1. How can I safely whiten my teeth?
Modern dentistry offers you a number of choices to help whiten and brighten your smile. Tooth whitening is one simple, high impact way to give your smile a boost. Years of coffee, tea, cola or smoking stains can be mostly erased. Heavily stained teeth may achieve better results with the application of porcelain veneers. The dentist will evaluate what will work best for you based on the current color/condition of your teeth and the cause of any discoloration.
Professional tooth whitening systems, available only through the dental clinic, are customized and monitored by the dentist, helping ensure safe application. The dentist also helps patients avoid tooth sensitivity during the process. Effectiveness of how the whitening has improved a smile can be tracked with either a color guide, or before and after photos in the dental clinic.
Store bought whitening kits can cause harm to the gums and teeth, if not used properly. Tooth whitening should always be prescribed and supervised by the dentist. Whitening will not compromise the existing structure of tooth enamel. Prescribed products have been subject to numerous studies over the last decade and are proven safe. To learn more about how this simple procedure can help you, call us today.
2. Can you show me a preview of my enhanced smile in advance?
Yes! Necessary radiographs, intra-oral video images, as well as digital photographs can be taken, and then this information is fed into a cosmetic imaging software. A cosmetically enhanced smile can be generated, and a picture is printed to show how your enhanced smile could look. It’s quick, simple and instant. Patients enjoy this process. Together with the dentist an evaluation is done and a plan is designed to create your new smile!
3. Can I preview how I will look with a cosmetic improvement, to help me decide how to proceed?
Yes. A few simple digital photographs can be taken, and using Cosmetic Imaging Software, you can see the potential results. This process provides you with clear visual information to help you with your decision making.
4. Implants, crowns, bridges, and veneers. Where can I learn more about how these can help me?
With today’s technology, materials and advanced techniques, there are many options for restoring weak, broken, chipped, discolored and/or missing teeth … bringing your smile back to its original shape and function. Implants are a new permanent way to replace a missing tooth. Bridges are an alternative. Crowns are applied to cover a problem tooth adding strength and beauty, especially when teeth are weakened due to large cavities filled or root canal therapy. As well, unattractive front teeth can be enhanced with natural shapes and shades, created by applying veneers (paper-thin porcelain).
Our Web site is designed to help you learn about the various restorative and cosmetic techniques available. Simply click on our Library button on the left-hand-side, then feel free to browse our Patient Newsletters, as they are filled with a wealth of information articles. For more information, please ask! We encourage questions.
5. I want my front teeth to look better, but I do not want to wear braces. What are my options?
There are several options to consider, including bonding and veneers. For slightly crooked or unevenly worn teeth, a bit of reshaping and the addition of porcelain veneers may be sufficient to give them a bright, uniform look. Natural looking all-porcelain restorations can be bonded to teeth to change the color and correct alignment. It takes about two to three dental appointments versus the traditional two years it takes for braces to straighten crooked teeth. A consultation with the dentist will determine which option is right for you.
6. I want to take a fresh look at my smile, and the 1st impression it makes. How can a "Smile Analysis" help me determine what changes would be most beneficial?
Smile Analysis helps uncover a patient’s issues with their smile, and how they feel about them. Analysis explores how the smile affects self-image and determines what structural/physical aspects of a smile, concern the patient. Whether a patient seeks small changes or a full-mouth make-over, the dentist can provide key insight into how modern dentistry can help. Today’s dentistry offers a range of several simple and easy, to more involved, procedures that can achieve a desired look. With innovations in dentistry, even small changes can make a dramatic difference. The dentist can show you the possibilities. To determine which treatments or procedures would be most appropriate for creating change, visit us to obtain a professional evaluation.
7. What is Smile Design?
After an initial “Smile Analysis”, great care is taken to design a smile for a patient. The process involves understanding a patient’s needs and goals, considering the features that are unique, and devising a treatment plan aimed at giving the patient the smile they desire. The dentist applies artistic talent and the expertise of science, to create a revitalized smile.
8. When is it time to come in to visit the Hygienist?
If you have not seen a hygienist in the past half-year, to ensure a healthy mouth, you should schedule an appointment. Since your last professional cleaning, bacteria and tartar continue to buildup on teeth. Even with the best home care, only a dental hygienist is capable of thoroughly removing this problematic plaque bacteria. Professional attention helps monitor gums for gum disease, which is often silent and offers few warning signs to the untrained eye.
Professional hygiene treatment is easily capable of avoiding, minimizing and even reversing some of the effects of gum disease. Hygienists are experts in what they do. After careful examination of oral tissues, gums and bone levels, the patient is prescribed an appointment interval tailored to the specific needs. Patients are encouraged to follow this prescription and combine it with good home care, to ensure optimum dental & body health. With good oral hygiene care, today’s patients can enjoy a lifetime of natural teeth and sound health.
9. How do I know if I have gum disease and how is it linked to my body’s health?
The dental professional is your best defense in your fight to prevent gum disease. Foul smelling floss, bleeding after brushing/flossing, and bad breath can be signs of gum disease. Yet, gum disease often progresses silently and a professional exam is the only sure way to determine if it is present, and to what degree. This bacterial infection causes gums to recede and bone loss leading to tooth loss.
Distinctly linked to the rest of the body, plaque bacteria is also a causative factor in heart and other serious health problems, as well as a strain on the immune system. Oral infection (gum disease) travels from the mouth to the rest of the body. Patients who are already afflicted with serious cardiovascular problems should be assessed to ensure that oral bacteria is not a contributing factor to their illness. Diabetic patients need to be monitored by the dentist as well, as the oral bacteria and diabetes make each other difficult to control.
Gum disease is serious, but treatable and preventable. Prescribed preventative visits with the Hygienist combined with good home care habits, help ensure a lifetime of healthy gums and teeth, as well as a healthier body. Research has transformed modern dental care enabling patients to better avoid this silent disease.
10. Why do I have sensitive teeth?
Tooth sensitivity could be caused by worn down tooth surfaces, as an example. Commonly, receding gums (possibly caused by gum disease) expose the roots of teeth in adults. Root areas do not have the same natural barrier as the tooth’s crown, exposing the nerve to heat and cold penetration. Avoiding brushing due to sensitivity, creates even more problems. If you are experiencing pain or sensitivity, call us so we can help determine the cause of the sensitivity. We will assess your situation and recommend the best treatment to care for your discomfort.
11. My gums bleed after I brush & floss. Should I be concerned?
Yes, you should be concerned. Bleeding anywhere in your body is not a good sign. If you have swollen gums and/or your gums bleed after brushing and flossing, you should tell the Hygienist. A periodontal evaluation will determine the cause. This condition should not be dismissed as it is a sign that high bacteria and plaque levels could be aggravating your gum tissues. Left untreated, gingivitis and periodontal disease worsen over time, leading to bone loss and eventual tooth loss.
Non-surgical gum care procedures successfully help stop and treat all stages of gum disease. Routine hygiene visits are the best way to keep oral bacteria at a minimum, helping ensure healthy gums and a healthy body.
12. My breath just is not fresh even though I brush daily. Is there anything I can do?
Disorders and diseases of the oral cavity may cause up to 90% of all cases of halitosis, or “bad breath.” Some of the most common causes are: a dry mouth due to lack of flow of saliva during sleep, denture wearing, food retention, poor oral hygiene, dental decay, gingivitis, gum disease, an unclean tongue, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Most of these factors cause an increase in bacteria in the oral cavity. These bacteria produce compounds that cause “bad breath.”
What is the treatment? The Hygienist will start with a through assessment of your condition, as well as a professional cleaning of your teeth. Then, she will work with you to begin an effective home care program including conventional tooth brushing and flossing, daily irrigation of the oral tissues and regular cleaning and brushing of the tongue. An oral rinse may also be recommended. If you are uncomfortable discussing your bad breath with us, don’t be! It is a common problem and many patients have easily resolved it with help from the dental professional. Simply ask us, we’re here to help.
13. At what age should my child first see the dentist?
Children should visit us for their 1st dental appointment at about 3 years old. Our team is great with children! To help make their first dental visit a positive one, we encourage parents to bring their child along to observe, before hand. In order to build a lifetime of healthy oral habits, it’s important to help children have a fun, non-threatening dental experience.
14. My child has suffered a mouth injury. What should I do?
All oral injuries should be taken seriously as they may cause permanent damage if not treated. Call us for an emergency exam, we’re here to help. Cracked, chipped, broken and slightly loosened teeth can all likely be repaired. Gum or nerve injury could result in infection, abscess, or tooth discoloration. Everything possible is done to try to save the tooth because losing a tooth can cause a lifetime of dental issues. If a permanent tooth is knocked out, quick action is required. Seeing the dentist within 30 minutes could help the odds of successful replanting of the tooth.
Accidents happen, especially with active children. So parents, prevention is the best medicine! When playing sports, athletes of all ages are prone to facial injuries and concussions. Wearing a sports guard (mouth guard) can protect them from serious oral injuries and even act as a shock absorber for blows to the head, preventing concussions.
15. How can the athlete in our home prevent mouth injuries?
CUSTOM sports guards are expertly molded to the athlete’s teeth. This makes them extremely comfortable as they fit perfectly, improving the athlete’s desire to wear it. Store bought sports guards are another option. Although they are cheaper, they can fail in effectiveness because they are bulky and one-size-fits-all, and athletes have the tendency not to wear them. Regardless of the chosen protection, all athletes should consider a sports guard as an essential part of their safety equipment.