Home Care
A beautiful, healthy smile that lasts a lifetime is our ultimate goal for you. Your personal home care plays an important role in achieving that goal. It starts at home by eating balanced meals, reducing the number of snacks you eat, and correctly using the various dental aids that help control the plaque and bacteria that cause dental disease.
Tooth brushing – Brush your teeth at least twice a day (especially before going to bed at night) with an CDA approved soft bristle brush and toothpaste.
- Place the brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and gently brush using a small, circular motion, ensuring that you always feel the bristles on the gums.
- Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.
- Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside of your front teeth.
- Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Electric toothbrushes are also recommended. They are easy to use and can remove plaque efficiently. Simply place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth and allow the brush to do its job, several teeth at a time.
Flossing – Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gum line.
Flossing cleans spaces, and prevents plaque colonies from building up.
Take 12-16 inches (30-40 cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches (5 cm) of floss between your hands.
- Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a gentle sawing motion.
- Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gum line. Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.
Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.
Rinsing – It is important to rinse your mouth with water after brushing, and also after meals if you are unable to brush. If you are using an over-the-counter product for rinsing, it’s a good idea to ask your dentist or dental hygienist whether it’s right for you.
Other dental aids may be recommended by your dentist or dental hygienist:
- interdental brushes
- rubber tip stimulators
- tongue cleaners
- irrigation devices
- fluoride
- medicated rinses
Dental X-Rays
Dental radiographs (x-rays) are essential, preventative, diagnostic tools that provide valuable information not visible during a regular dental exam. Dentists and dental hygienists use this information to safely and accurately detect hidden dental abnormalities and complete an accurate treatment plan. Without x-rays, problem areas may go undetected.
Dental x-rays may reveal:
- Abscesses or cysts
- Bone loss
- Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors
- Decay between the teeth
- Developmental abnormalities
- Poor tooth and root positions
- Problems inside a tooth or below the gum line
Finding and treating dental problems at an early stage can save you time, money, unnecessary discomfort, and your teeth!
Are dental x-rays safe?
We are all exposed to natural radiation in our environment. The amount of radiation exposure from a full mouth series of x-rays is equal to the amount a person receives in a single day from natural sources.
Dental x-rays produce a low level of radiation and are considered safe. At our office we take necessary precautions to limit your exposure to radiation when taking dental x-rays. We use lead apron shields to protect your body and also modern, fast film that reduces exposure time.
Dental Exams & Cleanings
Dental Exam
At your first dental visit a complete dental exam will be done by your dentist. At that time and at following regular check-up exams, your dentist and hygienist will include:
- Diagnostic x-rays (radiographs): to find decay, tumours, cysts, bone loss and tooth positions.
- Oral cancer screening: to check your face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
- Gum disease evaluation: to check your gums and bone around your teeth for any signs of periodontal (gum) disease.
- Examination of tooth surfaces: to check for decay with special dental instruments.
- Examination of existing restorations: to check your fillings, crowns, veneers etc.
Professional Dental Cleaning
Professional dental cleanings (scaling, root planing and polishing) are done by Registered Dental Hygienists. Your cleaning appointment will include a dental exam by the dentist and:
- Removal of calculus (tartar): Calculus is hardened plaque that has formed on the toothand will be firmly attached. Calculus forms above and below the gum line, and can be removed with appropriate dental instruments.
- Removal of plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It isa growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produces toxinsthat inflame the gums. This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease and can effect your general health!
- Teeth polishing: Remove stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling.
What is a Periodontist?
A periodontist is a specially trained dentist who specializes in evaluating and treating periodontal (“gum”) disease using both surgical and non-surgical approaches. A periodontist also specializes in soft-tissue (“gum”) procedures which enhance the esthetics of your gum line, sometimes in preparation for cosmetic dentistry; as well as specializing in the placement of dental implants.
Root Canal Retreatment
Most root canal treatments are successful – the treated tooth lasts as long as the healthy teeth surrounding it. However, in some cases problems reoccur with the treated tooth, months or years after initial treatment. If this occurs, root canal retreatment may be recommended as an alternative to extraction. Patients are often referred to an endodontist for retreatment, as the retreatment is often more complex than the original root canal treatment.
Problems may reoccur for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the original treatment was not successful in removing all of the inflamed or infected tissue. If the crown was not placed soon enough after the procedure, or if the crown did not completely seal the pulp of the tooth, saliva can reach the pulp and cause another infection.
In other cases, the original treatment and restoration were initially successful, but new problems affect the tooth. New decay can expose the filling and cause infection, or the crown may become damaged and allow new infection.
Root canal retreatment involves the same basic steps as a root canal. The dentist or endodontist begins by applying local anesthesia and isolating the area with a rubber dam. Then they remove the crown to access the infected filling, and remove it and clean the area with specialized tools. After thoroughly examining the canals to be sure that all infected material is gone, the endodontist disinfects the canals and fills them with a filling material. Finally they must seal the surface of the tooth with a temporary crown to prevent further infection and restore the function and appearance of the tooth.
The root canal retreatment is typically performed in one visit. The patient typically returns to their dentist for a second appointment to place the permanent crown that will seal and protect the tooth from further infection.
Root amputation
Root amputation is a dental surgery in which a single root is removed from a multi-root tooth. Root canal treatment involves the removal of pulp, tissue and nerves from their space (canal) within the tooth below the gumline (root). Root amputation removes one of the roots themselves from a multi-root tooth such as the molars at the back of the mouth, which have 2 or 3 roots each. As with other endodontic treatments, the intent is to save a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted.
Root amputation may be recommended if a multi-root tooth that is otherwise healthy and strong has extensive damage to one root that cannot be corrected with only root canal treatment. The damage could be caused by embedded bacteria, concentrated tooth decay, trauma, or severe concentrated bone loss due to gum disease.
The procedure is performed under local anesthetic, and requires 1-3 visits. It begins with root canal treatment, to remove the pulp from the root that is to be amputated. Then an incision is made in the gum to expose the root. The root is cut from the tooth and removed. The exposed area is cleaned and sutured closed.
A temporary crown will be placed to protect the tooth while the gums heal. Over this healing period of 7-10 days, antibiotics and antimicrobial mouthwash may be prescribed to minimize the risk of infection and speed healing. Finally, the stitches are removed and a permanent crown completes the restoration.
Cracked Tooth
Cracks or fractures to teeth can be caused by trauma, biting on hard objects, and bruxism (grinding and clenching teeth). Cracks are increasingly common, because advances in home care, fluoridation and dental treatments are allowing people to retain their natural teeth longer than ever before.
The symptoms of a cracked tooth can be confusing and may include pain when eating, sensitivity to hot and cold foods, and tooth pain with difficulty pinpointing the location. When the crack occurs there may be debilitating pain. Pressure on the tooth will widen the crack, exposing the nerve and causing pain or irritation. But when pressure is absent, the crack may partially fuse back together, and the pain may subside. Eventually, the pulp inside the tooth may become inflamed or infected, and pain will be constant.
If a tooth crack causes damage to the inner parts of the tooth, endodontic (root canal) treatment may allow the tooth to be saved. The damaged pulp or nerves will be removed, and the resulting space will be filled, then sealed and protected by a restoration (crown).
In some cases, the crack may damage the structure of the tooth so that a root canal cannot be successful. If so, the tooth must be extracted to prevent pain and dangerous complications. An implant or bridge may be necessary to fill the gap left by the missing tooth
What is involved in treatment?
After a detailed assessment that may involve bite impressions, x-rays and physical examination, and discussion of the lifestyle and needs of the patient, an orthodontist creates a treatment plan that may include:
Fixed braces – a bracket affixed to each tooth, attached by wires, often with elastic bands on the brackets to further guide specific teeth. The orthodontist attaches the braces, and adjusts them at regular intervals over the treatment period. Modern braces can be quite discreet in appearance.
Invisalign – a series of custom-molded clear aligners that are virtually invisible when worn.
Headgear – a removable appliance that sits in the mouth, fastened around the head with straps. Headgear is worn for a portion of each day, from 12-20 hours. It is often used for interceptive treatment in younger patients.
Retainer – a custom-molded, removable dental appliance used to ‘retain’ proper alignment after braces are removed, often worn at night.
Who can benefit from treatment?
Patients of all ages can enjoy the aesthetic and health benefits of treatment. The pre-teen and teen years remain the most popular time for treatment, since the jaw is still growing. However, around 30% of today’s orthodontic patients are over 18. Treatment in adults may take slightly longer, but will still yield great results.
What causes improper bites?
Most bite problems are genetic in origin. Some cases are caused or worsened by thumb sucking, prolonged pacifier use, poor oral hygiene and poor nutrition, or injury.
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