Dental Services

Dentistry is founded on the principle of prevention. All patients should have regular cleanings and examinations. Not only do they help you stop dental problems before they arise, they leave your gums healthier, and your teeth cleaner and whiter. A professional cleaning removes hard plaque that cannot be removed by brushing and flossing alone. It also involves a fluoride treatment and polish to help protect and soothe your teeth and gums. Even if you haven’t had a cleaning in many years, or ever, it’s never too late to clean your teeth.

WHAT ARE SOME PREVENTATIVE MEASURES I CAN TAKE?

• Brush with a fluoride toothpaste
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush or electric toothbrush after each meal
• Floss daily before bedtime
• Use a mouthwash after flossing
• Avoid sugary foods, sweet drinks, and tobacco products

If you have damaged or decayed teeth, we can help you choose the best solution. Crowns and bridges are custom-fitted tooth prosthetics that function and look like natural, healthy teeth. Veneers are a less invasive alternative, they may be a solution for those with slight tooth damage or discoloration. These thin porcelain or resin shells come in customizable shades and are bonded to the surface of your teeth.

Crowns

A crown, sometimes known as a cap, is custom-fitted to your bite and is placed over your natural tooth or dental implant. We recommend this procedure to protect the tooth from cracking or breaking from a large cavity, or after a root canal procedure.  

• Procedure:

• We will reduce the problematic tooth for a proper crown fit

• An impression will be taken of your bite for crown fabrication

• The shade of the porcelain can then be customized

• We will fit you with a temporary crown until the lab makes your permanent one

• You will come in again for a permanent crown fitting

Bridges

To replace a missing tooth that has neighbouring teeth, or a tooth that has been missing for a long time, or when a dental implant is just not an option, we may recommend a bridge.  The procedure is similar to making a crown. 

Types of Bridges:

• Traditional — Caps or crowns are bonded over teeth that lie on either side of the missing one

• Resin-bonded — Porcelain or plastic teeth that are supported by metal or porcelain “wings”

Veneers

If you are looking to cosmetically correct or enhance the appearance of one or more teeth, we suggest veneers. They are very thin, porcelain or resin shells that you can customize in colour and shape. They are less invasive than crowns. and look beautiful.  The procedure is similar to a crown as well.

Common uses for veneers:

• Chipped, broken teeth or gaps

• Misshapen or irregular teeth

• Teeth that do not respond to traditional whitening treatments

Missing teeth can make your cheeks look hollow and your mouth look sunken. More importantly, your diet can suffer. Those missing multiple teeth may want to consider dentures for both cosmetic purposes and overall health and wellness. Depending on the amount of teeth missing, we may suggest partial or full dentures. During your consultation, we will assess all your options and you can choose what you feel most comfortable with.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are ideal for those who are missing only a few teeth in a row. They hold onto the remaining teeth.  Even if you only have one or two teeth on your dental arch, a partial denture may still work best, since the remaining teeth provide a more natural bite and help to hold it in place.  

Complete Dentures

When your dental arch no longer has any teeth, a complete denture is the optimal solution. You can choose the traditional kind that sit on your gums, or  have dentures that are held in place by dental implants. The latter option has the best hold.  We can discuss the details so you can make the best decision.

Emergency Appointments

We strive to help you in the case of an emergency.  Please call us when the need arises.  We will do our best to alleviate the problem as soon as possible.  

Extractions

Our dental professionals make every effort to preserve your natural teeth. However extractions are necessary when decay has destroyed the tooth, or when you have advanced periodontal disease. Depending on which tooth is removed, we can offer you a replacement in the form of a dental implant or oral prosthetic.

Root Canals

A root canal is done to save a tooth that has become inflamed or infected.  The nerve and pulp are removed from the tooth and it is cleaned and sealed to prevent future infection and abscesses.  This procedure aims to relieve pain and save teeth.

Used to prevent the spread of tooth decay or correct any cosmetic damage, a filling is just one of the ways our dentists preserve your health. Before placement, any decay must be removed. We offer numbing gels and local anesthesia to ensure maximum comfort for our patients. There are two different types of fillings: amalgam (otherwise known as silver fillings) and composite resin, the colour of which can be customized to match your natural teeth.

Amalgam

Made up of silver, copper, mercury, and tin, amalgam fillings are a very durable option for our patients and last for many years. Sometimes used for fillings in back teeth, amalgam fillings withstand biting pressure well.

Composite Resin

Since the colour of a composite resin filling can be customized, it is the most aesthetically pleasing option. Composite resin is ideal for repairing chipped or cracked teeth, filling in a tooth gap, correcting dental discoloration, protecting an exposed tooth root, or changing the shape of teeth. Patients may also choose composite resin for cavity fillings as they are bonded to the teeth and therefore require less drilling of the natural tooth.

A dental implant mimics the form and function of a natural tooth.  When decay of  a tooth has gone too deep, or when periodontal disease has advanced enough to warrant an extraction, the entire tooth, root and all, is taken out. The dental implant is a titanium root that replaces the root that was once there.   A porcelain crown is placed on top which is customized to match your bite and the colour of your teeth.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GETTING IMPLANTS?

• They look and feel like natural teeth
• You don’t typically need adhesives to hold in dentures
• They improve appearance, comfort, and speech
• It’s easier to eat

There are various ways to correct your smile without the use of traditional braces. Aligners are clear and comfortable and work by placing, in sequence, a series of clear, plastic retainers over your teeth. Each varies in shape and is customized to your bite. They can be removed for eating and brushing your teeth. Whether you are an adult or a teen,  we will help you decide if aligners will work for you.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF CLEAR ALIGNERS?

• Corrected bite and straighter smile
• Improved comfort over traditional braces
• Natural tooth appearance
• More convenient oral hygiene maintenance

Excessive jaw clenching and bruxism (grinding) can accelerate tooth and jaw deterioration. Meanwhile, snoring can impact the quality of your sleep and that of those around you. To help our patients most comfortably avoid this, we customize snore and night guards to their bite.  A night guard acts as a cushion between the top and bottom dental arches.  Snore prevention mouth pieces help keep the lower jaw forward, to stop or reduce snoring.  

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF TEETH GRINDING?

• Stress or anxiety
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Certain medications or drugs

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF SNORING?

• Aging, certain drugs and medications, smoking, alcohol, nasal problems and sleep apnea
• Allergies and congestion
• Large tonsils 

Amoung the causes for periodontal (gum) disease are genetic susceptibility, smoking, and other illnesses like diabetes. Periodontal maintenance involves removing plaque and tartar from above and below the gum line. Most gum diseases are preventable with proper oral hygiene and a professional cleaning. However, what can start out as gingivitis (inflamed or bleeding gums) can turn into periodontitis (loss of the bone supporting the teeth). In such cases, gums pull away from the tooth to create “pockets,” thereby exposing a dental root to infection.  Over time it can lead to prolonged bad breath, loose teeth, painful chewing and other complications.

As we age our teeth darken, or we just may want whiter and brighter teeth.  Professional teeth whitening is faster and more effective than treatments you can buy at the store.   The procedure is simple, we make custom bleaching trays and give you gel to apply to your teeth at home.