FAQ’S

A healthy smile is a lifetime commitment, beginning with good early oral health habits and regular dental care. Crooked or misaligned teeth are an obvious sign that your child should have an orthodontic checkup. But orthodontic treatment does more than straighten crooked teeth. It can also help the long-term health of teeth, gums, and jaw.

It is not always easy to tell if your child has a problem that requires orthodontic treatment. Some children may have difficulty chewing or biting, while others may have unexplained jaw pain from jaws that are too far forward or back. Orthodontic treatment can improve a child’s bite and make eating easier. It can also eliminate jaw pain, tooth grinding or clenching and mouth breathing, which often improves a child’s speech.

While it is never too late to work on a healthy smile, children should have an orthodontic checkup at around age 7 or when they get their first adult molars.

Do you avoid smiling because you are embarrassed by your missing teeth? Have you given up eating some of your favourite foods because you feel your teeth aren’t strong enough? You now have more choices than ever for replacing missing teeth, including dentures, dental implants and implant secured dentures. Each option allows you to improve the look and function of your smile while restoring your confidence.  Our team of professionals can help you decide which option is right for you:

• Dentures are an affordable, tried and true solution for missing teeth.
• Implants are replacement teeth or crowns that look natural and are anchored into your jaw with titanium posts.
• Implant supported dentures: Implants can also be used as permanent anchors to support dentures.
• Dental bridges extend across an area that has no teeth and are typically made up of an artificial tooth fused between two crowns.

Some patients may find dental treatment a challenge because of fear and anxiety. Fortunately, we offer sedation dentistry to alleviate anxiety. Some options include nitrous, IV sedation and general anaesthesia.  Be one of the many patients who are enjoying their new smiles. Call our office today to learn more about replacing missing teeth.

Bad breath can be embarrassing and unpleasant, but in most cases it is easily treated. Bad breath (halitosis) affects almost everyone at some point in their lives. The most common causes of bad breath are the food you eat, as well as a build up of bacteria in your mouth.

Food particles that remain in your mouth after eating can collect bacteria on your teeth, tongue and gums. This can cause an unpleasant odour. Regular brushing and flossing at least twice daily can lessen the amount of bacteria and eliminate odour.

Other causes of bad breath include smoking, dieting, hormonal changes, certain diseases and some medications. Bad breath could also be a sign of infection or disease.

Good oral health is important to reducing or eliminating bad breath. Your dentist can help determine a cause for chronic bad breath. Regular dental visits with a cleaning and checkup can also keep bacteria at bay and help you develop a solid oral health routine.

Bleeding after brushing or flossing can be unsettling. It can also be a sign of an otherwise mostly silent disease — periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a leading cause of tooth loss. It is a build-up of bacteria from plaque and tartar that can inflame or infect gum and bone.

Periodontal disease causes deep pockets to form in tissue between the gums and teeth. This sometimes gives the appearance of puffy or receding gums.

During dental exams, dentists routinely examine your gums. There are a number of treatments for bleeding gums and periodontal disease, including removing plaque and tartar below the gum line. These treatments, performed in a dental office, are called scaling and root planing. They allow the gum to heal and become healthy again.

Dentists recommend daily brushing and flossing, as well as regular checkups and cleanings to help prevent periodontal disease.

Tooth grinding or bruxism is a serious issue that can result in damage to your teeth, poor sleep patterns and soreness in the muscles of the face and neck, not to mention an unhappy spouse.  Fortunately, this problem can normally be quite easily corrected with the use of a dental night guard.

Night guards look much like a sports mouth guard, but are specially designed to prevent muscle tension and withstand the intense pressure exerted by tooth grinders. Only your dental office can provide a custom-made night guard that will fit you perfectly.

Ask us about dental night guards or other treatments available to relieve tension and discomfort in the jaw and neck.

Have you ever wondered what you would look like if you had a more attractive looking smile?  Providing people with a means of achieving their best smile is what cosmetic dentistry is all about.

More and more people today are booking appointments not because they are having dental problems, but because they want to smile more confidently.  In many cases, these smiles begin with teeth that are crooked, stained, chipped or missing all together.  From simple teeth whitening to full smile reconstruction, the end result in most cases is a healthy, attractive looking smile that provides a greater sense of self-confidence and enjoyment of life.

Sedation dentistry is a very effective solution for people who experience anxiety prior to and during their dental visits. It induces a sense of deep relaxation that enables you to feel comfortable while we carry out our work.

You may be a candidate for sedation dentistry if you have:

• intense fear of dental visits
• a bad dental experience in the past
• sensitive teeth
• fear of needles
• extreme dislike of the smells and tastes associated with dental procedures
• strong gag reflex or inability to keep mouth open during treatment
• difficulty with traditional freezing i.e. the numbing does not take
• extensive treatment or multiple procedures to be done at the same time

There are many options for sedation and one is sure to help you. Talk to us to learn more.