According to recent studies, almost half the population of adults in North America suffers at least occasionally from bad breath (halitosis). The most common cause of bad breath is bacteria in the mouth and on the back of the tongue. Other non-dental causes of halitosis include certain foods, smoking, alcohol, hormonal changes or simply being hungry.

If the halitosis is of oral origin, the treatment usually begins with ensuring meticulous hygiene of the mouth. Your dentist or dental hygienist will check for gum disease and, if necessary, prepare a detailed treatment plan. Tongue scraping should also become an important part of daily home care and part of your regular tooth brushing routine (it’s easy and painless).

A significant percentage of adults suffer from some level of fear of dental treatment – you can take solace in the fact that you are not alone! Given the importance of maintaining healthy teeth and gums to your overall health, it is imperative that you find a way to deal with these fears.

In our clinic we offer a range of techniques to help our patients reduce their anxiety. Here are a few ideas that you might consider:

• Visualize yourself in a comfortable place while in the dental chair – a warm sandy beach, for example
• Avoid drinking beverages that contain caffeine before your appointment
• Ask questions about your treatment – quite often fears of the unknown are the worst fears of all
• Our ultimate goal is to enable our patients to receive dental treatment in a comfortable state of mind. Please feel free to call our office if you would like to learn more
• Our office has available for you Nitrous Oxide (N2O – Laughing Gas) to ease your dental visit

Bleeding after brushing or flossing can be unsettling. It can also be a sign of an otherwise mostly silent disease — periodontal disease. Periodontal disease, or gum disease, is a leading cause of tooth loss. It is a build-up of bacteria from plaque and tartar that can inflame or infect gum and bone.

Periodontal disease causes deep pockets to form in tissue between the gums and teeth. This sometimes gives the appearance of puffy or receding gums.

During dental exams, dentists routinely examine your gums. There are a number of treatments for bleeding gums and periodontal disease, including removing plaque and tartar below the gum line. These treatments, performed in a dental office, are called scaling and root planing. They allow the gum to heal and become healthy again.

We recommend daily brushing and flossing as well as regular checkups and cleanings to help prevent periodontal disease.

Do you ever get anxious about having dental work done? Has your fear prevented you from getting the dental care you need? No one knows these fears better than your dentist. That’s why some dentists offer inhalation sedation, or laughing gas, to their patients.

Laughing gas, or nitrous oxide (N20), is an odourless, colourless gas that patients can inhale through a mask placed over the nose. The gas, often pleasantly scented with vanilla or mint, works rapidly. Patients report feeling relaxed, calm, and happy during use. As its nickname implies, laughing gas can sometimes make people feel giddy or giggly, but without losing control.

With N2O, Dentists are able to perform many procedures on previously anxious patients and patients feel no pain or discomfort. N2O has the added advantage of being completely reversible, with no lingering grogginess. When a procedure is completed, patients are given oxygen to breathe for a few minutes and the effect of the sedation is completely reversed.

There’s no need to put off dental work because of fear or anxiety. Ask us if laughing gas is right for you.

A dental crown is a custom-designed, tooth-shaped restoration that is fitted over the prepared surface of a damaged tooth to recapture the appearance and function of the tooth. A bridge is used to replace one or more missing teeth and is usually attached securely to the existing teeth on either side of the gap. Recent developments in dental techniques and materials have allowed dentists to provide crown and bridge restorations that are virtually indistinguishable from a person’s natural teeth in both form and function.

If you suffer from lost teeth or teeth that are badly damaged by decay or accident, crowns or bridges may be able to repair their appearance and preserve their function.

Feel free to contact our offices if you would like more information on crowns and bridges.

Dental Implants are part of a tooth replacement treatment. They are virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth. These implants are metal posts or frames, usually made of titanium, that are surgically placed under your gums. They then fuse to the bone of your jaw and act as roots. Replacement teeth, called crowns and made of porcelain, are then attached to the implant They will fit securely to your gums because they are held in place by bone, allowing them to look and function just like natural teeth.

Once the implants are in place, your dentist will typically wait a few months to proceed with crowns – temporary appliances are available for you to wear while you wait.

Give us a call today to set up an appointment to find out if dental implants are right for you.

Sometimes the body’s immune system will fight and heal infections on its own, but often it needs some help. When it comes to oral infections such as tooth and gum infections, only your dentist can make that call. This is why it is so important to have infections and abscesses examined by a dentist.

Oral infections are a serious health matter. Symptoms include tooth, gum, and jaw pain, lumps or pus-filled abscesses, and weeping or bleeding gums. Left untreated, they can affect your overall health.

Our doctors can diagnose an infection during an oral examination. They will feel your gums, gently tap your teeth, and take x-rays to determine the extent of the infection and whether it has spread. If they feel the infection is harmful, or your body is not fighting it effectively, they may prescribe antibiotics. Our doctors will also want to treat the underlying cause of an oral infection to prevent it from recurring in the future. Causes may include tooth decay, periodontal, or gum disease, tooth cracks, and weakened fillings.

Don’t ignore the signs of oral infection. Practice good oral hygiene on a daily basis, and have your mouth and teeth examined by a dentist.