Category: Restorative Dentistry

Here’s How Dental Implants Can Bring Back Your Confidence

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Happy patient and dentist concept. - Forestbrook Dental

Dental implants are replacement teeth. Dental implant surgery involves adding metal posts into the jawbone under the gums. From there, your dentist can then add replacement teeth that sit on top of the implant. A dental implant is often preferred over dentures, depending on the patient’s oral health.

Benefits of dental implants

Other than the obvious benefit of dental implants replacing missing teeth, this procedure has other primary advantages:

  • Makes eating easier

Dental implants act just like natural teeth, so you’ll be able to eat without any pain or worry. Other teeth replacements like dentures tend to slide around, therefore making chewing a chore.

  • Durable and easy to maintain

As long as you’re keeping up or improving your dental habits, your implants will last you a long time.

  • Improves your appearance

They blend in so easily with your natural teeth! In most cases, they are foolproof, and no one will even know that those aren’t your real teeth.

  • Improves your speech

Other teeth replacement options like dentures tend to slip therefore affecting the way you speak. Since dental implants are permanent, you won’t have that same issue.

  • Improves oral health

Tooth implants are one of the better procedures for replacing missing teeth. This procedure focuses on repairing the affected area while also avoiding harm in other areas of the mouth.

The success of an implant varies on the exact location, nevertheless, they have a 98% success rate. These dental screws may cost more than dentures, but they are more durable.

Maintenance and aftercare of dental implants

Usually, a single tooth implant procedure takes less than 2 hours. However, it can still vary depending on the patient’s condition. Just because your dental implant isn’t a natural tooth does not mean it requires zero maintenance. Your dental hygiene routine should be maintained or should be improved once you have your implant.

After your procedure, your gums will be tender and sensitive. When brushing, use soft bristles and do so gently. Avoid using abrasive toothpaste to brush on your implant, which can cause micro-scratches, leading to bacteria and plaque.

When flossing, proceed as you usually would. You may also benefit from using a water or air flosser in rotation with regular flossing. 

The lifespan of dental implants depends on how stable your jawbone is. Depending on the type of dental implant your dentist recommends to you, there may be some special care instructions.

Are you thinking of getting dental implants to help with your smile? Contact our dentist in Markham today for an appointment!

Professional Teeth Whitening For Stubborn Coffee Stains

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Coffee is a drink that you can enjoy any time of the day. However, it is also one of the culprits of yellow or brown spots on teeth. It will take you a visit to your dentist to get a teeth whitening fix to regain your confidence whenever you smile.

Polyphenols are compounds found in coffee. They are suitable for your blood circulation and blood pressure. However, they can leave spots on your pearly whites in the long run.

Stains from coffee don’t immediately appear, and the same goes for tea. If you’re a regular coffee drinker, you might observe yellow spots appearing on your teeth over time. It can be hard to get rid of them by regular brushing once they develop.

DIY whiteners vs. teeth whitening by your dentist

Some companies claim to have the best teeth whitening products available in the market, but these can have side effects. 

Some DIY or do-it-yourself whitening kits can cause abrasions to the teeth when misused. They can lead to further staining, especially when you haven’t consulted your dentist before using one. In general, an over-the-counter teeth whitening kit also takes time to give you noticeable results. 

Moreover, DIY whiteners like whitening strips don’t work for all of your teeth, especially when you have a tooth crown or dental veneers. Tooth discoloration caused by teeth injuries and medications needs professional whitening by your dentist.

Too much teeth whitening or bleaching can strip the teeth of their natural layer. As a result, your dentist conducts a whitening session only once or twice a year.

How to prevent stains while drinking your coffee 

Preventing coffee stains is the key to bright pearly whites. Professional whitening can be done alongside other natural methods to prevent any spots from coming back.

Here are some tips you can consider each time you drink a delicious cup of coffee.

Enjoy your coffee with milk

Adding milk to your coffee doesn’t just help in making your drink creamy. It also protects your teeth from the acids that cause stains, especially when using animal milk. Cow’s milk is high in protein, which causes it to bind to the polyphenols.

Using animal milk allows the polyphenols to move to the stomach instead of staying on your teeth for long. Only animal milk works well because of its high-fat content.

Choose a low-caffeine brand of coffee

Caffeine is the component of coffee that keeps you awake. It is also one of the reasons why stains develop on your teeth as time goes by. Drinking coffee with less caffeine content helps prevent staining.

Less caffeine equates to a lower amount of polyphenols in your beverage. Drinking decaffeinated coffee means that you expose your teeth to fewer stains. 

If you’re losing confidence with your smile because of your stained teeth, it’s time to consult your dentist for the best teeth whitening fix. Ask your Markham dentist what teeth whitening option will work best for coffee stains on your teeth.

Dental Bonding: Is Its Appearance Worth Its Price?

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Markham Dentist - Forestbrook Dental - Dental bonding

Your smile is one of the best assets that you can proudly flaunt. However, maintaining its health and beauty is not as easy as it seems. You need to invest your time, money, and effort to keep those pearly whites beaming. Without commitment and consistency, you quickly lose your teeth to decay and damage. To restore your tooth’s function and beauty, dental bonding is one of your best options to consider.

Dental bonding 

Tooth bonding is one of cosmetic dentistry’s least expensive and most effective treatments. The procedure is non-invasive and straightforward, so it is done in a single appointment. It uses a bonding material, either resin or plastic, to cover the damage on the tooth. 

Procedure

Typically, the process begins with tooth preparation. The dentist needs to reshape the tooth first before applying the resin. Reshaping the tooth doesn’t require much, so anesthetics are usually unnecessary. If your dentist gives you anesthesia anyway, it is to help you feel at ease. Another reason for using anesthetics is if the bonding is done to fill in a decayed tooth. 

After that, the dentist uses a shade guide to match the bonding material’s colour to the rest of the sheen of your teeth.  

Then, the dentist puts conditioning liquid on the tooth to roughen the surface. A technique, so the bonding material adheres appropriately. 

It’s time to place the resin material on the prepared tooth. The dentist will shape it until it forms into the desired appearance. 

The bonding material needs to harden in place, so the dentist uses a blue or laser light over it. They do this for a minute or two with intervals to make sure the bonding sets. 

Once it is hard, the dentist will further shape it and polish it to give it a brand new finished look.

Who are the candidates for dental bonding? 

You may consider tooth bonding if you have the following dental conditions:

  • Uneven teeth
  • Teeth that look small
  • Teeth discolouration
  • Gapped teeth
  • Chipped or cracked teeth due to accident
  • Exposed tooth roots from gum recession
  • Damaged teeth due to decay

Cost 

On average, bonding a tooth can cost around CAD 200 to CAD 400. Relatively, this is an affordable price comparing to the other cosmetic dentistry treatments. That includes getting veneers or implants with restoration. The bill can even go lower or even cheaper if you can talk with your dentist regarding flexible payment plans. Although dental insurance does not cover cosmetic procedures, pretty much dental offices offer payment terms at your benefit. 

Nevertheless, this price is only a reference. It varies for each dental practice, and the following are several factors that may affect your dental bill.  

Coverage

The coverage of the treatment includes the size of the affected area that needs bonding. Considering that there is only a tiny portion to fill, it will be the lower price for your bill. However, if the coverage is more extensive it should add more to the cost.

Number of affected teeth

It also takes into account how many teeth need bonding. Since the cost is basically per tooth, this means that the price goes up if there are more teeth involved. 

Location of the teeth

The bonding material works best for the front teeth. Sometimes, dentists will not recommend this treatment if the affected teeth are found at the back, like the molars. That’s because the chewing forces are greater in that area and the bonding material might not endure. If the molar really needs such a procedure, the dentist will choose a more durable bonding material which also affects your treatment cost.

Dentist’s expertise

More experienced dentists might charge more. Nevertheless, they’re your best option at getting the best possible outcome of your dental cosmetic treatment.

Demography

If the location of the dental office lies in the heart of the city, or town, there are chances that it costs more to get a tooth bonding there.

Other necessary treatments

In some cases, you will receive other dental treatments other than the bonding. For instance, if the bonding is to fill a cavity, cleaning the infected tooth is another procedure which is another quoting. 

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your Markham dentist if you want to know the exact quotation for your dental problem. 

Dental Implants: Know What To Expect After The Surgery

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dental implants post-care - Forestbrook Dental - Family and Cosmetic Dentistry - Markham Dentist

Many patients now opt for a fixed restoration such as dental implants to replace their missing teeth. These are dental screws placed into the patient’s jaw bone to act as the tooth’s artificial roots. After several months from the surgery, the implant fuses with the natural jawbone and makes a stable base for the artificial tooth. 

The dental implant procedure is done via surgery and so patients are given stern post-care instructions to avoid complications. Furthermore, it’s vital to know what you can expect after the implant surgery. 

What to expect after placement of dental implants?

Bleeding

After the surgical procedure of placing dental implants, bleeding is expected especially within 24 hours. However, you need to manage it by placing a gauze pad and apply pressure on the area. Blood clot starts to form when you’re able to control the bleeding. 

Swelling

Another thing you can expect after the dental implant procedure is having swollen gums or cheek near the surgical site. Apply an ice pack on the swelling area to help you manage the pain while minimizing it. 

Take medication

While you’re doing a good job at controlling the bleeding and swelling, taking medication will also speed up your recovery. Antibiotics and painkillers come in handy to help you get by, especially after the local anesthesia wears off. 

Switch to a soft diet

Be easy on your teeth and gums by chewing on soft food within a week. Porridge, mashed potato, pasta, yogurt, and pancakes can be part of your meal plan while you’re still recovering from the tooth implant surgery. 

Maintain excellent oral hygiene

Caring for dental implants is like caring for your natural teeth. Hence, you still need to maintain great oral care regimen to avoid bacterial infection and complications. Also, never miss your regular dental check-up with your dentist every year so he can help you keep a healthy mouth. 

Minimal physical activity only

Please make sure to limit your physical activity and movement within the week after the dental implant procedure. As you know, more physical activity leads to increased blood circulation. This may disrupt blood clot formation and may lead to excessive bleeding which delays the healing process. Give yourself a good amount of rest so you can completely recover from the surgery. Lastly, remember to ask for approval from your dentist first before you go back to the gym or participate in active sports.  

Are you still worried about going for a dental implant procedure in Markham, Ontario? Talk to your dentist about it. He will assure that everything will be fine when you abide by his stern post-care instructions.