Smileville Dental

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria and other things. It can happen when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are left on the teeth. Bacteria that normally live in the mouth change these foods, making acids. The combination of bacteria, food, acid, and saliva form a substance called plaque that sticks to the teeth. Over time, the acids made by the bacteria eat away at the tooth enamel, causing cavities.

You can help prevent tooth decay in your child with these simple steps: Start brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first one appears. Brush the teeth, tongue, and gums twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. For children younger than 3 years old, use only a small amount of toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice. Starting at 3 years old, your child can use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Floss your child’s teeth daily after age 2. Make sure your child eats a well-balanced diet. Limit snacks that are sticky and high in sugars. Prevent the transfer of bacteria from your mouth to your child's by not sharing eating utensils. If your child uses a bottle at bedtime, only put water in it. Talk with your child’s healthcare provider or dentist about using a fluoride supplement if you live in an area without fluoridated water. Schedule routine dental cleanings and exams for your child every 6 months.

Very. Seven out of 10 Canadians will develop gum disease at some time in their lives. It is the most common dental problem, and it can progress quite painlessly until you have a real problem.

Gum disease begins when plaque adheres at and below the visible edge of your gums. If plaque is not removed every day by brushing and flossing, it hardens into tartar (also called calculus). Tartar promotes a bacterial infection at the point of attachment. In these early stages, gum disease is called gingivitis.

Prevention is the most important factor in the fight against gum disease. It is essential to keep your teeth and gums clean. Brush your teeth properly at least twice a day and floss at least once every 24 hours. Be sure to see your dentist regularly for professional cleaning and dental exams.

White fillings are used to not only restore your decayed tooth, but to give it a cosmetic improvement. Because they bond directly with the tooth, they have the added benefit of restoring weaker areas of the tooth. During the cavity preparation, more commonly seen for minor cavities, less tooth structure needs to be removed.

Dental X-rays display cavities, fractures, impacted wisdom teeth, bone loss caused by gum disease, etc. Having X-rays taken on a dentist recommended schedule improves our ability to diagnose and treat many common oral health issues. It also allows us to identify serious issues ahead of time.

Commonly referred to as laughing gas, nitrous oxide is used in surgery and dentistry for its pain blocking and reducing effects. It is known as 'laughing gas' due to the euphoric effects of inhaling it. The administration of nitrous oxide is used to enhance patient comfort and relieve anxiety for patients of all ages. The gas (a nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture) is inhaled through a face mask.

To relieve the very real and often debilitating anxiety associated with dental phobia, we also offer oral conscious sedation, known as sedation dentistry. The procedure involves taking an oral sedative prior to your visit, then receiving nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to supplement the sedative's effects. Your vital signs and comfort level are keenly monitored throughout your visit.

By scheduling periodic dental exams, you will be on track with if and when you need your wisdom teeth removed. By staying on track, you are giving yourself the benefit of a faster recovery and proper long-term health of surrounding teeth and gums.

Orthopedics is typically the first step in the process of remedying maloccluded teeth in children, using short-term removable therapies to promote appropriate facial growth and jaw structure. Orthodontics typically involves bonding braces to the teeth to gradually move them into a straighter, less crowded pattern.

A space maintainer is an appliance that is custom-made by a dentist or orthodontist in acrylic or metal material. It can be either removable or cemented in a child's mouth. Its purpose is to keep the space open to allow the permanent tooth to erupt and come into place.

For a toothache, call Smileville Dental and explain your symptoms. For a chipped or broken tooth, call and explain what happened. For a knocked-out tooth, if it is an adult tooth, try to put it back in its socket or place it in cold milk and visit Smileville Dental right away. For a badly bitten lip or tongue, press down on the bleeding area with a clean cloth and use an ice pack if swollen. If bleeding does not stop, go to emergency. For something stuck between teeth, try dental floss gently. For a lost filling, put a piece of softened sugarless chewing gum in the spot and see a dentist as soon as possible.