Sensitive teeth often come from the fact that your gums have slightly receded. This recession of the gum line allows the underlying dentin to show through which allows water, air or food of different temperatures easier access to the sensitive nerve. in mild cases there are a number of toothpastes, gels and even some dental procedures that can be applied. in severe cases it can lead to fillings, root canal treatments or even extractions.

Great teeth and gum care start at home. Proper brushing and flossing on a daily basis is the best way to take care of your teeth and gums on a continual basis. By keeping to a daily routine you will greatly minimize the risk of gingivitis or tooth decay as you age. A 6 monthly visit to the oral hygienist is also a integral part of healthy gums. a good spring clean at the dentist removes plaque and tartar build –up that is unreachable by brushing and flossing alone.

Gingivitis is a condition caused when bacteria surrounds the teeth and enters the gums. The gums can become irritated, inflamed and often bleed. there are also certain factors that may increase he chance of gingivitis. In order to prevent the condition from worsening, regular hygiene visits are highly recommended(think of brushing as your day to day sweeping and the dental visit as a spring cleaning). During your visit,we will show you how to brush and floss properly, and in specific cases what products may be more suitable for you.

Periodontal Disease is a lifestyle disease that begins and progresses with little or no symptoms. It is caused by bacteria that surrounds the teeth and enters the gums. The immediate condition is known as ‘gingivitis’. The gums become irritated, inflamed and often bleed. If not properly treated, the condition worsens and causes severely receded gums or even mobility of teeth. Noticeable symptoms now appear. They include:

1. Bad Breath
2. Gum Recession
3. Gum Sensitivity to Acidic Foods
4. Abscesses
5. Tooth Pain
6. Tooth Loss

The short answer is no.Periodontitis isn’t curable, but it’s manageable with proper care and treatment. If periodontitis isn’t advanced, treatment may involve less invasive procedures, including:

• Scaling. Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and below your gumline. It may be done using instruments, a laser or an ultrasonic device.
• Root planing. Root planing smooths the root surfaces. This helps prevent further buildup of tartar and bacteria. It also helps your gums attach to your teeth again.
• Antibiotics. Topical or oral antibiotics can help control bacterial infection. Topical antibiotics can include antibiotic mouth rinses or putting gel containing an antibiotic into gum pockets. Sometimes oral antibiotics are needed to get rid of bacteria that cause infections.

In severe cases, one may need to visit a periodontist for more advanced procedures such as Bone grafting, gingival grafting, Guided tissue regeneration or even all of the above.

Silver Fillings known as Amalgam have been around for decades. Amalgam fillings are usually placed in very large cavities due to the properties of the material. In our practice we do not use any amalgam or metal fillings. It is our belief that amalgam has too many negative effects on the health of gums and teeth, and could also lead to systemic health problems.

White Fillings, also known as composites are often made of plastic or glass polymers. These cosmetic fillings allow us to fill a cavity with a substance that will look and feel just like your existing tooth structure. This restoration is created with a resin material and fits tightly into a tooth to prevent decay. The ideal area to use a composite filling is in smaller cavities. Rather than a gray or silver material in your mouth, the composite color will match the tooth color.

Ceramic fillings or inlays/overlays (CEREC) can also be used in areas that need bigger fillings. The property of the ceramic allows for a stronger restoration and prevents micro leakage often seen when a composite filling is placed in a large cavity. Ceramic fillings are the most aesthetic fillings and mimic tooth colour and structure almost exactly.

Tooth Whitening is a cost effective and safe procedure to create a beautiful, healthy smile. Over the years, fluoride has been added to the whitening product. This reduces and limits tooth and gum sensitivity. Tooth Whitening must be monitored by your dentist and only done after a comprehensive exam and hygiene cleaning. The whitening process can last for a number of years if maintained properly. Beverages such as coffee, tea, cola and wine will reduce the lasting effect. Remember, if it could stain a white shirt, it will stain your smile!

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap. Dentists use crowns to restore weak, broken or decayed teeth. A crown fits over your entire tooth, like a snug hat. To ensure a proper fit, a dentist will need to remove a small amount of enamel before bonding your new crown in place. Dental technicians craft crowns from a variety of materials, including resin, metal and porcelain. 

Crowns are required in a variety of scenarios. You may need a dental crown to:

• Strengthen a weak tooth.
• Protect and support a cracked tooth.
• Restore a worn-down or broken tooth.
• Hold a dental bridge in place.
• Cover a severely stained or discolored tooth.
• Cover a root canal-treated tooth.
• Cover a dental implant.

In most cases, this indicates that the nerve inside the tooth have died, in cases of such a root canal treatment is required to remove the dead/dying nerve tissue to prevent pain and infection. once the root canal treatment is completed we can then do a bleaching to change the color back from the inside and/or crown the tooth to match the remaining dentition.

Root canal treatment involves a procedure that is used by dentists if a tooth is badly decayed or fractured. The procedure is needed because if the tooth is left untreated, the pain will get worse and the gum disease will spread to other teeth, leading to more decay.

Will I lose my tooth?

The answer to this question depends on the severity of your case. If your tooth is not too badly decayed, your dentist will remove the decayed part and leave the remaining part of the tooth in your mouth, then cover it up with dental filling or a dental crown. If the damage or decay is extensive, your dentist will recommend extracting the tooth and replacing it with an artificial tooth through the use of a dental implant.

Is a root canal painful?

There is a misconception that root canals are painful, but the truth is they are not. Thanks to technological advances, root canals are about as painful as getting a dental filling, which is not painful at all 99 percent of the time.

How long does the root canal take?

Root canal treatments can be done in one visit assuming no infections exist and usually do not take more than two hours. If the problem has been existing for a long period of time and accompanied with throbbing pain or signs of bone loss, you will likely need at least two visits to the dentist to complete the procedure.

Do I need a root canal if the tooth does not hurt?

If your tooth is decayed and you leave it untreated, you will make matters worse because the decay will spread to other teeth. If you wait until you are in a significant amount of pain, your dentist might have to perform a root canal on more than one tooth. This will cost you more money than if you had taken care of it much earlier.

Is it cheaper to have the tooth removed?

Extracting the infected tooth is an alternative to undergoing a root canal, but that option should not be on the table unless there is nothing that can be done to salvage the damaged tooth. Extracting the tooth also will not save you any money because you will be charged for the extraction and will also have to pay for the implant to replace the removed tooth, which will be more expensive than the root canal itself. Having your teeth pulled can lead to the loss of bone density in your jaw, especially if the missing tooth is not replaced soon after it was extracted. The loss of bone density can affect your facial structure and make you appear older than you are.