Dental Care for Healthy Smiles
Keeping Everyone Smiling
SERVICES
TMJ (TMD) Therapy
​Many suffer from Tempromandibular Joint pain or Tempromandibular Dysfunction. Symptoms include:
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Pain on opening.
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Inability to open wide or move from side to side comfortably
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Neck and shoulder pain.
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Ear pain, hearing loss.
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Ringing in the ears.
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Clenching, night grinding
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Chronic fatigue
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Noise, grating or popping in joint
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Chronic Temporal or occipital headache
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Chronic Temporal or occipital headache
Treatment of these problems can be complicated. The cause can often be multi-factorial. Successful treatment may involve other professionals; Physiotherapy, Chiropractors, Massage Therapy, Cranio-mandibular specialists, and Physicians.
Meaningful treatment begins with proper diagnosis. We will do a thorough evaluation of your problem to determine the best way that we can help and the appropriate therapy.
Full Mouth Restoration
Severely worn down, missing, or badly damaged teeth can truly have a detrimental effect on one’s ability to chew or to feel comfortable in social situations. Teeth marred by neglect, lack of care, and improper dentistry often require comprehensive restorative treatment, a combination of cosmetic and restorative dentistry procedures that may include periodontal therapy, endodontic treatment, veneers, bridges, crowns, implants or other dental work. Waterdown Dental offers you a full range of options to get you smiling again!
Bonded Fillings
Gone are the days when tooth trauma and cavities could only be treated with unsightly metal fillings. Today, modern, tooth coloured fillings made of durable resin are bonded to your teeth for a stronger, more natural look. Composite fillings are virtually undetectable and contain no mercury.
Porcelain Inlays/Onlays
Porcelain inlays and onlays are a very aesthetic alternatives to composite fillings. They have a high degree of strength, and as such, are excellent for restoring weakened back teeth. Inlays and onlays protect and restore large portions of decayed, heavily restored tooth, or teeth under very heavy load (i.e. back teeth). Unlike crowns, they only cover a portion of the tooth, and are therefore more conservative on the amount of tooth preparation required.
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They are made with porcelain, customized to your natural tooth shade, and look like your natural tooth. Porcelain inlays and onlays are made from the same strong, tooth colored material that is used for crowns and bridgework. A customized shade makes them virtually undetectable. The main differences between tooth-colored composite restoration and inlay/onlays is that the latter are fabricated using a laboratory process and differing materials, thereby making them stronger and more durable.
Crowns
Crowns are a type of dental restoration which when cemented into place, fully covers that portion of a tooth which lies at and above the gum line. In comparison, composite fillings are dental restorations that are used to fill in or cover over just a portion of a tooth. Since dental crowns encase the entire visible aspect of a tooth, a dental crown in effect becomes the tooth's new outer surface.
Crowns are used to rebuild broken or decayed teeth, to strengthen teeth, and as a means by which to enhance the cosmetic appearance of teeth. Crowns can be made out of porcelain/ceramic, gold alloy, or a combination of both. Dental crowns are often referred to as "dental caps". They can mask any esthetic concerns and functionally, they act like a helmet for the tooth. Like a football or hockey helmet which protects your head everytime there is contact, a crown will protect your tooth everytime you eat and chew to prevent fracturing when there is a large restoration. It is a very effective way to prevent tooth loss due to breakage especially in root canal treated teeth which can be more brittle, especially when a large restoration also exists.
Bridges
If you are missing teeth and having trouble speaking or chewing, or are noticing strain when biting, bridges may be the ideal procedure to help make your mouth healthy and beautiful again. Bridges literally “bridge” gaps between teeth by filling them with strong, natural-looking artificial teeth. Bridges are considered permanent and are ideal for patients who are missing a a few teeth and do not want to wear a partial plate or denture. They are similar to a crown which cover a single tooth, whereas in a bridge you would have several crowns fused together to replace the missing teeth. Bridges can be placed in the back teeth and front teeth and are also very esthetic. Today, bridges can be made entirely of porcelain so that no metal will show when you smile.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers can perfect your smile by masking stains, hiding chips, correcting misalignment, and creating uniformity. Veneers are thin coverings made of customized porcelain and are designed to slide over the teeth. They are designed to look incredibly natural and dramatically improve the overall appearance of your smile. Indications for veneers include minor misalignment of teeth or intrinsic staining of the teeth that cannot be polished or lightened through professional bleaching. Due to the thinness of the material, very little preparation has to be done to the teeth being treated and is a very conservative option that can bring confidence to your smile.
Root Canal Therapy
Our teeth contain long, thin strands of dental pulp which provides the tooth with nutrients and nerves. The nerves and nutrients are critical during tooth development but afterwards, its purpose is not as critical, and a tooth can remain without this dental pulp. This dental pulp extends down to the entirety of the length of the tooth from crown to root tip. If the pulp becomes infected or injured due to decay or trauma respectively, the tooth’s nerve will die. When this happens, bacteria will invade into this small space called the root canal, leading to pain and infection. Root canal treatment will often save a tooth when this happens. During this procedure, the bacteria and dying nerve is removed and retrofilled with a rubber material that will seal this space from becoming reinfected. With advances in rotary instruments, root canal treatment is not as scary as it used to be. Often times, it can be done in one appointment and with proper anaesthetic the patient often feels no discomfort and remarks that their experience was no different from a standard filling appointment.
Extractions
In only the most extreme and necessary cases such as when teeth are damaged beyond repair, are extractions recommended. With the advance in modern dentistry, we try and maintain and save your teeth whenever possible. Unfortunately there are times when severe infection, decay or trauma lead us to no other alternative than to remove the tooth. However, there are many options available to rehabilitate your smile to replace the lost tooth through implants, bridges and dentures so that all is not lost. Depending on the circumstance, extractions can be done simply by finesse and loosening the ligaments around the tooth, or a surgical approach may be necessary where a small gum flap may need to be made as shown below.
Hygiene Services
Gum disease is a silent and often painless disease that affects most of the adult population to some degree. It leads to tooth loss as the bone that supports the teeth disintegrate due to bacterial toxins. Brushing twice daily and flossing daily are excellent ways to help prevent the progression or start of this disease between dental cleaning appointments. Once bone has started to deteriorate, there is little we can do to replace it. Prevention is the cure for this disease. Everybody's mouths are individual to them. We strive to offer recommendations based on your needs to help prevent or treat gum disease. In a healthy mouth, only a standard general cleaning may be indicated every six months. In someone with advanced gum disease, the treatment is catered to their needs. We are proud to offer treatment options to help prevent the progression of gum disease having specialized cleaning units that can help deliver medicants directly to where it is needed most, which is between the gum and tooth. This is done painlessly and has shown to get your gums back to a healthy pink and firm appearance. Contact our office today to schedule a cleaning or consultation.
Implant Restoration
At Waterdown Dental, we can help restore a smile through dental implants. A dental implant is a two step process. With the help of an oral surgeon or periodontist, an implant post is placed into the jaw and allowed to heal. This usually takes 3-4 months to allow bone to solidly integrate around the implant. Once there is adequate healing, we place a crown that is very natural looking and attach it to this post. Advancment in implants have made the success rate of implants extremely high. Furthermore, implants can sometimes be placed even in areas where there is limited bone. The benefit of the implant is that it does not rely on any other tooth for its success. It is lone standing. Made of biologically friendly titanium, the implant itself can never decay which makes it one the most durable restorative options available.
Non-Surgical Gum Therapy
It is possible that in spite of your best efforts you may require more aggressive gum therapy. Like many other ailments gum disease can be quite painless due to its slow progression.
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After a thorough periodontal screening and examination we may choose more aggressive therapies aimed at eliminating or reducing the amounts of bacterial poisons and plaque accumulating below the gum line, (generally cleaning and polishing of teeth is above the gum-line). This involves curettage and root-planning and/or treatment with site specific administration of medications to the affected gums. Curettage is the debridement of the soft tissue lining around the tooth. In disease, this tissue is chronically irritated by bacteria deep below the visible gum-line and needs to be removed so that proper healing can occur. Root-Planning is the removal and smoothing of micro-amounts of root surface so that a clean and un-infected surface is presented to the healing lining of soft tissue. At our practice we also deliver a medicant that flushes out the deep pockets after the tooth has been rid of hard debris. The medicine is warmed to body temperature and is delivered by a special machine. This medicine called chlorhexidine helps kill off bacteria causing periodontal disease and may help regain healthy gum tissue.
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These three procedures are generally done simultaneously, may require local anesthesia and are skillfully done by our well trained hygienists under the dentists recommendations.
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Gum disease does not happen over night and treatment generally is spread out over time as the effectiveness of a procedure needs to be assessed before the next takes place. Generally your condition is re-assessed in time and joint decisions are made about your next step. The services of a specialist (Periodontist) may be required should surgical intervention be required. Often surgery allows for complete healing of the gum and bone, reduced mobility of teeth and a greatly improved prognosis.
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The hygiene team at Waterdown Dental will work with you to assure that you have access to the care that best suits your needs. They will also help you hone your home-care skills so that you can maintain the optimum level of health that you want.
Athletic Mouthwear
A New Option in Athletic Mouthwear
Scientifically proven to enhance concentration and increase strength and speed, UnderArmour™ Performance Mouthwear can help you improve in your favorite sport—from baseball to golf to hockey. Because these custom-created mouthpieces prevent you from clenching your teeth during training or competition, your body doesn’t trigger your brain to release performance-hindering hormones that can lead to decreased performance due to stress, tiredness, or simple distraction.
UnderArmour Performance Mouthwear
For athletes who want to protect their teeth and enhance their performance, UnderArmour Performance Mouthwear provides performance gear suitable for athletes of all sports. Different from traditional mouthguards that only provide protection, Performance Mouthwear included patented Bite Tech technology that relieves pressure on the temporomandibular joint and prevents teeth clenching. Because Performance Mouthwear prevents the hormone release associated with clenching the teeth or the jaw, you’re able to reach your full potential without stress hormones slowing you down.
The Science behind Performance Mouthwear
Recommended by dentists, trainers and coaches, and used by hundreds of professional athletes, Performance Mouthwear’s performance-enhancing qualities have been studied and reported on in respected peer-review journals. Check out the science behind the product here.
UnderArmour has Performance Mouthwear for Your Needs and Your Sport
Performance Mouthwear is designed for male and female athletes of any sport who want exceptional mouth/teeth protection with the added benefit of performance enhancement. For high-contact sports like football, hockey, lacrosse, and similar activities, the Under Armour Performance Mouthguard offers the maximum protection available. Athletes who participate in limited- or non-contact sports like golf, tennis, baseball, weightlifting, soccer, and similar activities may prefer the Under Armour Performance Mouthpiece, which offers excellent protection in a comfortable design.
The Performance Mouthwear Process
No matter whether you choose a Performance Mouthguard or Performance Mouthpiece, getting a proper fit is a quick and painless process. [Dentist name] will simply make an impression of your top and bottom teeth as well as taking a bite impression—and that’s it! Once your dentist finishes with the impressions, your Under ArmourPerformance Mouthwear will typically be back in our office in around 10 days.
Long-Lasting and Customizable
Looking to add a little color to your life? You can customize your UnderArmour Performance Mouthwear with decals, and yellow biteplates are also available. And UnderArmour Performance Mouthwear is designed to last! For most athletes, one mouthpiece or mouthguard will last at least the entire season—though if you chew on the product, or you have dramatic changes to your teeth or jaw, you’ll likely need to replace it sooner.
Is Performance Mouthwear Right for Me?
Under Armour Performance Mouthwear is an excellent option for most athletes ages 8 and up, but may not be right for everyone. If you have suffered from joint pain, currently have braces, or are missing molars, you should contact [Dentist name] to discuss if Performance Mouthwear is right for your needs.
Performance Mouthwear Care and Cleaning
Under Armour Performance Mouthwear can be cleaned with traditional dental cleaning products. For proven tips on taking good care of your Performance Mouthwear, ask [Dentist Name] or your hygienist to provide you with specific instructions about the best cleaning methods.
Sedation
Nitrous Oxide
Commonly referred to as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is used in surgery and dentistry for its ability to reduce anxiety. The administration of nitrous oxide is used to enhance patient comfort and can be administered safely for both children and adults. Nitrous oxide is inhaled through a face mask. The amount of gas that you receive is monitored and controlled by the dentist to ensure your comfort and safety. The administration of this inhalent is extremely safe and its effects are short lasted. After the procedure is completed, you are given 100% oxygen for a few minutes. The body does not metabolize this gas, so no harmful byproducts within your body are produced. After a few minutes of oxygen, you are fully alert and can safely drive home yourself. It is also very effective for patients with a strong gag reflex. The gas will dampen your reflex so that treatment can be completed comfortably.
Teeth Whitening
Many of us feel that our smiles are most striking when our teeth look especially white, but unfortunately, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and tobacco can leave behind ugly stains. To help you restore your gleaming, bright white smile and to give you an added boost of confidence, we offer many options, such as custom whitening kits and in-office laser whitening (ZOOM). Please contact us today to find out more about these options and which one is best for you.