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Are Tooth Fillings Worth It?

Scores of people globally are suffering from tooth decay. In fact, approximately 2.3 billion people globally are affected by tooth caries. By far, dental caries is the most non-contagious disease in the world. Therefore, it will not come as a shock that every one out of four people you interact with might have dental cavities. So, take heart, you are not alone!

Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you should let tooth decay run its course. It can harm your teeth and oral health in so many ways and lead to tooth loss, infections, etc.

So, to reduce the effects of tooth decay, we offer dental fillings in NW Calgary. Our dentist in Calgary offers tooth fillings since the treatment ensures that your affected teeth are repaired.

Who Needs Tooth Fillings?

You could be wondering if you need to undergo the tooth filling process or not. You can look at the following indicators that might point out if you are the right candidate for the procedure:

You have a persistent toothache whenever you chew or bite down
There’s a change in your tooth color, especially if you have dark sections on your teeth
A fractured, cracked, or chipped tooth that has any ragged edges and is causing discomfort
You have tooth sensitivity
You have a cavity that you can feel or see
If your dental floss frays when you floss along a certain section of your tooth

Any of the above symptoms are usually an indicator that you need a tooth filling. But always bear in mind that our dentist will still recommend that you get dental fillings in NW Calgary even if you are not experiencing these symptoms. The reason is simple. You might have cavities even if you don’t have discomfort or pain.

Types of Tooth Fillings

The dental technology available today has made it possible for you to choose among the different types of fillings. Here are the types of fillings that you can choose from:

Porcelain Fillings

Ceramic or porcelain fillings are aesthetically pleasing and also durable. These tooth-colored fillings fit inconspicuously with the rest of your teeth. Plus, they are not porous as your teeth, so they are stain-resistant. But the only issue is that they might cost a bit more than most of the other fillings.

Gold Fillings

These are also another expensive type of filling. However, they are among the most durable fillings in the market. Even though they are made from metal, gum tissues tolerate them well.

Composite Fillings

These filings are created from resin or plastic. This is what makes it a pocket-friendly tooth filling. It is placed in the cavity while it is soft and hardens under blue light. The only issue with this tooth-colored filling is that they are not as sturdy as the others, so you might need to replace them after a few years.

Glass Ionomer Fillings

These filings are fashioned from acrylic and glass. They are a fantastic option for kids since their teeth are still developing. So their teeth will be protected from further decay since the filling releases fluoride. The only pitfall with them is that they are not that durable.

Amalgam (Silver) Fillings

These fillings have been around for quite some time, and they are very durable. They are also a pocket-friendly option. But they are not aesthetically pleasing, so some people don’t go for this option.

What Are the Benefits of Teeth Fillings?

Tooth fillings always do much more than just fill cavities. They can serve additional purposes, such as repairing broken or cracked teeth.

Either way, here are some of the benefits of using tooth fillings:

Inhibits the Cavity from Growing

Our dentist near you will remove the decayed part of the tooth and then fill it using the desired tooth filling. This seals the cavity and stops the decay from spreading.

Enhances the Tooth Structure

Some of the materials used to create fillings can help improve the structure of your tooth. Instead of your tooth being hollowed out by the cavity, the tooth filling will provide much-needed support.

Modern Fillings Release Fluoride

Some fillings, such as glass ionomer fillings, have fluoride, which is an essential mineral that helps strengthen the teeth. It will even protect the tooth from further decay.

Improves Tooth Functionality

Tooth decay makes chewing difficult. However, when the cavity has been removed, and a filling is placed, you can resume using your teeth as usual.

Contact our dentist in Calgary at Toothworks Calgary, and we would love to help you.

What Is the Main Goal of Children’s Dentistry?

One of the most chronic childhood dental conditions affecting children in Canada is tooth decay. When tooth decay doesn’t receive timely attention from children’s dental care, cavities become painful and interfere with speaking, playing, and learning. Children with poor oral health report lost school time and receive lower grades than children without tooth decay. The figures might sound alarming, but would you be surprised if informed 20 percent of children between 5 to 11 have at least one untreated cavity, 13 percent of adolescents between 12 and 19 have one untreated decayed tooth. Children between five and 19 from low-income households are twice as likely to have cavities than children from higher-income families.

Fortunately, cavities are a preventable condition, with fluoride varnish helping prevent approximately 33 percent of cavities in primary teeth also are. Children from communities receiving fluoridated water report fewer cavities than children that don’t have access to fluoridated water. Children brushing every day with fluoride toothpaste also have fewer cavities. Dental sealant applications help prevent cavities for several years after an application protecting children against 80 percent of cavities or at least six years.

Why Do Kids Develop Dental Problems?

Despite parents wanting the best for their child’s dental health right from the time their first baby tooth erupts, they find it challenging to promote healthy oral hygiene habits to prevent the most common dental issues children will face. Unfortunately, regardless of age, all children have problems related to their dental health. It is why the children’s dentist near me promotes preventive and proactive care.

Young children are not proficient in brushing and flossing unless supervised by their parents. Therefore most children confront the significant problem of cavities because they have a sugary diet. Tooth decay starts when plaque accumulates on the tooth surface, and the acids deposited by the bacteria in the plaque erode tooth enamel to eventually were the tooth off.

Tooth decay is entirely preventable by a children’s dentist when the child develops their first tooth. Therefore, parents would be committing a grave error, thinking children have primary teeth fall off by six or seven and need no dental attention. Instead, parents should seek help from children’s dentistry in NW, Calgary, where they receive all the necessary support to teach good oral hygiene habits to their children to prevent unnecessary problems and expenditure.

What Is the Importance of Children’s Dentistry?

The importance of children’s dentistry starts well before children develop any teeth. Parents taking babies to the children’s dentist in Calgary receive advice to wipe the baby’s gums using a soft washcloth in the morning after their first feeding and right before bed at night to wipe away bacteria and sugars primary culprits that cause cavities. Parents might express surprise why they must brush their child’s gums when they haven’t erupted any teeth. In such cases, inquiring and learning from the dentist how tooth decay can develop even in babies’ mouths proves beneficial.

Baby teeth must receive attention from the time they erupt at around age one. Brushing their teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and plain water is recommended. The baby must visit the children’s dentist on their first birthday to detect signs of early problems. After that, parents can discuss fluoride treatments with their children’s dentists to strengthen their tooth enamel.

Children must brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and receive encouragement from parents to drink tap water containing fluoride. When their first molars appear at around six, parents can discuss the application of dental sealants on the back teeth.

Children younger than six must receive supervision from parents to ensure they use a pea-sized grain of toothpaste when brushing and spit it out instead of swallowing it. Children also need help holding their brush until they develop proficient skills.

If drinking water doesn’t contain sufficient fluoride to prevent cavities, the children’s dentist can provide oral fluoride supplements in various forms to strengthen the child’s tooth enamel.

Besides tooth decay, children can also develop pediatric gingivitis and gum disease. In reality, gum disease is also pretty common in children. However, gingivitis which causes bleeding and reddish gums is often ignored by parents thinking it is a matter of aggressive brushing by their child instead of seeking help from the children’s dentist near them.

Children’s dentistry aims to provide parents of young children the information on how they can care for their child’s teeth until they grow up as adolescents. Children receiving appropriate oral hygiene instructions early develop excellent dental hygiene routines to maintain a beautiful smile throughout their lives.

Parents who have newborns and are confused about dental care will find all the help they want when they contact a children’s dentistry clinic near them. We recommend parents of young children contact Toothworks for assistance with children’s dentistry as soon as possible.

Is There a Technique to Prevent Migraines?

Many people suffer from excruciating headaches causing debilitating pre-migraine symptoms that include nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, sound, and odors. In such cases, the headaches can interfere with your everyday activities compelling you to seek treatment for the condition from ToothWorks.

What Is a Migraine?

Millions of Canadians experience migraines or headaches causing excruciating throbbing pain or sensations of pulsing on one side of the head accompanied by the symptoms described above. Migraine headaches can last for hours or days, and the excruciating pain can interfere with your everyday activities.

For some people, an aura occurs as a warning symptom before or with the headache. The atmosphere includes visual confusions like flashes of light or blind spots besides other perplexities like stinging on one side of the face or in the arm or leg and difficulties with speaking.

How to Cure Migraines?

Migraine pain treatment combines medications to prevent some along with making them less painful. Suitable medications along with self-help therapies besides lifestyle changes can also help ease the pain of migraine headaches.

What Are the Symptoms of Migraines?

Migraines can affect children, teenagers, and adults progressing through different stages. The four stages of migraines are prodrome, attacks, aura, and post-drome. However, not everyone experiencing migraines goes through all steps.

Instead of relying on migraine pain treatment, it helps if you adopt migraine pain prevention in Calgary, providing you with suitable self-help techniques that prevent migraine attacks to avoid the pain before it starts. The self-help techniques include the following:

Avoid Bright Lights or Loud Noises

The familiar triggers of migraine headaches are loud noises, flashing lights, and sensory stimulation. These stimuli are challenging to avoid but realizing they can occur in some situations and environments helps you. These include attending clubs or crowded places, experiencing sunlight glare, visiting movie theatres, and driving at night.

Taking breaks from your TV or computer screen to rest your eyes or adjusting the brightness levels on digital screens help you avoid migraine headaches. You must also pay close attention to all visual and audio disturbances.

Dietary Choices

Some foods and drinks can also initiate migraine headaches. The foods are chocolates, processed meats, red wine, cheese, and sweeteners. It would help if you learned which foods and additives bring migraine headaches and avoid them as far as possible. Common triggers are foods and drinks with caffeine or alcohol. Limit your consumption of these beverages during the day or prevent them altogether.

Maintain a Headache Diary

If you intend to identify your specific migraine triggers keeping a headache diary helps. Merely having a journal isn’t helpful unless you note the foods and drinks you have, your exercise routine and schedule, your medications and side effects, and the time and severity of the pain. The diary helps you to notice a pattern of migraine occurrences, making avoiding the triggers comfortable.

Hormonal Changes

Your hormones also play a significant role in migraines. Women tend to experience migraine headaches during or just before their menstrual periods. Therefore, it is recommended that women remain vigilant with their diet and exercise routines during this time. Oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy can also increase the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. Some women find relief by changing birth control pills, while others may experience fewer migraines even as they take birth control.

Taking Supplements

Migraines are treatable with or without medications, but it is essential to keep yourself nourished. Magnesium deficiency contributes to the onset of migraines. Therefore taking supplements daily can help reduce outbursts. However, you must talk to your doctor about herbal remedies or other non-prescription supplements that may help ease your symptoms.

Weather Patterns

Changes in weather patterns also affect your migraine patterns. For example, hot and humid temperatures or rainy days can stimulate migraine headaches. If you find the weather uncomfortable, take a break and step inside your home to avoid headache-inducing weather.

Choose Relaxing Exercises

An essential part of a healthy lifestyle is regular exercise. However, strenuous exercise like weightlifting can trigger migraines. Therefore, you must keep a watch on your body’s response to some activities. Choose activities that promote stress reduction without straining your body. Taking anti-inflammatories before exercising may also help ease symptoms.

Plan Ahead

Learning to evade particular triggers and planning is an essential part of keeping your migraines under check. If you detect them early, you can avoid the most severe symptoms of migraines. However, if you find the pain unbearable, seek treatment for the condition besides prevention techniques from the specialist in Calgary.

How Do You Recognize the Need Gum Contouring?

You might be a suitable candidate for gum contouring surgery if your gums rest too low or too high on your teeth to leave you unhappy with your smile. Also called tissue sculpting or gum reshaping, gum contouring evens out an uneven gum line to give you a smile you will express pride showing off.

The Causes of Uneven Gums

Several elements can cause your gums to rest too high or too low. For example, gums covering a large area of your teeth can make them look tinier. The problem results from genetics, health issues, or taking certain prescription drugs.

If you have gums that are too high, they make your teeth appear longer, and the problem results from the recession arising out of gum tissue pulling back from a tooth to expose the tooth’s root. Receding gums cause severe dental problems like tooth decay and tooth loss. Periodontal disease is most often the cause of gum recession and deterioration of the supporting structures of the teeth.

Do I Need Gum Contouring Surgery?

Gum contouring by itself is considered an aesthetic procedure and medically unnecessary in most cases. Many people undergo gum reshaping to enhance the appearance of their smiles. However, some people also require gum contouring surgery for periodontal procedures like crown lengthening, pocket reduction, and regenerative processes.

Gum reshaping surgery isn’t cosmetic if it includes adding gum tissue after the recession has occurred and trimming excess tissue covering part of the tooth crown.

Who Performs Gum Contouring Surgery?

If you intend to get gum contouring surgery for aesthetic or medical purposes, you must research gum contouring near me to find a specialist to perform your gum reshaping. Before proceeding with the procedure, please inquire with the dentist about their experience and knowledge with such practices.

What to Expect during Gum Contouring?

The dentist from ToothWorks performing gingival contouring in NW Calgary, AB, may use scalpels, lasers, and radiosurgery when performing the reshaping procedure. You can inquire with the dentist which technique best suits your specific needs.

Before starting the surgery, the dentist will talk you through the procedure providing information on what they will be doing. Dentists use a pen to draw a line to mark your new gum line. It allows you to see precisely how much gum removal is necessary or how the gum line reshaping occurs. You receive local anesthesia to numb the area of your mouth before the procedure.

Sometimes to achieve best results over the long-term, bone at the front of the tooth’s root also requires removal during gum contouring.

The Risks Associated with Gum Contouring

Surgical procedures are not without risks. Gum contouring risks include allergic reactions to anesthesia, although rare, and relapse of gum tissue. You can talk to your dentist if you are unhappy with your teeth’ appearance to determine whether the gum contouring procedure is suitable for you. It helps if you remember the result of gum contouring surgery depends on the dentist’s skill as it is familiar with every cosmetic procedure. Therefore you must conduct proper research to ensure you are comfortable with the dentist’s abilities. Do not hesitate to ask questions about whether the dentist has received additional training in cosmetic dentistry to perform these procedures. Reputed dentists will have before and after pictures of the work they have done. Inquire about them to make sure you like what you see.

Recovery from Gum Contouring

Following gum contouring surgery, you must rest and limit your activities. You require a few days or weeks for your gums to heal entirely. Your dentist provides specific instructions on what you need to do to help your recovery. Some general tips to help you during the recovery period include:

You can take over-the-counter pain relievers are suggested by your dentist. However, do not consider taking aspirin as it can increase bleeding.

In the following gum reshaping surgery, you must have soft and like eggs, pasta, yogurt, cottage cheese, soft vegetables, and ice cream for a few days until you recover. You must avoid spicy foods and foods with seeds until your gums have healed entirely.

Adhere to your dentist’s instructions on when and how to brush your teeth during the healing period.

If you notice severe swelling or bleeding or you have concerns about the procedure, do not hesitate to contact the NW Calgary dentist for assistance.

Improve your dental and oral health with general hygiene services

If you intend to protect your dental and overall health, you must adopt practices to keep your mouth clean because it is an excellent method of preventing cavities, gingivitis, and periodontitis, besides other dental problems. Regular visits to general hygiene services in Calgary, AB also helps to prevent halitosis (bad breath). Excellent oral hygiene is essential for everyone to maintain their teeth and mouth in healthy condition. Healthy teeth are devoid of cavities. When your mouth is clean, it confirms you have minimal or no plaque deposits. The lack of plaque deposits on your teeth leaves your gums pink and firm.

General hygiene services consist of personal and professional care. Dental x-rays are often requested as part of routine exams and cleanings.

Why Do You Need Regular Teeth Cleaning?

You may have an excellent oral hygiene regimen of brushing and flossing your teeth as recommended by your dentist. However, the routine doesn’t help you remove all plaque deposits from the difficult-to-reach areas of your mouth with a manual toothbrush. Leftover plaque on your teeth and between them hardens into tartar within 48 hours. It is to prevent this occurrence that you need regular teeth cleanings from the general hygienist near me.

The hygienist proceeds with the cleaning after the dentist near me has examined your mouth, looking for signs of tooth decay, cavities, oral cancer, and any other dental issues in your mouth, and recommended treatments if required for any problems. The professional cleaning by the hygienist, besides including plaque and tartar removal, also includes tooth scaling, polishing, and debridement if excessive tartar has accumulated on your teeth and below the gum line.

The hygienist uses various dental instruments like scalers and devices to loosen and remove the deposits from your teeth. You may not like the scraping sounds, but scaling is an excellent technique to prevent gum disease from developing in your mouth and progressing to a severe condition. It is why the dentist in NW Calgary recommends getting your teeth professionally cleaned at six-monthly intervals.

You may be doing an excellent job of cleaning your teeth at home and using dental floss diligently. However, the requirement for professional cleanings does not diminish. Dental hygienists use different cleaning tools and methods besides having expert training to complete oral hygiene, making it impossible to achieve the same results yourself. Additionally, the professionals will examine your mouth and your teeth when providing general hygiene services.

Dental Hygiene Services Are Connected with Your Oral Wellness

Researchers have discovered an association exists between chronic oral infections like gum disease and dental abscesses due to untreated infections and other chronic conditions of the cardiovascular system. In addition, patients in a high-risk situation needing heart valve replacements and orthodontic implants are also at risk of oral diseases creating complications in their bodies. Clarity has also emerged that the optimal way to prevent oral conditions and maintain your dental health is routinely to visit a registered dental hygienist for professional cleanings.

Dental infections are hazardous to orthodontic implants, and in some cases, doctors may recommend antibiotics before any dental procedures.

General hygiene services in Calgary have an entire department devoted to oral and general hygiene. They also have registered hygienists with experience and treat patients of all ages and from different ethnic groups. The hygienists are comfortable treating people with a high risk of medical conditions.

The CDC recommends getting at least twice yearly dental checkups to prevent dental conditions from developing in your mouth with the sole objective of keeping your overall health in optimal condition. General hygiene services will not take an entire day, and the procedures are completed within the hour. You are free to return to your regular activities immediately after receiving the comfortable and painless services helping you maintain your dental and overall health in optimal shape and preventing unnecessary treatments from other medical professionals merely because you neglected your oral hygiene.

Children also need general hygiene services at six-monthly intervals or as recommended by their dentist. Children are susceptible to tooth decay and cavities because they are frequently stacking on sugary and starchy foods and beverages and are not diligent with their dental hygiene routine. General hygiene services can provide children with an additional protective barrier on their teeth with dental sealants and fluoride treatments to prevent cavities from creating damage in their mouths. Adults and seniors also benefit from these services because it helps avoid unwanted complications and protects their natural teeth.

All You Need To Know About A Root Canal Therapy

Does the word “root canal treatment” scare you? Well, you don’t have to get scared or afraid of a root canal treatment. It is also true that the more you know about a root canal procedure, the less anxiety you feel about it. Also, getting the best root canal treatment in NW Calgary can give you a whole different and positive perspective about root canal therapy.

A root canal therapy is a dental procedure where the tooth’s roots are cleaned thoroughly and disinfected thereby prevent tooth loss and further dental damages. Root canal therapy is often carried out in a dental hospital where the dentist or endodontic specialist performs the dental surgery (root canal therapy). Root canal therapy is also known as endodontic surgery (internal tooth structure treatment).

Root canal treatment is often performed with intravenous, general, or local anesthesia to prevent the patient from feeling pains or irritations during the procedure.

Why Do I Need A Root Canal Treatment?

The root canal is the most sensitive and one of the crucial parts of the teeth. When the dental pulp inside the tooth’s roots is infected, the tooth loses its ability to function properly. This is because the dental pulp is a part of the teeth structure that attaches the tissues inside the tooth’ roots together. When the tissues inside the tooth’s roots are infected, the tooth becomes extremely sensitive to hot or cold substances. Over time, if the infection is not gotten rid of, the affected person might begin to experience severe tooth pain and would be at high risk of losing his or her tooth. This is because the tooth would have lost its firmness and strength due to the infection that has eaten deep into its roots.

The major aim of getting a root canal procedure done is to save the tooth from falling off and getting deeply affected by further damages. Apart from the fact that a root canal treatment preserves your natural tooth, it saves you from spending so much money on extra restorative dental procedures later in the future.

Tooth Extractions Vs. Root Canal Therapy

When it comes to tooth extractions and root canal treatment, there is a slightly huge difference. However, they sometimes serve the same purpose which is, getting rid of tooth infections and providing relief to the patient who might have been experiencing severe toothache from an infected tooth.
Tooth extraction is the complete removal of a damaged, injured, or infected tooth.

A root canal on the other hand deals with getting rid of infections inside the tooth’s roots thereby preserving the natural tooth.

This means that tooth extraction doesn’t preserve your natural tooth but a root canal can. However, root canal treatment is only applicable to an infected tooth which means that any other dental issue other than an infected tooth might require tooth extraction or other dental procedures. Dental situations like overcrowded teeth, and impacted teeth, or fractured teeth can not be saved by a root canal treatment. The only instance where a root canal treatment and a tooth extraction are an option is when the patient is suffering from a toothache due to an infection or decay.

In conclusion, whether you are to receive a tooth extraction or root canal treatment, the dentist is in the best position to provide you with the best recommendations. For dental checkups and recommendations, you can see a dentist near you or a dentist in NW Calgary.

What Does Getting A Root Canal Treatment Entail?

To get a root canal treatment you have to see a dentist or get a root canal therapy near you by visiting the nearest dental hospital around you. After your appointment with the dentist has been confirmed you can then get ready for your root canal treatment. Most importantly, you have to carefully adhere to your dentist’s instructions before the surgery. Also, you have to be honest with your dentist concerning your medical history. This would help your dentist provide the best treatment and confirm if you’re then eligible for a root canal treatment.

Before the treatment begins, your dentist would use a dental x-ray to examine the tooth and confirm how bad the infection has gotten. In most cases, the dentist might administer local anesthesia to numb the area that is to be operated on before commencing surgery. The dentist will then drill into the tooth to enable access into the root canals to begin the cleaning and disinfecting process. When the infected tissues have been extracted, the dentist would fill the operates part and seal it to prevent additional damages. Most times after a root canal treatment, a dental crown might be used to prevent the tooth from getting weaker. This is because, after drilling into the root canals, the tooth might lose a bit of its fitness or strength. A dental sealant can also be used to prevent tooth decay in the future. Dental crowns and dental sealants are commendable preventive dental procedures that also prolong the effects of root canal treatments.

Are You Anxious Of Going To The Dentist? Try Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry in NW Calgary has become one of the commonest procedures done in the past few years, making it easier for people to overcome their dental anxiety and have their dental problems sorted out via the various methods of dental sedation available in today’s dental practice.

The administration of sedative drugs and other forms of medicine to reduce discomfort and anxiety for those who fear the dentist before dental procedures are the hallmarks of sedation dentistry.

If you want to go for a dental procedure such as removing a tooth or fixing veneers and you are already having second thoughts about it, this blog will help you understand how you can overcome your anxiety.

Who Needs Sedation Dentistry?

Different reasons abound for patients who want to consider sedation dentistry. Also, sedation could be a recommendation of the dentist or dental surgeon, which would help their patients go through the procedure with minimal discomfort. Some of the different reasons include the following:

Phobia related to dental procedures
Previous uncomfortable or bad experiences with a dental procedure
Sensitive oral nerves
Having a small mouth that becomes sore during dental procedures
Being resistant to local anesthetic agents
Having a general anxiety disorder

You can ask your dentist about sedation dentistry if you have one of the reasons listed above. Our Dentists in Calgary can help you answer questions on oral sedation dentistry in Calgary. Dental sedation can help you get through dental procedures like root canals, tooth extractions, dental implantation, etc.

Sedation Dentistry: How It Works.

Several different methods are used for dental sedation, with each having a different purpose, and based on certain factors, your dentist will choose the most appropriate one for your procedure. Some of these factors include:

The dental procedure being performed
Duration of the dental procedure
Your level of anxiety.

Dentists in Calgary may then choose any one of the following forms of sedation:

Minimal sedation, wherein patients are awake but in a relaxed state.

Moderate sedation, wherein patients are conscious but may experience slurring of speech and slight memory loss.

Deep sedation, wherein patients are on the verge of unconsciousness but can still communicate.

General anesthesia, wherein patients are completely unconscious.

Types Of Dental Sedation

Nitrous Oxide: The commonest form of sedation used for dental visits. Also known as “laughing gas”, it is a low-risk treatment and is always provided in most dental offices. Dentists often will administer nitrous oxide and local anesthesia during tooth extractions or fillings to reduce discomfort.

Oral Sedation: This refers to swallowing a sedative in either pill or liquid form and could be combined with nitrous oxide wherein you would still be awake, but it may be heavier sedation than solely using nitrous oxide.

Intravenous IV) Sedation: It is another standard method of treatment that is delivered directly to the bloodstream through a needle. Intravenous sedation takes effect quickly, and it has an advantage being that your dentist can control the dose.

General Anesthesia: General anesthesia is a deeper level of sedation used during surgical procedures such as wisdom teeth extraction or jaw surgery. Like intravenous sedation, it is delivered directly to the bloodstream through a needle or inhaled.

Is Dental Sedation Safe?

Even as you may be nervous about your dental treatment, it is also not out of place if you are also worried about the safety of the sedation to be used for your dental procedure. Fortunately, there are minimal risks involved with the dental sedation methods described here, and your dentist will take several precautions to keep you safe during sedation. You’ll be asked about any medications you’re taking, and you may be advised to stop taking them for a certain time before your treatment. You will be monitored during your treatment in case your breathing slows and you need to be given oxygen.

Dental sedation is not safe for pregnant women, and breastfeeding should be avoided for 12 hours after sedation.

Safe Oral sedation dentistry in Calgary, for any dental procedure you need, is guaranteed when you visit our dentists in Calgary or any Board-certified dentist near you.

Tooth Extraction: Is it a Necessary Procedure or Can It Be Avoided?

Pulling of the teeth is a necessary procedure in childhood because it is often done to remove primary teeth and pave way for the permanent ones. However, in adulthood, tooth extraction is done when the teeth cannot be saved using other procedures. Our primary goal is to preserve your teeth and dental health, and our dentist only recommends tooth extraction in NW Calgary when it is needed.

When is Extraction Unavoidable?

Although pulling of the teeth is a routine procedure, you should only get tooth extraction near you in the following situations:

Impacted teeth. The most affected teeth are the wisdom teeth because they come out after the jaw has attained maturity and there is no space for the teeth to fit. Impacted wisdom teeth can cause pain and also affect the surrounding teeth.
Periodontal disease. Advanced gum disease causes the gums to recede and expose the roots. This not only causes tooth sensitivity but also damages the supporting bone. The dentist can recommend teeth extraction (if there is severe damage) as part of your periodontal dental disease.
Severely damaged teeth. Your teeth can get damaged because of decay, cavities, or fracture. While the dentist will first consider other treatments, tooth extraction may be inevitable if the teeth are beyond repair.

What Can You Expect During the Extraction?

Tooth extraction can either be simple or surgical depending on the location of the teeth. For visible teeth, the dentist will perform a simple extraction. This procedure involves loosening the teeth using forceps and pulling them, and the procedure may last for 30 minutes.

A surgical extraction is reserved for impacted teeth that lie beneath the gums. The procedure lasts a few minutes longer because the dentist will have to open the gums to access the teeth. Sometimes, the teeth are broken down into little pieces for easy extraction.

What Happens After the Teeth Are Pulled?

Pain, gum bleeding, and soreness are the most common problems that will occur after the extraction procedure. 24 hours after the teeth are pulled, a blood clot will form in the socket to facilitate healing. It is paramount for you to protect the blood clot from breaking because it can slow down healing and cause other problems as well. If you accidentally break the blood clot, visit a dentist near you for immediate treatment.

Healing will differ depending on the type of extraction that was done. A simple extraction can take a few days, while surgical extraction will take about two weeks.

However, how you take care of the gums will influence the healing process.

Bite a gauze pad to stop bleeding
Use a cold compress on the affected gums to stop swelling
Eat soft and easy to chew foods to avoid hurting the gums
Use warm salt water to rinse your mouth because it helps to soothe gums and ease pain
Do not use a straw to drink as it may dislodge the blood clot

How Can You Prevent Extraction?

Tooth extraction is a preventable procedure and you can avoid it with these tips:

Maintain proper dental hygiene to prevent decay and gum disease.
Visit the dentist regularly for an assessment and cleaning as this is the best way for the dentist to detect any dental problem.
Get scaling and root planning, which is the primary treatment of gum disease and it prevents further spread of the infection.
Consider root canal if the decay extends to the inner part of the teeth. This procedure helps to stop the spread of infection and preserve your teeth.
Get a mouthguard if you suffer from bruxism or teeth grinding. Bruxism puts pressure on your teeth and promotes wear and tear.

What Can You Do After the Teeth Are Pulled?

Tooth extraction leaves gaps in between the gums. This not only causes the teeth to shift to the nearby spaces but also affects the supporting bone. You may need restorative dental procedures like implants, dentures, and bridges to replace the missing teeth.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit Toothworks for more information on tooth extraction, how it is done, and how you can avoid it.

Invisalign Treatment and Aftercare Tips

When individuals perform self-diagnosis and try self-treatment, there is always room for error. Some people view using clear braces as their most cost-effective way to correct minor smile defects and order braces online. However, when you visit our dentist in NA, Calgary, for a consultation or because of teeth misalignment issues, you may find that other restorative services such as Invisalign will achieve your goals faster.

If you seek orthodontic treatment from a dentist near you, there are options for straightening teeth that do not require metal braces. Invisalign in NW Calgary is an orthodontic treatment that can align teeth correctly without using metal braces.

Invisalign uses a clear aligner created from an image generated by a computer model and the impression that our dentist and his team get from your mouth to change the position of bad teeth.

While traditional braces use fixed wires to straighten the teeth, Invisalign uses a series of customized, transparent plastic straighteners to straighten the teeth. After a few months, you can move the teeth to a new and comfortable position.

Invisalign adopts a series of calibrator trays that are replaced every one to two weeks. The design of each replacement tray keeps the teeth changing and moving, so the feeling will be slightly different.

You need to wear the Invisalign tray for most of the day to experience the effect. However, they can be easily removed for eating, brushing, flossing, or using on special occasions.

Who Needs Invisalign?

For adults and teens with chipped teeth, uncomfortable bites, and crowded and crooked teeth are just some of the problems that our Invisalign can correct. In addition to being unsightly, these problems can also affect dental health. Teeth cracks leave the gums unprotected and may cause periodontal disease.

Uncomfortable bites can put pressure on the jaws and sometimes cause joint pain. Overcrowded teeth often cause plaque to accumulate because it is difficult to effectively floss, and this causes tooth decay in these crowded areas. At Toothworks dental, our Invisalign solves all these problems.

Getting started

Once you are sure that you are interested in Invisalign, you will have an initial consultation where you will meet with your dentist. You will have a conversation with your dentist about the Invisalign process, including how Invisalign works and your estimated cost.

As part of the consultation, once you decide to continue treatment, you may receive an X-ray. Our dentist will X-ray and take pictures of your mouth, teeth, and face from different angles so that the dentist has a detailed understanding of your mouth as the basis for their dental work and be able to create customized braces for you.

Patients may need to apply small composite patches on each tooth to help the Invisalign aligner grasp and shift each tooth. The patch is made of the composite material used in the filling and can be easily removed at the end of the Invisalign operation without discomfort.

If necessary, the patient may also need to reduce the distance between the proximal ends when the patient’s mouth is crowded. Performing this procedure can create more space between the teeth. Our dentist in Calvary will use discs to remove the tooth enamel to create more flexibility.

Initial Fitting

At the time of the visit, you will get a composite patch and proximal reduction (if needed), and you will also have the first impression of Invisalign braces. When putting on the aligners for the first time, they should be held tightly. Our dentists will check the fit and possibly different molds until you are satisfied with the results. Dental practitioners will ask you how you feel, how uncomfortable you are, and whether you can feel any movement.

After Treatment care

You will need to clean the tray regularly, morning and evening. You can do this before or after brushing your teeth. The tray needs to be cleaned to remove the bacteria produced during the day or night. If you don’t clean the trays well, they will start to smell. You can clean them with a toothbrush, but don’t use toothpaste. You should also rinse the tray during the day and when you remove it after each meal.

With the powerful technology of the Invisalign aligner in Calgary and the experience of our dentists, your new smile will gain the expertise it deserves. Make an appointment with our dentist in NW, Calgary now to learn more.

In-Office Teeth Whitening Excellent to Reinvigorate Your Smile

Are you analyzing teeth whitening treatments to help reinvigorate your smile tainted by discoloration? Professional in-office teeth whitening treatments from the dentist T3R 0R5 are popular cosmetic dental procedures in Canada currently. Unlike home-use systems incorporating low-dose bleaching ingredients, in-office whitening treatments are performed under carefully monitored conditions allowing for safe and pain-free use of higher concentrations of bleaching gel, yielding results visible instantly.

In-office teeth whitening treatments, despite their excellence, are expensive and may encourage you to try over-the-counter systems designed for home use. However, it helps if you understand stains on your teeth are best removed by a professional who determines the kind of staining affecting you by evaluating your dental health.

Are You a Candidate for In-Office Whitening Treatments?

Your candidature for teeth whitening treatments with the dentist in northwest Calgary is determined by the professional after evaluating your mouth. If you are a victim of tooth and gum hypersensitivity, the dentist will likely recommend take-home bleaching trays with carbamide peroxide at low doses not as potent as hydrogen peroxide.

Some kinds of stains are resistant to highly concentrated in-office bleaching ingredients. In such cases, the dentist recommends a supervised routine of intensive at-home bleaching or alternatives like bonding, crowns, or veneers.

If your teeth have become transparent with age, you are not a suitable candidate for in-office teeth whitening. The dentist assesses your teeth to determine your candidature before confirming your suitability for the treatment.

Starting The Teeth Whitening Treatment

Before starting the in-office teeth whitening treatment, Calgary dentists NW give you a cleaning to remove plaque and debris accumulated on the surface and between your teeth. A dental exam is also performed, checking for potential problems like severe tooth decay, gum disease, and cracks. The bleaching ingredients cause varying degrees of irritation if you have any of these conditions. The dentists will likely delay the treatment until the problems are treated.

The dentists take images of your teeth to measure their color on a shade guide. The photos provide a benchmark to assess your progress.

The In-Office Teeth Whitening Procedure

Relatively standard routines are followed by teeth whitening in NW Calgary when whitening your teeth. The steps involved are not uncomfortable or painful.

You have a cheek retractor inserted into your mouth, exposing the aesthetic zone.
Your gums are painted with a liquid rubber dam or hardening resin to protect against irritation from the bleaching gel.
The bleaching gel consisting of hydrogen peroxide is applied to the aesthetic zone and left in place for about 15 minutes.
The bleaching gel is washed off for a new application for additional periods of 15 minutes.
Some teeth whitening treatments incorporate ultraviolet light focused on your teeth to activate the bleaching process. However, no evidence is available to prove the light improves the bleaching outcome.
Your teeth are checked between gel applications to determine how they have whitened and whether further bleaching is required.

After the eventual gel application, the cheek retractors are removed, and you receive instructions to rinse your mouth. The dentist measures the post-treatment shade, which may be as low as 2 to 3 or eight shades out of 16. The bleaching process dehydrates your teeth resulting in whitening, making them look whiter than there were earlier.

If the results are unsatisfactory, the dentist will likely recommend follow-ups with in-office bleaching at a later date or a regimen of at-home bleaching trays.

Benefits of in-Office Teeth Whitening

In-Office teeth whitening treatments deliver fast results providing the safest form of bleaching. Tooth sensitivity and gum irritation are now more controllable because of the thicker peroxide gels and using de-sensitizers like potassium nitrate and fluoride.

Downsides of in-Office Teeth Whitening

The most significant downside of in-office teeth whitening is the higher prices charged than take-home alternatives. In-office teeth whitening prices are around $ 650 per session compared to below $ 100 for over-the-counter bleaching trays or strips. Take-home bleaching trays cost about $ 400.

In-office bleaching treatments are unpredictable and depend on various factors like age, the kind of staining affecting the teeth, and heredity. Furthermore, in-office teeth whitening is not permanent, and your teeth start accumulating stains shortly after the treatment. Therefore many dentists recommend at-home maintenance of the teeth whitening results using low dose bleaching gel kept on the teeth for longer durations.

If you want to maintain the results of teeth whitening, limiting staining foods and beverages is the best option besides quitting smoking. Therefore, you must avoid staining your teeth by maintaining excellent dental hygiene and using the self-care tips mentioned to have a brighter and whiter smile longer.