With the population aging, a large percentage of adults are entering their golden years. This means that there is an increasing number of people who experience tooth loss. In fact, studies show that roughly 25 percent of Americans over age 60 have lost some or all of their teeth. Sometimes it is linked to poor oral hygiene and advanced tooth decay or gum disease, and other times it simply has to do with age. No matter the cause, missing teeth can often be restored with dental implants.
One of the most recent and advanced options for tooth replacement, dental implants provide a comfortable and secure solution. The procedure requires surgically placing a titanium rod into the jaw so that it can attach to the jaw bone as it heals. Once it has sufficiently healed, an artificial tooth is placed on top to complete the restoration.
Dental implants are popular due to a number advantages that they have over alternatives. Some of the reasons patients like implants include:
- Durability – with good oral hygiene, dental implants can last a lifetime.
- Side effects – there are very few side effects after the initial irritation or discomfort subsides soon after the oral surgery.
- Maintenance – implants are brushed, flossed and rinsed the same way as real teeth.
- Strength – made of titanium, which is one of the strongest metals around, implants are tough and resilient.
- Comfort – gum inflammation or irritation are rare with implants.
- Security – since implants are screwed right into the jaw, they are secure and can’t slip.
- Speech – the security of dental implants also means that they don’t negatively affect speech.
- Diet – implants function just like real teeth so that there are no special diet requirements.
- Confidence – the natural look and feel of dental implants gives patients confidence in the quality of the restoration.
- Success – the success rate of implants is extremely high.
Dental care is something that every member of the family should have high on the priority list. Most of the time kids aren’t thinking about their teeth, so it’s up to parents to choose a good family dentist and make sure everyone in the household gets the treatment needed for a beautiful smile. Finding the right dentist for your family is important, so here are some tips on how to make a selection.
Staff
The dentist you are looking for should be friendly and make patients feel at ease. Being supportive of your needs and addressing any concerns is key to making patients feel confident in the dentist’s work. Hygienists should be kind and encouraging, making patients comfortable while in the dental chair. Front office staff should also be welcoming and helpful so that your entire experience from start to finish is good.
Scheduling
Busy families have to juggle school, work, sports, and appointments. Selecting a dentist who has flexible hours for appointments is important to families on-the-go. Weekend or evening hours are becoming more common with family dentists. This promotes scheduling all family members in a block of time with concurrent or back-to-back appointments, making a single trip to the family dentist possible.
Office
A benefit that most family dentists provide is an entertaining and comfortable environment. The waiting room should be full of engaging activities to distract children while they wait, which sometimes can be a scary situation for kids. Many dentists also provide entertainment during treatment, such as movies playing on video screens or headphones for music. Bonuses such as these give dental offices the edge over others, especially when children are involved.
Outreach
Good family dentists realize that you are busy. Look for a dental office that gives reminder calls before appointments, mails a friendly postcard with your appointment time, or sends emails to jog your memory. Outreach like this shows that the dentist cares about your family and helps you stay on top of your schedule to get the dental care for your family members without missing a beat.
Family dentist in Toronto Ontario
If you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile, you may be considering a smile makeover. A smile makeover is a treatment plan that combines various dental treatments to improve the quality and appearance of your smile. Because the American Dental Association does not recognize dentistry as one of its eight specialties, any dentist can legally call themselves a “dentist.” To ensure the safety and success of your treatment, it is critical that you identify a dental professional with the proper training, relevant experience, and a proven track record. When considering a dentist to perform your smile makeover, think about the following:
- Inquire about their dentistry education. What postgraduate courses and training have they completed in the specific cosmetic procedures you are seeking?
- Ask if they hold an accreditation with The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. What other organizations do they belong to that focus on dentistry treatment and education?
- Can they provide before and after photographs of previous patients they have treated for smile makeovers? This is a critical step for you to ensure you will be comfortable with the results they can achieve.
- Ask for recommendations and reviews from previous smile makeover patients. You may also want to conduct an internet search for feedback from prior or current patients.
- Inquire about how long the dentist has been in practice, and also about how often they perform the specific cosmetic procedures you are seeking for your smile makeover.
- Find out if their office utilizes the most current dental technologies available.
- Visit their office to assess the general attitude of their office and dental staff. Since your treatment may require multiple visits, you should feel welcome and comfortable with both the dentist and their staff.
Taking the time to find an experienced, qualified, and welcoming dentist can make the difference between an unhappy or happy smile. In cooperation with a carefully selected dentist, a smile makeover can be a painless process resulting in a lifetime of beautiful smiles.
Fear of the dentist is a very common type of phobia that people may experience. Neglecting dental care can affect the health, appearance, and function of a person’s teeth and gums. It can also harm overall health by allowing germs into the body through problems like infection. Sedation dentistry offers a safe and effective way for patients with dental fears to get the care they need.
Most dental procedures don’t actually require sedation, or at least not more than light amounts. Mild anesthetics like a shot of Novocain are usually used for simple procedures such as getting a cavity filled. However, patients with dental fears can benefit from stronger sedation levels even for minor treatments. Helping these types of patients relax enough to get necessary care may be the only way to accomplish the procedures.
Some types of medications offered during dental sedation include anti-anxiety drugs, tranquilizers, depressants or nitrous oxide. There are a variety of methods for administering the drugs as well. Swallowing oral pills, inhaling nitrous oxide gas, or injecting drugs directly into the vein are all common options. Most of these types of sedation have few to no side effects, and risks are minimal when sedation is performed by a trained and qualified dentist.
Dental sedation is helpful to healthcare professionals as well as patients. Dentists are able to perform longer or more complex procedures when patients are sedated. Multiple procedures are also made possible in a single visit when dental sedation is used. Dentists commonly find it simpler to work on relaxed, cooperative patients instead of nervous and fidgety ones.
Most patients aren’t aware of treatments that occur while under sedation, so they are more likely to return to the dentist in the future. Sedation also eliminates pain so that patients are comfortable throughout treatment. These benefits make sedation appealing to patients with dental fears, allowing them to achieve better oral health without the accompanying anxiety.
Special occasions like class reunions and weddings where photos are going to be taken are important. You will want to look your best, especially when you look back on the photos in years to come. When you look in your mirror, are you noticing that your smile seems less than its best? Could your look use some refreshing?
As time passes, our smiles age. Whether you realize it or not, your teeth are discoloring a little bit every day. Discoloration can come from the food we consume, such as blueberries, beets, blackberries, balsamic vinegar or soy sauce. Drinking tea, red wine, coffee or dark soda can also affect the brightness of your smile. Smoking leaves teeth looking yellow and dingy.
As well as discoloring, our teeth slowly wear away. The outer, whiter layer of enamel will thin with age, revealing the yellower layer of dentin underneath. The length of a tooth is also reduced with age as teeth wear away with natural, everyday use. Short, discolored teeth send a signal of old age whether we intend them to or not.
Composite bonding, porcelain or composite resin veneers and dental crowns can help you achieve a brighter, whiter, more even smile. Veneers can even correct gaps and hide chipped or malformed teeth. Dental implants can be an excellent solution to a missing tooth. A smile that is badly misaligned might require braces or some other kind of orthodontia to achieve optimal results.
Toronto dentist Dr. Cruz can work with you to determine what steps should be taken to address your particular smile concerns and rejuvenate your smile, making you look younger and more refreshed. You will begin to see the positive responses from people who will be able to see you at your youthful best, allowing you to be your most confident, most comfortable self. The changes you make now can change your smile for years to come.
Does your smile need some work? Have you wondered if dental veneers are right for you? You may look at celebrities on television and think, I’d like to have that smile, but something is holding you back.
There are many misconceptions and myths surrounding dental veneers such as:
- Your natural teeth will be ground away to unsightly nubs in order to make room for the placement of the dental veneer.
- Your veneers will break easily, pop off, or discolor.
- Your veneers will cause your teeth to become painfully sensitive and the veneers will be uncomfortable.
- Your teeth will be so obviously artificial or naturally white, everyone will know.
Many of these issues were actually true in the past, when the technology of dental veneers was in its infancy; however, due to advancements in materials, methodology and technology, most of these issues are no longer valid at all. Veneers today share the following facts:
- Some of your natural tooth is worn away in order to accommodate the veneer’s thin wafer shape and to appear natural; however, that amount is extremely small. Veneers are so thin now that less than one millimeter of your tooth’s enamel needs to be ground down, a thickness of a contact lens.
- Veneers, especially those made from porcelain, are extremely durable and can be more stain resistant than natural teeth. Bonding agents are so improved that your veneer could last for decades.
- While temporary veneers (worn while your permanent veneers are being crafted in the lab) might cause some sensitivity, the permanent veneers will be pain-free.
- Veneers can be made from materials that are translucent and light-reflecting in ways that make them appear completely natural. You and your dentist will control the shade of white, so you can be comfortable with their appearance.
Talk to Toronto dentist Dr. Cruz today to learn about the advances that have been made in dental veneers and get all the facts you need to move forward with your best, brightest smile.
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