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Tips for Protecting Kids’ Oral Health

Kids’ oral health statistics cratered in the early 1970s. At that point, nearly 97% of Canadian children and adolescents had at least one decayed tooth and an average of six missing, decaying or filled teeth. Thankfully, things have gotten better. As of 2010, the Canadian Dental Association reports that the average Canadian child or adolescent has 2.5 decayed, missing or filled teeth. How’d that average get so much lower in three decades or so? And what can parents and a dentist near you who treats kids do to reduce the number of cavities in your child’s mouth? What do pediatric dentists do to protect kids’ oral health? Regular checkups At every dental twice-yearly checkup, a pediatric dentist in Waterloo will look closely at your child’s teeth and gums. What are they looking for? Any signs of tooth decay or gum disease as early as possible so that they can intervene to prevent its progression as quickly as possible. Pediatric dentists also take regular dental images to find any...

How Often Should Your Teeth Be Cleaned?

  Let’s face it, there’s clean and then there’s clean. With your best effort, you’ll be able to get most plaque off most of the surfaces of your teeth and gums that you can see and reach. That’s why brushing twice a day and flossing daily is such an important part of your oral hygiene routine. But the surfaces you can’t see and reach — and those little bits of plaque and collections of harmful bacteria that you miss — will eventually produce tartar (sometimes called calculus) that you can’t remove on your own and that will fuel tooth decay — an infection that will gradually destroy your teeth. Every day that you eat and drink and repeat the bacterial activity in your mouth between dental appointments is a day when those processes continue. Professional dental exams and teeth cleaning near you reset your teeth to their ideal stage and give you the best chance to achieve and maintain perfect dental and oral health. Why are dental exams and cleanings so important? Plaque is a l...

What are Dental Crowns?

  Thanks to modern dentistry, there are many options to restore a severely damaged tooth. Unlike what many people think, dental fillings do not fix everything. They are excellent for restoring small to moderate cavities, but if you lost too much dental structure, the tooth is brittle and requires a more resistant material. If you are looking for a dentist near you that places them, keep on reading! What are Dental Crowns? Dental crowns are caps that cover a tooth when it is too harmed to strengthen it and extend its life. Our doctors use the best materials for our dental crowns in Waterloo , and they last up two twenty years. Dental crowns are also for patients that lose a tooth and undergo dental implants surgery.    What are Dental Implants? A dental implant is a small metal post that a doctor places inside your jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth.  The procedure requires a single appointment. In it, your dentist will administer a local ane...

Why Should You Get a Dental Bridge, and What Kind?

  Too many people have too many missing teeth for too long. There are myriad ways in which teeth can be lost: accidents, assaults, infections, tooth decay, and more. Some people who only lose one or a few teeth choose to live without replacing those teeth. That decision may be the result of dental anxiety, concerns about the cost of replacing teeth, or even uncertainty about the best way to replace a couple teeth when you still have most of your teeth.   Common as the choice to live with a couple or few missing teeth may be, it’s a choice that comes at significant costs: your remaining teeth will gradually shift and twist out of position and alignment to fill the gaps left behind; many of your favourite foods and meals may eventually be out of reach such that your diet and health may change; and you’ll be forever conscious of and anxious about the gaps in your smile.   For people for whom partial dentures and individual implants are not attractive options — but who un...

What to Expect from Your Teeth Whitening Procedure?

Who does not want to show white teeth? Dark teeth are a sign of aging, among other things. Nowadays, people value aesthetics incredibly, which is why we offer teeth whitening near you. Before getting into the procedure, we will discuss why teeth get dark. Reasons Why Teeth Get Stained Diet – What you eat and drink impacts the color of your dentition. If you consume many pigmented drinks and foods, over time, your teeth will look darker. Medication – Some antibiotics, such as Tetracyclines, stain your teeth if you overuse them. Trauma – Dental trauma can cause pulp necrosis and make your teeth look dark.  Age – Over time, your enamel wears away, and the underlying (yellow) dentin exposes more. Your teeth look yellower, and you may need to look for a cosmetic dentist in Waterloo to bleach them. Tobacco – Smoking and using any tobacco products stain your dentition. Our dental professional will evaluate the cause of your discoloration. They will determine if our teeth whitening in...

Five Signs Your Dentures May Need to be Repaired or Replaced

  Like so many methods, resources and products involved in dentistry, dentures in Waterloo have come a long way in recent years. (Somewhere way back in the corner of our mind, we’re hearing an old car commercial jingle that went something like: “ Not your grandfather’s Oldsmobile.”) If your grandparents wore dentures, you might have heard a lot about the problems they had with them. But your grandparents would be surprised and impressfed by denture options available to solve tooth loss today. New materials, technologies and treatment methods mean that dentures from a clinic near you are highly effective solutions for tooth loss. Dentures don’t offer the stability and lifespan of dental implants, but they can replace the function and appearance of your missing natural teeth for up to a decade. That’s an important point because, unlike implants, dentures will not last forever. Over time, the way that your dentures fit and perform will change as your gums and jaw change. Denture...

Why Do Dental Implants Fail?

Millions of people lose one or many teeth every year. Missing a tooth can lead to a decrease in your self-esteem. Studies show that edentulous people have a hard time eating, speaking, and interacting with others. Dental implants in Waterloo are an excellent option to replace your lost teeth and improve your quality of life. You may keep reading to find out more about them. What are Dental Implants? Dental implants near you are oral devices that replace the root of a missing tooth. They are basically artificial roots. What are the Causes of Tooth Loss? A person can lose a tooth due to the following reasons: - Tooth decay – It is the most common reason for tooth loss. When you eat, bits of food debris is in your mouth, and if you don’t brush them away, bacteria thrive with them, producing acids that decay your dentition. If untreated, the infection may lead to tooth loss. - Trauma – An accident can lead to a knocked-out tooth. You cannot predict an accident; however, we strongly reco...