| Q: What are the causes of bad breath and what can I do about it? |
A: Halitosis, or commonly known as 'bad breath' is primarily caused by gum disease, poor oral hygiene, sinus dripping drainage and systematic/respiratory or gastrointestinal issues. Proper regular oral hygiene including daily brushing of both teeth and tongue, flossing and mouth rinses are an effective way to combat bad breath. An alternative to brushing your tongue is to use a tongue scraper to remove any excess bacteria buildup. If problem continues to persist, please contact your dentist.
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| Q: How is a mouth guard from my dentist different from one that I can buy at a sporting goods store? |
A: Over the counter mouth guards available at a sporting goods store or drug store are a mere 'one size fits all' and provide only basic protection. Mouth guards provided by your dentist are 'functional appliances' custom fitted for your teeth and created based upon each individual patients needs. It provides protection for chewing surfaces, TMJ (jaw joint) as well as facial muscles. It is made in such a way that when you grind, your jaw is still moving in its natural pattern. This is accomplished by replicating the natural contours of your chewing surfaces. Ideally, mouth guards should be 2mm in thickness, so as to replicate the natural resting position of your upper and lower teeth (ideal distance between upper and lower teeth is 2mm at rest).
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| Q: What is TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder)? |
| A: TMD is a result of problems associated with the jaw joint, jaw and surrounding muscles that control the movement and positioning of the jaw. There are numerous causes of TMD, many of which include; trauma to the jaw/ TMJ/head/neck, teeth grinding/clenching and arthritis in the TMJ. Treatments vary from using mouth guards and corrective dental treatment (e.g crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances) to ultrasound, nerve stimulation via electrical currents, injections at trigger points and surgery. For more information on TMJ, please contact your dentist. |
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| Q: I am grinding my teeth both during the day and at night, what can I do about this? |
A: Grinding of the teeth is predominantly stress-related and the usage of day and night guards can help protect tooth surfaces, periodontal tissue as well as the jaw. It is worth noting that mouth guards do not completely prevent you from grinding, but they will aid in preventing further dental damage. Stress management is also an effective way to combat teeth grinding.
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| Q: What are partial dentures? |
A: A denture is a removable appliance that replaces missing teeth. A Partial denture is used when some teeth are still remaining in the arch. These remaining teeth act as anchors and attach to the denture by way of clasps or precision attachments.
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| Q: What are my options if I have lost some or all of my teeth? |
A: There are numerous options for replacing missing teeth and the option chosen will be based upon each patients needs and personal preferences. Missing teeth can be replaced by using dental implants, bridges, dentures or a combination of the three. Implants are the most aesthetically pleasing option, at the same time providing durability/stability and can also be used in combination with dentures to provide additional support. Bridges also provide stability, however, the downside is that two natural teeth have to be crowned in order to support the bridge. Dentures, the least aesthetically pleasing option of the three is more widely used when most or all of the teeth are missing.
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| Q: Can I still get an implant if I don’t have sufficient bone to support it? |
A: Adequate bone in the jaw is necessary to support an implant. A healthy mouth that is periodontitis free is the ideal candidate. If you happen to have insufficient bone to support an implant a simple procedure called bone grafting can be carried out. This involves pealing back the tissue to show the alveolar ridge. The defect is assessed and then filled with an adequate amount of bone or bone substitute. Not only does this procedure lead to a successful outcome it will improve the overall appearance of the implant in the mouth.
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| Q: Are dental implants for everyone? |
| A: There are few absolute contraindications to implant dentistry. However, there are some systemic, behavioral and anatomic considerations that should be assessed. Particularly for mandibular (lower jaw) implants, in the vicinity of the mental foramen (MF), there must be sufficient alveolar bone above the mandibular canal also called the inferior alveolar canal . Failure to precisely locate the IAN and MF invites surgical insult by the drills and the implant itself. Such insult may cause irreparable damage to the nerve, often felt as a paresthesia (numbness) .
Uncontrolled type II diabetes is a significant relative contraindication as healing following any type of surgical procedure is delayed due to poor peripheral blood circulation. Anatomic considerations include the volume and height of bone available. Often an ancillary procedure known as a block graft or sinus augmentation are needed to provide enough bone for successful implant placement. There is new information about intravenous and oral bisphosphonates (taken for certain forms of breast cancer and osteoporosis, respectively) which may put patients at a higher risk of developing a delayed healing syndrome called osteonecrosis. Implants are contraindicated for some patients who take intravenous bisphosphonates. The many millions of patients who take an oral bisphosphonate (such as Actonel, Fosamax and Boniva) may sometimes be advised to stop the administration prior to implant surgery, then resume several months later. However, current evidence suggests that this protocol may not be necessary.]
Bruxism (tooth clenching or grinding) is another consideration which may reduce the prognosis for treatment. The forces generated during bruxism are particularly detrimental to implants while bone is healing; micromovements in the implant positioning are associated with increased rates of implant failure. Bruxism continues to pose a threat to implants throughout the life of the recipient.[34] Natural teeth contain a periodontal ligament allowing each tooth to move and absorb shock in response to vertical and horizontal forces. Once replaced by dental implants, this ligament is lost and teeth are immovably anchored directly into the jaw bone. This problem can be minimized by wearing a custom made mouthguard (such an NTI appliance) at night.
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| Q: What is a dental bridge? |
A: A bridge is a dental aid that is used to replace one or more missing teeth. It works much like a crown as there are two abutments that fit over prepared teeth on either side of the space. The pontic or replacement tooth is attached to these two abutments and replaces and holds the empty space of the tooth. This is a less expensive option to placing an implant.
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| Q: What is a dental crown and why would I need a dental crown? |
A: A crown is a type of dental restoration that fully encompasses the entire tooth. During a filling restoration only a small amount of decay and tooth structure is removed and replaced with a filling. In comparison during a crown procedure the entire tooth is shaved down to a size in which a crown is comfortably cemented on to. The crown essentially becomes your new tooth and will function as your biting surface.Crowns are often needed to strengthen a tooth after root canal or extensive restoration and/or for cosmetic reasons.
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| Q: Is it necessary to have my wisdom teeth removed? |
A: For the majority of people it is necessary to have their wisdom teeth removed. There are very few people that are born without wisdom teeth or have enough space to accommodate them.Often times wisdom teeth will only partially erupt and will act as a food trap in the back of the mouth. This can lead to infection and bad breath. Other times when wisdom teeth erupt they can TO BE CONTINUED>>>>>>>>>>>
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| Q: I need a root canal, what is that? |
A: A root canal is a procedure that is performed to treat a tooth that is decaying and/or infected down to the pulp chamber. During this procedure the nerve and pulp tissue are removed and the canals are filled with a rubber cone filler, packed and sealed. Occasionally metal posts may be used to strengthen the tooth once they are filled and a crown may be placed in order to protect the tooth.
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| Q: When should a child have his/her first visit to the dentist? |
A: It is recommended that a child has his/her visit to the dentist at the age of 2. At the age of two, children have their full set of primary teeth and should begin to see the dentist regularly to ensure a healthy oral regimen and to get used to the dental setting.
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| Q: What is gum disease? |
A: Periodontitis or commonly known as 'gum disease' is an infection of the teeth, gums and/or bone surrounding the teeth. As the disease progresses, the bone surrounding the teeth begin to erode and may eventually cause tooth loss. Early symptoms of gum disease include bleeding, sensitivity, bad breath and gums moving away from the teeth. Early detection and treatment is essential in maintaining good oral health because with periodontal disease symptoms tend to appear in the latter stages and reversal is often difficult.
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| Q: Why are my gums bleeding when I brush/floss? |
A: The primary reason for bleeding gums is due to the fact that the gums are inflamed, particularly in the area where the tooth meets the gums (gumline). If there is bacteria build-up, the toxins that the bacteria secretes irritate the gums causing redness and bleeding.
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| Q: How safe are dental x-rays and are they harmful to my health? |
A: Here at Wellington Dental, we use only digital X-Rays rather than traditional film X-Rays. Digital X-Rays expose patients to lower radiation and are perfectly safe. The radiation that you're exposed to when we take dental X-Rays, particularly when we use a lead apron as a layer of protection, is less than you would get spending half a day in the sun. Dental X-Rays are helpful in discovering the presence/degree of periodontal disease, cysts/tumors, abscesses or any other abnormalities which otherwise may not be visible by visual examination.
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| Q: How often should I have a dental exam and cleaning? |
A: It is recommended by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) that you visit your dentist for a check-up twice a year to detect any early onset issues such as gum disease, cavities or oral cancer etc. In some cases, we may recommend 3 to 4 visits per year in order to properly treat conditions that may require more attention. Similarly for cleanings, we recommend a cleaning at least every 6 months.
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| Q: I am not happy with my smile, is there something I can do about it and what are my options? |
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