If you have recently visited your dentist on Yonge Street for tooth pain, only to find out you need a root canal you might be a little worried about how much it’s going to hurt or you might not know exactly what to expect. Root canal therapy has a bit of scary stigma attached, but having a root canal when it’s needed can help save your tooth and improve your overall dental health. When you’re unsure about a root canal, here’s what you can expect and how it can help you long term.

Save Money

If your dentist on Yonge is suggesting a root canal, it is because the affected tooth is dying or infected, or both. There are alternatives to having a root canal, of course, and the most common one is tooth extraction. Depending on which tooth needs the root canal, you might not wish to have a gap in your smile, so you’d need to arrange for an implant, bridge or crown to be put in after the tooth is pulled. These options are pretty expensive, and insurance doesn’t always cover all the costs. So pulling the tooth might seem like the easier route, but if you don’t fill the space you might find your teeth shifting over time to accommodate, and you might even have issues with proper chewing function.

 Remove Infection

A tooth that is dying usually has some kind of infection deep in the pulp of the tooth. If this infection is not treated with appropriate antibiotics (which your dentist will prescribe) and the tooth is not cared for properly, then the infection could spread to the bone of your jaw and even your bloodstream, and that is very dangerous to your health.

Prevent Cracked Teeth

When a tooth needs a root canal it is because it’s dying, and those kinds of teeth can become very brittle which makes them vulnerable to cracking. If your tooth cracks, the only option is to perform a tooth extraction and leaving a gap in your smile. An early root canal can save the natural tooth, and make sure it doesn’t crack or chip causing more discomfort and long-term complications.

Retain Your Smile

Once the root canal is performed, your dentist will cover the tooth with a crown. For many years, crowns were only available in a metal finish (usually gold) but with recent dental technologies, improving the crowns are custom made to match the shade of your natural teeth. This way, no one will even know it’s a crown and you’re preserving your natural tooth.

Relieve Pain

As a tooth is dying, it’s very painful for the person experiencing it. When a root canal is performed, the dentist will freeze the area and you won’t feel the procedure being performed. As the freezing wears off, you are most likely to not feel any pain because the dentist has removed all the infection, pulp and nerves within the tooth. Many people often report that a root canal actually helped them to feel less pain than before, even though the procedure itself is thought to be painful.

If you think you might be in need of root canal therapy, contact our dental office conveniently located on Yonge Street.

If you are not completely happy with your smile because of crooked, gapped, or overcrowded teeth you may be wondering if you should ask your Thornhill dentist about Invisalign braces. For a long time, metal braces were the only reliable way to straighten teeth, but in the past few decades, Invisalign braces have offered a more discreet option.

And while Invisalign braces can be extremely effective for correcting minor to moderate cosmetic issues with your smile, there are a few questions you should ask yourself to determine if this might be the right treatment for you.

Are you concerned about the appearance of braces?

The most obvious reason why people consider Invisalign over traditional metal braces is their appearance. Like the name suggests, Invisalign braces are practically invisible. This is very appealing to teenagers who don’t want to look different from their friends as well as to adults who wish to maintain a more professional appearance.

What is the condition of your smile?

Invisalign is recommended by dentists in Thornhill for treating minor to moderate issues, including crooked teeth, gapped teeth or overcrowded teeth. It is not recommended for more severe issues.

How old are you?

Invisalign braces are recommended for individuals age 13 and older. Getting Invisalign braces involves first getting an impression of your teeth. With younger children, their teeth change more often making Invisalign an impractical option for them.

For teens, Invisalign has created a special line of products just for them.

How committed are you to the treatment?

Straightening your teeth with Invisalign requires some discipline on your part. To be effective, the aligners should be worn for a minimum of 22 hours per day. Aligners should only be removed when you are eating, brushing or flossing. It can be tempting to forgo wearing your aligners for longer periods of time and easy for some people to lose their aligners, but this will only result in treatment taking longer.

After aligners are no longer needed, you still need to be committed to follow-up care. It may be necessary to wear a retainer at night to ensure the effects of the treatment are not reversed.

Get a professional opinion at our Dental Office in Thornhill

If you are considering Invisalign braces for yourself or for your teen, the first step is to get a professional examination. Contact Sunlight Dental today to schedule an appointment to see if Invisalign braces are right for you.

What are Dental Crowns and Bridges?

Dental crowns and tooth bridges are two types of prosthetic devices to replace missing teeth. Unlike other solutions such as dentures, crowns and bridges are both permanent.

What are Dental Crowns?

A dental crown or cap is a prosthetic tooth which can either be part of a dental implant when the entire tooth is missing, or it can be attached to a tooth that has been damaged but still has the root intact. In the second scenario, a dental crown can help to protect what is left of the natural tooth.

In the case of a dental implant, a titanium peg or “root” is inserted into the jaw bone and a dental crown is attached to it. Over time the jaw fuses to the titanium root and the implant becomes as strong as the natural tooth was. It also looks and feels completely natural, so only the patient and the patient’s dentist know that the tooth is prosthetic.

What is a Dental Bridge?

A dental bridge is a solution that may be recommended if the patient is missing more than one consecutive teeth. A bridge consists of one or more prosthetic teeth that are cemented to the natural teeth on either side or to dental implants on either side. It is called a bridge because it literally bridges the gap where there are missing teeth.

Like implants, bridges can also look quite natural, however, they do not have the “root” that implants do.  If you have missing teeth and would like permanent replacements, you should arrange a consultation with your dentist to see whether implants or bridges would be the better option for you.

How to Care for Crowns or Bridges

One of the nice things about crowns and bridges is that because they are permanent, they do not require special care. You only need to brush and floss them as you would your natural teeth. With proper care, bridges and crowns can last a decade or even a lifetime. Keeping your surrounding teeth and gums healthy with good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups is one of the keys to making your crowns or bridges last as long as possible.

Contact Sunlight Dental Today

If you have missing teeth and think you might benefit from crowns or bridges, contact Sunlight Dental today and make an appointment with one of our dentists.

Life can be a challenge when you have missing teeth. Not only can it be embarrassing, but missing teeth can cause you problems when eating and talking. It can even compromise the health of the teeth that you have left. Full and partial dentures are one solution, however, if you want to improve your quality of life, you should speak with a dentist in Richmond Hill about dental implants.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are permanent prosthetic teeth that are secured to the jawbone with titanium pegs or “roots”. These titanium roots are inserted into the jawbone and as the jaw heals, they become extremely secure. A dental crown is placed on top of the root to provide the appearance and functionality of a natural tooth. 

How can dental implants improve your life? 

Whether you are currently using dentures or you simply have empty gaps in your mouth, dental implants can help to improve your life in the following ways:

• They look, feel and function like natural teeth – while full and partial dentures can fill in spaces where you are missing teeth, people living with dentures often feel insecure because there is a possibility of their dentures coming loose. They also require a special cleaning regimen. Dental implants, on the other hand, are anchored into the bone and do not come out. You can clean them in the same manner that you clean your natural teeth – with brushing and flossing. 
• They can help you feel more confident – because there is no worry about them coming loose, and because they look completely natural, dental implants can help you to feel more confident. Who knows? If your Richmond Hill dentist determines you are a good candidate for dental implants, you just might find yourself being more outgoing and living a richer life. 
• They protect your oral health – Did you know that missing teeth can lead to other health problems? It’s true when you have gaps in your smile, surrounding teeth can shift out of place and the jawbone can even deteriorate. Dental implants help to keep your jaw healthy and your remaining natural teeth in place. 

Are you a good candidate for dental implants?

Provided that your jawbone is in good condition and you are otherwise healthy, there is a good chance that you are a candidate for dental implants. Contact Sunlight Dental Clinic today to schedule an appointment with one of our Richmond Hill dentists.