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Does Dental Implant work as my missing tooth?
Dental implants are used where there are one or more missing teeth. Implants are posts that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, fuse with your jawbone and you will still have a certain amount of sensation with, when you chew and talk. Dental implants are replacement tooth roots.
There are many advantages to dental implants:
-Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth.They are designed to fuse with bone, so they become permanent.
– Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that teeth might slip like those poor-fitting dentures.
– Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.
– Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. With dental implants you can eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
– Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.
– Dental implants don’t require reducing other teeth, as a tooth supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health.
– Dental implants require the same care as real teeth including: brushing, flossing, rinsing with mouthwash, and regular dental check-ups.With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
Call Our Office ( https://austindentalgroups.com) to book your Implant consult with Dr.Ross when you would like to know if you are a good candidate for implant treatment or not.
What’s the Procedure for getting your Veneers?
Dental Veneers or porcelain laminates are tooth-colored, wafer-thin, custom-made shells bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, size, length, or shape.
Getting a dental veneer usually requires at least three appointments with the dentist: one for a consultation and two others to make and apply the veneers.
- The first step is when you explain what you expect to achieve and your dentist checks your teeth to see if dental veneers are appropriate for you, discuss what the procedure will involve and your dentist may take X-rays. Also, there is a possibility of making impressions of your mouth and teeth, on the same day.
- Second appointment: Your dentist will remove about 1/2 millimeter of your tooth surface, approximately equal to the thickness of the veneer. Then, an impression of your tooth will be made to be sent out to the lab to construct your veneer. It usually takes 2-4 weeks to receive the veneers back. Meanwhile, Temporary dental veneers will be placed.
- Third appointment: Before the dental veneer is permanently cemented, your dentist tries in the veneers repeatedly and may trim the veneer as needed to achieve the proper fit. Also, your dentist needs your confirmation about the proper color, size and fit before permanently bond and cement your veneers.
- You might be asked to return for a follow-up visit in a couple of weeks to check gums and to once again examine the veneer’s placement.
- If you need more information about Veneers, make a free appointment today to consult Dr.Shahriary.
How do you care about your Denture?
Dentures are “false teeth”, can replace all the teeth in your mouth or only some of them. You should care for denture as you would for your teeth.
To care of your Denture
- Always Stand over a Towel or Bowl of water in order not to break your denture.
- Store dentures in lukewarm water or denture-cleaning liquid overnight, not in hot water! Also, do not let them dry out.
- Clean your denture every day with a brush designed for cleaning dentures or a toothbrush with soft bristles and denture cleanser, not toothpaste which can scratch your denture. Please do not use household cleaners or bleach.
- You should at least 6 hours a day, leave your denture out. Remember to take it out at night. This lowers the risk of choking if the dentures become loose.
- Please don`t try to fix your Denture yourself.
To care of your Gums:
Check your gums daily. Brush your gum, tongue and the roof of your mouth with a soft brush every day before putting your denture in.
Let red, swollen gums heal before putting in the dentures again. If the redness does not go away in a few days, call the dentist.
White patches on the inside of the cheeks could also mean the dentures aren’t fitting well.
If you feel any discomfort with your gum or denture, Schedule your appointment today.
Baby Teeth – When do they come in?
The most common questions we are asked about Baby teeth are “when will they come in?” and “when will they fall out?”. While the answer can vary – we have a general timeline for when we expect these things to occur.
Most children will have all 20 of their primary teeth by the time they are 3 years old. By age 21 all of your child’s permanent teeth should have erupted (with the exception of wisdom teeth which may or may not fully erupt.)
Caring for baby teeth can be difficult for parents.
| From 1 to 2 years |
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| From 3 to 4 years old |
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| For all ages |
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To schedule your child’s next cleaning Contact us! (604) 936-1263
What Happens During a Dental Cleaning?
Many people have mild to moderate dental phobias. A lack of understanding about what happens while you’re in the chair for a cleaning can add to this fear.
First Exam
Your hygienist will likely start by doing a quick exam of your mouth, noting and potential areas of concern to discuss with the dentist when they come in to perform a more thorough examination. They will use a small mirror to check your teeth and gums for any signs of inflammation, decay, and other issues.
Removing Plaque and Tartar
The hygienist will use a scaler during your cleaning to “scrape” plaque and tartar build-up around and under your gumline and between your teeth. They may also use a “cavitron” or water scaler in addition to or instead of hand instruments to remove build up.
If this is your least favourite part of your cleanings remember that improved oral health (proper brushing and flossing) reduces the amount of tartar and plaque in your mouth. Less tartar and plaque = less time scaling (scraping).
Polishing
This is when the hygienist uses a high powered electric rotating rubber cup to apply a gritty toothpaste to your teeth. The high-pitched sound can be intimidating but this part of your cleaning is important for removing surface stains.
Professional Flossing
No one is more skilled at flossing your teeth than a hygienist. It might seem silly to have your hygienist floss your teeth during your cleaning if you’ve already flossed that day, but this helps to remove any leftover plaque, polishing paste or debris.
Fluoride Treatment
There are a few different options available for fluoride treatments. (Not all dentists carry all options.) Most common are fluoride trays: foam trays that fit over your teeth and are filled with a flavoured gel or foam fluoride and placed in your mouth for 1 minute. There is also a flavoured paint-on varnish that stays on your teeth until you brush it off at night. Least effective, but a good option for people with a strong gag reflex is a fluoride ride that you swish in your mouth for one minute. Fluoride helps to strengthen enamel and prevent tooth decay. It is an important part of your regular cleaning.
Post-Cleaning Exam
Your dentist will then come in and review any notes your hygienist has made, and perform their own exam with the help of a small handheld mirror. In this time they may find spots of potential decay and recommend x-rays to be certain. Other concerns your dentist is looking for is bite/jaw issues, the need for orthodontic referral, or referral to a periodontist if your gums have deep pockets around the teeth.
Contact us today to schedule your next cleaning and check up! (604) 936-1263
Pregnancy and how it affects your oral health.
While keeping your mouth healthy is important, it becomes even more so during pregnancy. As your hormones change you may face oral health issues such as gum and bone disease. The following preventative measures will help keep your smile healthy and reduce risks such as low birth weight and pre-term delivery.
Morning Sickness
One of the most problematic symptoms you can experience in pregnancy is morning sickness. Repeated exposure to stomach acid can wreak havoc on your enamel causing tooth decay and erosion. These steps should be taken following any episodes of vomiting:
- Rinse your mouth with water or fluoride mouth wash (if you can stand it) immediately following the episode
- After rinsing your mouth, wait for at least 30 minutes to further reduce the acid in your mouth
- Brush your teeth
Preventative Measures
Daily:
- Floss
- Brush your teeth at least twice per day with a fluoride toothpaste using a soft bristled toothbrush
- Drink fluoridated water where available
Schedule a checkup and cleaning in your first trimester to assess the current state of your oral health.
Bleeding Gums
Your hormone changes can affect your gums. They may be more sensitive and they might bleed easily, even if you have good oral hygiene.
“Pregnancy Gingivitis”
Between months 3 and 9 gestation, you may experience pregnancy gingivitis. This is when your gums become swollen, red, and/or irritated from bacteria along your gumline. It is important to see your dentist during pregnancy as gingivitis may turn into periodontitis. Most pregnancy-related gum issues will resolve themselves after giving birth, however, if they do not it is important to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Visiting Your Dentist
If you do need dental work during pregnancy – the best time to have your work completed is during your second trimester. It is a good idea to avoid X-rays while you are pregnant. X-rays of your mouth should only be taken in an emergency. If you need an X-ray, make sure you are covered with a lead apron to protect your baby from the radiation.
Contact us today to set up your next appointment!
TMJ Awareness Month – November
TMJ
If you experience excessive clenching, grinding, or “lockjaw”- you could suffer from TMJ disorder. TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint; the joint which connects your lower jaw to your skull. This joint works like a hinge allowing us to talk, chew, and make facial expressions. TMJ problems can begin from a number of factors including stress, sleeping on one side of the jaw, excessive gum chewing, anxiety, overextending your jaw (by yawning, etc..). Leaving a TMJ disorder untreated can worsen other symptoms such as headache, earache, neck joint/muscle pain, etc…
In severe cases, chronic grinding can lead to loosening, fracturing, or loss of teeth. Over time, it can even change the appearance of your face. Since teeth grinding usually occurs during sleep, it can lead to sleep issues, including sleep apnea, a potentially dangerous disorder in which sleep is disrupted by interruptions in breathing and shallow breaths.
Treatment Options
What you can do to help yourself:
If you find yourself clenching or grinding in stressful situations there are self-care practices you can try to reduce symptoms:
- Reduced consumption of alcohol and foods and drinks that contain caffeine
- Avoiding gum chewing and eating hard candy
- Not chewing on pencils, pens or other non-food objects
- Consciously relaxing your jaw and your facial muscles throughout the day
- Positioning the tip of your tongue between your teeth when you have the urge to clench your teeth, which helps train your jaw muscles to relax
- Increased intake of water
Medical Steps:
If your clenching and grinding occur at night when it is not consciously controllable, there are devices that can be made by your dentist to help! A custom-made night guard (designed for your teeth only) fit tightly around your upper or lower teeth to prevent wear to your dentition and help control the urge to clench. Many dental insurance companies cover these types of night guards which helps reduce your cost out of pocket.
To book a TMJ consultation appointment call or email us today!
I Just Had a Filling – Why does my tooth still hurt?
So your dentist recommended you have a filling done, but now a tooth that didn’t bother you before is hurting! Yikes!
Before you start panicking there are a few reasons this could happen. Firstly – is the pain you are experiencing upon biting or chewing? or is it a constant ache?
Pain with biting/chewing
If the pain/sensitivity is with biting or chewing, chances are your filling needs a slight adjustment! When the dentist checks your bite after performing a filling, sometimes you’re so frozen it’s hard to get a good idea if your bite feels “normal” or not. Even the slightest bit of filling material being too high, or left over bonding agent can cause sensitivity with biting if you have a “tight” bite.
Typically, we can see you the same day for a quick appointment (that requires no freezing) to adjust the filling.
Constant Ache
If your pain is more of a constant ache there are two possible issues. Your pain may be associated with the injection site for the anesthetic. Some people are very sensitive to freezing and can experience and ache/bruised feeling in their jaw from the anesthetic – especially in the lower jaw. The best course of action is to wait a day or two to see if the ache gets better.
The other possibility with a constant ache is that the decay was much deeper than expected. While we always try our best to prevent a tooth from needing a root canal, sometimes the decay is so deep we have no choice. When Dr. Ross performs a filling where the decay is deep in the tooth, he will often place a medication to desensitize the tooth and help it “calm down”. If this doesn’t work, a root canal may be the best course of treatment to fix the tooth.
Whatever the problem may be – we’re here to help you fix it. Call or email us today! https://austindentalgroups.com/contact/
Sugar makes my teeth sensitive – Ouch!
For most of us a slice of cake or a TimBit sounds like a deliciously sweet treat. For some people the thought of a sugar-filled snack makes them cringe. If you’re cringing right now, you may be wondering why your teeth react this way to sugar and if you can get some relief. In short, your sensitivity is due to damage to your enamel. Fortunately, there are steps you can take and products to help reduce this sensitivity so that you can enjoy your favorite treats again!
Causes
Most people associate tooth sensitivity with exposing your teeth to burning hot or chilling cold, sweets can also trigger tooth sensitivity. Regardless of the cause, sensitivity can result from the loss of enamel on your teeth. The most common causes of enamel loss include brushing too hard and enjoying too many acidic foods. Both activities damage your enamel and can expose the sensitive inner layer of your teeth. When your outer layer of enamel is damaged, sugary foods, hot and cold treats, or other irritants have a more direct route to the nerve center of your teeth.
Preventing Sugar Sensitivity
If you can’t imagine living without your favorite sweets there are steps you can take to prevent sensitivity. Your best course of action is to take proper care of your teeth with an oral health routine and the right tools.
The first step is to use a soft-bristled toothbrush. A softer brush is not only better for your enamel, but it’s also gentler on already sensitive teeth. We always give our patients a soft-bristled brush in their patient “goody bag” at each cleaning appointment. Use a toothpaste designed to protect against sensitivity; the active ingredient you should look for is “stannous fluoride”. Finally, improve your brushing technique! Brushing too hard can cause serious damage to your enamel and gums, leading to tooth sensitivity. You can always ask your hygienist for proper oral hygiene instruction at your regularly scheduled cleaning appointment.
Contact us today to set up your next appointment! https://austindentalgroups.com/contact/