Month: July 2022

Tartar refers to a hardened form of plaque (a sticky biofilm of bacteria) that forms on teeth enamel. Long-term plaque buildup on your teeth incorporates minerals from your saliva, which causes the plaque to harden and firmly adhere to the surfaces of your teeth. Tartar can cause several oral health problems, such as gum disease and tooth damage, despite having a terrible appearance.

The smile on someone’s face is usually the first thing you notice about them. Besides having aesthetic benefits, healthy teeth have significant medical advantages as well. Maintaining your oral health is crucial for overall health. To prevent oral cavity decay, you should begin with the removal of plaque that builds up on your teeth regularly.

The best way to remove dental plaque is to maintain a good oral hygiene routine at home, but to remove it visiting a dental professional is a must. Braces, dry mouth, crowded teeth, smoking, and advanced age are all common risk factors for tartar formation.

If You Have Tartar Buildup, How Can You Tell?

Tartar accumulation on tooth surfaces is reasonably easy to detect because it often appears as a yellow or brown stain. Your dentist will find and remove tartar during your routine dental examination and cleaning. Plaque-disclosing pills are available over-the-counter at many drug stores and can be used at home to determine whether or not you are correctly removing dental plaque. By using a colored tablet, areas with remaining plaque will be revealed and temporarily stained.

How Does Dental Tartar Develop?

When we eat or drink sugary foods and beverages, mouth bacteria feed on the sugars, allowing them to multiply and produce tooth plaque. In the absence of proper oral hygiene, saliva, food, and bacteria adhere to all surfaces of teeth, resulting in dental tartar formation.

Even with proper dental hygiene, bacteria remain in your mouth and mix with carbohydrates or sugary foods when you eat. Consequently, your teeth, gums, and dental restorations become covered in a sticky substance known as dental plaque. Acid-forming bacteria found in plaque can erode tooth enamel and result in cavities. If you don’t frequently remove plaque, it becomes tartar. It is crucial to treat tartar at the earliest to avoid gum recession and disease. Tartar is very abrasive and porous and requires specialized dental instruments for removal.

Even while plaque grows in everyone, your risk increases if you:

• Consume high-sugar foods such as cakes, candy, and the like. 
• Consume foods heavy in carbs, such as pasta, bread, and potato chips. 
• Experience dry mouth due to consuming insufficient water or using particular medications.
• You chew tobacco or smoke.

What Kind Of Impact Does It Have On Gums and Teeth?

Tartar can damage your teeth and gums by raising your risk of getting the following conditions:

• Cavities. The generation of acids by oral bacteria feeding on the sweets we consume causes tooth decay and erosion of the enamel.
• Gingivitis. Inflammation of the gums can be caused by plaque and tartar accumulation, causing gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Gingivitis symptoms include swollen, red, painful, and bleeding gums. Gingivitis, if left untreated, can progress to periodontal disease, a more severe form of gum disease.
• Bad Breath. Tartar accumulation can lead to unpleasant odors in the mouth.

How Can It Be Avoided?

It is critical to practice regular oral hygiene to avoid plaque and tartar accumulation. To remove plaque between teeth, brush all surfaces of your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, and floss daily. Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings, which should be done every six months or more frequently,  depending on your particular oral issues and the advice of your dental professional.

For effective plaque removal, your dentist may recommend an electric toothbrush. Another excellent addition to your dental practice is fluoride and antibacterial mouthwashes. Furthermore, avoiding habits like smoking will significantly minimize your risk of plaque and tartar accumulation.

You may contact us online at aliki.dental@gmail.com. Give us a call at 905.845.3211 to learn more about our Dentistry on Dunn: Oakville Family Dentist and the treatments we provide.

Not many people have straight teeth, which are considered attractive. Perfectly straight teeth are in high demand these days. People frequently prefer to wear braces for the physical benefits they bring, such as having a heavier and healthier grin following the dental operation.

Orthodontics, a dental specialty, can help you obtain straight teeth and an optimal bite, among other advantages. One of the most popular orthodontic procedures that can gradually reposition teeth into their proper locations is braces.

Is wearing braces beneficial for your teeth?

Braces can benefit your general health in addition to straightening your teeth. Brushing and flossing become simpler when your teeth become correctly aligned following orthodontic treatment, making you less susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. Furthermore, as your bite improves, pressure can be transferred more uniformly across the teeth during normal function, reducing strain on the jaws and facial muscles and lowering the chance of tooth fracture.

Here is a list of some of the benefits of braces for a better smile

1. It can prevent gum diseases.

The soft tissues that surround the teeth become infected with gum disease. This infection affects more than half of the population. Gingivitis and more serious periodontal disease are the two types.

Inflammation, a typical symptom of gum disease, is brought on by bad dental hygiene practices that result in the accumulation of bacterial plaque on the teeth. Misaligned teeth are more prone to retain food particles and bacterial plaque, which over time, can lead to gum disease and a variety of other health problems. It permits germs to proliferate and infect the gums over time. While straightening your teeth, braces make brushing and flossing considerably simple and more efficient.

2. It can prevent tooth decay. (Benefits of Braces)

Wearing braces can also lower your risk of developing tooth decay, similar to the situation with gum disease. Uneven wear and tear are more likely to occur when the teeth overlap or are more noticeable. Bacteria are more likely to persist on your teeth in hard-to-reach regions when your teeth overlap or are misaligned, making it more challenging to clean, brush, and floss.

Leaving plaque and food particles between the teeth allows bacteria to flourish and multiply. The bacteria cause decay by eating away at the surface enamel of the teeth.

3. It helps in better digestion.

Teeth help you chew the meals you enjoy and improve the appearance of your smile. Improper bites and misaligned teeth can make it difficult to digest food leading to intestinal irritation and problems. It is because certain portions of the mouth, such as the front, are incapable of breaking down food. Your digestion will likely improve if you wear braces to achieve a proper bite.

4. To repair a bad bite.

An improper bite can result in inefficient eating, jaw stress, cracked teeth, and other dental issues. Braces can help move your teeth into the ideal places to maintain your teeth functioning properly.

5. It helps in preventing bone erosion. (Benefits Of Braces)

The bone around your teeth can degenerate due to improperly positioned teeth. Harmful oral bacteria associated with gum disease or excessive force on the teeth are often responsible for this. By repositioning the teeth into their proper locations, braces can help prevent bone deterioration.

6. It helps in reducing the risk of temporomandibular joint disorder.

Crooked teeth can put undue strain on your jawbone and jaw muscles. It can eventually lead to temporomandibular-joint disorder risk, which causes discomfort and headaches. Wearing braces can help avoid this disorder by straightening your teeth.

7. It helps to increase self-esteem.

Besides improving physical health, braces can also increase confidence and self-esteem in wearers. Uneven or crooked teeth are a typical problem for many people, and these people frequently feel self-conscious when they smile. Braces can make someone feel better and boost their confidence by correcting these physical faults.

8. It enhances speech clarity. (Benefits Of Braces)

Did you know that the alignment of your teeth plays a crucial role in determining the clarity of your speech? It’s true! Studies have shown that misaligned teeth can significantly hinder your speaking ability. Therefore, it is vital to consider getting orthodontic treatment if you are experiencing speech issues, as it can improve your speech clarity and overall quality of life. Braces facilitate effective communication, which helps to rectify speech impairments brought on by misaligned teeth.

9. It mitigates headaches and migraines.

Headaches and migraines may be a chronic problem for those with misaligned bites. In addition to helping to correct the bite, braces provide relief from the persistent headaches brought on by misaligned teeth.

10. It helps in decreasing the risk of dental emergencies.

Dental emergencies like chipped or cracked teeth are less common in those with well-aligned teeth. By addressing misalignments of your teeth, braces strengthen the teeth’s overall structure.
Major dental issues need to be dealt with as soon as feasible to maintain oral and dental health over the long run. You can benefit from braces in terms of your health and appearance. Get in touch with Family Dental At Oakville if you are considering braces because of their numerous benefits.

You may contact us online or call us at 905.845.3211 to learn more about our Oakville Family Dentist, Dentistry on Dunn, and the treatments we provide.

Oral sedation dentistry is the most common and well-liked sedation method by patients due to its convenience.

What is Oral sedation dentistry?

For your forthcoming dental treatment, did your dentist recommend oral sedation? If so, you may be curious about what oral sedation includes. A frequent type of drug used to make patients feel more at ease during dental treatments is oral sedation, often known as conscious sedation. 

Individuals enduring lengthy treatments who have dental anxiety, gag reflexes, problems controlling physical movements, or other unique needs may benefit from oral sedation. Before the appointment, patients take a pill containing a sedative different from nitrous oxide sedation or intravenous sedation (IV). Triazolam (Halcion®), zaleplon, and lorazepam are some of the most often utilized medications.

In some cases, such as when treating children, liquid sedation, such as midazolam oral syrup, may be given. These drugs temporarily reduce brain activity, making you feel more at ease. Consequently, your dentist can perform their procedure more effectively when you are relaxed and calm.

How will you feel after being orally sedated?

You will feel sleepy but unperturbed from oral sedation. If you were to fall asleep, you would be able to quickly awaken since you would still be aware and able to converse. Patients who have undergone oral sedation cannot recollect much of the treatment.

Advantages of Oral Sedation Dentistry:

1. Convenient to use. Your dentist will give you medicine to help you relax throughout the treatment. Oral sedation is the simplest of the three because all you need to do is take the pill an hour before your appointment and feel relaxed by that time.

2. No need for needles. Since needles are required to deliver IV sedation, many patients who are scared of the dentist also fear them. However, with oral sedation, the patient can take the sedative orally before the visit without fear of getting pricked by the dentist.

3. Amnesia. Because of the oral sedation, individuals have little to no memory of the surgery. Patients suffering from dental fear will have no memory of what happened while sedated, which is good for them.

4. Safe to administer. The FDA regulates all oral sedatives, so you are unlikely to suffer any harmful adverse effects.

5. Responsive. With oral sedation, you can feel sleepy, but you’ll still be awake and alert. Because you are awake throughout the procedure, you can still hear and follow your dentist’s instructions.

Disadvantages of Oral Sedation Dentistry:

1. Not feel their effects immediately. Unlike nitrous oxide or intravenous sedation, the impact of pill sedation does not take effect as quickly, which is why your dentist would advise you to take the sedative an hour or two before the procedure.

2. The level of sedation is not easily adjustable.  For oral sedation to become effective, it makes sense that it takes some time to increase the dosage. It’s difficult to predict how long it will take for the sedative to start working because everyone metabolizes medications differently.

3. Not advisable to drive to the appointment. Patients who get oral sedation feel more at ease but also dizzy. To ensure that you may safely go there and return from your clinic, please be sure to bring a companion.

It can be challenging to overcome dental phobia, which is extremely common. By using sedation dentistry, fearful patients can relax during dental cleanings and procedures and avoid compromising their oral health in the treatment. Make an appointment with Dentistry on Dunn: Oakville Family Dentist for a dental checkup without further delay.

You may contact us online or call us at 905.845.3211 to learn more about our Family Dental Care at Oakville and the treatments we provide.

A dental implant is the most reliable treatment for replacing missing teeth and a tooth. However, before receiving surgery, many people are concerned about one of the often-asked questions, how long do dental implants last? With their help, you could gain more confidence, achieve a natural-looking smile, and feel more comfortable.

In most cases, dental implants consist of a metal body embedded into the jawbone, an attachment known as an abutment, and a crown that acts as an artificial replacement tooth. Through a process known as osseointegration, dental implants attach to your jawbone, allowing normal eating, speech, and function just like a natural tooth.

How long do dental implants last?

Dental implants are intended to be a permanent remedy to tooth loss and can last between 20 and 30 years. Your oral hygiene and how well you look after your teeth will determine how long they will last. Studies have shown that dental implants have a success rate of up to 90-95% over ten years, according to Healthline. Nonetheless, several reasons could eventually cause the implant to need replacement over time.

Dental implants, as previously said, can have a lifespan of up to 30 years if dental hygiene is maintained and looked after with regular check-ups. As with any dental procedure, a variety of factors might shorten the lifespan of a dental implant which include:

• Dental Health
• Lifestyle choices
• Injury or damage
• Medical Conditions (Diabetes, osteoporosis, bleeding disorders, cardiovascular disease)
• Medications and treatments ( immunosuppressants, blood thinners, radiation therapy)

How can one increase the lifespan of a dental implant?

If you want to lower the risk of implant failure and extend the lifespan of your dental implant, there are several steps you can take. 

• Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most critical factors in avoiding dental implant complications.
• To get rid of bacteria and lessen swelling, gently brush and floss the area around the dental implant.
• Flouride-containing antimicrobial mouthwash is an excellent addition to your oral hygiene routine for good oral hygiene.
• Smoking, eating ice, teeth grinding, and high-sugar diets are all unhealthy behaviors that can ruin your teeth.
• Regular check-ups and cleanings at the dentist are also essential.
• Keep your dentist informed regarding any changes to your medical history and prescriptions.

What are the symptoms of a failing implant?

• Mobility of the implant is one of the most common symptoms of dental implant failure.
• Other symptoms may include pain, swelling, difficulty chewing, bleeding gums, gum recession, and infection around the implant.
• Your dentist will be able to determine a failed implant and the presence of bone loss with a comprehensive clinical exam and radiographs.

Make sure to call your dentist if you experience any symptoms or indicators of a failed implant.

How to treat a failed Dental Implant?

Depending on the reason for a dental implant failure, your dentist will decide the best course of action for a replacement. Without needing to remove the implant, peri-implantitis, a moderate inflammation of the surrounding bone without any discernible bone loss, may be treated. It could entail both antibiotic treatment and extensive cleaning. Dental implants will be removed under local anesthesia if deemed not restorable.

It may be necessary to replace a dental implant with a bone graft if there is insufficient bone. Dentures or bridges may be an option if your dental professional cannot replace the site of the failed dental implant with another implant.

The primary objective of Dentistry on Dunn – Family Dentist in Oakville is to offer you a relaxing, personalized, and caring dental experience. You may book an appointment with us today.

You may contact us online or call us at 905.845.3211 to learn more about our Oakville Family Dentist, Dentistry on Dunn, and the treatments we provide.