If you or a loved one tends to snore excessively, it may be a sign of sleep apnea, a breathing condition that affects not just your sleep but your overall health as well.

Sleep apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax too much and restrict breathing during sleep. In fact, during an episode, patients actually cease breathing – which can be dangerous and, in some extreme cases, lethal.

Sleep apnea is characterized not just by excessive snoring but also by daytime sleepiness, slower reaction time and fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms or if you suspect you have sleep apnea, don’t sleep on it and contact our dental office at Rymal Square as soon as possible, and reserve your appointment.

An oral appliance (sleep apnea mouth guards) that has been custom made by our dentists can be an effective treatment for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea.

A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and adjacent tissues. It is made of acrylic resin, sometimes in combination with various metals. Complete dentures replace all the teeth, while a partial denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth and prevents other teeth from changing position. Complete dentures are either “conventional” or “immediate.” A conventional denture is placed in the mouth about a month after all the teeth are removed to allow for proper healing, whereas an immediate denture is placed as soon as the teeth are removed. The drawback behind an immediate denture is that it may require more adjustments after the healing has taken place.

Candidates for complete dentures have lost most or all of their teeth. A partial denture is suitable for those who have some natural teeth remaining. A denture improves chewing ability and speech and provides support for facial muscles. It will greatly enhance the facial appearance and smile.

It is important to continue having regular dental checkups so that a dentist can examine oral tissues for signs of disease or cancer. As of ageing, your mouth will continue to change as the bone under your denture shrinks or recedes. To maintain a proper fit over time, it may be necessary to adjust your denture or possibly remake your denture. Never attempt to adjust a denture yourself and do not use denture adhesives for a prolonged period because it can contribute to bone loss.

When in doubt, consult our dental office at 905.387.5000.

White Fillings 
Many patients opt to replace their silver amalgam fillings with white fillings. The reasons often include the following: aesthetics, child patient, a known history of allergy to mercury, a history of impaired renal function or a preference to have non-mercury containing fillings in their mouth.

White fillings exist as an alternative to silver amalgam fillings and have the distinct advantages of superior aesthetics, and lack mercury content. They can last up to 10 years depending on the diet and wear characteristic of the individual patient.

Silver Fillings 
Prior to white fillings, amalgam was the defacto standard as a tooth restorative material. As a basic restorative material, it continues to be the most durable and the most economical. In general, it also possesses a far higher wear resistance than white fillings and therefore may still be the treatment option of choice in the back of the mouth where strength and durability are often a factor.

However, mercury fillings (amalgam), have the significant disadvantage of generating toxic mercury vapour during chewing. Although this vapour falls well below the daily toxic dose of mercury for the average individual, it can nonetheless impair kidney function in susceptible individuals, deposit in the brain, liver and kidneys and in rare cases create a true allergic response.

Bone grafting is a procedure to rebuild bone in the bone deficient areas of your jaw. This allows for the placement of dental implants and for the repair of the supporting bone around your teeth damaged by periodontal disease.

The bone used in the bone grafting procedure is either taken from your jaw, hip, or tibia (below the knee) or obtained from a tissue bank. Special membranes may be used to protect the bone graft and promote natural healing and bone growth – this is known as guided bone regeneration.

For patients affected by periodontal (gum) disease, bone grafting will repair the supporting bone around your teeth significantly improving your oral health. Bone grafting will also increase the stability and strength and increase the longevity of your natural teeth as they will now be supported by adequate bone in your jaw.

Overall, the functionality of your teeth and your esthetic appearance will dramatically improve

Dental tooth decay is more prevalent on the biting surfaces of the posterior teeth. While the proper oral hygiene is essential to prevent decay at times the anatomy of the tooth is such that it is impossible to clean properly. Dental caries is caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that occurs on all teeth. When food is eaten these bacteria eat the food and produce acid which destroys the tooth. While good oral hygiene does not let food remain in the mouth, at times it is impossible to clean the pits, fissures, and grooves of the teeth. These areas can be protected by the application of dental sealants.

A sealant is a clear or tooth-coloured coating of those areas that cannot be cleaned by a toothbrush. Sealants can be clear or appropriately tinted to assist identification after being applied to the pits and grooves. They are applied to the biting surface of the molars and premolars, which are most decay-prone. These coatings prevent food and bacteria from lodging in the deep groves of the posterior teeth, preventing decay.

Sealants should be applied to all teeth of children with deep grooves. Although children can benefit most, adults can also be candidates for this procedure.

Oral surgery is a broad field that addresses the different problems that can occur within the mouth. Most are related to the teeth, though some problems may involve the jaw or the gums.

Here is a list of common problems that are treated by oral surgery:

Tooth loss: When a patient loses a tooth from disease or injury, a dental implant can be placed into the mouth. This is an alternative to removable dentures and can be more natural-looking. A dental implant must be anchored into the jawbone for stability, so ideal patients must be healthy, hygienic, and have good bone density.

Impacted teeth: Most cases of impacted teeth are related to the wisdom teeth. These are the last molars to emerge in a fully developed mouth. Impacted teeth are the result of an insufficient room in the jaw for these large molars. As they grow, the wisdom teeth can become trapped in the gum tissue. This condition often results in swelling, pain, and some bleeding. Impacted teeth can also change the alignment of your other teeth by adding pressure. Most dentists wouldn’t recommend that you keep impacted teeth because of the health problems they raise, so surgical removal is the common treatment.

Jaw alignment: as you grow, the upper and lower jaw can fail to align properly. This creates a slew of problems with speaking, chewing, swallowing, and breathing. While some of these alignments can be fixed with braces, the more serious cases require surgery to change the position of the jaws.

Temporomandibular joint: Otherwise known as the TMJ, this joint in front of the ear where the lower jaw pivots is a common problem area. Problems with this joint can cause headache and pain that never goes away. Lesser cases can be corrected with medication, therapy, and splints. However, a more serious case would require reconstruction of the joint.

Dentures: People with missing teeth often opt for dentures instead of implants. However, some pre-emptive surgery may be required to make room for the dentures to fit properly.

A root canal is performed to remove infected tissue from the nerve canal of a tooth. This process can save your tooth. The alternative is to have the tooth removed and replaced with an implant or bridge.

Infected nerves are usually caused by untreated cavities or injuries. Symptoms can include pain when you bite, intense sensitivity to heat or cold, or facial swelling.

Root canals are commonly believed to be painful, but the analgesics and technologies we use to make this a relatively easy and pain-free process. When the analgesics wear off most people experience soreness or some tissue inflammation, but these are easily controlled with non-prescription medications.

If you experience pain or soreness in any of your teeth, it may be possible to save the tooth with root canal therapy (endodontics), provided the problem is caught early. The process for this is to clean the infected area, fill the canal, and then seal it to prevent further infection

Contact our office today at 905.387.5000!