Our Dental Services in Brampton
Our motto is “taking anxiety out of dentistry” and we strive to ensure our patients are anxiety free and at ease during their visit with our dentists. Our aim is to ensure that your oral health receives the best treatment and has a positive impact on your overall health.
Preventive Services
Exam and Cleaning
Brushing twice a day and nightly flossing are excellent for maintaining oral health. However, these need to be supplemented with regular visits to the dentist for dental assessment (exam) and cleaning.
Exam
An exam involves
- Evaluation of your TMJ (jaw) joint
- Evaluation of muscles used to chew
- Evaluation of your lymph nodes
- An oral cancer screen: Oral cancer can be treated with minimally invasive treatment if caught early. Even patients without any teeth need to have a regular screen for oral cancer. Certain habits (such as smoking and tobacco use) and a family history puts you at a higher risk for oral cancer.
- Evaluation of teeth for cavities, cracks and infection.
- Evaluation of gum health
Ideally an exam is performed every 6 months. This is the opportunity to catch problems at an early stage before they have an opportunity to cause pain or tooth loss. Early detection usually involves minimally invasive treatment for example fillings without the need for freezing (local anesthetic).
Cleaning
Cleaning/scaling involves the physical removal of calculus or tartar from above and below the gums. Even with diligent brushing and flossing there are several areas where plaque and subsequently tartar/calculus can accumulate. This leads to gum disease such as gingivitis and periodontitis. During your cleaning appointment tartar/calculus will be removed and will provide us with the opportunity to provide the patient with tips on how to access areas that are harder to reach while brushing and flossing. Our hygiene services might also include a recommendation for polish and/or fluoride. Fluoride strengthens teeth and protects it from acid attacks and therefore reduces the risk of developing a cavity. Ideally a patient will return every 6 months for their cleaning/scaling. For patients with significant gum disease cleaning/scaling every 3-4 months might be recommended in an attempt to stabilize the condition.
Fillings
Fillings are used to treat decay or fractured teeth. The decay is removed and a filling material is placed in the area. There are 2 choices for filling material:
- Tooth colored resin (white filling)
- Amalgam filling (silver)
Our clinic offers both options since they each have their advantages and disadvantages. Each tooth is evaluated to identify if it will benefit from a resin (white) or amalgam (silver) filling.
Crown
Crown, or cap, can be made of porcelain, an alloy or a combination of both. Crowns are full coverage restorations that are cemented and completely encase the natural tooth. Crowns are fabricated in a laboratory and can be made to match the shade of adjacent teeth. Crowns are used to strengthen teeth that have been root canal treated, cracked or weakened by significant decay or large fillings. Essentially, a crown is recommended when there is very little natural tooth structure left.
Veneer
A porcelain veneer is a very thin layer of porcelain that is cemented to the front of the tooth. A veneer is fabricated in a lab and can be made to match the shape and shade of adjacent teeth. The treatment is minimally invasive and is used to cosmetically treat discoloured, worn, chipped, or slightly crooked teeth, and can also be used to close small gaps between your teeth.
Extraction
In some cases when the tooth is damaged beyond repair an extraction might be the only option. Extractions are usually the last resort to maintain oral health. The extracted tooth can be replaced with an implant, bridge or denture.
Implant restoration
An implant has 2 components: a screw that is anchored in bone and an implant restoration (such as a porcelain crown/cap) that is placed on top of the screw. Implant restorations are fabricated in a laboratory and can be made to match the shade of adjacent teeth. An implant is an ideal solution for a single missing tooth since it does not involve grinding down adjacent teeth for support.
Bridge
A bridge can be made of porcelain, an alloy or a combination of both. A bridge is used to replace a missing tooth and uses adjacent teeth to support the artificial tooth. A bridge is cemented and completely encases the adjacent natural teeth. Bridges are fabricated in a lab and can be made to match the shade of adjacent teeth.
Dentures
Dentures are designed to replace either single or multiple missing teeth. Fabricated in a lab, dentures can be made of acrylic or a combination of acrylic and metal. Dentures can be made to match the shade of adjacent teeth. Dentures are removable and have to be taken out at night. Dentures are an ideal option if there are no teeth that can support a bridge, if there are several missing teeth or if more tooth loss is anticipated in the future since teeth can be easily added to the existing denture.
Teeth Whitening / Bleaching
When the shade of your teeth is darker than desired, in office bleaching can help lighten them. Certain foods, beverages and habits stain teeth. The most common culprits are: certain berries, acidic drinks (including sports drinks), tea, wine and smoking. Most stain causing foods and beverages contain intensely pigmented molecules called chromogens which latch onto enamel and stains teeth. Acidic foods and beverages promote staining by eroding the enamel and making it more porous and therefore promoting the attachment of chromogens to enamel. In office bleaching is an effective way of quickly whitening your teeth. The whitening process begins with the usage of a sensitive toothpaste to minimize sensitivity. The procedure lasts about an hour, uses a special light to activate the bleach and has the potential to whiten teeth up to 8 shades. When done at a dental office care is taken to minimize exposure of the gums to bleach and the dentist ensures there is no active decay that is exposed to bleach.
Sports Guards
Sports guards are primarily used to protect teeth from trauma in sports where impact to the jaw and face might cause harm. Custom sports guards are designed to adapt to the patient`s teeth and are therefore more retentive and more comfortable than over the counter sports guards.
Night Guards
Night guards are primarily used to protect teeth from wear caused by grinding or clenching. It also helps relax facial muscles and relieve soreness and headaches caused by grinding or clenching. Custom night guards are designed to adapt to the patient`s upper or lower teeth and are therefore thinner, more durable and more comfortable than over the counter night guard. Hence, patients are more likely to be compliant and wear them.
Sedation
Dental anxiety is a real phobia that causes anxiety to the point of avoiding dental treatment. We offer 2 levels of sedation:
Nitrous Oxide
Also called laughing gas is safe to use in little children and adults. It enhances patient comfort and reduces anxiety. It involves the placement of a mask over the patient’s nose through which a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen is inhaled. The patients vital signs and comfort level are constantly monitored during the procedure. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off a few minutes after the procedure and therefore adults can leave unattended after the procedure and resume their regular activities.
Oral Sedation
Oral sedation involves the patient taking a sedative at the clinic 1 hour prior to their appointment. The patient’s vital signs are constantly monitored during the procedure. An adult escort will be required after the procedure since the effects wear off slowly.