| Q.
How often should I see a dentist? |
A. The
Canadian Dental Association (CDA) guidelines
recommend visiting a dentist at least
twice a year for a checkup and professional
cleaning. Our office also recommends
a minimum of two visits per year.
|
Q.
What should I expect during the appointment? |
A. One
of our staff members will compile your
medical and dental history during your
first visit. We will then examine your
teeth and gums, screen you for oral cancer,
make X-rays of your teeth as needed and
complete a TMJ (temporomandibular or
jaw joint) exam. After we review your
dental profile, we will discuss a diagnosis
with you. If treatment such as a root
canal (endodontics), braces (orthodontics)
or oral surgery is needed, we will plan
to treat you in our office or refer you
to a specialist. We will discuss your
options for treatment and fee payment
and help you determine the best plan
to fit your needs.
|
Q.
What does "Sedation Dentistry" mean? |
A. Sedation
dentistry, as the name implies, is a
technique used by a trained dentist to
provide a relaxing and anxiety-free experience
for people receiving dental treatment.
A major benefit to the sedation technique
is that people often feel the procedure
lasts only a few minutes when in fact,
it might have taken hours to perform.
Most people rarely feel any discomfort
after the procedure.
|
Q.
Can the dentist whiten my teeth? |
A. Teeth
whitening is the most commonly requested
cosmetic dentistry procedure in our dental
office and Greater Toronto. It's designed
to enhance your appearance by reducing
tooth discolouration and staining to
elicit a brighter, whiter smile. In general,
there are couple of methods to whiten
your teeth. They are either in-office
or at home by you. While in-office whitening
produces an immediate and often dramatic
effect, many people appreciate at-home
whitening for its flexibility and lower
cost. For more detailed information in
regards to whiten your teeth, please click
here.
|
Q.
What if I have gap in my teeth, a chipped
tooth or teeth that do not respond to
normal bleaching methods? |
A. Porcelain
veneers are designed to look like your
natural teeth and are individually and
permanently attached to the fronts of
your existing teeth. Bonding utilizes
a composite material made of resin to
fill in areas of your teeth and correct
chipping and shape problems. Both porcelain
veneers and bonding are color-matched
to the rest of your teeth.
|
Q.
What if I have an dental emergency? |
A. Please
call our dental office as soon as you
determine that you have a dental emergency.
We will be glad to work you in to our
schedule if you have a dental emergency
during regular business hours. After
hours, over the weekend and during holidays,
please call our office for the doctors
emergency contact number.
|
Q.
Why do I need to have an exam? Why can't
I just have my teeth cleaned? |
A. A
comprehensive examination is necessary
in order to determine if there are potential
tooth or gum problems that could cause
you serious problems in the future. It
is much better to treat problems early
BEFORE they cause pain. Often times,
the delayed detection and treatment result
in more complicated and costly the treatment.
Prevention and early treatment is the
best course of action.
|
Q.
Why do I need X-rays? |
A. Dental
x-rays are crucial for providing information
about areas that we can not see directly
by a visual exam. X-Rays allow us to
see decay forming under the gums and
between the teeth. Often these areas
are hidden from direct view. The x-rays
also allow us to see tooth and gum infections
by viewing the destruction of surrounding
bone. At Impressions Dental, we utilize
latest digital X-ray. This system is
beneficial to you because they use much
less radiation compare to conventional
X-ray system.
|
Q.
Why do my gums bleed? |
A. The
most common reason for bleeding gums
is inflammation (gingivitis) which is
caused by not brushing and flossing teeth
effectively on a regular basis. This
causes plaque to be left on the surface
of your tooth along the gumline. Bleeding
gums is your body's natural reaction
to the chronic presence of bacterial
plaque. It is very important to have
a professional evaluation of your mouth,
as bleeding gums may indicate the possibility
of gum disease (periodontitis).
|
Q.
Why do I need a crown after the root
canal procedure? |
A. Teeth
that have had a root canal treatment
are extremely brittle as they no longer
have a nerve and blood supply. Often
times, these same teeth have large fillings
in them which also makes the remaining
tooth structure weak and prone to breaking.
However, the reverse is not true. Not
all crowned teeth will need root canals.
|
Q.
Can I get a cavity on my crowned tooth? |
A. YES!
Although the crown itself can't become
decayed, the root surface below the edge
of the crown can develop a cavity. To
prevent this, it is crucial to brush
and floss around the crown just as you
would with your other teeth to removed
any bacterial plaque that would cause
decay.
|
