PetraDental.com

Dental Emergencies

Dr Gill — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:25:10 +0000

By far the most common dental emergency is a knocked out, fractured, or chipped tooth.
There are many factors which can cause damage to the teeth such as: a physical injury (a blow to the face), biting into something hard or awkwardly shaped, leaking/old fillings, root canaled teeth without crowns and many more.

IT IS VERY IMPROTANT TO SEE A DENTIST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF YOUR EMERGENCY.

Should an entire tooth be knocked out, submerge the whole tooth in a glass or zip top plastic bag with milk and see a dentist immediately or within the hour. If done quickly there is a much higher success rate to save the tooth.

Fractures range in severity. You may break off only a small portion of a tooth, or a much larger portion, even the entire crown. Once the enamel is compromised it is more susceptible to decay, or the decay may be the reason for your fracture. If left too long the exposed tooth can become easily decayed. If it is already decayed the bacteria can reach the nerve causing infection, abscess, and possible nerve damage resulting in a root canal, and even an extraction.

***Remember, it is always better to retain as much of your natural tooth structure and repair any damage as early/minimally as possible, then to wait until it becomes a much larger problem.

Call Now at 403-252-7733

ToothBurshes Regular Vs Electric

Dr Gill — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:07:20 +0000

Many people ask the question: ’should I use an electric toothbrush?’, or ‘are electric toothbrushes better than regular toothbrushes?’.
The short answer: Yes.
The long answer: There are many benefits to using an electric toothbrush versus a manual brush. However some people may find that a manual brush will suffice. Electric brushes eliminate certain problems which can arise with a manual brush; such as over scrubbing that can result in toothbrush abbrasion, abfraction (notches in the teeth), gingival recession, and/or tooth sensitivity. Once you decide on an electric toothbrush your dental hygienist can show you how to properly use it to maximize it’s/and your cleaning potential.

Fluoride and Dentistry

Dr Gill — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 06:51:44 +0000

Fluoride is a natural mineral found in the earth. Certain water supplies my have it occurring naturally where others my have little to no fluoride at all.
It was discovered that fluoride aids in the prevention of cavities and therefore is minimally added to our natural drinking water supply. Fluoride helps to bind calcium to the teeth, so it will strengthen the teeth, but with all things can be harmful if ingested in extremely large quantities. We do NOT recommend that children who cannot spit out properly (usually 6 years and under) use fluoridated toothpastes. Instead a fluoride-free toothpaste can be purchased; ingredients will be listed on the packaging if you are unsure. Fluoride will have NO ill effect on the teeth if only applied topically. However, if too much toothpaste is ingested, your child may get what is called fluorosis; a discolouration of the enamel ranging from minor white spotting, to yellow, brown mottled enamel.
The fluoride given to your child at their dental visit is much more potent than that found in the general public, and is ALWAYS monitored during administration to ensure that it isn?t swallowed. Your dental professional may apply a monitored topical fluoride treatment to you after a cleaning. If you are more susceptible to getting decay your dental team may also recommend to purchase a weekly or daily fluoride rinse from your local drug store or supermarket. Prices for these rinses vary from $5 and up.

Clenching and Grinding

Dr Gill — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:33:24 +0000

Most people who come in for their dental check-up don?t know that they may be clenching or grinding their teeth. These people are usually clenching or grinding subconsciously in their sleep and may wake up with a sore jaw, tightness, or headaches along the sides of their head where the ?temples? are located. Others may be doing if during a stressful day at home or work as well. This habit is often associated with stress and is known in dentistry as Bruxing.
The muscles of the jaw are extremely strong. These grinding actions back-and-forth will rub the enamel of the top and bottom teeth together creating wear in the enamel. The naturally rounded enamel will begin to get a squared-off look to it, and in moderate cases wear through through the first layer of the teeth. As with grinding clenching is putting massive forces on the teeth except the pressure is straight up/down. With both cases you may get wear of enamel, fracturing of the teeth, and problems in the structure surrounding the teeth.
Your dental team will assess your specific situation and determine the best treatment for you. Often a night guard, or bruxism appliance is fabricated which prevents tooth on tooth contact, minimized future wear, and can sometime break the habit all together.

Emergency Dental Care in Calgary NW

Dr Gill — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:02:57 +0000

At Petra Dental We are avaible to take your dental emergencies 24/7 and treat you the same day as well. Dr. Gill accepts dental emergencies everyday and no matter what the dental emergency is, she will have a solution for your problem. She is very kind, caring and does exceptional dental work and as a matter of fact most of our dental emergencies convert into regular patients. We are available to bookan appointment 24/7 at 403-252-7733.

Your child’s first visit to the dentist

Dr Gill — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:36:00 +0000

Our suggestions are to bring your child in for their first dental check-up at or around the age of 3 years old. At this point your child will already have their primary or baby teeth in their mouth. At the age of 2 years most children may not be able to sit still, and some may still be waiting for their last primary teeth to erupt in the mouth. I find it is always helpful if they witness an older sibling have their check-up first to get them familiar with the sights and sounds of the office. We usually have your 3 year old in for what we call a happy visit, which is basically Mom and/or Dad in the room allowing the child to explore different things and explain what is going to happen in easy to understand terms. If your child is more comfortable, sitting on your lap in the dental chair can also be done. Once everything is set we can attempt to take a quick look inside your child’s mouth to observe anything out of the ordinary such as: baby bottle cavities, thumb sucking habits, where to brush better, and a general assessment of the gums and soft tissue. It is imperative to catch any abnormalities early to prevent serious problems and reduce the risk of damaging the underlying adult teeth.

How diet can affect your mouth?

Dr Gill — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:35:31 +0000

Did you know…

A lack of Vitamin C has been linked to periodontal or gum disease
A lack of iron can cause a fungal infection
A lack of fluoride and calcium can increase your risk of cavities
Artificial sweeteners can decrease cavity risk
Certain cheeses (ie. Swiss, Monterey Jack and aged cheddar) can reduce cavity risk
There is a relationship between Vitamin A found in many fruits and vegetables and a decreased risk of oral cancer
Calcium can aid in preventing gum and bone loss (therefore make sure you have milk, cheese and yogurt)
Protein can make your gums healthier
Natural acids in fruit juices can erode the enamel layer of your front teeth over a long period of time
Foods that contain Tannins (ie. Tea, apples, beer & chocolate) can help prevent decay (wow, another reason for beer and chocolate)
Chewing Cardamom helps fight bad breath and help fight the bacteria that cause cavities

Dry Mouth (xerostomia):

Dr Gill — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:57:15 +0000

This is a condition which can be caused by factors including: genetics, age, medications, medical conditions, dehydration and many more. For which ever reason, the salivary glands secrete less than normal amounts of saliva in the mouth. It is very important to ensure the mouth stays moist enough to flush away food and bacteria and reduce acidity in the mouth. A dry oral environment can cause increased plaque and tartar (calculus) accumulation, increased cavities (carious lesions), gingivitis, and periodontal disease. For many, medications are necessary to maintain good overall heath, however these medications can have the side effect of dry mouth. When someone cannot change the environmental factors there are a few simple things that they can do to stimulate salivary flow. Most commonly is drinking frequent sips of water; try to carry a bottle of water with you when you are out, and have a glass next to your bed for night time. Sugarless chewing gum/candy; especially tart, sour or minty flavours will trigger glands to produce saliva. Avoid alcohol; alcohol containing mouth rinses and high alcoholic beverages! In more severe cases products know as, saliva substitutes can be purchased through many drug stores and online, but ask your dental professional which is best for you.

Periodontitis

Dr Gill — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:16:25 +0000

Periodontitis can occur in individuals of all ages; as with gingivitis. Where gingivitis affects the gum and soft tissue of the mouth, periodontitis affects the surrounding bone structure. This is a much more, non reversible disease, which will be determined through a number of factors by your dental team. Although periodontitis is not reversible it is possible to stop the disease from further damaging the gums. By having your regular cleanings this will prevent harmful bacteria from entering the surrounding area and aids in the healing process.

Why do I need a root canal?

Dr Gill — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:04:37 +0000

Root canal treatments are done when the nerve inside the tooth starts to die or is dead. The nerve can die for various reasons with the most common being deep decay. The tooth can become infected and cause symptoms such as throbbing/aching, hot and cold sensitivity and bite sensitivity. Sometimes swelling can occur. If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your dentist.