General Dentistry is the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent associated structures. Although we provide the full range of general services and treatment at our office our emphasis is on prevention. We tailor checkup and cleaning schedules to the individual needs of the patient. Children will have different needs than adults and adults different needs than seniors. The ultimate goal through the services related to general maintenance of oral hygiene and tooth health is to help you and your family avoid serious dental problems that can require costly treatments to fix.

During a cleaning appointment, the hygienist will remove debris and stain from the teeth including plaque, calculus and extrinsic stains. Plaque is the soft debris comprised of food and bacteria that forms on the teeth; while calculus is the hardened plaque that accumulates over time if the plaque is not sufficiently removed. Calculus can be located above and/or below the gum tissues. After the teeth are cleaned there will be a polish completed.

A filling is needed when a tooth has been diagnosed with caries (cavities) or decay. The decay is removed and a white resin material will be placed to reshape and contour the tooth within the existing dentition. The dentist will anesthetize the area to provide comfort during the procedure, prior to treatment.

A tooth may need to be extracted for many reasons including severe decay, cracked tooth, loose teeth or insufficient spacing for teeth such as wisdom teeth. At The Dentistry Place, the dentist will ensure complete local anesthetic is utilized for comfort during any extraction.

While general dentistry focuses on oral hygiene and preventing, diagnosing and treating oral disease, cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the general appearance of a person’s teeth, mouth and smile. So while general dentistry addresses dental problems that require necessary treatment, cosmetic dentistry provides elective or desired treatments or services. Our office provides a broad spectrum of cosmetic options including porcelain restorations and veneers, teeth whitening and white composite bonded fillings.

A crown is a covering for a tooth, fabricated to restore form, function and esthetics. A crown is most often made of porcelain but can be made from other materials such as metal or porcelain fused to a metal substructure. The need for a crown can vary. Some reasons that a crown may be needed is to cover a tooth that has had a root canal or to prevent fracture of a tooth with a large filling. Crowns can also be used to improve the esthetics and appearance of teeth.

A veneer is a thin layer of porcelain that is bonded to a tooth to improve the esthetics of the tooth.  A small amount of enamel is removed to make room for the veneer and ensure proper function of the tooth within the dentition.

The pulp is the soft tissue inside your teeth containing blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. A root canal is necessary when this pulp becomes inflamed or diseased. This can happen for a number of reasons including a deep cavity, a cracked tooth or an injury with or without a visible crack or fracture. During a root canal treatment the diseased pulp is removed, the pulp chamber and canal(s) are then cleaned and sealed. If left untreated pain and swelling may result and the tooth removed entirely.

Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is the formal name of the dental specialty concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, interception, guidance and correction of bad occlusion or bites. The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to create a healthy bite and straight teeth that properly meet opposing teeth in the opposite jaw. A good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak. Straight teeth make for ease of cleaning as well as providing a great smile.

A crown can help strengthen a tooth with a large filling when there isn’t enough tooth structure to hold the filling in place long term. Crowns can also be used to attach a bridge, protect a week tooth from breaking or restore one that’s already broken. A crown is a good way to cover teeth that are discoloured or badly shaped. We also restore surgically placed implants at our office with crowns.

A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth and literally bridges the gap where there are one or more teeth missing. It does this by using adjacent teeth for support. Bridges can be made of an alloy, porcelain or a combination of the two. The success of a bridge depends on the foundation so it’s very important to keep the supporting teeth healthy and strong.

Implants are another effective way to replace missing teeth. Unlike bridges implants do not require the support of the adjacent teeth. Dental implants are made up of titanium and other materials that are compatible with the human body. They are posts that are surgically placed in the upper and lower jaw where they function as strong anchors for crowns, implant supported bridges and even dentures.

A ceramic restoration is a tooth coloured, metal-free restoration made of porcelain used to replace or restore a tooth. Ceramic restorations can be used for crowns,  implant-supported crowns, veneers, inlays and onlays.