What Is TMD?

The temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw bone (mandible) to the temporal bones in your skull, in front of each ear.  A general term for any problem or issue with this joint is temporomandibular disorder, or TMD. Bear Creek Dental can help patients prevent and recover from negative effects of TMD.

Patients that grind or clench their teeth often end up with a sore jaw.  Other patients experience injuries with facial trauma that cause jaw pain, or result in the patient feeling their jaw gets stuck or ‘locks’ in either an open or closed position.  A custom night guard keeps the jaw in a neutral position during sleep, and this helps many patients find relief from TMD symptoms.  For any pain, your dentist may recommend an over-the-counter painkiller or warm and cold compresses.  To prevent further discomfort, you may be assigned stretches for your jaw. 

Whatever your symptoms, you don’t have to suffer with discomfort in your jaw.  To learn more about TMD and the services we provide at the practice, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

What Is Gum Grafting?

Gum grafting is primarily used to treat receding gums where tooth has been exposed. When plaque and bacteria build up at the gum line, the gums start to pull away from the teeth and stretch, forming little pockets around the buildup. Even when these little pockets are cleaned out, they remain at the gum line and cause the gums to recede.  The doctors at Bear Creek Dental can help you correct this by repairing deficient gums with a gum graft. 

A gum graft procedure consists of harvesting healthy tissue from the roof of the patient’s mouth and transferring it to the site that needs reinforcement. This gives the deficient gum a replacement, and encourages growth of new material around the graft.  Gum grafting can be performed when receding gums become unsightly, or to cover teeth that have been exposed by receding gums and become much more sensitive.  If you think you could benefit from a gum graft, please contact us.

To learn more about gum grafting and all the services we provide, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Crown Lengthening

Crown lengthening is the term for removing excess gum tissue from the surfaces of teeth.  At Bear Creek Dental, we remove gum tissue from patient’s mouths for aesthetics and for function.  We see many patients unhappy with their smiles, and even patients without any damage to their teeth feel like their gums keep them from enjoying their ideal smile.  When gum tissue is removed for function it is typically for making room to affix a restoration, like a crown, to a tooth.

Whether a crown lengthening procedure is done for function or aesthetics, it is a simple in-office procedure. Local anesthetic is used while your dentist removes excess gum tissue with either a scalpel or laser tools.  If tissue is being removed for a restoration to fit you may only require tissue to be removed from a couple of teeth.  Some people have more gum tissue than others and it results in a gummy smile, which can be corrected throughout the entire mouth.  The result is a visually pleasing ratio of teeth to gums that creates an even smile! 

To learn more about crown lengthening and all the services we provide, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Sealants for Pediatric Patients

Almost half of all children and adolescents in the United States have had cavities in their permanent teeth.  At Bear Creek Dental, we apply sealants for young patients to start protecting teeth early. Molars first come in at around 5-7 years of age, with a second set coming in between the ages of 11-14. It is best to have a sealant placed when the molars first come in to ensure they are protected early. 

In children and teenagers, most tooth decay occurs on the chewing surfaces of molars where the pits and grooves can trap food and bacteria.  Dental sealants are applied to surfaces of these back teeth much like paint. The plastic resin fills any pits and grooves on the surface, and then hardens. Now the surface is protected from bits of food being stuck, and bacteria cannot multiply and cause decay.  Sealants also protect tooth enamel from plaque and acids, and can effectively prevent cavities for up to ten years.

To learn more about dental sealants and all the services we provide, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Teeth Whitening

At Bear Creek Dental we get a lot of questions from patients about teeth whitening.  Everyone likes to make a great impression with a nice bright smile and we are excited to offer an at-home whitening option to patients with serious staining to the teeth, and those with minor stains who want to achieve a dazzling white smile!

A consultation can help you determine how severe your stains are and what kind of results you can expect from a whitening treatment.  To whiten your teeth at home, we outfit patients with whitening gel and a set of custom trays for application.  A dentist takes an impression of your teeth, and from this impression two custom trays are made for your top and bottom teeth. 

The trays are made for you to take home and use by applying gel to the trays and then fitting them over your teeth. The dentist’s recommendation of how often to treat and how long each treatment should last may vary.  When following the dentist’s recommendations, most patients see results of teeth whitening 4-8 shades!

To learn more about teeth whitening and all the services we provide, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery

At Bear Creek Dental, we see patients who are unhappy with their smiles for a variety of reasons.  The look of your smile includes the gums, and even when a patient’s teeth are healthy they may feel their gums keep them from a perfect smile.  Cosmetic periodontal surgery is a chance for any patient to achieve the look they desire.

Cosmetic periodontal surgery is the process of sculpting a patient’s gum line.  A procedure can include removing gum tissue, grafting gum tissue, or both. Patients with excess gum tissue may have a gummy smile, and this can be removed with a scalpel tool or laser to expose more of the tooth.  Elongated teeth are the result of gums that have receded.  In these cases, gum tissue is harvested from a healthy location in the patient’s mouth and grafted onto the area lacking tissue.  The end result is an even, stunning smile!

To learn more about cosmetic periodontal surgery and all the services we provide, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Bear Creek Dental wants the families from our community to be aware of oral cancer and how to prevent it.  Heavy smoking and drinking do increase the risk of oral cancer, but oral cancer can still occur if someone never smokes.  The human papilloma virus (HPV) was recently found to be responsible for most oral cancers that originated in the back of the mouth.  Because there is no way to predict cancer, you should ask about an oral cancer screening with each dental checkup. 

To screen for oral cancer, your dentist will conduct a visual exam, and use an ultraviolet light to see any irregularities inside the mouth. This can be done quickly in addition to any appointment.  Regular screenings are the best way to protect yourself, but always contact us if you notice any inexplicable pain, swelling, or numbness in your throat or jaw.

To learn more about oral cancer screenings all the services provided at the practice, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Caring for Invisalign

At Bear Creek Dental we offer Invisalign, the clear aligner system that straightens teeth without the metallic look of braces. Another perk of Invisalign clear aligners is that they require less maintenance and won’t prevent you from eating certain foods.  Although you won’t have to make too many changes, there are still guidelines you should follow to wear and care for your aligners!

You should remove Invisalign each time you eat, but if you do eat anything while wearing the aligners make sure to clean them thoroughly afterwards. It is also best to brush and floss your teeth before putting the aligners back in.  Ideally when wearing clear aligners, you would only drink water. Colorful drinks can stain the aligners and too many hot drinks can eventually warp the plastic.  If you do drink anything other than water while wearing the aligners you should rinse them with warm water afterwards. 

Cleaning clear aligners regularly is important for your teeth and straightening treatment.  Aligners can become discolored over time without losing their effectiveness, but the color can show on your own teeth and continue to darken.  Invisalign offers its own brand of cleaning solution, and there are several soaking solutions available over the counter, but brushing the aligners is also a sufficient cleaning option.  Do not use toothpaste to brush the aligners because subtle abrasive properties of toothpaste could harm the aligner.  It is best to use mild dish soap and a soft bristle brush to clean the aligners each time you brush your teeth.

To learn more about Invisalign and all the services we provide, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Keeping Up With Regular Dental Cleanings

The doctors at Bear Creek Dental encourage patients to maintain a great oral health routine at home, but it is still important to come into the office for biannual professional cleanings.  Even when you regularly brush and floss, some harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that cause gum disease and can only be removed by a dental professional. At a cleaning, our hygienists use professional tools to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria build-up from your teeth that is too tough to remove on your own.

The Academy of General Dentistry recommends you have a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months. It’s important to see a professional regularly to locate and monitor areas in the mouth that may need special attention, and a dentist can tell you if you may be missing a spot or skipping an important step in your regular oral care routine.  During a teeth cleaning, our hygienists thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. After the surfaces of the teeth are cleaned, the hygienist flosses between every one of your teeth and may apply fluoride if recommended by the dentist. If you need your teeth cleaned, don’t wait any longer!

To learn more about dental cleanings and all the services we provide, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Pacifiers and Teeth

Parents often struggle with weaning their child off a pacifier.  Infants are soothed to a sense of security by pacifiers, and when the time comes it is one of the hardest habits to break.  It can require a great deal of persuasion, but because of the effect they can have on the growth and development of the teeth and mouth children should stop using pacifiers by the age of two.  At Bear Creek Dental, we always welcome new patients, especially those who have yet to wean off of the pacifier.

Prolonged pacifier use can cause changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth, prevent proper growth of the mouth, and create problems with tooth alignment.  Narrowing of the roof of the mouth and misalignment of the jaws can also occur.  Using a pacifier too long can also lead to a variety of complications including tilting in of the bottom teeth, and slanting in of the top and front teeth. Until the age of two, any alignment problem with the teeth or developing bone is usually corrected within six months after pacifier use has stopped.  We can help and support parents having any trouble weaning their child off a pacifier before that age.

If you have questions about pacifiers and teeth development, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

What is a Frenectomy?

A frenectomy is a procedure to remove a frenulum, which is muscular attachment between two tissues, from the mouth. At Bear Creek Dental, we perform frenectomies to correct a number of issues patients may have with their teeth, lips, and tongue.  There are three frenulums in your mouth.  One is located underneath your tongue, and removing this is called a lingual frenectomy.  Patients with an enlarged frenulum underneath their tongue will not be able to move their tongue freely.  This can impede breastfeeding, interferes with speech, and is often called ‘tongue tie’. Lingual frenectomies are typically performed on very young patients, who recover quickly and continue to develop their speech.

Two other frenulums in the mouth are between the font teeth (both upper and lower) and connect the inner surface of the lip with the gum. Removing this attachment is called a labial frenectomy.  Patients who have receding gums can benefit from this procedure, because a strong frenulum from the gum to the lip can cause extra pulling on the gums and lead to further recession.

To learn more about frenectomies and all the services we provide, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Crowns Restore Smiles

The doctors at Bear Creek Dental fit patients with crowns to restore aesthetic and function to teeth that have a significant amount of decay or are chipped.  A tooth with minor damage can be repaired with a crown before it reaches the point of needing to be extracted or replaced with an implant.  The safe and non-invasive procedure of installing a crown can be completed in as little as two visits.

To begin the process of fitting a patient with a custom crown, your dentist will remove any decay.   A crown fits over the tooth like a little cap, and covers the whole tooth.  To ensure a great fit for the crown, your dentist may need to contour the tooth that remains.  Once the tooth has been prepared, an impression of the mouth is taken and sent to a dental laboratory for the custom product to be fabricated.  Ask us about temporary options to wear while your new crown is being made.  Your custom crown will take 2-3 weeks to be fabricated and returned, and at a second appointment the crown will be cemented into place by your dentist.

To learn more about crowns and all the restorative services we provide, visit BearCreekDental.CA for more information.  To schedule an appointment at Bear Creek Dental, located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada, call 780-539-0404.

Mouth Guards for Sports

The staff at Bear Creek Dental wants you and your family to know you may be overlooking an important safety precaution.  Adults and children who are active in sports should always wear some kind of mouth protection. A mouth guard helps prevent damage to the teeth and jaw, and also helps prevent injuries to the cheeks, tongue, and lips.

You can find generic mouth guards in most sporting goods stores, but not in many sizes. These mouth guards often end up feeling bulky and uncomfortable, which leads to child and teenage athletes in particular not wearing the protection at all. A bulky or cushioned mouth guard can even interrupt breathing and speaking.

Have a dentist perform a custom mouth guard fitting and get a mouth guard made of thin, hard plastic that protects your teeth and still fits comfortably.  This is an easy precaution to take, and you can go right back to playing your best.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.

Invisalign

The doctors at Bear Creek Dental are excited to offer Invisalign smiles to patients looking to straighten their teeth without traditional braces.  Invisalign is the invisible alternative to traditional braces for adults and teens recommended to correct mild to moderate spacing or crowding of the teeth. An Invisalign treatment plan consists of a series of clear, removable plastic aligners that are custom-made for your teeth, and a typical treatment plan can be completed in less than a year.

To straighten your teeth with Invisalign, we begin with an examination. A dentist can determine if Invisalign will be effective in achieving the smile you want. Impressions or scans of your teeth are used to create a full set of aligners customized to your teeth and your treatment plan. Each set of aligners is worn for about two weeks, depending on your individual treatment plan. For the best results a set of aligners should be worn at least 20 hours a day. You should remove the aligners to eat, and to brush and floss.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.

Night Guards

At Bear Creek Dental, we help our patients with every aspect of their oral care, including teeth grinding. Also known as bruxism, this behavior is commonly the result of sleep apnea and can cause headaches and neck aches, as well as tooth damage. CPAP machines are the most commonly employed means of combatting sleep apnea, but they may not defend against bruxism, for which patients need an oral appliance known as a night guard.

Like the mouth guard used to protect athletes, a night guard is custom-made from an impression of the patient’s mouth. The durable material resists grinding better than enamel. But a night guard also provides the wearer with more restful sleep by keeping the jaws in a forward position. Sleep apnea is often the result of patients’ airways getting closed off during sleep, and teeth grinding is sometimes a result of the body attempting to open airways by changing jaw position. The forward position maintained by night guards is the optimal one for airflow, removing a cause of bruxism as well as preventing damage.

Tough though they are, night guards still need to be protected during the day by being kept in a hard plastic container. They and the container also need to be cleaned and dried on a daily basis.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.

 

How to Clean Dentures

We always encourage proper oral hygiene at Bear Creek Dental, but people may not always be aware of how oral hygiene practices must change if they get dentures. Regardless of whether the dentures are partial or replace all of a patient’s natural teeth, they are made of very different material and require more care.

While it is always a good idea to use soft-bristled toothbrushes, dentures also require specially designated toothpaste which lacks the gritty minerals of toothpaste for natural teeth. This is because natural teeth produce a protective film and can incorporate fluoride into their enamel, but dentures can neither protect nor repair themselves. Patients should also continue to brush inside their mouths (perhaps with a different toothbrush), being sure to clean their tongues and any exposed abutments, in cases where dentures are supported by implants.

Dentures need to be removed on a nightly basis. This will provide the patient’s gums with a chance to rest. But while moving dentures, it is important to remember how fragile they are. Keep them above a towel or other soft surface and put them in room temperature, not hot, water or cleaning solution. Even well-cared for dentures will need to be adjusted as the patient’s mouth naturally changes shape. This should only be done by a professional.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8V 0Z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.

 

Sealants

Almost half of all children and adolescents in the United States have had cavities in their permanent teeth.  Most tooth decay in children and teenagers occurs on the chewing surfaces of molars, where the pits and grooves tend to trap food and bacteria.  Bear Creek Dental wants to help you protect your children’s teeth with sealants, a preventative measure used to preserve the teeth and tooth enamel.

Molars first come in at around 5-7 years of age, with a second set coming in between the ages of 11-14. It is best to have a sealant placed when the molars first come in to ensure they are protected early.  Dental sealants are applied to surfaces of these back teeth much like paint. The plastic resin fills any pits and grooves on the surface and hardens. Now the surface is protected from bits of food being stuck, so bacteria cannot multiply and cause decay.  Sealants also protect tooth enamel from plaque and acids, and can effectively prevent cavities for up to ten years. If you think anyone in your family would benefit from a dental sealant, our dentists can determine if you are eligible and start preserving your teeth!

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.

Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery

Everyone wants to make a great first impression with a nice smile.  At Bear Creek Dental we know that the overall look of your smile includes your gums.  Even patients with teeth in good condition feel like their gums keep them from enjoying their best smile.  Bear Creek Dental offers cosmetic periodontal surgery so that any patient can have their perfect smile.

Cosmetic periodontal surgery is an elaborate way of saying sculpting the gum line.  Patients with a gummy smile, uneven gum line, or elongated teeth often ask what can be done to achieve the look they want.  To correct these issues, cosmetic periodontal surgery can include removing excess gum tissue and exposing more of the tooth, placing soft tissue grafts to extend the gum line, or both.

Soft tissue grafts are typically harvested from the roof of the patient’s mouth.  This tissue is then placed where gums have receded to create a balance in the amount of tooth versus gum that is exposed.  In areas when excess gum tissue is hiding teeth, the gum tissue is removed to achieve the same balance.  The result is an even, stunning smile!  If you think your smile would benefit from cosmetic periodontal surgery, please contact us.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.

Getting Dentures

Dentures are the most famous kind of prosthodontic (prosthetic tooth). Though other options, such as implants, now exist for individual teeth, there are situations in which it is best for a patient to have a removable appliance. Getting dentures is a big decision, but Bear Creek Dental is dedicated to helping patients get maximum satisfaction from their treatments.

Partial dentures are like removable bridges. They replace the front teeth and clasp onto the teeth on either side. Installing them requires reshaping of the teeth being clasped unless they are supported by implants. Full dentures require the extraction of all the teeth in the arch. The denture will replace all of them and be either implanted or suctioned to a patient’s mouth.

Before their teeth are extracted, patients will have an impression made of their bites. This will be the basis for the immediate dentures they use in between the extractions and the second set of dentures they get, which will be based on an impression taken of their mouths a few months later. The second impression and denture set are necessary because the removal of teeth roots causes the patient’s jaw to change shape. After the dentures are placed, the patient’s jaw will continue to lose bone matter, which is why the dentures must be refitted periodically.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.

 

Inlays and Onlays

For nearly every problem a patient could have with their teeth, there is a restorative option which is both cosmetically pleasing and will get them back to chewing without pain. One specialized type of restoration is the partial crown. Also known as inlays or onlays, partial crowns repair the chewing and grinding surfaces of the molars and premolars.

The chewing teeth are distinguished by their large surfaces. The raised bits, called cusps, are separated by indentations which are often a trap for plaque. An inlay, the smaller of the partial crowns, covers an indentation like a permanent sealant. Onlays replace cusps along with indentations. Any decay a patient has experienced must be drilled away before an impression of the patient’s mouth can be made.

Once an impression is made, a dental laboratory can use it to mill a custom-fitted partial crown from porcelain. (Ceramics are the most popular restoration material in modern times, although glass resins and gold are sometimes used.) During a return visit, the partial crown may be cemented in place, completing the restoration process. Standard oral hygiene will remain necessary.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.