Bite planes and night guards
Tender or sore jaw muscles, problems opening or closing your mouth, headaches you cannot explain, or a clicking or grinding noise when you chew or yawn may be caused by TMD, or temporomandibular disorder. Some causes include clenching and grinding (most often during sleep), injury to the face or jaw, or diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment of TMD can include wearing a bite plane (or night guard) made of clear plastic. It fits over the biting surface of the teeth of one jaw so that you bite against the splint rather than your teeth. This evenly distributes the force of your bite and helps your jaw joints and muscles relax.
Bonding and enamel shaping
Bonding is used when a tooth has been chipped, damaged, misaligned, or stained. A composite resin material is applied to the tooth and molded to fit its form. Once shaped, the material is set with a bonding light, then polished and smoothed.
Bridges
Bridges are tooth substitutes attached to neighbouring natural teeth. To secure a bridge, both the surrounding tissue and the bone of the adjacent teeth must be healthy. The bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth placed between crowns and fixed over the natural, neighbouring shaped teeth.
Children's dentistry
We provide dental care to children of all ages, and recommend bringing your child in within six months of their first tooth coming in, or by the age of one, whichever comes first. Your child's first check-up includes an introduction to the dental environment. We make this appointment quick and fun so your child starts off with a positive dental experience. We count your child's teeth and review preventative measures to help them have a happy, healthy mouth.
Crowns
A crown is a cover for a tooth that is decayed, damaged, or has had recurrent fillings, usually made of porcelain, metal alloys, or gold. The dentist removes any decay around the tooth along with a small quantity of enamel, shapes the tooth into a base, and takes an impression so the crown fits precisely. The artificial permanent tooth is then cemented onto the shaped natural tooth.
Dental hygiene
The dental hygienist works with your dentist to prevent dental disease and keep your mouth healthy. Registered and certified, the hygienist cleans your teeth and talks with you about caring for your teeth and gums at home. Your hygienist may also do a basic exam, take x-rays, make dental impressions, or clean, polish, and apply fluoride to your teeth.
Dentures (full and partial)
Partial dentures are artificial teeth affixed to a metal framework with clasps that attach to the patient's natural neighbouring teeth. They are used when several teeth are missing or when adjoining teeth are too unstable to hold a bridge.
Full dentures are for patients without teeth. The denture fits directly onto the gums, with manufactured teeth of plastic or porcelain set into an acrylic framework.
Desensitizing
When dental sensitivity occurs, we suggest trying desensitizing toothpaste first. If that does not ease your discomfort, in-office treatments are available: a fluoride gel that strengthens tooth enamel and reduces the transmission of sensations, or, where receding gums cause the sensitivity, agents that bond to the tooth root to seal the sensitive teeth.
Fillings
A composite (tooth coloured) filling is used to repair a tooth affected by decay, cracks, or fractures. The affected portion of the tooth is removed and then filled. There are many types of filling materials available, and you and your dentist can discuss the best options for restoring your teeth. Because composite fillings are tooth coloured, they can be closely matched to the colour of your existing teeth, which suits front teeth and the more visible areas.
Implants
A dental implant is a metal (usually titanium) screw placed into the jaw bone through surgery in a dental practice. The screw acts as an anchor for an artificial tooth or a set of artificial teeth. Implants are an excellent option for people in good oral health who have lost a tooth or teeth. Implanted teeth look and feel like your own, and they are very secure.
Mouth guards
Mouth guards, also known as sports guards, are crucial equipment for any child in sports or activities where their mouth could be hurt. Fitting snugly over the upper teeth, mouth guards protect the whole oral region from traumatic injury, preserving both the appearance and the health of the smile. They are also sometimes used to prevent tooth damage in children who grind their teeth at night.
Root canals
The space inside the hard layers of each tooth is called the root canal system, filled with soft dental pulp made up of nerves and blood vessels that help your tooth grow and develop. Root canal treatment, also known as endodontic treatment, is the process of removing infected, injured, or dead pulp from your tooth.
Sealants
Dental sealants act as a barrier, protecting the teeth against decay-causing bacteria. Sealants are usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars), where decay occurs most often.
Soft-tissue laser
We use up-to-date technology, such as a soft tissue laser, to provide more comfortable and effective treatment for our patients.
Veneers
Laminate veneers perform the same function as bonding and are used for chipped, damaged, misaligned, or discoloured teeth, though veneers typically last longer than bonding. At the first appointment, the dentist removes a very small layer of tooth enamel and takes an impression of the teeth. At the second appointment, the veneers (a tooth shell made of composite resin or porcelain) are attached and bonded with a bonding light, then polished.
Whitening and bleaching
Professional bleaching is always performed in a dental practice, for teeth stained by coffee, tea, tobacco, or age. Your dentist will decide which bleaching procedure will work best for your teeth, since whiteners cannot correct all types of discolouration. Bleaching lightens teeth in varying degrees for roughly 95% of people. Restorations and veneers are not affected by bleaching and will remain the same colour.
