Oral health means more than just healthy teeth and an attractive smile. The health of the mouth mirrors the condition of the rest of the body. Oral diseases include conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease, oral infections and oral cancer. The most prevalent diseases of the oral cavity, tooth decay and gum disease are caused by bacterial infections. Poor oral health has been linked to many systemic diseases. In recent years a growing body of evidence points to the relationship between gum disease and medical conditions such as coronary heart disease, stroke, pre-term delivery, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoporosis and diabetes.

In our office we assess individuals for the presence of gum disease and inform them about their specific situation. We are committed to providing our patients with current information on their health needs and concerns. We offer programs to fight gum disease and give options for treatment based upon an individuals health condition, underlying illnesses, habits (good & bad!) and history of past treatment. These measures can be instrumental in preventing bone loss and helping you to keep your natural teeth.

Tooth decay, also known as dental caries, is a disease that starts just below the surface of the tooth. If left untreated, it can damage the structure of the tooth and eventually lead to a cavity (a hole) in the tooth. A common treatment for a cavity is a dental filling.

In most cases, tooth decay can be prevented and even turned around in its early stages with good oral hygiene, a well-balanced diet and regular dental visits. When you go for a dental checkup, one of the things we looks for is tooth decay. Using a dental instrument, we look for pits and grooves and feels for soft areas on your teeth. Sometimes the disease is visible to us but often x-rays are needed to see inside your teeth for signs of tooth decay. If signs of tooth decay are found, it is important to stop it from spreading. Depending on the stage of the disease, we may try to heal it with fluoride applications. As well, we may suggest making changes to your oral hygiene routine and we may discuss changes to your diet.

If tooth decay is left unchecked, it can spread and lead to a cavity. During your regular checkups, we will find most cavities in their early stages. Treating a cavity in its early stage will stop decay from spreading to the point where there is little structure left to your tooth. If you have a small cavity, we may keep an eye on it or fill it right away with a dental filling. If a larger cavity is found we will show you where it is and schedule an appointment to fix it before it becomes to big and before the decay spreads to far into the tooth so that the nerve becomes affected and you require a Root Canal. An expensive alternative to procrastinating!

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is one of the most common dental problems adults face, yet it can begin at just about any age. It is often painless and happens slowly. Sometimes you may not notice any signs until the disease is serious and you are in danger of losing your teeth. The good news is that gum disease can be prevented with good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist. If started, gum disease can be treated and even turned around in its early stages.

There are 2 types of gum disease:

Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a term used to describe inflammation of the gums. The warning signs of gingivitis may include:

• Puffy gums.
• Traces of blood on your toothbrush.
• A change in the colour of your gums.

Periodontics
Periodontitis is one of the main reasons why adults lose their teeth. It is an inflammation of the bone and soft tissue around your teeth. Without enough bone and soft tissue to hold your teeth in place, your teeth can become loose and fall out. In its early stages, periodontitis is very hard to see. You may not know that you have a problem until your visit with us. The warning signs of periodontitis may include:

• A change in the color of your gums.
• Gums that are red around your teeth.
• Gums that bleed when you brush or floss.

When the nerve of your tooth becomes infected, a successful root canal treatment lets you keep the tooth rather than having to pull it out. Keeping your tooth helps to prevent your other teeth from drifting out of line and causing jaw problems. Saving a natural tooth avoid shaving to replace it with an artificial tooth.

Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, is the process of removing infected, injured or dead pulp from your tooth. The space inside the hard layers of each tooth is called the root canal system. This system is filled with soft dental pulp made up of nerves and blood vessels that help your tooth grow and develop. When bacteria (germs) enter your tooth through deep cavities, cracks or flawed fillings, your tooth can become abscessed. An abscessed tooth is a tooth with an infection in the pulp that spreads into the surrounding bone. If the pulp becomes abscessed it must be removed If left untreated, an abscessed tooth can cause serious oral health problems especially in patients who have certain Medical issues. Diabetes, Immuno Compromised Patients and Fibromyalgia just to name a few.

We utilize the safest and most effective sterilization techniques available today. All of our instruments are washed and then placed into an Ultrasonic cleaning unit and then put into a high pressure Steam Sterilizer. This effectively kills all pathogens that are present. Many of our products are single use items and are disposed of immediately after use. We are registered with a Monitoring Agency and we receive monthly reports on the operating efficiency of our sterilization units.

The best teeth are your own natural teeth. But sometimes, a tooth is badly damaged or lost. If a tooth is lost, it is important to replace it with an artificial tooth as soon as possible. This will prevent the teeth that are left from drifting out of line and possibly causing jaw problems. Teeth that are out of line are harder to clean and are more likely to get periodontal disease (gum disease) and cavities. If one or more of your teeth are missing, we may suggest replacing your missing teeth with a bridge or a denture.

Dentistry has evolved to the point where we can help you keep your Natural Dentition for a much longer period of time than was previously possible. Advanced restorative techniques, (Crowns, Veneers, Inlays, Onlays White and Silver Fillings ) increased predictability of Root Canal Treatments and better understanding and treatment modalities for Periodontal (Gum) Disease have all contributed to this.

When Teeth have been lost or it has been deemed unreasonable to repair there are a wide variety of treatments and services that we can provide to you. These include:

• Partial Dentures
• Full Dentures
• Bridges to replace single or multiple missing teeth
• Implants to replace single or multiple missing teeth

Each particular treatment option is tailored to your specific needs. After careful evaluation and examination these options will be discussed with you, helping you decide what is best for you.

An alternative to fixed bridge work is a removable partial denture. These are custom made appliances that replace several missing teeth in your mouth. They may be made of acrylic or have metal frames. Their advantage is cost, their disadvantage is that they attract and collect food around them, are not fixed in your mouth and if not kept clean may cause premature decay of your remaining teeth. They are however an important option when teeth are missing and should not be overlooked as a treatment alternative.

Full dentures are required when you have lost all of your natural teeth or when your natural teeth are beyond repair. This is the least attractive treatment in dentistry but sometimes there are no other options available. This alternative requires careful thought and consideration before being undertaken and we will try and answer all of your concerns should this be an inevitable treatment choice.

If one or more of your teeth are missing, there are a number of ways to replace them. An alternative to bridges, partials or complete dentures may be dental implants. Implants are used to replace missing roots and support artificial replacement teeth. They are comfortable and look like natural teeth.

A dental implant is an artificial root made of titanium metal. It is inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of the natural tooth. An artificial replacement tooth is attached to the implant. The implant acts as an anchor to hold the replacement tooth in place.

If you are in good general health, have healthy gums and have enough bone in the jaw to hold an implant, dental implants might be right for you. If your jawbone has shrunk or if it has not developed normally, you may be able to have a bone graft to build up the bone. A bone graft is a way of adding new bone to your jawbone. We will tell you if bone grafting can be done and we will refer you to the best qualified specialist who will complete this phase of your treatment.

Implants have revolutionized how we can restore your compromised dentition. Bridges can be made where no teeth exist when implants are inserted as the supporting structures. Dentures can be made that are supported by implants, making them solid, less bulky and far more pleasing than those that have to be retained by “Polygrip!”

If your tooth is damaged but not lost, a crown can be used to restore its shape, appearance and function. You may need a crown if you have a root canal, a large filling in a tooth or a broken tooth.

A crown, also called a cap, is a hollow, artificial tooth used to cover a damaged or decayed tooth. The crown restores the tooth and protects it from further damage. Crowns can also be used to cover a discolored or misshapen tooth. A tooth that has been fixed with a crown looks and works very much like a natural tooth. Crowns are fabricated from a mold of your teeth. They can be all metal crowns, metal covered with porcelain or all porcelain in nature. Which one is best for you depends on many variables, which we will discuss with you before any final decisions are made.

Dental treatments like dental bonding and veneers are not only used to fix cavities or broken teeth but can also be used to improve the look of healthy teeth. Veneers are applied to the entire front surface of the tooth, whereas bonding is applied to a smaller portion of the tooth. Bonding and veneers make your teeth look better by changing their color, shape, angle or spacing. We can fix teeth that are broken, chipped or cracked, that have spaces between them or that are discolored. Cosmetic dental treatment can improve your smile and give you more confidence.

Bonding is a painless way to make minor repairs to teeth. In most cases, several teeth can be bonded in one dental visit. Bonding uses tooth-colored material, called composite resin. Composite resin is put on the tooth, then shaped and hardened with a light. We can change the color of your teeth, the shape of your teeth and to some degree the apparent position of your teeth. Bonding does require periodic maintenance and replacing. There are many factors that determine the longevity of bonding. Ask us about them.

There are a variety of methods available to bleach your teeth. We offer you the opportunity to have a whiter and brighter smile using safe and high quality products at an affordable price. Why not treat yourself ? Phone for a personalized no cost assessment of your situation.

At our office we have a modern and up to date approach to tooth whitening. Your needs can be met with a variety of bleaching options. We feel the best results can be achieved with medically proven techniques and experienced monitoring of your progress.

Home Bleaching
The most popular course of treatment consists of the 14-21 day treatment. An appointment is scheduled for upper and lower impressions of your teeth. Within a week your personal trays have been made. Another appointment is made to deliver the trays and teach you how to use them. You may choose to wear the trays over night or for 1 hour in the day. The strength of the bleach would be adjusted accordingly to accommodate your preference. In about a week we recheck the color and discuss your progress. All of these appointments are included in the initial price. Now that you have your own personal trays, they may be used for years to come for further touch ups.

Root Canal Tooth Bleaching
When a front tooth has been root canaled it may darken over a period of time. We have a bleach product that is placed into the back of the root canal tooth, and sealed in for a number of days. When the correct color has been achieved, we remove the bleach and seal the back of the tooth. This procedure may have to be repeated a couple of times.

In Office Bleaching
This in office procedure will result in an instant whiter smile. It can be offered to people who need a quick result, possibly due to an up coming event. Our experience has shown us that this instant result does tend to fade back a few shades over time, so should be used in conjunction with the home treatment if you want optimal results. If you are willing to put in the time, the home treatments offer the same results with better stability at a fraction of the cost.

Using this relatively new technology instead of regular “Film Radiology” we can:

• Reduce exposure times and radiation by up to 60%.
• Because digital X-rays can be enlarged and enhanced, detection and diagnosis of your dental disease can be made more accurately.
• With computer screens in every room we can share this information with you at the chair so you can see and get a better understanding of our diagnosis and your treatment options.

Our wand machine delivers the anesthetic in a smoother, gentler and virtually painless manner. Experiencing anesthetic delivered in this way greatly reduces the stress and anxiety associated with this procedure.

Our office offers this relaxant for select surgical applications.

We have one of the newest and most advanced dental lasers available to take your dental procedure to an impressive new level.  We can treat your dental decay and gum problems in a more comfortable and relaxed way.  Many procedures can be accomplished without “freezing” and without the traditional drill! Ask us about this revolution in dentistry.

Do you or your partner snore? Snoring in itself can disturb relationships but it may be a sign of a more serious condition known as sleep apnea. We offer a simple and effective home sleep analysis. After the results have been interpreted by our Certified Technician, they can be given to your Doctor or Respirologist for diagnosis and treatment recommendations. In many cases a dental appliance can be custom made to treat your condition.