general & family care
Dental Exams & Cleanings
The health of your teeth and mouth is very important to the well-being of your entire body, and while routine brushing and flossing at home is necessary to keep your smile looking its best, visiting your dentist for a comprehensive exam and cleaning is essential. The Canadian Dental Association recommends that you visit your dentist every six months to ensure your teeth stay healthy and your smile stays beautiful.
By routinely seeing your dentist for exams and cleanings, you can:
- Prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath
- Save money by avoiding costly and extensive dental procedures
- Keep your teeth white by reducing staining from food and drinks
- Shorten the time spent in your dentist’s office
- Make your way to have a smile that you can be proud of
The Exam
During your exam, your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums for signs of tooth decay, gum disease and other health problems. Your dentist may also want to take X-rays to see what is happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums. Whether these X-rays are traditional or digital, the images provided will help your dentist discover dental issues not visible to the naked eye.
The dentist or hygienist will likely discuss your diet and oral hygiene habits and may demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques. Other topics for discussion during a dental exam may include:
- Any medications you’re taking
- Use of tobacco products
- Consequences of tooth loss
- Benefits of crowns, fixed bridges or dental implants
- Use of dentures
- Cosmetic procedures
Professional Cleanings
Your dental hygienist will begin your cleaning by exploring the surface of your teeth to determine if you have any cavities and to examine the quality of existing fillings. The dental hygienist will then perform a periodontal exam to make sure your gums adhere tightly to your teeth, and no periodontal disease or bone loss may be occurring.
Next, your hygienist will carefully clean your teeth with a variety of tools to remove any hard mineral buildup (tartar) from your teeth. Then your hygienist will floss your teeth, use a polishing compound and apply fluoride. Cleanings usually aren’t painful, but if you have any anxiety about your dental exam, be sure to let your hygienist know. If your dentist or hygienist finds tooth decay or gum disease, they will talk to you about changing your brushing or flossing habits. In severe cases, they may recommend antibiotics or other dental treatments. If your teeth and gums appear to be healthy, your dentist will probably recommend that you continue your brushing and flossing routine as usual.
Family Dental Care
Optimal dental health is important at any stage of our life. Here at the Sierra Springs Dental, we offer dental care for the entire family. From adults, teens and kids, anyone can benefit from our quality general, cosmetic, and restorative dental services. You can always trust that the team at Sierra Springs Dental will constantly deliver outstanding dental care that you deserve because we feel you shouldn’t settle for less. We will customize you and your family’s dental care to fit individual needs, and ensure your smile stays beautiful and healthy for years to come.
Periodontal Care
The foundation of a healthy smile is a good periodontal health. However, poor diet and inadequate dental hygiene may cause dental issues in which brushing and flossing may no longer be enough to prevent the damage. At this stage, a patient may most likely develop periodontal disease.
Once plaque hardens into tartar, it may irritate that gum tissue and start an infection. It may result in early periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and causes bleeding gums, swelling, and redness of the gums. Bacteria may eat the connective tissues that surround the gums and teeth and pockets of infection will form as the gums start to pull away from the teeth. Having bad breath might be another sign that you need periodontal treatment.
This is why it is important to have regular dental cleanings every six months. Our dental hygienist will check for periodontal pockets. And if you do have pockets, they will measure its depth to determine the severity of the disease.
There are dental options for periodontal diseases. We have a procedure called scaling and root planning where we remove the tartar below the gum line and smoothen the teeth roots. This may prevent the progress of the diseases and stop the infection. Over time, the gums will heal and slowly reattach themselves to the teeth. But there are also some cases where the damage may be too severe and may require a more extensive treatment. Call our clinic today and set up an appointment and we will help you the best we can.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction
Wisdom teeth are the third-last permanent molars. Most people have four wisdom teeth, two in the upper jaw and two in the lower jaw. These teeth are commonly called wisdom teeth because they usually erupt between the ages of 16 to 21, known as the ‘age of wisdom’.
A wisdom tooth is impacted when it is obstructed from erupting fully into the mouth by the tooth in front of it or the surrounding bone or gums.
Improperly erupted wisdom teeth are breeding grounds for bacteria and may cause tooth decay, sometimes even affecting the neighbouring teeth.
Infection of the overlying gums can take place as well, resulting in pain and swelling. More serious problems such as the formation of cysts or tumors around an impacted tooth can occur, leading to destruction of the surrounding jawbone and neighbouring teeth.
These conditions may require complex and extensive treatment. As problems can develop silently, without your knowledge, a check-up with your dentist is thus advisable.
Your initial visit to the dentist would include an examination of your mouth and X-rays to determine the position of the wisdom teeth, their condition and the status of the adjacent teeth and bone.
To prevent problems associated with impacted wisdom teeth, it is advisable to remove them early.
The best time to remove them would be during the teenage years, before the roots of the teeth are fully formed and firmly embedded in the jawbone. Healing is also better during this period, with less risk of complications
Wisdom tooth surgery
The procedure can be done under local anesthesia and when needed sedation as well to help control anxiety.
Your dental surgeon will advise you on the type most appropriate for your needs. The surgery involves uncovering the tooth by lifting the overlying gums aside to expose the tooth and bone.
The tooth may need to be sectioned in order to remove it. The gums are then stitched back.
After surgery, some minor bleeding from the wound can be expected, which can be controlled by biting on a piece of gauze over the operation area for about half an hour. Facial swelling and discolouration of the overlying skin will also develop, increasing for the first 72 hours and subsiding thereafter.
You may not be able to open your mouth as wide as usual for a few days. Painkillers, antibiotics and an antiseptic mouthwash are usually prescribed after the surgery.
You will be advised to maintain good oral hygiene and also to keep to a soft diet for a few days following surgery.
Oral Surgery
The staff at Sierra Springs Dental are dedicated to providing the quality dental service to all our patients and make sure that they receive the treatment that they need to get healthy gums and teeth. However, there are cases that require extensive treatments which are why we also offer oral surgery in our practices. We manage a wide variety of problems related to the mouth, teeth, and facial areas. Dr. Khattra and the rest of the team practice a full scope of oral surgery which also includes wisdom tooth extraction and more. They can diagnose and treat TMJ disorders, facial injuries and they can also execute a full range of dental implant procedures.
Get in touch with our assigned staff at Sierra Springs Dental to find out how we can help you achieve that healthy, beautiful smile that you’ve been dreaming of.
Tooth Coloured Fillings
Among the most common dental issues these days is tooth decay. Here at the Sierra Springs Dental, once we discover any evidence of cavity during your dental check-ups we will most likely recommend that you get tooth colored fillings. Unlike silver amalgam, tooth colored fillings are made from composite resin.
Resin materials help make the filling blend more naturally with your tooth color. The advantage of this is that it won’t look like you have a filling. Another perk of tooth coloured fillings is that they are durable and bond quite strongly to the structure of your tooth. This helps restore your tooth’s original structural integrity. Since the filling easily bonds to the tooth, less of the healthy tooth are removed by the drill, which helps save most of your teeth.
Sedation Dentistry
Many types of patients can be helped using sedation dentistry including: children who are afraid or too young to have long dental appointments, patients not wishing to have the sight, sounds and smells of the dental clinic, patients with a heightened gag reflex and patients who have trouble receiving local anesthesia. We can help you resolve your dental problems without the pain.
Sedation dentistry is suitable for all types of dentistry including cosmetic dentistry, root canal therapy, wisdom tooth extraction and extensive restorative dentistry.
Laughing gas
Laughing gas is a form of inhalation sedation that induces a state of relaxation. Laughing gas sedation allows you to become very relaxed, calm and stress-free throughout your dental visit while remaining conscious.