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Advantages of Dental Bridges

dental bridgeIf you are missing a tooth or several teeth, dental bridges are a very natural-looking way to replace them. Dental bridges not only help restore the function of your missing teeth but have several advantages that may make them the right treatment option for you.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group in Nanaimo, BC welcomes you to read more about dental bridges and contact us for an appointment to discuss whether or not a dental bridge might be the solution you are looking for.

Restore your smile

Missing teeth often affect the appearance of your smile – unless they are at the back of your mouth.  Dental bridges fill in the teeth and look as natural as your surrounding teeth.

Maintain facial shape

Your face and jawbone can change shape if you are missing one or several teeth. Your jaw bone needs the pressure from the teeth chewing to stimulate it to regenerate.  Without the teeth there, the jawbone recedes.  Replacing lost teeth will help maintain facial shape and minimize changes to your face and jaw.

Prevent chewing problems

TMD is caused when your teeth are not meeting properly and the bite becomes imbalanced.  This leads to a host of symptoms including headaches, earaches, jaw pain and even neck and shoulder pain.   Since missing teeth cause you to favour chewing on one side consistently, this behaviour could lead to bite issues and more serious jaw joint issues such as TMD.

Allow you to speak properly

Teeth are important to proper pronunciation in speech. Missing teeth can quickly affect the way you talk. A dental bridge provides the same function as a natural tooth and immediately allows normal speech ability to return.

Prevent teeth from shifting

When a tooth is missing, the teeth around the space tend to shift, tilt, or drift into that space. Once teeth have shifted, it is not easy to shift them back.  A dental bridge holds the space of the missing tooth and prevents undesired changes to the neighbouring teeth.

Advantages of dental bridges compared to implants

Dental implants have become a popular alternative to dental bridges and may indeed be a good choice for you.  Since we’re on the topic of advantages of dental bridges, however, the following are a couple of the significant advantages.

  • Bridges are much less expensive than implants, especially if multiple teeth need to be replaced.
  • If your bone has recessed at the site of the missing tooth, implants may require bone grafting

Please contact us to consult one of our Nanaimo dentists if you would like to find out which treatment option would be best to replace your missing teeth.  We look forward to meeting you at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group soon!

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4 Reasons to Choose Composite (white) Dental Fillings

composite versus amalgam dental fillings nanalmoSilver or amalgam fillings have been used by dentists to fill cavities for over 100 years.  They are strong and long lasting, but they do have significant downside when compared to the newer dental development of composite, or tooth coloured fillings offered by Dr. Mahara at his Downtown dental clinic in Nanaimo, BC.

While there is mercury present in the silver filling material, called amalgam, in the past century there has been no evidence showing that silver fillings are harmful to patients.  The main arguments against the use of silver fillings are about the way silver fillings wear over time and the esthetics of obtrusive metal fillings.

Depending on where the tooth to be filled is located in the mouth, the appearance of a silver filling may have more impact on your decision to go with composite.  Having a dental filling anywhere in the smile line makes a silver filling much less attractive than a more natural-looking composite filling.  Composite fillings can be made to match the tooth colour of surrounding teeth and are virtually invisible to an observer.

In regard to how silver fillings wear over time, like most metals, silver fillings will eventually corrode and even leak causing decay to occur underneath the fillings. There is also a slow expansion that amalgam undergoes which can fracture the tooth next to the filling and cause the need for a much larger filling, a crown or even extraction of the tooth if the fracture is deep enough.

The Top 4 Advantages of Composite Fillings

  1. Composite fillings are primarily a resin which has been “filled” with other inorganic materials.   This compound makes a composite filling more resistant to wear, color adjustable, and easier to polish.
  2. The advantages of choosing a composite filling include a more natural appearance.  Dentists can match the filling compound to the shade and colour of your enamel, allowing the filling to blend into your teeth. Your teeth are white—why shouldn’t your fillings be as well?
  3. Composite fillings often strengthen the filled tooth, and bonding the filling to the tooth creates a better seal. Improved bondage of the filling to the tooth provides better structural support and restores the strength of the tooth. This also allows the material to repair cracked and damaged teeth.
  4. A smaller hole is necessary to place a composite filling, allowing for more healthy tooth matter to be saved.  Composite fillings can often be made smaller than a comparable silver filling as silver fillings that are too small are prone to breaking or falling out.

We welcome you to read more about composite fillings at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group on our website and to contact us to book an appointment.  We look forward to meeting you soon!

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Teeth Whitening Tips for a Whiter Smile

teeth whitening nanaimo dental 2014Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic procedure in dentistry and every year millions of North Americans undertake to whiten and brighten their smiles.  We all know that having a white smile makes us look and feel younger – and in the end, a whiter smile makes us want to smile more often to show it off!

At Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group, we have several teeth whitening options to suit your needs and your budget – everything from in-office teeth whitening to smile makeovers.  We also have a great financing plan to help you achieve the smile you desire sooner.

We welcome you to book a consultation today to find out how we can help you. In the meantime, here are some tips that you can start using today to have the white, healthy smile you deserve!

Brush and Floss Regularly

The best thing you can do to keep you smile healthy and white is to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. Since plaque is one of the culprits that cause teeth to yellow, regular brushing and flossing help to remove plaque before it can give your teeth a yellow hue.

Flossing is extremely important and should not be overlooked. Up to 30% of your tooth surfaces are between the teeth, so it stands to reason that you can’t have a white smile without flossing!  Regular flossing helps to remove stains between teeth and make your smile whiter.

Whitening Floss

Whitening floss is available in stores.  Since we understand how important flossing is, why not whiten while you floss.

Electric Toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes provide more plaque removing benefit than just brushing by hand.  It’s a good investment in maximizing your time brushing and getting the whitest smile possible.

Whitening Toothpastes

Whitening toothpaste is a bit of a misnomer, as toothpaste alone doesn’t whiten teeth.  It does, however, help scrub away stains before they settle in and discolor your enamel. Whitening toothpastes may be more effective at removing stains as they act to exfoliate plaque from the teeth.

Whitening Foods

Certain foods have been shown to stain teeth.  These include: red wine, berries, soy sauce, and curry.  While you do not have to avoid teeth staining foods altogether, it is a good idea to brush soon after ingesting them to reduce their ability to stain your enamel.

On the other hand, fresh and fibrous foods like celery, carrots, spinach, apples, and broccoli actually serve the function of removing stains by cleaning the teeth before deep staining can occur.

Eating cheese after a meal has been shown to help prevent cavities and promote enamel re-mineralization.  Healthy enamel is very important to tooth whitening as it protects the layer of the tooth called dentin which is the part that actually determines the color of your tooth. Strong enamel means a proactive barrier against yellowing of the teeth!

Time Your Brushing

To be effective, studies have shown that brushing should take at least two minutes. Time yourself and see if you’re brushing long enough.

We welcome you to read more about teeth whitening at Downtown Dental Group, in Nanaimo BC.  Please contact us to book an appointment – we look forward to meeting you soon!

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4 Benefits of Digital Dental X-Rays

digital xray nanaimo dentalWe invest in technology to provide you with more environmental, comfortable and convenient dental imaging with digital x-rays.

Digital radiography gives our dentists superior technology in capturing and viewing x-rays, while providing you with a more comfortable experience. Here are four benefits that digital x-rays have over the traditional film method:

Immediately review the images on-screen

The digital x-ray procedure is similar to the traditional method you may be familiar with—you remain in the chair and wear a protective radiation blanket—but instead of using film, we place a small sensor in your mouth that instantly sends  the x-ray images to a computer monitor.

Within minutes, you will be reviewing the images with your dentist. In emergency situations, eliminating this waiting time is a great benefit for patients in pain.

Just like traditional imaging, problems such as cavities, bone loss, tooth decay, gum disease, and others will be revealed with digital imaging. The sensors can be re-positioned to capture as many images as necessary to efficiently view the x-rays.

State-of-the-art viewing technology

Capturing digital images also allows the dentist to view your x-rays with more tools. The ability to use colour contrasting can highlight certain areas that may have gone unnoticed with the traditional film method.

Rather than retaking x-rays that are unclear, dentists are now able to zoom-in and enhance any area of the image in high-definition to produce a clear picture. Patients are also able to view the x-rays, giving us the opportunity to share and demonstrate how your teeth are doing.

Simple referring with digital files

In case we need to refer your case to another dentist or specialist, we are able to quickly send your x-ray electronically to greatly reduce the waiting period. Since we store x-rays on your digital file, we can also correspond with your previous dental offices with ease.

Storing images digitally allows us to compare current and future x-rays to determine treatment success or to discover deterioration that may require additional treatment.

The safer, environmentally-friendly method

While traditional film x-rays are proven to not emit a harmful amount of radiation, digital imaging reduces that amount approximately by an additional 80%. The electronic sensors we use require much less radiation to be effective as they are more sensitive than film.

In addition to the time saved by producing a digital image, the environment is spared of the harmful chemicals needed to develop an x-ray from film.

Please contact us today or read more about digital x-ray technology on our website. We look forward to sharing our new equipment with you on your next visit to Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group!

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The Truth About Sports Mouthguards

custom mouthguardAre you or your child at risk of sports-related dental injuries?

Dental injuries while playing sports are more common than you might imagine. Dentists estimate that between 13% and 39% of dental injuries occur while playing sports.  These injuries are what every parent fears will happen to their child: knocked out teeth, injured cheeks or tongue, broken jaws and broken teeth.   To make matters worse, up to 75% of all dental injuries affect at least one of the most visible teeth in our smile, the front teeth.

A sports mouth guard is an obvious choice to reduce the chance of sports-related dental injuries.  All sports mouthguards are not created equal, however.  Low-cost sports store mouthguards can make you feel as though you’re protected, when in fact your protection is limited.  Let’s take a look at what makes an effective mouthguard to help you choose wisely.

The following are the attributes of a properly fitted and effective mouthguard:

  1. must be protective with sufficient thickness in key areas, yet not bulky
  2. fit comfortably, allowing natural breathing and speaking
  3. tear-resistant, keeps its form
  4. odorless & tasteless

Shelf-bought mouthguards often do not meet any of these criteria when they are brand new.  Once they have been used for a while and they are chewed out of shape, their condition makes them even worse.  Despite this, over 90% of the mouthguards worn are of the variety bought at sporting goods stores.

What is the alternative to store-bought mouthguards?

Fortunately, there is a choice, one that measures up to all of the criteria of a good and effective mouthguard!  A custom-made mouth guard is not only much more comfortable, and safe and allows you to breathe and talk naturally, it also has been shown to improve your physical performance.

How does a custom-made mouthguard improve your physical performance?

In a nutshell, the custom-made mouth guard is made for your perfect jaw and bite position.  When your mouth is in this relaxed position, the state of relaxation trickles down to your head and neck and even spine muscles allowing your posture to remain straighter and to keep poised and balanced.  All of this adds up to improved physical performance in golf, hockey, football, basketball and many other sports.

Custom-made mouth guards range from basic types which are suitable for kids and junior athletes to professional mouth guards for athletes looking to enhance their athletic performance.  To find out what is recommended for your needs, book an appointment with our Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group team.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office, we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

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Chipped Front Teeth

At the age of 16 one of our patients was involved in a biking accident and the front teeth were broken and part of the teeth lost.  Now 18 years old, the patient came to Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group to repair his chipped front teeth and restore his smile.

Besides the chipping of the front teeth, the patient also has some crowding which has left some teeth crooked.  Invisalign treatment is recommended as the ideal option to straighten the teeth.  Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment method which uses a series of removable invisible aligners to move the teeth back into a correct and straight position.

In the meantime, the patient was given a couple of options for repairing the chipped front teeth.  The ideal treatment recommended was porcelain veneers to correct the problem and create the most natural looking and long lasting solution possible.  Modern porcelain veneers are durable and have physical properties which match very closely with natural teeth.  This is due to the translucency of porcelain which reflects light in a similar way to natural teeth.

A second, short term option presented to the patient was to restore the shape of the front teeth using a bonding technique with composite materials.  Bonding produces a very nice result, but on the downside has a tendency to show discolouration over time.  It is a great short term solution however.

The patient, in this case, decided to go with the bonding with composite material option and is very happy with the result.

The patient is now considering Invisalign treatment and will consider porcelain veneers as a more permanent solution to his smile makeover once his teeth have been straightened.

Dr. Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group specializes in cosmetic dentistry and Invisalign treatments to help you achieve both a healthy mouth and a smile that you are proud to let shine.  Read more about having a smile make over or Invisalign treatment at our Nanaimo dental clinic and contact us today to book a consultation.  We look forward to serving you.

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