Air-Abrasive Micro-Dentistry

Conventional Drill

We are all familiar with these things. First the shot, then the smoke, noise and discomfort. Rotary drills have been in use for many years, in every dentist office around the world. Under some circumstances, drills are the only way to remove decay from damaged teeth. However, with advancements in modern dentistry, there are some instances where drills are no longer necessary!

Modern dentistry has provided our office with the ability to remove tooth decay, when detected at an early stage, with an Advanced Particle Beam. The APB is a specialized tool which directs a thin stream of abrasive powder directly at the part of the tooth in need of repair. It is quiet, vibration free, odor free, does not cause micro-cracks, and, best of all, there is usually no shot associated with it.

Also, the APB method can be used to quickly repair minor breaks and chips, to prepare for cosmetic dentistry, to repair old fillings, and for removing spots and stains.

At the first sign of tooth decay, your dentist will mark the suspected area with "caries detection dye". Caries detection dye is a colored liquid which aides in the identification, extent, and position of tooth decay. It is especially useful in marking those areas which are not immediately visible to the naked eye.

Preparation

The next step is to remove the decayed area of the tooth. Using the Advanced Particle Beam, the dentist will remove just the damaged area of the tooth in a process called Micro-Dentistry The APB allows the dentist to accurately remove decayed matter without damaging any of the surrounding, healthy, tooth material. This is very much different than rotary drills, which have a tendency to remove some of the healthy tooth.

Once the decayed area of the tooth is completely removed, the modern dentist will use advanced composite materials to fill the damaged area. These incredible materials actually bond to the tooth, creating a filling that is nearly as strong as the original tooth. In the past, silver fillings were used. These fillings neither made the tooth stronger, nor bonded to it. Because silver fillings do not bond to the tooth, they must be held in place through the friction created by drilling a hole which is wider at the base than at the tip. Also, advanced composites are available in hundreds of colors to match your existing teeth for a pleasant, natural look.

The final step is to finish the surface of the new filling. This is done through a quick polishing procedure during which the surface is ground down to a natural state to match the surrounding teeth, and your natural bite. At this point, the dentist can also fine tune the color of the filling to more closely resemble the tooth

Source: "A Patient's Guide To Understanding Micro-Dentistry: Air Abrasion" © Kreativ Inc. The Leader In Micro-Dentistry

A crown can be made of acrylic, metal, porcelain, porcelain and metal, or resined metal. All-porcelain crowns look more like your natural teeth, and therefore are usually used for front teeth, while porcelain with metal underlay has more strength and is good for crowns in the back of the mouth. Sometimes all-metal crowns are used for back teeth because of the metal's strength.

HERE'S HOW IT'S DONE: In order to prepare your tooth for a crown, you require a local anaesthetic. Then the tooth is filed down so the cap can fit over it. An impression of your teeth and gums is made and a temporary cap is fitted over the tooth until the permanent crown is made. On your next visit, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and cement the crown onto the tooth. The crown will closely match your natural teeth and give you back your smile.

You can diligently floss and brush your teeth and still lose a tooth, to gum disease or accident. If this happens, the tooth should be replaced in order to restore your smile, regain your chewing and prevent other teeth from shifting.

There are three main types of artificial teeth and each one is designed for a particular situation. They are dental implants, removable dentures and fixed bridges.

A DENTAL IMPLANT is made by surgically placing one or more small metal posts beneath the gum into the jawbone. In a few months, when they are attached to the surrounding bone, they are exposed and have the artificial tooth or teeth attached to them.

A REMOVABLE DENTURE replaces all of the lost teeth in the arch with one appliance. The denture is held in place by clasping some of the remaining teeth - or by suction where none of the natural teeth are left.

A FIXED BRIDGE is a replacement that is cemented to the adjacent teeth and cannot be removed.

Nitrous oxide sedation is a wonderful technique for helping anxious patients relax while receiving dental treatment. This sedation technique is very safe for children and adults and the patient has no after effects, so it is safe for them to drive or return to work after treatment. A mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen is administered to the patient through a mask that fits over the nose. The dosage of nitrous oxide is adjusted until the patient begins to feel a pleasant relaxed sensation. An added benefit of nitrous oxide sedation is that it raises the pain threshold, so many patients feel little, if any, discomfort with procedures many people fear, such as injections of local anesthetics in the mouth. After the dental treatment is completed, the patient breathes 100% oxygen for about five minutes. This purges all of the residual nitrous oxide out of their system and they will feel normal again. The patient can leave the office with no restrictions on activities.

Benefits of nitrous oxide include:

• Elimination of fear, reduction of anxiety.
• Reduction of anxiety about injections, and may even replace an injection of local anaesthesia.
• Increases comfort levels throughout treatment. Heightens relaxation.
• Decreases gag reflex and saliva flow.
• Increases sense of control.
• Full awareness/consciousness during treatment.
• Ability to adjust sedation requirements throughout treatment.
• Effects are completely reversed within 5 minutes.

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Tissue Therapy

Periodontal or Gum Disease can impact more than just your smile. A healthy smile is not just about healthy teeth, it's about the overall health of your mouth and your body. The bacteria associated with gum disease impacts overall physical health. Gum disease has been linked to heart disease, impaired joint health and even compromises the weight of newborns. Using advanced Ultrasonic Cleaning techniques, dentists are now able to retard bacteria growth and help the body use its own natural defences to increase overall oral health. (Source: LVI)

TMJ Disorders

What Are TMJ Disorders?

Temporomandibular joints (TMJ), that is your jaw joints and muscles, are used to open and close your mouth when talking, chewing, singing and swallowing. Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of conditions which can affect the jaw joint or muscle causing facial, tooth and ear aches as well as "clicking" in the jaw, "tension headaches" and even neck, shoulder or back pain. You may experience pain (ranging from minimal to severely debilitating) especially when chewing and opening your mouth wide, or your jaw may lock or be prevented from opening fully.

TMDs can be caused by injuries to the face and jaw regions, whiplash, poor posture, bite problems, badly fitted dentures, grinding teeth, and clenching your jaw resulting in damage to the joints or misalignment. Systemic diseases which effect the joints of the body (like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc.) can also affect your jaw joint, causing degeneration.

Ask your dentist about examining your TMJ, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Special tests, including X-rays or MRI scans of the joints, are sometimes carried out. Most patients benefit from simple forms of treatment, including physical therapy, dental bite guards, and anti-inflammatory medication. Patients with persisting, severe pain may require surgery and may be referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon for consultation. See your dentist for more information.

SEALING OUT DENTAL DECAY
While cavity prevention starts with a healthy diet, brushing twice a day, daily flossing, and regular dental checkups, sealants can offer additional protection against tooth decay. Sealants are thin, plastic coatings painted on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars). This clear, Plastic coating bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surface effectively sealing out the decay-causing bacteria, and reducing the risk of cavities and tooth decay.

Here's how it's done: The application of sealants is easy, painless, and takes only a few minutes to complete. First, the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and then etched with a solution to help the sealant adhere to the tooth. The sealant is then 'painted' onto the pits and fissures, where it bonds directly or is hardened with a high-intensity light. Sealants usually last several years before a reapplication is required. Your dentist will monitor your sealants during your regular checkup.

Although children and teenagers will benefit most because they have the highest incidence of pit and fissure decay, adults with difficult to clean molars or wisdom teeth may benefit, as well. Ask us if sealants can help with your preventive care.

Veneers are strong, thin pieces of porcelain that are bonded to the teeth. They are used to repair chipped, decayed or stained teeth and for closing gaps between teeth. With a bit of contouring, veneers can also rectify crowded or overlapping teeth. If your teeth have discoloured with age, a veneer may improve their appearance. Veneers can also be used for cosmetic reasons instead of crowns, which are more often used for badly damaged or decayed teeth.

HERE'S NOW IT'S DONE: The tooth needs to be ground down and the veneer replaces the ground off surface. Veneer preparations frequently require the use of local anaesthetic and, depending on colour and shade, may take two or more appointments to complete. Ask us if veneers can help improve your smile.

Whitening

Here's how it's done: Chairside bleaching - usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes and one to three visits to the dental office. A shield (or rubber dam) protects your gums from the bleaching agent (usually a form of hydrogen peroxide) which is "painted" onto your discoloured teeth and activated with heat or high-intensity light.

Mouthguard Bleaching - is done by you at home. You wear a custom-made mouthguard with special bleaching gel (provided by your dentist) for a period of time each day, or overnight, over a number of weeks.

It's important to know that not everyone's teeth will "whiten" the same. It depends on the number of teeth involved and the severity of discolouration. Over-the-counter, at-home whiteners are not recommended because they may cause problems associated with over exposing gum tissues to the active whitening agent. Any bleaching treatment should be done under your dentist's supervision.

X-rays are particles of ionizing radiation projected from an X-ray machine in the form of a beam. The more particles reaching the film, the blacker the picture. Dense tissue, such as teeth and bone, absorb most of the particles and only a few of the very high energy particles reach the film, producing a lighter image. Less dense tissue, such as skin and muscle, allow more particles to pass through and reach the film, producing a darker image. Cavities, which are holes in the teeth, are less dense, and appear as dark spots on the lighter image of the tooth.