The Importance of Dental Care and Tips on Picking the Right Toothbrush

Why Dental Care Is Important For Everyone

Even at a very young age, children are taught to brush their teeth at least twice every day to have strong and healthy teeth. It is important that parents reinforce these habits until kids no longer have to be reminded to brush their teeth.

Oral health care is a lifetime commitment – even people who have lost all their teeth need to keep their mouths healthy, as their gums can be just as sensitive to bacteria, germs, and diseases as those that still have their teeth.

Regular visits to your dentist to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy, and to check that your home care is sufficient is imperative. You might think you are able to see everything that is going on in your mouth, but you would be surprised at the things that can hide in there!

Good oral health care doesn’t need to be time consuming and arduous. The trick is getting into the habit, and then sticking with it!

Improve Dental Health by Using the Right Toothbrush

Dental health care professionals advise patients to see their dentist at least once or twice a year for checkups and regular teeth cleaning. During the rest of the year, it is important to have good home care. The trick is using the correct tools – a good toothbrush, floss, and mouth rinse are the foundations of preventative dental care.

Choosing the right toothbrush can be daunting when you’re standing in the store staring at a wall of toothbrushes of different shapes, sizes, and textures. Here are some quick tips to help you choose:

• Choose soft bristled brushes. Recommended by The Canadian Dental Association, toothbrushes with soft and rounded bristles are best as they are a lot gentler on teeth and gums. The average person tends to “scrub” their teeth with their toothbrush, so using a stiff-bristled brush can actually do damage to the teeth and gums, causing bleeding and wearing of the tooth enamel causing sensitivity. Soft-bristled brushes are also better for removing food debris and plaque on teeth, as the bristles slide in-between teeth a lot easier.

• Choose nylon bristles. Some people may have heard of the “natural toothbrush” trend, where people use wooden toothbrushes with bristles made out of an Araak tree root (also known as Miswak). Apart from their wooden handle, natural brushes are also easily distinguished by their (usually) light brown bristles (sometimes made of pig’s hair!). Unfortunately, no proper research has been done on these brushes yet as to how effective or harmful they are to a person’s teeth. That being said, dental professionals feel it is better to stick with the recommended nylon-bristled toothbrushes that are commonly used around the world.

• Choose the right toothbrush head size. People may sometimes fuss over the shape of the toothbrush head and how it looks, but one should be more concerned about the size of the toothbrush head. For example, if you have a small mouth, you may have a hard time angling the toothbrush properly if the head is too big. Toothbrushes with small heads are more commonly recommended for the general populous.

More Tips and Advice From the Experts

The AmberWood Dental experts are more than willing to share more tips and advice on taking care of your teeth. The clinic offers a variety of dental services that residents in Vancouver may need, like general dentistry treatments such as checkups and teeth cleaning.

For more information on the types of services available, please visit the website at www.amberwooddental.ca.

How Root Canal Therapy Can Save a Tooth

Relieving the Pain

There are a number of reasons why someone might experience a toothache. It may be due to tooth decay (cavity), or something more serious like an abscess (infection). Whatever the cause, it can be uncomfortable and quite painful. Luckily, there are ways your dentist can help alleviate that pain.

When people experience excruciating tooth pain, the first thing they think of to do is to have the tooth extracted. Although this may seem like the simplest route, it is generally only used as a last resort. Just like a regular doctor, the dentist wants to give the patient the best course of treatment for the health of the patient, and in the case of dentistry, to help save the tooth where possible. The main procedure used to do this is called Root Canal Therapy (Endodontics).

Root Canal Therapy is used to treat a tooth when the nerve or pulp of the tooth has already been compromised by tooth decay or infection. This treatment saves the tooth by only removing the nerve of the tooth, then sealing the top of the tooth with a filling and crowning (covering) the tooth to restore its normal shape and function. Often, if your tooth is infected, your dentist will put you on a course of antibiotics to relieve the infection and pain before starting treatment.

Root Canal Therapy Aftercare Tips

A few precautions for a patient to follow to ensure they endure as little pain as possible, and to prevent subsequent dental emergencies related to treatment are:

• Wait until the numbness in the mouth has worn off before eating anything – Since, the numbness prevents you from feeling anything at all, it is possible to burn your mouth and tongue from eating foods that are too hot, or anything that needs to be chewed puts you at risk for accidentally chewing your cheek or tongue. You won’t be aware of it until after the freezing comes out, and by then it will be extremely sore, so best to avoid if possible. If you absolutely must eat something, liquids or foods that don’t need to be chewed or are not too hot are recommended (i.e. slightly warmed soup).

• Dentists will often use a temporary filling to seal the canals before inserting the crown if they feel it needs time to rest and heal, of if the tooth needed to be medicated (for severe infection). It is not uncommon for the temporary filling to come out, especially if you have been eating sticky foods. If you notice a medicine-like taste in your mouth, or if your tongue feels that there is a hole in the tooth, contact your dentist. Leaving the post-root canal tooth unsealed while it is still sensitive may open it up again to infection as bacteria can get back into the exposed tooth. For that reason, it is important to closely monitor the temporary filling in case it completely comes off.

• Swelling is a normal and common post-root canal occurrence which is not alarming, but it can be quite uncomfortable. Fortunately, patients can reduce or ease the swelling through the usual ice pack technique. They can even use frozen vegetables such as peas instead of an ice pack, though the latter is most likely more effective. The moment a patient gets home after root canal therapy, he has to place an ice pack on the affected area for about half an hour. After that, he can keep reapplying the ice pack for 10-15 minutes every hour until the discomfort from the swelling has subsided enough.

Root Canal Therapy and Other Dental Services in Vancouver

Those experiencing toothaches can consult the experts from AmberWood Dental, a dental clinic in Vancouver which offers a variety of dental treatments, including root canal therapy. They can be contacted through this number: (604) 732-6561 or through the other contact details listed on their website: www.amberwooddental.ca

Do not jump right into a tooth extraction, think about saving the tooth first through root canal therapy!

Don’t Just Brush, Floss For Healthier and Stronger Teeth!

Doing More Than Just Brushing

We all know, the most commonly known and practiced dental care habit is brushing, so nearly everyone knows how to do it (and how often they should do it). It’s been drilled into people’s minds since early childhood, and has remained stuck in the minds of adults everywhere for generations. But there is more to this dental tale . . .

While brushing is the most popular dental care practice, it is not the only one people should do every day. There is a common misconception that brushing is enough, but we’re here to tell you if you’re just brushing, you’re only getting part of the job done!

Truth be told, brushing does do most of the dirty work when it comes to cleaning your mouth, but you wouldn’t use a bulldozer to dig a small hole, would you? The toothbrush can’t get into all of those tiny in-between spaces. It needs the proper tool, and that tool is dental floss.

Imagine a small piece of food falling down in between your car seats. After a day, it might be ok, but imagine what it’s like after a week, a month, or longer? If you don’t pick that out (and we all know how hard it is to dig stuff out from between the seats), it’s going to rot, start to smell, and get pretty nasty. It’s the same with the food stuck between your teeth. If not “picked” out with floss, it’s going to decompose, and low and behold . . . the dreaded tooth decay forms!

The Types of Dental Floss

Although it may look like a simple piece of string (and trust me, you don’t want to use string to floss your teeth), dental floss comes in many types. You’re not going to use it if it’s not comfortable and convenient, right? So here are a few examples to get you on the right track:

• Regular floss. Also known as “un-waxed” dental floss, this is the traditional kind of floss that is packed in small, often square-shaped cases with a metal or plastic attachment that is used to cut the floss to the desired length. Regular floss is best used by those without much restorative work, and not too-tight contacts between teeth.

• Waxed floss. Just like the name says, this type of floss is just like the regular kind, except it’s coated in wax. The wax allows the floss to slide easily and smoothly in between teeth. This type of floss is ideal for people who have tight contacts between the teeth, or major restorative work as it’s less likely to get stuck in between the teeth and become difficult to remove. Many dental professionals claim that unwaxed floss is better at grabbing food particles, but it unfortunately doesn’t slide as smoothly as waxed floss.

• Teflon floss (aka Polytetrafluorethylene). Known as the type of floss that is easy and quick to use, it is sort of like the waxed floss, only it has no wax. Polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) or Teflon floss is the same material used in high-tech Gore-Tex fabric (sounds perfect for our Vancouver weather, doesn’t it?) The material slides between the teeth easily and is less likely to shred compared to standard floss (www.oralb.com).

Learn How to Floss Properly

Since it is a commonly overlooked dental care practice, some people may not be aware about the proper way of flossing. Fortunately, there are several dental professionals in Vancouver like ours at AmberWood Dental that are more than willing to show people how!

Pay a visit or give our clinic a call at (604) 732-6561, or visit our website for more contact information at www.amberwooddental.ca.

Finding Out the Reasons Behind Bad Breath

What Is Halitosis?

“Bad breath, or halitosis, is characterized by an unpleasant odour of the mouth.” – www.medicinenet.com

Halitosis (clinical term for bad breath) is quite a common problem that people have either experienced themselves, or know someone who has. It is undeniably an issue people would rather not have, as it is not only unhealthy, but can also cause self-esteem issues.

In a way, it is similar to being overly self-conscious of crooked teeth, where people would rather keep their mouths closed to hide them. The feeling can be the same for people with bad breath – they can be concerned about talking too close to other people due to their halitosis. On the other hand, some people can be completely unaware that they have bad breath, and are only conscious of a bad taste in their mouth. Everyone’s experience is different.

Generally it is others that will notice it first, but it can be difficult, and uncomfortable, to tell someone that they have bad breath. We often will try to do it covertly, like having a piece of gum or a mint, and then offering the other person one. It has become such a common concern that it has created a billion dollar industry of gum, mints, and mouthwash.

If you’re unsure, here is a simple test to determine whether or not one has bad breath, taken from www.nhs.uk:

“A simple test to find out whether you have bad breath is to lick the inside of your wrist with the back of your tongue and wait for a few seconds until the saliva dries. If your wrist smells unpleasant, it is likely your breath does too.”

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath can be caused by several factors, often because of a person’s lifestyle, diet, health conditions, etc. Some of the main causes are:

• Food and drinks. There are certain types of food and drinks that instantly cause bad breath upon consumption, as their odours linger until the mouth is cleaned properly. Most of these foods are spices, including onions, ginger, and exotic spices like curry. In fact, spicy food is often the main culprit behind bad breath, often due to the mixture of different spices. Acidic drinks, and some types of fish and cheeses, can also cause bad breath. Another major issue is when food gets stuck in between teeth for an extended period of time, causing the growth of bacteria. This is why it’s important to brush and floss after each meal!

• Smoking or using other types of tobacco products. It is common knowledge that the use of tobacco products will often stain teeth, and cause bad breath. Nicotine is particularly notorious for sticking to teeth and being difficult to remove. Apart from causing bad breath, smoking and the use of other tobacco products can also irritate the gums eventually leading to gum disease. Gum disease just compounds the bad breath issue, and it then becomes a vicious cycle that is difficult to get out of.

• Less than satisfactory dental hygiene. In the absence of good oral health care, the mouth turns instantly into a haven for bacteria and bad breath. Without regular brushing, flossing and the use of mouthwash, food that gets stuck in between teeth will remain stuck, and “decompose” in the mouth. Imagine leaving foods like meat and cheese in an unplugged refrigerator for a week (or even a day) . . . not too pleasant a smell, is it? Keeping on top of your oral health care regimen is imperative to keeping a clean (and odour-free) mouth. And don’t forget to brush your tongue too!

Have the Bad Breath Checked

If breath continues to be unpleasant, or gets worse over time, it’s best to visit a dentist so they can check for any underlying causes.  Fortunately, there are good dentists in Vancouver who are always willing to help, such as the dentists at AmberWood Dental.

Apart from checking for bad breath or other dental problems, the clinic offers other sorts of dentistry treatments. For more information on these treatments, visit their website at www.amberwooddental.ca!

When Does One Need to See a Dentist? Here Are Three Examples of Warning Signs

Taking Dental Care Seriously

People use their teeth every day, most commonly for eating and chewing on food, but that is not the only purpose of the teeth. The teeth also affect the way a person speaks, as there are certain words that require the tongue to touch the teeth.

That is often the reason why when people lose a significant number of their teeth, they sound different or a little strange when they talk. Of course, the missing teeth also largely affect the way a person eats as there are fewer tools to help chew the food into pieces for it to be swallowed easily.

In other words, having missing teeth can cause some inconvenience to the person as it can significantly affect his everyday life. That should be reason enough for people to practice proper dental care habits

Taking care of one’s teeth does not even have to be that hard, everyone can do it regardless of age, size, gender, etc. In fact, even a small child can take care of his teeth on his own if his parents have taught him how to do it!

Brushing, flossing, using mouthwash are three of the most basic dental care habits everyone can do. On top of that are visits to the dentist, which should be done at least once a year.

When Does One Really Need a Dentist?

Apart from the recommended annual dentist visits, there are certain situations that would require a person to pay a visit to the dentist regardless of the annual schedule. These instances could occur due to dental injuries caused by accidents, or problems developed from neglecting proper dental care habits.

Whatever the reason may be, if anyone out there experiences these following signs, it is time to pay a visit to the dentist ASAP!

• Toothache. Sometimes when people experience toothache, they wait until it resides for a day or two and decide they are all better and will not visit the dentist anymore. That, of course, is not a good practice. The root problem still remains and the pain can keep coming back even if the body’s natural responses can fight off infections or anything causing pain. When something hurts, there is definitely something wrong and it cannot simply go away with the wave of a magic wand. The moment the toothache or pain hits, it is time to see the dentist. In fact, even mild toothaches can be a sign of a more serious, underlying dental problem that can get worse if not checked or left untreated.

• Changes in the gums. The teeth are not the only ones that can get affected by poor dental hygiene. The gums are just as sensitive to germs and bacteria in the mouth as the teeth and are even probably more sensitive. These said germs and bacteria can lead to a dental problem called gingivitis, identified as the inflammation of the gums. Gingivitis is known to actually be painless, but it can lead to a more serious problem called periodontitis, a more severe development of gingivitis. The symptoms people have to watch out for are gums that have turned bluish-red or red, receding gums, swollen gums, and pus and odor coming from the gums. Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing can also be a telltale sign that something is wrong. If any of these happen, one should immediately see a dentist to save the gums and the teeth.

• Canker sores that do not heal. Canker sores are known to be quite painful and a hindrance to a person’s everyday activities, especially when it comes to eating and speaking. Thankfully, they tend to go as quickly as they come, and heal after a few days or a week at most. However, watch out for canker sores that do not heal at all and are accompanied by persistent pain and a high fever. These sorts of canker sores are more than just a minor hindrance, and can be a sign of something more serious. The only way to confirm it is by having a dentist evaluate and check on the symptoms, especially the persistent and non-healing canker sore.

Dental Check Ups at Vancouver

Residents in Vancouver do not have to travel too far in order to receive dental checkups and other general dentistry treatments. They can just head over to AmberWood Dental and allow their Vancouver dentist provide the dental treatment or checkup they need.

For those who need more information on the said clinic, they can check out the website at www.amberwooddental.ca. All of their contact details are listed there as well, so just click on the link to their website to find other ways to reach them and talk to them personally!

The Definition of Cosmetic Dentistry and Three Examples of Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments

Defining Cosmetic Dentistry

“Cosmetic dentistry is generally used to refer to any dental work that improves the appearance (though not necessarily the function) of a person’s teeth, gums and/or bite.”

Teeth are often the most easily noticed facial feature, especially when a person smiles, talks, or does any movement that exposes the teeth. Since the teeth are easy to notice, it only makes sense that people would go to certain measures into making sure they look great.

Nearly everyone has the desire to have shiny and beautiful pearly white teeth so they can have no shame in giving a big smile. Some studies have also shown that people with better looking teeth are known to be more confident.

It often also follows that teeth that look great also feel great, in other words good-looking teeth are most of the time healthy teeth as well. For instance, straightening out crooked teeth makes teeth easier to clean, thus they are less susceptible to tooth decay caused by food debris that remains in between teeth.

The different dental treatments in cosmetic dentistry can do a wide range of enhancements for teeth, some of which include the following:

• Fill in spaces or gaps in between teeth
• Lighten the color of teeth
• Replace missing teeth
• Make changes to the shape, alignment and size of teeth
• Improve or correct a person’s bite
• Fix broken, chipped, decayed or cracked teeth
• Replace dental treatments that have gone old and unattractive

The Different Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments

Cosmetic dentistry is only the general term of the treatments found under this dental field, each treatment has its own certain purposes or goals. In order to provide a better understanding of these said treatments, below are a few examples of cosmetic dentistry procedures and their definitions:

• Porcelain Crowns. Porcelain crowns or dental crowns often follow after a patient has undergone some sort of restorative dentistry treatment like fillings or root canals. Crowns are made to take the original shape and size of a tooth, before it incurred any damages that left it broken or fractured. These crowns are then used to cover the tooth or what is left of it after restorative or emergency treatment (in case of injuries and accidents). Since the crown acts more as a covering instead of a complete replacement, crowns are also known by the name of dental caps. The purposes of getting porcelain crowns include protecting a weak tooth, holding parts of a cracked or broken tooth together, support a tooth with a large filling, and more.

• Composite Fillings. Tooth decay is a dental problem where bacteria and germs eat away at the teeth, causing cavities or holes to form on the teeth. These cavities are often easily identified as gray or black spots on an otherwise white tooth, thus they are quite obvious. Of course, these cavities can be easily removed by the dentist, but then it still leaves behind spaces or holes in the tooth. This is where composite tooth fillings come in to quite basically fill in this holes and bring the tooth to its original size and shape. Composite fillings are made out of a mixture of certain dental-friendly glass and plastic, and have a color that is quite similar to natural teeth so they blend right in. Apart from filling in cavities, composite tooth fillings are also used to fix chipped, cracked or broken teeth, worn out teeth, filling in spaces between teeth, etc.

• Porcelain Fixed Bridge. Dental bridges are made out of two or more dental crowns and are used to replace missing teeth. Taken from their own name, dental bridges “bridge” gaps or empty spaces in the gums caused by missing teeth. Aside from porcelain, dental bridges can also be made from alloys, gold or a combination of these materials. Porcelain just happens to be more popular since it looks the closest to natural teeth, making a person’s smile look like there were no missing teeth in the first place. Dental bridges are installed following a procedure called dental implants, which provide support for the bridges. In a way, dental bridges are similar to dentures, except for the fact that bridges are permanent and are not removable.

Thinking of Undergoing Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments

Everyone deserves a good-looking smile so they can feel better about themselves, and there are a good number of cosmetic dentistry professionals to help these people out.

People who are looking for cosmetic dentistry in Vancouver, they can find it at AmberWood Dental. Their website contains more information about the services they have to offer and their contact numbers, just visit them at www.amberwooddental.ca

Three Tips to Help Children Overcome Their Fear of the Dentist

Why Dental Health Is Important for Children

Parents are the first teachers of children, and whatever parents teach their children often stick to them (the children) until they are full-grown adults. This is why parents should always be wary of what they teach their kids, especially when it comes to matters like dental or oral health.

Most parents would probably agree though that trying to teach their children good dental habits can at times be a tough challenge. This is often because children tend to get rowdy and have too short attention spans to pay any heed to brushing their teeth properly.

However, it is a challenge parents must overcome for the sake of their children’s current and future dental health. For even if a child’s primary teeth eventually fall off, how it is taken care of can affect the status or health of the permanent teeth growing below.

If a child has less than favorable dental health while he still has his primary teeth, his permanent teeth may grow to be weak and unhealthy as well. The only effective way to prevent that from happening is to simply instill good dental habits in the child to lessen the risks of dental health problems.

What If the Child Is Scared of the Dentist?

Another common challenge parents’ face when it comes to their child’s dental health is when their child has somehow developed a fear of the dentist. There can be a number of reasons why children develop this fear, either because of the clinic’s atmosphere, or previous experiences with the dentist that were not very pleasant.

Whatever the reason may be, it can often be a major hindrance to ensuring the child is a 100% orally healthy. After all, dentists are the most trusted health professionals to not only treat dental problems, but identify and diagnose subtle underlying ones.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to help a child overcome his fear of the dentist. For parents who have such children, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• The earlier a child is introduced to a dentist, the better. If a child is exposed to a dentist and dental clinics at an early age, it is easier to desensitize him of his fear of dentists. The child will be able to get used to the atmosphere of the dental clinic, the face of the dentist, etc. at an easier and quicker pace. Then the question now is “how early is early?” The answer to that is as early as the child is a year old, or when the first tooth is visible!
• Show the child that going to the dentist is a good thing. Remember that children often follow what their parents do, so parents themselves should exercise good dental habits and no fear of the dentist. Parents should try bringing their child or children along during their next routine dental cleaning and let them watch the proceeds of the cleaning. They (parents) should explain calmly and even with a smile what the dentist is doing, and let them know that the process is completely painless. Afterwards, parents should show their children how great and healthy they feel because of the treatment. If the children see that their parents are not scared of the dentist, they will not find any reason to be scared themselves.
• Consider taking the child to a family dentist. There are certain dentists who deal mainly with adults, and dentists who are well-versed in treating younger patients or patients of all ages. The latter are called family dentists, and these professionals often know exactly how to handle children, especially those who are nervous about their dentist visit. Family dentists aim to create a fun and relaxing atmosphere for the child, so he (the child) feels comfortable around the dentist. When the child feels comfortable around the dentist and starts trusting him, future dentist visits will no longer be a problem.

Vancouver Dental Services

AmberWood Dental is among one of the family dental clinics parents can entrust their child’s dental health to. Parents can find a variety of dental care services for their children and themselves by dropping by their clinic or even visiting their website www.amberwooddental.ca

Find out how the clinic’s family dentist can help ensure that a child stays orally healthy until adulthood!

Avoid Tooth Decay with the Help of These Tips

The Story behind Tooth Decay

There are several different types of dental problems people encounter at some point in their lives, but there is one particular problem that is the most common amongst the others. This said dental problem is called tooth decay or cavity, which can happen to everyone, regardless of age, size, economic status, etc.

Tooth decay is defined by www.webmd.com as “damage that occurs when germs (bacteria) in your mouth make acids that eat away at a tooth. It can lead to a hole in the tooth called a cavity. If not treated, tooth decay can cause pain, infection and tooth loss.”

This can start out so small that one would not worry right away, but then it can grow into a more serious problem that would require more intensive dental care. In fact, tooth decay is considered to be the foundation or root problem of most dental illnesses such as tooth abscess, gingivitis, etc.

Tooth decay starts out as a black-colored hole on the tooth enamel, then it can go down to the dentin and even lower to the pulp. When it reaches the pulp, that is when things are at their worst and patients often feel a lot of pain.

Prevent the Pain of Tooth Decay

Fortunately, like other health and dental problems, there are several ways to prevent tooth decay from happening. Here are some of these said tooth decay-prevention tips to take note of for those who want to keep their teeth healthy and pain free:

• Establish a regular brushing habit. One of the main causes of tooth decay is the failure to practice a regular brushing regimen and constantly skipping brushing times. Not brushing allows food debris, germs and bacteria to stay and grow on the teeth, eventually allowing the bacteria to eat the tooth and cause tooth decay. Brushing is one of the most effective methods of removing food debris and cleaning the teeth and mouth of tooth decay-causing germs and bacteria. Brushing has to be done at least twice a day, especially upon waking up, before going to sleep, and after meals. Additionally, using a toothpaste that contains fluoride also helps tons in preventing tooth decay.

• Add flossing and mouthwash into the dental health regimen. While brushing is extremely helpful in keeping the mouth clean and healthy, just brushing is not enough. For a total mouth clean, one needs to regularly floss and rinse his mouth using fluoride mouthwash. Flossing helps in removing food debris from in between teeth or from areas in the mouth that is hard to reach or clean properly with a toothbrush. Then after brushing, using mouthwash provides added protection and cleanliness for one’s mouth and teeth.

• Schedule regular visits to the dentist. Another thing one must do regularly in order to ensure the health of his teeth and prevent tooth decay is to visit a dentist. While maintaining a good dental health regimen is one of the best ways to ensure the teeth stay healthy, there may be certain factors one might overlook. Dentists are trained health professionals who are able to detect problems one may not have noticed. Regular dentist visits can help detect problems early on, and allows for early diagnosis and treatment before it gets worse.

Find a Dentist in Vancouver

For residents in Vancouver looking for a good dentist they can visit regularly, they can find the right dental professional at AmberWood Dental. More details on their services and contact details can be found on their website www.amberwooddental.ca.

Remember these tips to prevent the hassle and pain of a tooth decay, and make sure to see a dental health professional on a regular basis!

What Are Composite Fillings and How Do They Benefit Patients

A Deeper Look Into Composite Fillings

“A composite filling is a tooth-colored plastic and glass mixture used to restore decayed teeth. Composites are also used for cosmetic improvements of the smile by changing the color of the teeth or reshaping disfigured teeth.” – http://www.knowyourteeth.com

In life, it is normal for people to encounter a couple of dental problems or more, the most common being cavities caused by tooth decay. Fortunately, all types of dental problems have treatments that can remedy them, but some treatments can leave behind some “scars.”

While it is important to remove tooth decay as soon as possible before it gets worse, at times it can leave a hollow hole on the tooth. The size of such hole would depend on the severity of the tooth decay.

Thankfully, that hole does not have to be permanent because there is yet another dental treatment to fill in tooth holes caused by decay. This said treatment is plainly known as tooth fillings, which most commonly come in either tooth-colored material (composite) or silver-colored material (amalgam).

Getting tooth fillings is usually what come after removing tooth decay, but there are a few other reasons why people may consider getting these fillings too. What are some of these other reasons? Here are a few examples below:

• Close the space between two teeth
• Fix teeth that are worn, cracked, broken or chipped

How Patients Benefit from Composite Tooth Fillings

While there are also gold tooth fillings, amalgam and composite still stand out as the most popular choice amongst patients. However, out of the two types of fillings, composite ones shine a little brighter and get picked more over amalgam fillings.

Of course, the choice of filling type would always depend on a patient’s taste, needs and status of his dental health. There are reasons though as to why people would often choose composite fillings over the other types.

These are some of the following reasons why they would do so:

• It is more aesthetically appealing. As mentioned before, composite fillings are made to have the same color as a natural tooth, and amalgam fillings are silver. When it comes to which is more attractive, composite fillings are chosen more for their natural look. Tooth-colored composite fillings look quite close to an actual tooth, and are barely noticeable, whereas silver-colored amalgams stick out like a sore thumb. This is often also why composites are ideal for front teeth fillings.

• It provides more support. Composite filling chemically bond to the tooth structure, allowing them to have quite a strong hold on the tooth. Through this chemical bonding, the composite filling is able to provide further support for the tooth.

• They require less “downtime.” Patients who get amalgam fillings will have to refrain from using their teeth for several hours until the fillings are fully hardened. On the other hand, composite fillings are fully cured during their placement, meaning they are already dried and hardened, and thus ready for use right after the treatment.

Finding the Right Dentist

Composite fillings are among one of the many cosmetic dentistry treatments available in several clinics in Vancouver, one of these clinics that offer such treatment is AmberWood Dental. This clinic also offers other dental treatments and procedures which can all be found on their website www.amberwooddental.ca.

For more questions or inquiries, one can also call them at (604) 732-6561. If anyone is concerned about a tooth decay and wants it removed, the dentists here can help out and put in the necessary fillings too!

Replacing Lost Teeth with These Three Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments

If I asked you to cite a day when you never used your teeth, you’d either have a difficult time or not have an answer at all. Of course, that’s understandable. We use our teeth every day, and even if it isn’t an involuntary action like the beating of our hearts, we use them almost like a subconscious habit. Using our teeth doesn’t even have to be restricted to eating, because our teeth also play a major part in the way we speak. This is because some parts of our speech require our tongue or lips to make contact with our teeth in order to pronounce a word properly. Since we use our teeth so often, conditions like edentulism or the state of being toothless can have drastic effects on anyone who has them. Not only will partial or complete tooth loss affect the way we eat or speak, it can also affect our self-esteem. That’s why we have to take care for our teeth to ensure that they’re in tip top condition. However, when a certain degree of tooth loss still happens, don’t fret because there are ways to make the situation better. For instance, most dental clinics are well-equipped with technologies and techniques to perform modern cosmetic dentistry in Vancouver. These cosmetic treatments are the main and the most popular solution people run to whenever they want to improve the way their teeth look. To give you an idea on what types of cosmetic dentistry are available in dental clinics right now, read the following examples:
● Porcelain Veneers. These are custom-made shells that are made quite thin and coloured to look like a natural tooth. Porcelain Veneers are used and bonded onto the front surface of the teeth to improve its appearance. People who avail of these treatments are usually those whose teeth are discoloured, worn down, chipped, broken, and misaligned or have wide gaps between them.
● Dental Crowns. If Porcelain Veneers are more focused on the front teeth, Dental Crowns can take care of the ones that are at the back. Crowns are like ‘tooth caps’ that are moulded into the shape of the tooth it’s supposed to cover. Dental Crowns are cemented into place, totally encasing the tooth within. These are used to protect weak teeth or to hold together ones that are already cracked into different parts. Dental Crowns can also be used to restore broken or severely worn down teeth.
● Dental Bridges. To put it simply, Dental Bridges are Dental Crowns grouped and adhered together. Basically, these are made out of two or more Dental Crowns, and are used to bridge any gaps made from the loss of one or more teeth. Since Dental Bridges fill in more than one tooth, they can allow a smile to look better. They also help restore the wearer’s ability to speak and chew properly, while still maintaining the shape of our face. These are probably the three most common tooth loss solutions people tend to avail of when they experience partial or complete edentulism. If there ever comes a time where you may experience something like that, just visit your dentist to see which of these solutions can best help you out!