We are now accepting the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Please provide us with your information so we can get it set up for you. Please note there is often a copayment associated with it, contact us for more details.
OUR SERVICES
EXAMS AND DIGITAL X-RAYS
As a new patient, our dentists will evaluate your oral system to comprehensively determine what treatment options are recommended. This involves evaluating each tooth, checking for any signs of gum disease, biting problems, and also an oral cancer screening exam. Our office also provides digital x-rays. Advantages of this include an instantaneous image of the area captured displayed on a monitor which allows chairside education with you to determine what’s going on. Digital x-rays also provide a more detailed resolution than films, making earlier detection and treatment of problems a reality. Most importantly, digital x-rays decreases radiation exposure by up to 90% compared to films.
PREVENTIVE CARE
With modern science on what causes most dental problems, many issues can be prevented outright if seen early. This includes cavities, bite problems, and gum disease, as well as minimizing the risk of oral cancer. This can help people save money, time, and frustration. Our team will always strive to prevent problems before they occur, and evaluate individual needs for preventive care, such as diet and habit modifications, the use of fluoride and other adjuncts, and personal self care instructions.
PERIODONTAL THERAPY
The surrounding structures that provide the foundation of our teeth is the periodontium. Many factors can cause this to become inflamed and diseased, the chief of which is bacterial plaque. If left untreated, this could cause receding gums, wiggly teeth, and tooth loss. We will evaluate your oral condition and provide individualized treatment options for each of our patients to maintain a healthy periodontium.
ORTHODONTICS
Orthodontics (braces) are used to correct one's teeth alignment and bite, with the goal of providing esthetics AND function that harmonizes our teeth, our muscles, and our temporomandibular joint. If you have a desire for braces, we will provide you with a consultation and see what needs to be done.
COMPOSITE RESTORATIONS
Also known as tooth-coloured or white fillings. At our office, we are proud to provide bonded composite resin restorations as opposed to the traditional silver amalgams. These can be used to repair decayed and chipped teeth to help you restore your smile and bite. In today's day and age, the colours now match very well with most people's teeth, such that even you may not notice that there's a filling there after it's completed.
Procedure - As with any filling, any decay or compromised tooth structure must first be removed by a dentist to ensure that the filling material lies on sound tooth structure. Then, the tooth is cleaned and prepared for the bonding agent to "prime" the tooth for the material. A soft filling material is then placed and shaped, and a bright blue light is used to harden it. Lastly, our dentists will finish and polish the restoration to not alter your bite.
BIOCLEAR COMPOSITES
Utilizing a technique pioneered by Dr. David Clark, the Bioclear method can reduce the dreaded black triangle spaces that are often quite unesthetic. This is a minimally-invasive, conservative procedure that requires minimal alteration to natural tooth structure, and can result in beautiful function and esthetics.
Before this technique, the most popular way to close black triangles is with a porcelain veneer, which is more invasive and costly in the majority of situations.
DENTAL IMPLANTS
An excellent option for many patients to replace a missing or soon-to-be-missing tooth. These are little screws made of a biocompatible titanium alloy that is placed into the jawbone where the missing tooth is. This implant acts as a replacement of the roots of a tooth. After a period of healing time, an impression is taken of the structures around this implant. A laboratory then fabricates an implant-supported crown in the shape of your other teeth to restore esthetics and function.
CROWNS
When a tooth is compromised such that a filling may not be the best option for the longevity of a tooth, or when a tooth has undergone root canal treatment, a full coverage restoration such as a crown will protect the tooth from fracture much better. These can be made from a variety of materials, such as all-ceramic, porcelain-fused-to-metal, or a gold alloy. This procedure generally requires 2 or more appointments spread out over a week or two, as a dental technician is needed to fabricate a crown custom made for your teeth. In the meantime, we will provide you with a temporary crown to help you protect the tooth and to provide a "test-run" for what the final crown will feel like.
DENTAL BRIDGES
A fixed, as opposed to removable (such as dentures), option to replace a missing tooth or teeth. This consists of 3 or more fused crowns extending from one anchor tooth to the other, with artificial teeth attached in the middle. The procedure for these is similar to crowns.
ENDODONTICS (ROOT CANALS)
Trauma to a tooth, most commonly through blunt force or dental decay, can irritate the nerve space of a tooth. If this irritation leads to bacteria entering the nerve, or pulp, of a tooth, the pulp often won't be able to heal itself and becomes infected. This can result in severe discomfort that disrupts our daily lives. If diagnosed as an endodontic problem, a root canal therapy is indicated to clean out the infected pulp and bacteria to relieve one from pain and infection.
Procedure - To keep you comfortable, we will first numb the problematic tooth. Then, we will need to access the pulp chamber through the tooth in order to clean and shape the canals of the pulp. Afterwards, it's often best to leave a medication in the canal space for a period of time to help disinfect the tooth even more, and at the next appointment, to fill the clean canals with a natural inert rubber called gutta percha. This material will prevent bacteria from entering the space again and causing reinfection. Then, the tooth will need to be restored, usually with a crown, or in some cases, a bonded composite restoration.
COMPLETE DENTURES
When all teeth are missing on either the upper or lower jaw, a complete denture may be the most economical and efficient way to restore esthetics, form, and function. For additional stability and retention, implants can be used to secure a denture more firmly. It goes without saying that these are custom made for each individual.
PARTIAL DENTURES
When multiple teeth are missing in one jaw, a removable partial denture can be a good option to restore these teeth. They can either have a metal backbone or can be all acrylic, depending on the situation. These rely on clasps touching nearby teeth for retention and stability.
LASER DENTISTRY
Lasers are a new addition to the dental arsenal. With lasers, many soft tissue problems such as high-pulling frenums, canker sores, and extra gummy tissue that may look displeasing can all be treated in a comfortable fashion.
EXTRACTIONS
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, a tooth cannot or should not be kept in the mouth. Our team will determine the diagnosis and prognosis of a tooth and whether or not a referral to a specialist is needed to extract the tooth. If so, communication with the specialist will be done and we will forward any x-rays to them. If not, one of our dentists can take out the tooth for you.
Then, if recommended, treatment options will be presented to you to determine what options there are to replace the missing tooth.