Dentists in NE Calgary are often asked if ‘bad teeth’ are inherited just like hair color and height.  Genetics certainly influence the shape and size of a person’s mouth and jaw – as its part of the skeletal system that is influenced by genetic markers.  But whether your child displays your crooked front teeth or tendency to develop cavities doesn’t boil down to only genetics – as it is impacted by environmental, dietary, and oral habits that can sometimes play a far more significant role in how healthy teeth are, and if jaw deficiencies develop.

General Dentists at Discover Dental in NE Calgary explain that there isn’t one simple answer as there are many factors at play in determining if a child’s smile will replicate a parent’s.  The shape of your jaw and size of teeth may be inherited by your child – it’s common to see children exhibit the same ‘big square teeth’ that their Mother has, or the same narrow jaw.  But just because a parent has lived with crooked teeth due to a deficient jaw it doesn’t mean that their children will.  Early orthodontic treatment that involves the use of arch expanders can easily create more space to accommodate adult teeth – and certain appliances can also be used to promote correct jaw and arch development.

NE Calgary Dentists clarify that a child’s tendency to develop dental decay is not genetically inherited, but more habit and diet inherited.  If parents aren’t setting a good example of brushing and flossing daily – and avoiding sugar laden foods – then the risk of children being prone to decay heightens, not due to any genetic factor but from inheriting diet and oral habits.  Unless the child was exposed to certain drugs in vitro, the chance of having ‘weak dental enamel’ is rare – and most rampant decay cases are a result of poor home care (brushing and flossing) and poor diet choices.

If you have concerns regarding the development of your child’s teeth and jaw call Discover Dental today – these NE Calgary Dentists welcome patients’ enquiries and are accepting New Patients to their practice.  403.285.0222

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NE Calgary Dentists at Discover Dental understand the importance of smiling – and why it’s important for people to feel confident about their teeth and smile.  Studies reveal the many health benefits of smiling – from lowered blood pressure, pain killing effects, and overall sense of well-being – so it’s hard to understand why some people don’t smile.  But for some patients with crooked, chipped, stained, or decayed teeth – smiling is the furthest thing from their mind.

 Dentists in Calgary know that for those of us who weren’t blessed with ‘perfect smiles’ the thought of having a photo taken, meeting new people, or delivering a work presentation can seem intimidating.  Hiding a smile behind closed lips, a hand, or avoidance of the outside world isn’t any way to go through life – and NE Calgary General Dentists – Dr’s Dhesi, Dhillon, and Jandu strive to provide treatment solutions and options to patients who want to fix their teeth and start smiling.  From orthodontic braces, porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges, to the barely visible Invisalign retainers, there is a dental solution that meets every dental issue and budget – and can literally open up a whole new world once confidence and self-esteem is heightened.

Teeth Whitening is a safe and easy solution to correct minor flaws like stained and discolored teeth.  Taking a smile from dull and grey to white and vibrant in just a matter of days – this affordable and effective method for improving a person’s smile is turned to by many for quick, noticeable results.  And for those who are wanting a more significant and permanent option for fixing teeth that may be out of alignment, chipped, or broken – the placement of Porcelain Veneers, Crowns, or Bridges become a great option to improve colour, shape, size and position of teeth.  Living with the embarrassment of a gnarly smile can be corrected in a matter of hours and can last forever when maintained with great home care and regular visits to a Calgary Dentist.

Dentists in Calgary welcome enquiries from patients regarding the many options for enhancing a smile.  Welcoming new patients to their dental practice in Falconridge NE Calgary – Discover Dental encourages patients to start smiling by making an appointment today 403.285.0222

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Seeing your NE Calgary Dentist and Hygienist for routine exams and cleanings throughout your pregnancy is one of the best things you can do for your health – and the health of your unborn child.  According to Public Health Agency of Canada

“Taking care of your teeth and gums is very important when you are pregnant.

 Hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase your risk of developing periodontal (gum and bone) disease.

 Poor oral health may also affect the health of your developing baby.”

A pregnant woman who has periodontal disease is at risk of delivering her baby prematurely and of the baby presenting with a low birth weight.  For several years the link between infection and pre-term delivery has been the focus of research.  It has been long been established that urinary tract infections can cause a woman to go in to premature labor due to causing a rapid increase in biological fluids that normally induce labor. Researchers suspect that the bacterial infection that is present when a woman has periodontal disease causes the same increase in biological fluids and risk for pre-term delivery.  Periodontal disease isn’t something that should be ignored at any stage of life – but during pregnancy swift attention and intervention is required to ensure that the levels of bacteria are reduced and tissue health is restored.  

Regular trips to your Calgary Dentist is recommended throughout your pregnancy as consistent monitoring of teeth, gums, and bone levels provides a Calgary Dental Team the opportunity to intervene if a patient’s dental health is compromised.  The change in hormone levels during pregnancy causes gum tissue to react in an exaggerated manner to the increased formation of plaque.  If you have a mild case of gingivitis prior to getting pregnant the likely-hood is high of it becoming worse as your pregnancy advances – so don’t delay seeing your Dentist at Discover Dental in NE Calgary to remove all existing deposits of plaque and calculus – and to establish the frequency of dental cleanings needed during your pregnancy. 

NE Calgary Dentists at Discover Dental in Falconridge stress the importance of women maintaining regular cleanings and dental exams while pregnant.  Advancement in dental technology and procedures makes it safe for Mom (and baby) to be in the dental chair and have some routine procedures performed.   If you’re pregnant, or thinking of getting pregnant, schedule an appointment at Discover Dental to make sure your dental health is in optimum condition.  Discover Dental is a General Dental practice in NE Calgary providing a range of services from teeth cleanings, x-rays, exams, to restorative procedures and cosmetic dentistry.  Contact them today 403.285.0222

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So you’re probably feeling better that you’re not alone when it comes to avoiding dental appointments in Calgary – but why avoid necessary dental procedures when options are available for controlling irrational fear associated with a trip to your NE Calgary Dentist?  General Dentists in Falconridge NE Calgary are aware of the level of anxiety some patients experience when preparing to see the dentist.  In order to help patients maintain regular dental visits – this group of NE Calgary Dentists provide Sedation Dentistry as a safe and helpful option to patients who would otherwise avoid dental appointments.

Sedation Dentistry or Sleep Dentistry as it’s referred to in the industry, has been allowing nervous dental patients to proceed with dental treatment they would normally have put off due to extreme levels of anxiety.  Safe, efficient, and cost effective, Sedation Dentistry has literally enabled patients to complete multiple dental appointments in a relaxed, calm state.  Wondering how Sedation Dentistry works? What’s important to mention is that it’s not for everyone – patients who are taking certain medications, or who have particular health issues, are not candidates for Sleep Dentistry due to potential complications.  Once it’s established that Sleep Dentistry is for you – it involves taking a prescribed medication in pill form prior to your appointment – the amnesic effect of the medication means you won’t have any recollection of discomfort or fear – but you do remain conscious at all times and responsive to the dentist’s and staffs requests.  And for those patients who require a little heavier sedation – Discover Dental provides IV Sedation.  Regardless of what type of Sedation Dentistry you elect, you are considered impaired and therefore require someone to bring you to your dental appointment – pick you up – and stay with you for the rest of the day.

Discover Dentists in NE Calgary welcome patients enquiries regarding the many benefits associated with Sleep Dentistry – and are happy to provide a consultation to determine if you are a suitable candidate.  Providing dental services that include Preventative Cleanings – Cosmetic Dentistry – Invisalign and Damon Braces – Restorative Procedures – all services are performed by General Dentists.  Call today and discover just how easy your next dental appointment can be 403.285.0222

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NE Calgary Dentists at Discover Dental in Falconridge want to explain the importance x-rays play in maintaining dental health.  For some of us it seems easy to decline x-rays when we go to the dentist.  We just want them to ‘look’ at the sore tooth, inflamed gum, or annoying sore on the inside of our cheek.  Well when you think about it, we’d never get away with that if we went to a medical doctor and asked them to just ‘look’ at our symptoms.  We often agree to blood tests and other forms of diagnosing from our medical doctor – so why are we so reluctant to agree to dental x-rays?

Some people use the excuse that dental x-rays emit high amounts of radiation.  That just isn’t true. Most progressive dental offices in Calgary take digital x-rays – technology that reduces the amount of radiation that traditional x-rays emit by up to 90%.  To explain it in terms of sun exposure – one full day in the sun equates to roughly twenty dental x-rays.  That’s an awful lot of x-rays, as the average adult has just four x-rays taken on an annual basis – so one day in the sun is the same as five years’ worth of dental x-rays – so pretty minimal exposure to radiation per x-ray.

Now that we’ve explained just how safe dental x-rays are – let’s go on to share the many benefits there are to having routine x-rays taken by your dental provider. Your NE Calgary Dentist will recommend dental x-rays so that tissue that is not visible to the eye can be viewed and examined for health.  Teeth are supported by bone – but bone is not visible to your dentist during a routine check-up exam – so an x-ray is taken to make sure that bone and other dental tissues below the gum level are healthy.  Interproximal areas – or areas in-between teeth – are also not visible to the dentist, especially in adult patients when teeth are larger and tend to butt up against one another.  Taking an x-ray allows your Calgary Dentist to view the area in-between teeth and will show any areas when decay is starting.  Being able to detect dental decay in its early stages will help avoid more involved and costly treatment down the road – so the benefit of early detection far outweighs the cost of the x-ray.

Dental x-rays are used to diagnose dental abscesses, tumours, abnormal jaw growth, and normal eruption of adult teeth in young patients.  By refusing dental x-rays you are limiting your dentist’s ability to make a full and accurate diagnosis.  Calgary Dentists at Discover Dental understand patients’ concerns regarding the need for dental x-rays and welcome your questions to discuss the many advantages x-rays offer.  Discover Dental is welcoming new patients and is happy to address any concerns you may have regarding your dental health.  Call today 403.285.0222

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Dentists at Discover Dental in NE Calgary have been bringing you the top 10 dental concerns – and this week it’s all about tooth decay and mouth sores.  Tooth decay is something Calgary Dentists witness on a regular basis – often it’s seen in young patients who haven’t quite mastered the technique of effective daily brushing – but too often it is an issue that affects adult patients and can be extreme in some cases.

Tooth decay in adults is usually the result of a lack of regular brushing and flossing.  When plaque and calculus are allowed to build-up on tooth surfaces the amount of bacteria present in the mouth also increases.  There are always some bacteria present in the mouth; but when unhealthy levels of bacteria exist the risk of tooth decay – or cavities – is heightened due to the increased acid formation.  In order for a cavity to form there has to be plaque (made up of bacteria) and sugars (carbohydrates).  When the bacteria in plaque and sugars in our food combine, the by-product is acid; and it’s this acid that destroys tooth tissue which leads to the development of a cavity.  Every time you eat sugary food an acid-attack occurs, lasting approximately twenty minutes, and intensifying the risk of developing tooth decay.  Failing to brush and floss daily causes plaque to remain on tooth surfaces and available bacteria to react with food.  Dentists in NE Calgary stress the importance of good home care to avoid not only tooth decay – but tooth loss – as it is not uncommon for adults to lose teeth prematurely as a result of decayed teeth.

Discover Dental Dentists have been sharing the top 10 dental concerns for adults – bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay, and now mouth sores. Mouth sores consist of canker and cold sores, leukoplakia, erythroplakia, lichen planus, candidiasis, and oral cancers. Many sores that appear in or around the mouth are a response to an irritant, such as an ill-fitting denture, orthodontic wire, tobacco product, or allergy.  Canker sores can be incredibly painful but they are not contagious or precancerous. Over the counter medication may provide some relief from the discomfort, but these annoying sores will heal in time.  Cold sores are often brought on as a response to a stressor – be it physical or emotional.  Unlike canker sores – cold sores are contagious and are easily spread through kissing, sharing a cup or bottle, or by direct touching.  Anti-viral medication is usually prescribed to prevent or handle a cold sore occurrence.  If you have a cold sore and are scheduled to see your Calgary Dentist for treatment – informing your Calgary Dental office is recommended as treatment may have to be rescheduled.

NE Calgary Dentists at Discover Dental check for mouth sores and screen for oral cancers during your routine dental check-up.  Maintaining regular visits to your Calgary Dentist not only keeps your teeth healthy but presents an opportunity for your dentist to check for precancerous lesions.  Don’t neglect your dental health as it may affect your overall health – many diseases are discovered by dentists during regular exams – if you are due for a routine exam call Discover Dental today 403.285.0222

Follow our blog in the coming weeks to learn more about Dental Emergencies and Tooth Sensitivity 

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Dentists at Discover Dental in NE Calgary are focused on providing patients with information that will improve their dental health.  During a dental appointment it is common for patients to experience some anxiety – which makes retaining dental information challenging.  That’s why this group of NE Calgary Dentists make sure accurate material is available to patients 24/7 through web and blog content.

Maintaining good oral health is not easy for everyone.  Some individuals are plagued with dental concerns from the moment teeth appear – possibly due to genetics, diet, physical health, or injury.  Preventing dental issues always starts with excellent home care – brushing and flossing daily, and seeing your dentist for regular exams and cleanings.  However, regardless of how hard we try to keep our teeth in tip-top condition problems can arise.  Here’s a list of the top 10 dental concerns – and tips on how to prevent them.

Bad Breath– this is the number one dental concern.  Let’s face it, we’re all self-conscious of our breath after a garlicky meal, or have wondered how to pluck up the courage to let our co-worker know they need a breath mint – bad breath affects everyone at some stage of life – but living with it day after day suggests there is a need to address this embarrassing predicament.  Over the counter mouthwashes, mints, and gum are merely a short-term solution – these products mask the odor but are not able to address the cause of it.  Bad breath is usually caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth as a result of poor home care.  Lack of daily brushing and flossing causes food particles to remain trapped between teeth and stuck to the surface of the tongue. The decaying food particles react to the bacteria already present in the mouth – releasing an unpleasant odor.  The bacteria and food particles increase the formation of plaque on tooth surfaces – which if not removed by brushing also contributes to bad breath and causes gums to become inflamed – which results in more places for food to get trapped.  There’s no other way to say it – Brushing and Flossing are the vital step in creating and maintaining a healthy dentition.  When you brush and floss, plaque is removed from the surfaces of teeth.  When plaque is removed, bacteria are reduced – and a healthier dental environment is created.

Gum Disease– is the number two dental concern that affects adults.  Above we mentioned the importance of daily brushing and flossing – so it won’t come as a surprise to learn that the second dental concern after bad breath is gum disease – as it’s a natural progression to go from having inflamed gums and moderate plaque and calculus to more significant gum recession and heavy build-up of calculus.  NE Calgary Dentists hate to nag their patients about the value of regular cleanings – but the reality is that when dental care is neglected a patient’s entire health system is affected.  You may have read about the increase risk of heart attack associated with gum disease (periodontal disease) due to the high levels of bacteria present in a patient’s mouth – increasing inflammation throughout the body.

General Dentists at Discover Dental in NE Calgary aim to improve the dental health of each and every patient – if you experiencing bad breath or have gum disease, call them today to schedule an appointment – 403.285.0222

Follow our blog in the coming weeks to learn more about the top 10 dental concerns – and what you can do to prevent them.

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“For every decrease in number of teeth, researchers observed increasing levels of Lp-PLA2, an enzyme that increases inflammation and promotes hardening of the arteries, as well as an increase in other cardiac risk markers including LDL or “bad” cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and waist circumference. Participants with fewer teeth also had higher probability of having diabetes, with the odds increasing by 11 percent for every decrease in number of teeth category.”

To read more about this story, click here.

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• Mouth care: Brush and floss your teeth twice a day – also remember to remove and clean dentures daily
• Nutrition and lifestyle factors: Eat a nutritious diet. Limit alcohol and avoid tobacco
• Examination: Visit your dentist regularly for an examination – even if you wear dentures.
  • Let your dentist know about any medications you may be taking and any changes to your health
  • If you suffer from dry mouth, speak to your dentist about what you can do to alleviate the symptoms
  • If you have dexterity issues, ask your dentist about assistive devices to support daily mouth care
• Plan for your future dental care: Plan for your future dental care – many adults lose their dental plan upon retirement. Consider creating a dental plan to support your ongoing care needs.

To read the full article, click here

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