Take Care of Your Gums

We learn from a young age how important it is to brush our teeth and keep them healthy. But caring for our gums is equally as important. As we get older, we can lose gum tissue which, besides being unattractive, can result in oral health complications such as exposure of the roots of your teeth, cavities, sore gums, sensitive teeth, bad breath and even tooth loss.

Receding gums (or gingival recession) is a common dental problem that is most often caused by using hard-bristled toothbrushes (a condition called toothbrush abrasion) and chronic gum disease.

The solution is simple for aggressive brushers: change your toothbrush to a softer variety and reconsider your style of brushing. Rather than scrubbing in a side-to-side motion, the Canadian Dental Association recommends brushing gently at a 45-degree angle to your teeth, using a circular motion.

Gum disease is another matter. When you don’t brush and floss properly, over time it can lead to infection at the gum line. At this point, you may only notice red, bleeding gums when you brush. But over time, the infection breaks down the gum tissue where the teeth attach, called “attachment loss”. Gums begin to pull away from the teeth and that’s when you’ll experience symptoms.

Good dental habits and regular dental checkups can often stop the onset or catch this problem in the earlier stages. If you’re concerned about the health of your gums, talk to your dentist.

Enhance your Smile!

Want a more attractive smile? Today there are many effective and cost efficient ways to make your teeth whiter, brighter and better looking!

One of the most common ways to improve the look of your teeth is by whitening. While there are many whitening toothpastes available, they clean only the surface stains. There are also a wide variety of bleaching products made for home use. The chemical ingredients in these products are effective for lightening teeth but should be used with care and with dentist supervision, as with long-term use they may cause tooth abrasion or sensitivity.

Another alternative is having your teeth bleached by your dentist. This can be particularly effective especially if you have a combination of “living” and “non-living” teeth (due to root canals). Dentists have different bleaching methods and will choose the one that’s right for you.

If concerns with your smile are due to other imperfections such as discolouration, gaps, chips or uneven teeth, your dentist may recommend bonding or veneers, two simple and affordable treatments. During the bonding process, the dentist applies layers of resin to the teeth to mask imperfections. Like bonding, veneers hide flaws by covering teeth with thin porcelain shells. Both do the job, but porcelain veneers are considered to be a longer-lasting alternative.

The best thing about all these procedures is they can be easily completed in one or two dental visits at a price that’s affordable.

Mind The Gap?

It’s not uncommon for adults to have gaps between their teeth, especially the upper two front teeth. While some people find those spaces charming and attractive, many of those with gaps consider them unsightly and embarrassing.

If you’re ready to close the gap, there are there are relatively simple, quick and inexpensive ways your dentist can help. At one time the only solution was braces, but these days, it’s possible to fix gaps cosmetically using dental veneers.

What are veneers? They’re very thin shells usually made of porcelain or composite resin that are attached to the front of the teeth to hide gaps and other imperfections.

To apply composite resin veneers (a process also called bonding), dentists apply a mild chemical to roughen the tooth surface so the resin sticks. Using a composite resin that matches your tooth colour, the composite resin is applied, hardened with a bright light and then shaped and polished to look smooth and natural. It’s easy, quick and relatively inexpensive.

If you decide on porcelain veneers, the process is a bit more complicated, but still simple and cost efficient. It starts with freezing, then a thin layer of enamel is removed. A mold of your teeth is made and temporary veneers are applied. When the permanent veneers are ready, the temporaries are removed and a chemical is used to roughen the surface of the teeth. The porcelain veneers are attached with composite resin cement.

Have a gap to fill? Talk to your dentist and see if you’re a candidate for veneers.

Dental Inlays and Onlays… They're No Joke!

It truly can be frustrating to be laughing with friends over a good joke only to in the back of your mind be sub-consciously thinking about how everyone can see the inside of your mouth. Over time, your old gray fillings may be wearing down, eroding or even broking. What if there were a simple means of correcting these problems towards restoring a more youthful looking smile.

Tooth coloured porcelain inlays and onlays provide a more conservative solution than conventional crowns by providing a longer lasting and more natural looking smile. If more than half of the biting surface of a molar has decayed, it is often wise to use an inlay or onlay rather than a filling. An inlay is similar to a filling, but lies within the cusps (bumps) on the chewing surface of the tooth. An onlay is more extensive than an inlay and covers one or more cusps.

A dental inlay or onlay is a solid; one piece filling that is cemented into or onto your tooth and can usually be applied in just two visits. At the first visit, the dentist prepares the tooth for the new inlay or onlay while also making an impression of the tooth for what will be the custom creation of a porcelain inlay or onlay that will fit exactly into your tooth. Also during this first appointment, the dentist will place a temporary sealant on your tooth and schedule your second appointment. During the second appointment, the dentist correctly fits the inlay or onlay and bonds the tooth with a strong bonding resin, the tooth is then polished smooth.

With dental inlays and onlays, the end result is a stronger result with a much better look. We invite you to contact our office for more details.