How Diet Relates to Dental Health

Eating patterns play a key role in dental health because they decide whether or not a person will develop tooth decay. If you wish to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime, a healthy smile begins with a healthy diet. A poor diet can lead to periodontal disease and cavities which is why our doctors at Bear Creek Dental are here to tell you what to add to your plate.

Dairy products such as cheese, milk, and plain yogurt assist tooth enamel in staying strong. Foods that are high in sugar and starches stick to the teeth, leaving plaque behind which can turn into tartar if left untreated. It’s best to avoid cookies, pastries, candy, and soft drinks, as they provide no nutritional benefits to the teeth. Reaching for fruits and vegetables that have a high water content increase saliva flow, protecting you from cavities and dental diseases.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as services we provide here at the practice, visit www.bearcreekdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.

Fight Bad Breath

Bad breath is embarrassing. It may leave you feeling afraid to speak, smile, and address the problem. Bad breath is caused by leftover food particles that aren’t washed away by proper brushing and flossing. Our doctors at Bear Creek Dental preach proper oral hygiene to patients not only to prevent bad breath but to fight against periodontal problems and other dental diseases.

If you eat foods like garlic, coffee, or onions, the odor will linger and mouthwash will only be a temporary solution. If you don’t practice proper oral hygiene habits, bad breath will likely be caused by gum disease. It’s important to keep the mouth clean at all times to keep it healthy. Persistent bad breath is a symptom of gingivitis, therefore it’s important to visit our doctors at Bear Creek Dental twice a year for a routine checkup to ensure optimal oral health.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as services we provide here at the practice, visit www.bearcreekdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.

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.

Extrinsic Tooth Discoloration

When you look in the mirror do you notice dark yellow or brown stains on your tooth enamel? This can be embarrassing but the good news is that it can be fixed. Stains that develop on the surface of tooth enamel are called extrinsic stains and unlike their counterpart – intrinsic – these stains are the easiest to remove from the teeth. Our doctors at Bear Creek Dental will likely suggest teeth whitening to remove the discoloration.

Getting a brighter smile is as simple as visiting our Bear Creek Dental office. The process of teeth whitening removes stains on the outer surface of the teeth and can improve the color of enamel by several shades. Our doctors at Bear Creek Dental have several whitening options to choose from, such as in-office whitening or take-home trays. To see which is best for your level of discoloration, schedule a consultation today.

If you have questions or concerns regarding teeth whitening, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as services we provide here at the practice, visit www.bearcreekdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.

When Fillings Become a Problem

At Bear Creek Dental, we work diligently to remove decay from our patients’ teeth and supply them with high-quality fillings. For many people, fillings are the first form of dental restoration they become acquainted with during childhood, and our naturally-colored options allow us to repair the aesthetics of their smile as well as their health. However, fillings are not truly permanent, and it is important for patients to recognize when something is wrong with one.

Although fillings and bonding are usually placed with the utmost care, it is possible for a high filling to interfere with the patient’s bite. If this happens, the filling will have to be removed. Furthermore, while the teeth are always sensitive after decayed material is removed, fillings should not cause a great deal of pain more than two days after their placement. If they do, they may be misshapen.

The bonding holding fillings in place has a lifespan of about ten years. After this, it will start to crack, providing bacteria with a home they cannot be brushed out of. To prevent further decay, the fillings will have to be replaced. By maintaining regular appointments, patients can get old fillings replaced before experiencing more decay.

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.

 

Dental Bonding

If you have teeth that are chipped, cracked, or fractured, then you may benefit from dental bonding. Dental bonding is a service that we provide at Bear Creek Dental to repair and restore teeth that have aesthetic damage. Once you chip your tooth’s enamel on a hard piece of food or crack it due to dental trauma, it’s gone forever. Fortunately, dental bonding can make it appear and feel as good as new.

Dental bonding is a tooth-colored composite resin that your dentist mixes together to match the color of your natural tooth. The procedure itself only lasts about 30 minutes and allows you to leave the office with a brand new repaired tooth. Food and beverages such as coffee, tea, and wine can stain the resin, so it’s important to maintain a rigorous oral hygiene routine to keep the bonding white.

If you have questions or concerns regarding cosmetic dental services, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as services we provide here at the practice, visit www.bearcreekdental.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors in Grand Prairie AB, call 1-780-539-0404.