General and Family Care
Preventive Dentistry
The health of your teeth and mouth is very important to the well-being of your entire body, and while routine brushing and flossing at
home is necessary to keep your smile looking its best, visiting your dentist for a comprehensive exam and cleaning is essential. The Canadian Dental Association recommends that you visit your dentist every six months to ensure your teeth stay healthy and your smile stays beautiful.
By routinely seeing your dentist for exams and cleanings, you can:
- Prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath
- Save money by avoiding costly and extensive dental procedures
- Keep your teeth white by reducing staining from food and drinks
- Shorten the time spent in your dentist’s office
- Have a smile that will last a lifetime
Dental Exams, Cleaning and Check-Up
The health of your teeth and mouth is very important to the well-being of your entire body, and while routine brushing and flossing at home is necessary to keep your smile looking its best, visiting your dentist for a comprehensive exam and cleaning is essential. The Canadian Dental Association recommends that you visit your dentist every six months to ensure your teeth stay healthy and your smile stays beautiful.
By routinely seeing your dentist for exams, cleanings and check up, you can:
- Prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath
- Save money by avoiding costly and extensive dental procedures
- Keep your teeth white by reducing staining from food and drinks
- Shorten the time spent in your dentist’s office
- Have a smile that will last a lifetime
During your exam, your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums for signs of tooth decay, gum disease and other health problems. Your dentist may also want to take X-rays to see what is happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums. Whether these X-rays are traditional or digital, the images provided will help your dentist discover dental issues not visible to the naked eye.
The dentist or hygienist in Richmond Hill office will likely discuss your diet and oral hygiene habits and may demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques. Other topics for discussion during a dental exam may include:
- Any medications you’re taking
- Use of tobacco products
- Consequences of tooth loss
- Benefits of crowns, fixed bridges or dental implants
- Use of dentures
- Cosmetic procedures
Professional Dental Cleaning
Our dental hygienist in Richmond Hill office will begin your cleaning by exploring the surface of your teeth to determine if you have any cavities and to examine the quality of existing fillings. The dental hygienist will then perform a periodontal exam to make sure your gums adhere tightly to your teeth, and no periodontal disease or bone loss may be occurring.
Next, your hygienist will carefully clean your teeth (scaling) with a variety of tools to remove any hard mineral buildup (tartar) from your teeth. Then your hygienist will floss your teeth, use a polishing compound and apply fluoride. Cleanings usually aren’t painful, but if you have any anxiety about your dental exam, be sure to let your hygienist know. If your dentist or hygienist finds tooth decay, infection, bleeding or gum disease, they will talk to you about changing your brushing or flossing habits and using special tooth paste or mouth wash. In severe cases, they may recommend antibiotics or other dental treatments. If your teeth and gums appear to be healthy, your dentist will probably recommend that you continue your brushing and flossing routine as usual.
Digital X-rays
Using the most advanced dental technology possible is just as important as staying up-to-date on the latest treatment techniques. Because our Richmond Hill practice is dedicated to providing you with the safest and most convenient treatment options available, we utilize advanced digital X-ray technology in our office.
Digital X-rays provide several advanced imaging options designed to save time, provide clearer dental photos, and expose patients to less radiation than with traditional X-ray technology.
Dental X-rays are important for many reasons. They can expose hidden tooth decay; reveal a tooth abscess, cyst or tumor; show impacted or extra teeth; and also help determine the condition of dental fillings, tooth crowns, dental bridges and root canals. Dental X-rays can also reveal bone loss from periodontal gum disease, locate tarter buildup, find foreign bodies within the gum or bone, and see if there is enough bone for the placement of dental implants. These are just some of the many reasons why dentists rely on dental X-rays.
Panoramic radiography provides images of the middle third of the face, obtained using an extra-oral technique in which the X–ray machine rotates around the patient, acquiring a virtual image. This technique enables examination of both dental arches and the neighboring structures in a single X–ray.
Sedation Dentistry
Many types of patients can be helped using sedation dentistry including: children who are afraid or too young to have long dental appointments, patients not wishing to have the sight, sounds and smells of the dental clinic, patients with a heightened gag reflex and patients who have trouble receiving local anesthesia.
Sedation dentistry is suitable for all types of dentistry including cosmetic dentistry, root canal therapy, wisdom tooth extraction and extensive restorative dentistry.
Nitrous Oxide(Laughing Gas)
Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is a form of inhalation sedation. Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas” is a frequently performed dental technique that allows you to feel very relaxed during treatment. This technique will not put you to sleep; however, it is not uncommon for patients to drift into a light sleep while the procedure is performed. Nitrous oxide is breathed in through the nose, and typically takes effect after about 20 seconds. Certain medical conditions may not allow some patients from having nitrous oxide. Our dentists will talk with you more about this technique and determine if this is a good option for your needs. Patients who undergo nitrous oxide sedation typically do not experience any after-effects, and do not need an extensive recovery period before going home.
Intravenous (IV) Sedation
IV sedation is a form of deep conscious sedation where an anti-anxiety medication is administered directly into the blood stream. IV sedation allows you to become deeply relaxed throughout your dental appointment, while remaining conscious and able to cooperate with instructions.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation is a form of sedation where oral sedatives, such as Valium, are taken the night before and/or 30 minutes prior to a dentist appointment. Oral sedatives help alleviate anxiety while inducing a state of conscious relaxation throughout your dental visit.
General Anesthesia
General anesthesia is a method of sedation that uses anesthetics to render a patient unconscious throughout a dental procedure. Unlike other sedation methods, you will be rendered into a deep sleep and completely unaware of your surroundings.
Local Anesthesia
Local Anesthesics work to numb the localized areas in your mouth where your dentist is working. Local anaesthesia is commonly called freezing and greatly reduces your discomfort level during dental procedures such as fillings and repairs.
Analgesics
Analgesics are drugs that dull the perception of pain. Commonly used analgesics are aspirin and ibuprofen. If you experience more than moderate pain during or after a dental procedure, your dentist may prescribe codeine or administer Demerol. Sometimes, sedatives are used to relieve patient anxiety.
Teeth for Life
Practicing good oral hygiene means maintaining your smile by visiting the dentist regularly and taking care of your teeth and gums between checkups. Our practice wants to make sure that you get the most out of your office visits, and that your teeth stay healthy for life! We’ll work with you to provide complete dental care, and show you how to maintain your smile at home with the right dental products for you and your family.
Dental cleanings and regular checkups
Regular dental checkups are an important part of maintaining your oral health. During your regular checkup, your hygienist will:
- Check for any problems that you may not see or feel
- Look for cavities or any other signs of tooth decay
- Inspect your teeth and gums for gingivitis and signs of periodontal disease
- Provide a thorough teeth cleaning, rinse, and polish
Visiting the dentist every six months gives you the chance to talk with your doctor and receive answers for any questions you may have about your oral health. Checkups are also a great way for you to find out about new treatments that may benefit your smile.
Choosing the right toothpaste and toothbrush
From toothpaste and mouthwash to toothbrushes and dental floss, it’s important to choose the right products for your smile. Keep in mind that when you’re looking for a new toothpaste or toothbrush be sure to choose one that has been approved by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). Your dentist can also help by recommending certain dental products for use at home.
Brushing & Flossing
Place your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to your gum.
Brush gently in a circular motion.
Brush the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.
Use the tip of your brush for the inner surface of your front teeth.
Wind about 18 inches of floss around your fingers as shown. Most of it should be wrapped around one finger, and as the floss is used, the other finger takes it up.
Use your thumbs and forefingers to guide about one inch of floss between your teeth.
Holding the floss tightly, gently saw the floss between your teeth. Then curve the floss into a C-shape against one tooth and gently slide it beneath your gums.
Slide the floss up and down, repeating for each tooth.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride is a commonly occurring element. In some areas, it is found as a naturally occurring substance in water. In others, it is added to the water supply, although, in large parts of the country there is no available Fluoride in drinking water. It is also found in tea and many common foodstuffs. In addition, higher concentrations of Fluoride are found in toothpaste, dental mouthwashes, and even dental floss.
Fluoride reacts with the outer enamel layer covering the tooth. Through this reaction it is incorporated into the enamel structure, thus doing, it strengthens the enamel. The tooth is therefore less susceptible to acid and bacterial attack.
Fluoride is not only used as a tooth hardening agent it can also be used in certain circumstances to alleviate tooth sensitivity. It is commonly incorporated into dental filling materials to help harden the underlying tooth and prevent sensitivity after a filling is placed. Of course, it is possible to place Fluoride-free dental fillings.
In some cases, children are given Fluoride supplements to strengthen their adult teeth whilst they are developing and when they erupt.
Fluoride supplements should only be given on the advice of a dental professional.
Our clinic does use Fluoride as an adjunct to prevent dental decay. However, we do recognise that some people have concerns regards the use of Fluoride and we are sensitive in such cases.
Oral Hygiene
This is a part of Dentistry that is often neglected. In many ways it is the most important element of your dental treatment. The aim is to get you to clean your teeth and mind your diet in such a fashion as to prevent dental disease in the future.
Cleaning your teeth properly is actually very difficult. It is not possible to remove all plaque residues by simply brushing your teeth twice a day. It is important to floss your teeth regularly. In addition, numerous dental aids are available which help remove dental plaque in difficult to reach areas. These include; inter-dental brushes, inter-space brushes and various electronic aids such as rotary and sonic toothbrushes, which are proven to remove higher levels of plaque in certain situations.
Dental decay is caused by bacteria digesting sugar and turning it into acid. It is therefore important to limit ones exposure to refined sugars and acids to prevent cavities from developing. This is especially important at an early age when long-lasting habits are picked up.
Most oral hygiene and dietary advice is given by our Dental Hygienist. It is specifically tailored to each individual and monitored and reassessed at regular intervals. We are aware that due to the pressures of a busy lifestyle it is not always possible to follow dental advice to the letter and offer ongoing support and assistance.
Sealants
Fissure sealants are ‘plastic’ colourless protective liquids, which are painted onto the biting surfaces of the back teeth. They are then hardened by the application of a concentrated beam of ultraviolet light. They are permanent and remain in place for many years.
Fissure sealants have been used in Dentistry for many decades and provide a very effective means of preventing tooth decay. They are usually placed in the adult molar teeth soon after they present themselves in the mouth. The first molar teeth come through at about six years of age and are fissure sealed soon thereafter. The second molar teeth present at twelve years of age and are subsequently fissure sealed. Other teeth can also be fissure sealed, especially in cases where tooth decay is likely to occur rapidly.
Often, one finds adult molar teeth in children which have suffered from a small amount of decay. It is now possible to use painless and drill-free techniques such as special pastes or air-abrasion devices to disinfect and remove this decay and fissure seal the tooth. This prevents the tooth from developing a ‘full blown’ cavity and thus, needing more unpleasant treatment at a later date.
