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Dental Crowns: The Advantages

August 20, 2022 By: admin0 Comment

Dental crowns are a common dental procedure that can help amplify the beauty of your smile. They are customized to the shape and colour of your original tooth and can cover from the chewing surface of the tooth to the gum line. In certain cases, crowns are essential in order to protect the structure of the tooth. An example of this is application of a crown on a root canal treated tooth.

Crowns are not only used for medical purposes they are also used for cosmetic purposes. They can aid in the disguise of a chipped tooth from a childhood accident or mask a misshapen tooth. This versatile but simple procedure can not only improve your smile but also allow for your teeth to have a more practical function.

Alter the look of your teeth

Dental crowns help restore your teeth and alter your smile. They can help cover cracked, discolored, chipped, fractured, misshapen and crooked teeth. They can help hide teeth that have a natural stain. Similar to porcelain veneers, crowns are used to correct flaws in your smile and amplify the appearance of your smile.

Maintain the structure of a damaged tooth

Root canal treated teeth sometimes may become more susceptible to breakage and chipping as they are more delicate. Additionally, teeth with extensive decay and oral trauma may become painful and sore. A dental crown best protects teeth in such conditions. Adding a dental crown can protect the structure of the tooth, protect it from further sensitivity and maintain the oral health of the teeth.

Customized to your needs

Dental crowns can be customized to the shape, colour, size and fit that works best for your smile. They are often made in a lab who receives the dental impression or an oral scan of your tooth. The lab works to make a crown with the exact colour that you request allowing you to have a smile that is perfectly blended.

Noninvasive procedure

Although the thought of having a dental crown placed in your mouth may sound daunting it is relatively a simple procedure, which is generally broken in two short visits to your dentist. The dentist will help shape your existing tooth into a position that can hold the crown. Then the dentist will send an impression or a digital scan of the tooth to the lab to have a customized crown created that would be cemented into place in your mouth. Just like that you can alter the look of your smile!

Durability

Dental crowns are usually made with a very strong material to mimic the structure of your natural teeth. These crowns can last 15 to 30 years depending on how the teeth are maintained. Flossing, brushing and regular visits to your dental office can help ensure the durability of your teeth and make sure you get the full benefit of your dental crown.

Your smile is an important asset, ensure that it is maintained by visiting your dentist and asking if dental crowns can help alter your smile. Dental crowns can help magnify how you use your teeth and how they appear. If you are suffering from a broken, cracked, fractured, misaligned or chipped tooth call D.R. Dental Clinic to see if dental crowns can work for you.

Could You Be Suffering From Sleep Apnea?

November 13, 2020 By: admin0 Comment

Sleep apnea is a disease that many people may suffer from although they may be unaware. It may be perceived as common snoring but it can be a very dangerous condition that can affect your sleeping pattern.

Sleep apnea can be classified as central sleep apnea, obstructive sleep apnea and treatment emergent central sleep apnea. Identifying the type of sleep apnea is essential so that it can be treated correctly. Individuals from various ages and body types can be affected by sleep apnea.

Central Sleep Apnea

Central sleep apnea occurs when the brain fails to send the correct signals to control the breathing muscles

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This is the more common form of sleep apnea that patients suffer from. It is caused when the throat muscles relax and block the flow of air into the lungs.

Treatment Emergent Central Sleep Apnea

This type of classification is seen when patients suffer from both obstructive and central sleep apnea

Individuals who suffer from sleep apnea not only have difficulty sleeping through the night, snoring or sinus issues they may also suffer side effects such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, acid reflux, adult asthma and even shortened life expectancy.

There are many ways that you can monitor to the complications that you suffer from in your sleep but the most effective way is to schedule a sleep test with a sleep professional so that it can be assessed by a medical and dental professional.

Dental professionals can detect early signs of sleep apnea through symptoms such as dry mouth and teeth grinding. They may then refer you to a medical professional for a sleep test. D.R. Dental clinic can help you determine if you show signs of sleep apnea and guide you in steps you can take in diagnosing it.

Post COVID Reopening: What To Expect At Your Next Dental Visit

October 15, 2020 By: admin0 Comment

As most dental offices are starting to open back up you may be wondering what to expect when you finally get in for your dental visit. Many dental offices will begin reaching out to their patients in order to rebook their outstanding appointment or to inform them that they are reopening for regular treatment.

Similarly D.R. Dental clinic also has many changes that have been implemented to ensure the safety of staff and patients.

When the initial appointment is scheduled the receptionist will inform you that you are required to bring your own mask and wear your mask when you arrive for the appointment.
One day prior to your appointment you will receive a call from our office to confirm your appointment and to go over prescreening COVID-19 questions. If you are experiencing any symptoms that coincide with COVID-19 you may be asked to reschedule your appointment.
Waiting in the reception area will be restricted. You will be asked to arrive promptly for your scheduled time and call the office before you enter the building to go over pre-screening questions.
Once you enter the building your temperature will be checked and recorded before you are sent to the treatment room with a touchless thermometer
You will also be asked to sanitize your hands with an alcohol based rub
Once you are seated in the dental chair a hydrogen peroxide pre-rinse will be given in order to kill any virus or bacteria in your mouth.
Our office will also use a portable HEPA filtration unit to remove allergens and airborne infectious agents

The staff may no longer be seen in their regular attire. Staff is donning additional protective wear in order to protect you and themselves from aerosols. Please try to maintain distance from everyone at all times.

Additionally we ask that you do not have any one accompany you to your appointment unless absolutely necessary. They may be asked to wait outside for the duration of your visit.

We appreciate your cooperation at this time and want to ensure the safety of everyone while providing the care that you and your oral health require. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns. Your next dental visit doesn’t need to be scary if you know what you should expect and how you will be protected.

Gum Disease (AKA) Gingivitis

October 27, 2019 By: admin0 Comment

If your gums bleed, are tender, sensitive, or swell up occasionally when you floss, you might have gingivitis. However, you’re not alone.

According to the Canadian Dental Hygienist Association, about half of the Canadian population has gingivitis, yet many are not completely aware.

How do I know if I have Gingivitis?

Healthy gums are pink in colour and quite firm in texture. Gums affected by Gingivitis on the other hand have the tendency to be red in colour, swollen, tender, non uniform and bleed easily especially when brushing or flossing, bad breath and receding gums are other signs.

Gingivitis is quite common. If properly addressed it can be easily treated; otherwise, it can advance into periodontitis, a more serious gum disease that can potentially lead to tooth loss due to its spreading throughout the deeper tooth supporting tissues and bones beneath your gums.

Periodontitis can go beyond your oral cavity!

New research indicates that periodontitis could have an impact on other health problems, including some cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and respiratory disease.

Who is more susceptible to developing Gingivitis?

The chances of developing Gingivitis increase with the following factors:

Poor oral hygiene habits.
Tobacco usage.
Dry mouth.
Poor nutrition.
Vitamin C deficiency.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy and cycles.
Certain blood pressure and seizure medications.
Crooked or overlapping teeth.
Ill fitting or broken dental restorations.
Conditions impacting your immunity like HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy and immunosuppressive medications.
Genetics can play a major role as well.

Gingivitis is a very serious problem that should not be neglected!

How can I protect myself from Gingivitis?

As they say, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

Luckily, there are various ways to prevent it from occurring:

Maintaining good oral hygiene. This is the most effective way of preventing this disease. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed. It would also be helpful to brush after every meal or snack. Flossing is especially important as it removes any remaining food particles and bacteria that brushing leaves behind.
Follow proper health habits. Eating healthy isn’t only beneficial for your body, but it is also beneficial for your teeth. This is because when eating sugary or starchy foods, you feed the tooth decay and gum disease causing bacteria found in your mouth.
Regular dentist visits. Regular checkups and cleanings go hand in hand with good oral hygiene. Most people need to get cleanings every 6 months, but if you are more susceptible to developing gum disease for example if you smoke, have braces or pregnant you will be advised to get cleanings more often.

How is Gingivitis Treated?

Treating gingivitis can sometimes be done at home, or might also need additional treatment at the dentist’s office, depending on the stage and extend of the gum disease.

It all starts by letting the dentist examine and diagnose your individual gums status.

Sometimes an antibacterial toothpaste and antibacterial mouthwash would be recommended by your dentist for you to use at home. They are capable of fighting plaque and bacteria even after you’re done brushing, especially in those hard to reach places. Additionally, your dentist may suggest more effective ways of brushing including the use of an electric toothbrush, paying special attention to the gum line when brushing, using a water-pick and so on.

In some cases you might need additional in clinic treatments to be done to control gingivitis like:

Antibiotic gel. After a deep cleaning, this gel is spread around the gum lines and in gum pockets to help control the active infection.
Deep gum cleaning. Instruments that perform a deep cleaning under the gum line are used.
Surgical open flap cleaning. especially for areas with very deep pockets.
Prescription of an antimicrobial mouthwash. A prescribed mouthwash that is more effective at fighting bacteria than regular mouthwash.

Gingivitis shouldn’t be something that you have to worry about now that you know how to avoid it and treat it. Brush your teeth, floss, use a mouth wash, and go for regular dental checkups and cleanings, and you should be good to go!

Dental Implants Explained

March 31, 2019 By: admin0 Comment

Dental implants are usually utilized in case of missing teeth/tooth to restore the patients dentition and proper function.

Every patient and every situation is unique.

Depending on the patient and the end result expectations and number of missing teeth or teeth to be lost, many dental implant options can be considered, like a single tooth dental implant, or bridge supported dental implants, when a few teeth are missing.

In case of several missing teeth or teeth with hopeless prognosis, both fixed and removable denture solutions can be considered.

When it comes to implants, what are my options?

A Single Tooth Replacement

Do you have a missing tooth?

Dental implants are a great solution for replacing a single missing tooth.

Tooth loss, whether it is due to dental decay, periodontal disease or trauma, over time can cause many serious dental issues. Adjacent and opposing teeth will shift, closing the gap where the missing tooth was once. This may result in abnormal spacing and teeth gaps, mal-alignment and gum disease along with other problems like an abnormal and a traumatic bite and even TMJ problems.

For some patients, a bridge may be a good solution. For others, the better solution is an implant.

If after a proper examination, diagnosis and discussion of all your options you’ve decided to go with the Implant route you need to know whats involved.

The dental implant process involves a few steps. First, if the tooth or part of it hasn’t been removed then it needs to be extracted. The empty socket in the jaw then must heal up. A bone graft option can be provided to speed up the rate of site healing. Once healing is established, the implant can be placed in place. It takes several weeks to months for the bone to bond and fuse with the implant properly.

Once the bone and implant have fused, a post will be secured onto the implant to serve as a base for the prosthetic tooth. Implants should look natural once restored. So a proper tooth colour shade, size, and shape that matches the rest of your dentition will be established for a beautiful and natural final appearance.

When properly cared for, your dental implant should last a lifetime!

An Implant Supported Bridge

Are you missing a few adjacent teeth?

If so, an Implant-supported bridge can be a great solution for those who don’t want to deal with the hassle of a partial denture. It’s also a great option for those who may not be good candidates for a traditional dental bridge, which requires solid teeth in robust conditions on both sides of the gap.

An Implant-supported bridge is used to replace two or more adjacent teeth. The prosthesis is anchored in place with two or more dental implants placed in the jaw bone.

The empty tooth sockets first must heal and fill up with bone after the tooth loss or extraction which can be helped and accelerated by considering a bone graft at the time of extraction. Then dental Implants will be place and given time to fuse with the jaw bone.

Once the jaw bone to implants fusion is complete — usually after a period of 6 to 9 months posts will be attached to the implants to serve as basis and connections for the dental bridge prosthesis.

With proper care, your Implant-supported bridge can last a lifetime.

Implant Supported Dentures

Are your dentures loose and never seem to stay in place, even with all that gooey denture adhesive product?

Implant supported dentures can be a great solution to give your dentures stability and retention.

Implant-supported dentures are great for patients who have lost all of their teeth or need to get their damaged or loose teeth pulled out. Many partial dentures are supported with a few remaining teeth, this usually overloads and strains those remaining teeth and patients are more likely to lose those teeth eventually as a result of the extra loading.

When those teeth require extractions, the patient is left with a full denture, which has no anchors making them uncomfortable and challenging to wear.

Implant-supported dentures are secured in place by a few small attachments to implants that are anchored in the jaw bone.

If tooth extraction is required, a bone graft can be an option to help speed the healing process. Once the bone has healed, implants are placed and left over the next few months to fuse to the jaw bone. After that small parts are fixed to those implants which will serve as connection points to attachments located in the denture. so you can fix the dentures in place by means of those implants! This provides a permanent solution for secure and stable dentures that look and feel and great.

All On 4

Are you sick of dentures and want something fixed in your mouth that doesn’t require removal several times a day?

All on four can be the solution!

It involves placing four or more dental implants and then fabricating and fixing dentures to them. With all on four dental implants, the denture is secured into place with the implants and it stays in place while you eat even tough food, like a steak or an apple.

All on four can be an option for patients who lost all or almost all of their teeth. Remaining teeth will be pulled before placing the implants. Bone graft may be needed to enhance the healing process.

Implants are placed into the jaw and left to bond with the jaw bone. The bonding process will take about six months, during which new teeth will be fabricated and later on secured to the implants priorly placed. Once in place, you’ll have a brand new smile, with teeth that will look and work just like natural teeth!

Hard foods like apples, steak and other previously off-limit foods are now on the menu! And you won’t have to worry about your dentures falling out, nor will you need to bother with having to remove your dentures several times a day.

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