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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A dental abscess refers to an infection inside the tooth – affecting the nerve (pulp) of the tooth. This type of infection occurs when tooth decay has gone untreated, a tooth is cracked, a trauma has happened, resulting in not only the hard tissue of a tooth being destroyed but soft tissue as well – the nerve.

You may have a dental abscess if you’re experiencing swelling, pain when chewing, constant dull toothache, bad breath and/or a bitter taste in your mouth. You may also experience fluid draining from the tissues around the tooth.  This is the abscess draining.  Immediate contact with your Calgary dentist is required as the infection needs to be addressed as soon as possible to prevent further tissue being destroyed.

NE Calgary Dentists – Dr`s Dhesi, Dhillon, Jandu and Minhas are knowledgeable in diagnosing and treating the signs and symptoms of a dental abscess.  This team of Calgary General Dentists will take an x-ray of teeth to accurately diagnose the issue and which tooth is affected.  An x-ray can confirm an abscess and reveal any damage to surrounding tissue (bone).  Your Calgary Dentist will probably test the tooth’s sensitivity with a pressure and temperature test.

Treatment options for a tooth that is abscessed can include Root Canal Therapy or Tooth Extraction – depending on how severe the infection is and how badly damaged the tooth is.
Root Canal Therapy involves cleaning out the infected soft tissue – pulp – and sealing the roots which allows the tooth to be saved.  However, if it’s a wisdom tooth that is abscessed the probable treatment recommendation will be an extraction as the long-term prognosis will be guarded.

Having regular check-up exams and x-rays with your NE Calgary Dentist will allow your dentist to monitor the health of your teeth.  Avoiding x-rays will increase the chance of potential concerns going undetected – leading to more extensive treatment.  Call today to schedule an appointment with a dentist at Discover Dental in NE Calgary – 403.285.0222 – and discover the many health benefits of maintaining regular dental care.

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As great as those reasons are, however, time and time again we’ve seen that there is an even more important one: that Calgary Invisalign treatments are great for a teenager’s self-esteem.

Let’s face it: No matter who they are, young people can have a bit of difficulty fitting in and feeling like they are “just one of the group.” Just as a crooked smile can affect their self-image, so can metal braces that are visible and obvious to all of their friends and classmates. In fact, it wasn’t uncommon even a few years ago for students to absolutely dread the idea of getting braces in the first place, even though they meant a brighter, healthier smile in the future – the embarrassment factor was just too high.

With Calgary Invisalign treatments, those concerns are taken away. That’s because our orthodontics truly are next to invisible. No one will be able to see or notice your student wearing them during the day, so they can improve their smile without feeling self-conscious about it.

Ask any young person, and they’ll tell you what a big deal this is. Often, the way we feel about ourselves during our important middle- and high-school years sets the tone for future success in life. Why not give your kids every advantage and look into Calgary Invisalign treatments today?

Looking for answers when it comes to your questions about Calgary Invisalign treatments? Contact the professional team at Discover Dental today, and we’ll be happy to answer them one at a time.

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