FAQ | Dhuga Dental

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS A DENTAL IMPLANT?

A dental implant is a metal screw which is placed in your jaw bone during a surgical procedure to replace a missing tooth. The dental implant replaces the missing root or roots that were once in your jaw bone. After the dental implant is placed, a crown is placed on top to replace the missing tooth.

What is the difference between white and silver fillings and should I get all my silver fillings replaced?

“Silver fillings” or amalgam restorations are a mix of different metals including mercury. They have long been used in the dental field due to their strength and longevity and there are no health concerns with having silver fillings in your mouth. In today’s society, patients are more and more conscientious of what their teeth look like and are choosing “white fillings” or composite resin restorations more often than amalgam restorations. Here at Dhuga Dental Centre, we offer only composite resin restorations. As your old restorations deteriorate, we will replace them with nice, white composite resin restorations.

When should I have my child assessed for the need for orthodontic treatment a.k.a. braces?

It is best to have children assessed at each of their continuing care appointments, which should be no longer than six months apart. These regular visits to the dental office will allow the Dhuga Dental Centre team to monitor not only the eruption of your child’s teeth but also early signs of cavities, gum disease and teeth erupting in the wrong location or in the wrong direction. Interceptive orthodontic treatment can sometimes be implemented for some children as young as six years old which may decrease the length of time active orthodontic treatment is required or eliminate the need for it all together.

How can I whiten my teeth?

Through an evaluation of your teeth and gums, the Dhuga Dental Centre team can assess whether or not you are a good candidate for whitening your teeth. Subsequently, we would schedule an appointment to take a mould of your top and bottom teeth. A few days later you would return to the office to pick up plastic trays perfectly fitted to your mouth. We will provide you with tooth whitening material for your trays and show you how to use them at home. You will need to wear the trays 1-3 hours per day for 2 weeks to notice a significant difference.

WHAT ARE PORCELAIN VENEERS?

Veneers are thin laminates of porcelain that are bonded in place to the front teeth. The purpose of the veneers is to alter the colour, shape or size of the teeth.

When should my child first come to see the dentist?

Children should start to see us when their first tooth erupts into the mouth, usually around 8 months. During this time, we will be able to monitor the normal eruption pattern of your baby’s teeth as well as provide advice on at home care, brushing, flossing, feeding, baby bottle decay and an array of other topics. We would advise baby’s returning for continuing care appointments every six months. During your dental appointments, we advise you to bring your child with you so that they may become accustomed to the dental environment. Children watching as their parents sit and lye back in the dental chair while we look at your teeth is a great aid to the child when it comes time for their appointment

Someone I know had a root canal and later had to have their tooth taken out anyway because it cracked– shouldn’t I just have it taken out now?

There are two issues here. The first is the person who had a root canal and did not have a crown placed on the tooth. A tooth which has had a root canal usually also has a large restoration and because of the root canal the tooth has lost it’s blood supply and therefore has become more brittle. These types of teeth need to be protected from normal day-to-day function because they have an increased probability of fracturing due to their condition. That is why a crown is advised to surround the tooth and protect the tooth and consequently significantly decrease the probability of the tooth fracturing.

The reason you should not just have the tooth taken out now is because although that will help your current situation of the pain or problem you are having with that tooth, in the long run you will have not only lost the function of that tooth, you will have also caused adjacent teeth to start moving into the place of the missing tooth and you will allow for the opposing tooth in the opposing jaw to start overerupting into the space of the missing tooth. All of this movement of the adjacent teeth and the opposing tooth can cause damage to the bone support and gum support around those surrounding teeth not to mention the negative impact on your overall bite and jaw joint.

How often should I see the dentist for my regular “cleanings”?

Continuing care appointments are advised every three to six months depending on each patient. During your appointments you may have a scaling of your teeth by one of our dental hygienists to remove plaque and tarter from your teeth as well as a prophy polishing to remove stain from your teeth from things such as coffee, tea, cigarettes, wine, etc… Further, you will have a fluoride treatment and radiographs taken as needed. The frequency of your appointments will depend on the plaque and tartar accumulations in your mouth as well as the health of your teeth and gums.

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Dhuga Dental Vaughan

Dhuga Dental Brampton

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