A veneer is a thin layer of material placed over a tooth to either protect a damaged tooth’s surface, or to improve aesthetics. Ultra-thin, porcelain laminates are bonded to the front of a tooth, allowing the dentist to change the appearance of the tooth in terms of color and/or shape.

On top of regular dental visits, a child should be assessed for orthodontics as early as the age of seven. In some cases, early interceptive therapy can eliminate or reduce the need for orthodontics in the future.

Feel free to bring your child in as early as the age of three. This will give the dentist an opportunity to assess the development of your child’s teeth and mouth and also your child can become acquainted with your dentist and develop a trusting relationship early on.

Not all situations require an individual who has had a root canal to have crowns. A crown is only required if the restoration (filling) is too large and likely to fracture under a normal function, such as chewing.

It should also be noted that after a tooth has had a root canal, blood supply to the tooth no longer takes place causing the tooth to become brittle which may predispose the tooth to fracture. A crown would help to alleviate the problem.

If possible, it’s recommended that you avoid extracting your permanent teeth. When a tooth is extracted, generally the surrounding teeth tend to encroach upon the open space in the mouth causing teeth to drift out of position. As well, the space left from missing teeth leaves the gums and surrounding tissues more susceptible to infection. Missing teeth have the potential to cause tongue and jaw abnormalities, as well as possible joint pain.

There are two main differences that separate white fillings from silver fillings:

1. Composition
2. Aesthetics

White fillings, made of composite resin, tend to be the more popular choice among patients and dentists, and the only choice should a patient have an allergy to mercury. White fillings are also white in color rendering them more pleasing aesthetically and blend in more naturally with surrounding teeth.

Under professional dental supervision, the teeth whitening process is a perfectly safe one. As well, there are professionally approved take-home kits that are safe for at-home use.

However, it is recommended that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding refrain from whitening their teeth as the peroxide used in bleaching causes an oxidation process that could potentially be harmful to tissues and cells. Though this process is harmless enough to a non-pregnant woman, there is currently not enough data to support whether the process is safe for use during pregnancy and/or during the breastfeeding period.

It’s important to visit your dentist for professional cleanings on a regular basis as this ensures your teeth remain in optimal health and it allows your dentist to check for signs of infection, oral cancer, tooth decay, gum disease, or any other oral concerns that may arise.

After you lose some or all of your teeth, the area which previously housed a living natural tooth begins to atrophy and lose function, continuously becoming smaller and changing shape. Because of this, chances are, the dentures you have been fitted with today may not fit as securely in the future and will need to be relined or made anew to maintain a proper fit in your mouth.

A screening by your dentist for oral cancer is incredibly important as a dental professional is able to detect early signs of mouth cancer, or other signs of possible infection or disease. For example, though a disease may be present elsewhere in the body, early warning signs may be detected in the mouth.