usual source of discomfort. On rare occasions, patients may experience minor tingling sensations immediately after the procedure—these always dissipate.

Veneers are thin porcelain facings placed on your top and bottom front teeth to enhance the aesthetic appearance of your teeth. The shape, colour and functioning of your teeth can be improved by placing veneers. Generally veneers are not used to strengthen your teeth. Veneers are an excellent treatment option if you have a balanced bite and are interested in improving your smile.

An Onlay is a restoration which helps to strengthen a tooth which has a large filling, however there is still significant tooth structure left to support normal functioning. These restorations are similar to crowns, however are more conservative of tooth structure. They can be made of composite, porcelain or gold alloys.
An Inlay is a cast restoration that fits snugly into a preparation within the tooth. It covers a portion of the biting surface and the sides of a tooth. Inlays are an alternative to conservative fillings and can be made of composite, porcelain, or gold alloys.

A crown is a prosthesis which covers your natural tooth to restore it to its original contour and function. A crown will be placed when a basic filling is large enough to compromise the strength of the tooth in normal function. Crowns can be made or porcelain, gold, or a combination. They are excellent long term solutions for teeth which are heavily restored, or broken.

A bridge This is a prosthesis which is fixed in the mouth and is made up of a series of crowns joined by prosthetic teeth spanning the areas where teeth are missing. They are strong, natural in appearance and function and can help to prevent collapse of your bite and drifting and tipping teeth.