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7 Reasons Why You Should Have A Dental Cleaning

by Dr. Charles Triassi | May 23, 2023 | Dental | 0 comments

Oral health is integral to our overall well-being, and regular dental cleaning plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy smile. While brushing and flossing are essential daily habits, professional dental cleaning offers unique benefits beyond regular home care. Let’s explore why dental cleanings are necessary for optimal oral health.

Plaque and Tartar Removal

Despite our best efforts, plaque and tartar can build up on our teeth over time. Plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, produces acids that attack tooth enamel, leading to cavities and gum disease. Tartar, on the other hand, is hardened plaque that cannot be removed by brushing alone. Professional dental cleaning involves scaling, effectively removing plaque and tartar, and preventing dental issues before they worsen.

Prevention of Gum Disease

Gum disease, or periodontal disease, is a common oral health problem affecting a significant portion of the population. The early stage, called gingivitis, is characterized by red, swollen gums that may bleed during brushing. When it is left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, which can cause tooth loss and other serious complications. Regular dental cleanings help remove the bacteria and plaque contributing to gum disease, preventing its onset and progression.

Early Detection of Dental Issues

The dental hygienist thoroughly examines your teeth, gums, and mouth during a dental cleaning. This allows them to identify any potential oral health issues early. Early detection of problems such as cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, or even jaw misalignment enables timely intervention, leading to more effective and less invasive treatments.

Fresher Breath

Persistent bad breath, or halitosis, can be embarrassing and detrimental to our social interactions. Dental cleaning helps address this issue by eliminating the bacteria that cause bad breath. Regular cleanings and good oral hygiene practices significantly contribute to fresher breath and improved self-confidence.

Stain Removal and Whiter Teeth

Over time, our teeth may develop stains and discoloration due to various factors like food, drinks, tobacco, or certain medications. Dental cleanings involve polishing, which helps remove these surface stains, giving your teeth a brighter and healthier appearance. While it may not dramatically whiten your teeth like professional bleaching, regular cleanings can contribute to a more radiant smile.

Overall Health Benefits

Oral health is closely linked to our overall health. Numerous studies have established connections between oral infections and systemic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, respiratory issues, and even pregnancy complications. Maintaining good oral hygiene and attending regular dental cleanings reduce the risk of these health problems and promote a healthier body.

Dental Education and Oral Hygiene Guidance

Dental cleanings allow dental professionals to educate and guide patients on proper oral hygiene techniques. They can offer personalized advice on brushing, flossing, and other oral care practices tailored to your needs. This knowledge empowers you to take better care of your teeth and gums between dental visits, leading to improved oral health outcomes.

Investing in regular dental cleanings is a vital step toward maintaining optimal oral health. By removing plaque, tartar, and harmful bacteria, dental cleanings prevent gum disease, cavities, and other oral health issues. Moreover, they contribute to fresher breath, whiter teeth, and overall well-being. Please don’t overlook the significance of professional dental cleanings; make them a part of your oral health routine, and enjoy a healthier, more confident smile for years to come.

What You Should Know About Dental Crowns

by Dr. Charles Triassi | Oct 21, 2022 | Dental | 0 comments

What are dental crowns?

Dental crowns, more commonly referred to as dental caps, are a type of dental restoration involving placing a cap that covers the tooth or a dental implant to change its size and shape back to its original anatomy. Dental crowns help strengthen the tooth. A crown will be permanently cemented after it is placed on the tooth and fully covers the tooth above the gum line. Dental crowns can last 10-30 years, depending on the wear and tear, dental hygiene habits, and certain habits like clenching or grinding your teeth or biting your nails.

When do you need a dental crown?

Dental crowns are usually used to restore the appearance and function of teeth that have been fractured, worn out or broken unless more straightforward methods of dental restorations have proven more effective.

Dental crowns also serve aesthetic purposes for patients who are dissatisfied with the appearance of their teeth and can’t rely on simpler restorative or cosmetic procedures for their teeth or dental implants.

Lastly, patients who underwent endodontic treatment may benefit from crowns, which have been found to be very effective in stabilizing teeth and preventing the fracturing of fragile teeth. Since the cap encases the whole tooth, it will prevent it from further decay. Relying on crowns has also proven to be an excellent way to promote the normal development of the jawbone and jaw muscles.

Which crown is the best for you?

Crowns are available in various materials, such as gold, stainless steel, all resin, and all ceramic or porcelain fused to metal (also known as PFM crowns or veneered steel crowns).

The most commonly used crowns, especially for children, are stainless steel crowns, which are easily customized metal shells that can encase any tooth. Given their strength, durability and resistance to moisture, they are the crowns of choice for molars. Stainless crowns are the least expensive type of caps on the market.

A wide array of alloys can also be used for crowns, including silver, nickel and even titanium. But they are more challenging to adjust, may cause opposing teeth to wear and may not be suitable for patients with specific allergies.

Strip crowns are commonly used for front teeth and are more expensive than stainless steel crowns. Strip crowns made of resin or composite are transparent shells filled with tooth-coloured filling and then fitted over the tooth. Once the filling is set, the case is removed, leaving behind a material that looks exactly like a natural tooth.

How many visits to the dental clinic are required?

If you require a crown, you should expect two trips to your dental clinic. During the first visit, the dentist will examine and prepare your tooth for the procedure and will likely take a few x-rays to get a better view of the roots of your tooth and the bone around it. If significant decay or risk of infection is identified, the dentist may want to recommend a root canal treatment before placing a dental crown.

During the first visit, the tooth and its surrounding gum tissue will be numbed before the tooth can be reshaped to make enough room for the crown. The dentist will then make impressions of the tooth that will receive the crown and the teeth above and below that tooth to ensure that the procedure does not impact your bite. The impressions are then sent to a dental lab for production, and the crown will typically be ready within two to three weeks. The dentist may need to apply filling material if there is too much decay or damage in the area that requires dental restoration.

During your second visit, you will receive a local anesthetic before the crown can be placed over your tooth and cemented in place.

We would be happy to see you if you have any questions about dental crowns. Please call us today to schedule an appointment.

How to Keep Your Child’s Mouth Healthy

by Dr. Charles Triassi | Sep 1, 2021 | Dental | 0 comments

Ensuring that your child has a healthy mouth free of cavities and gum issues is vital, but it can be hard to know what to do to keep their mouth as healthy as possible. Listed below is an essential guide in maintaining the health of your child’s mouth:

Before teeth erupt in your baby’s mouth (around 6-10 months old), use a damp cloth to wipe your baby’s gums after milk.
Once the first baby teeth erupt (around 6-10 months old), start using a small-headed toothbrush to brush the teeth with water, after milk and before bed.
All of your child’s teeth will be erupted by around 2.5 years old.
There are 20 baby teeth in a full set, 12 front teeth, and eight back teeth.
Reduce soother use and try to eliminate by the age of 2.5
To wean a soother, try cutting the tip of the soother off to reduce suction.
Try to eliminate thumb sucking also around 2.5
Both a soother and thumb sucking create a suction that can alter the shape of their jaw and affect how their teeth bite together.
Make sure to brush your baby/child’s teeth after nursing and after bottles of milk.
Never put your baby to bed with a bottle of milk, as exposure to the sugars in the milk can cause cavities.
Begin using a fluoridated toothpaste around three years old, only using a size of the tip of a pen
Bring your baby/child in for their first dental visit around 2.5-3 years old or earlier if there is a specific issue or concern.
If you notice a chip or discoloured spot on your baby/child’s teeth, bring them to the dentist, as this might be a sign of a cavity.
Begin flossing your child’s teeth around four years old. At this time, the spaces between their back molars will close together, increasing the risk for cavities.
Help your child brush and floss their teeth until around the age of 7-8 to prevent the risk of cavities (in particular, at the age of 6, adult molars erupt at the back that is difficult for kids to access on their own)
At any point, if there is trauma to your baby or child’s mouth, bring them immediately to the dentist.
If you notice a grey or yellow baby tooth, it may mean there was past trauma, and you should bring them to the dentist for a check.

If you have any questions about how to keep your baby or child’s mouth healthy, contact us now to schedule an appointment.

What is a Night Guard and When is it Used?

by Dr. Charles Triassi | Sep 2, 2020 | Dental | 0 comments

A night guard is exactly that, a guard worn at night. It is a somewhat flexible tray that sits over your teeth. The goal of a night guard is to act as a cushion to protect the teeth and the jaw from wear occurring from nocturnal habits such as grinding and clenching. Teeth grinding is when the top and bottom teeth rub together. Teeth clenching is when the jaws press the teeth together, like a firm constant bite. Both habits are subconscious and are a form of a sleep motion disorder, and both are very common.

How Does a Night Guard Help?

When worn properly and frequently, a night guard helps to prevent wear on the tooth’s biting surfaces. The night guard absorbs the strong biting or clenching forces from the jaws and acts as a cushion to absorb these forces. Additionally, when wearing a night guard, the biting and clenching forces are evenly distributed throughout the jaw and teeth. There are several different models of night guards to choose from depending on your needs and what will work best for you. Some are thinner, some are thicker, some can be worn on the top teeth, some can be worn on the bottom teeth.

Important Tips

Wear your night guard every night for the best protection
It is difficult to adjust when first wearing a night guard, so give it a few weeks until you get comfortable wearing one
Inspect the night guard periodically for damage. It may need replacement if there is excessive damage
Clean your night guard daily with a toothbrush and warm water. Avoid hot water because it may warp the plastic
You night guard should fit snugly on your teeth. Let your dentist know if the fit feels loose.

If you think that you are clenching or grinding your teeth and you think that you would benefit from a night guard, we encourage you to contact us today to schedule an appointment.

All You Need To Know About Canker Sores

by Dr. Charles Triassi | Jul 3, 2020 | Dental | 0 comments

“Canker sore” is the layman’s term for an aphthous ulcer. They typically appear as small, flat, white or off-white lesions on the soft tissues of the mouth such as the inner lips, the base of the gums, under the tongue and on the cheeks. They do not appear on any keratinized tissues, such as that of the top of the tongue. Canker sores differ from cold sores in that they do not appear on the lips, and they are not contagious.

What Causes Canker Sores?

There is not always an easy answer to this question. Some people are more prone to canker sores than others, and some people rarely get them. A combination of factors may cause an outbreak. Possible causes may include:

Emotional or physical stress
Lack of sleep or fatigue
Sensitivity to certain foods such as acidic fruits and vegetables (tomato, lemons)
Minor trauma from an injury or dental work
Tongue or cheek biting
Low vitamin b12 levels
Use of toothpaste or mouthwash that contains sodium lauryl sulphate
Certain oral bacteria
Certain medical conditions such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, Behcet’s Disease and HIV/AIDS

Risk Factors For Canker Sores

Canker sores most commonly affect young adults and youth and are more common in females than in males. In addition, there is also a family link for canker sores, whether this is from a genetic predisposition or from environmental factors such as a similar diet or allergens.

How to Prevent Canker Sores

Canker sores are sometimes inevitable, but there are ways to reduce the frequency and severity of them.

Avoiding foods that are known irritants (such as spicy, acidic and tart foods)
Take a vitamin b12 supplement if you have a diet low in vitamin b12
Reduce your stress
Protect your mouth from irritants and injuries
Find a toothpaste and mouthwash that works for you
Maintain good oral hygiene

Treatment of Canker Sores

The most important factor is time. Canker sores will usually go away on their own in a week or less. If the canker sore is particularly large, it may take several weeks. Some ways to help speed up the healing or relief the symptoms are:

Off the shelf oral or topical medications for pain relief
Dab magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesium) on the sore several times a day
Rinsing with salt water morning and evening
Apply ice to the area by sucking on ice chips

If you get frequent canker sores or have any questions about preventing canker sores, we encourage you to contact our office today to schedule an appointment.

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