Saving Your Natural Tooth: Alternatives in Downtown Vancouver, BC

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Introduction

Preserving your natural teeth is often the best route for maintaining optimal dental health. However, there are scenarios where this isn’t feasible, and alternatives like dental implants and cosmetic dentistry become necessary. If you find yourself in such a situation, O2 Dental in Downtown Vancouver, BC, offers a range of solutions tailored to your needs

The Value of a Natural Tooth

Your natural teeth serve multiple functions: they support jawbone health, facilitate effective chewing, and contribute to a radiant smile. However, factors like trauma, decay, and gum disease can compromise their integrity.

Common Threats to Natural Teeth

Natural teeth are susceptible to various threats, including:

  • Cavities
  • Gum Disease
  • Accidental Trauma

Identifying and treating these issues promptly is crucial for saving the natural tooth, and making regular check-ups with your dentist in Downtown Vancouver, BC, is essential.

Treatment Options to Save a Natural Tooth

Root Canals

If the pulp inside your tooth becomes infected, a root canal may be necessary. This procedure removes the infected pulp and seals the tooth, preserving its natural structure.

Crowns

Crowns are employed when the tooth structure is weakened. They act as a protective cover, adding strength and improving appearance.

Fillings

Fillings are the go-to option for treating minor cavities. Various types of fillings can be used, depending on the location and size of the cavity.

When Natural Tooth Preservation Fails: What Next?

Dental Implants

If saving the natural tooth isn’t an option, dental implants serve as an effective alternative. They replace the tooth root and are capped with a crown, mimicking the appearance and function of a natural tooth.

Cosmetic Dentistry

From veneers to bonding, cosmetic dentistry offers numerous options for enhancing your smile when natural tooth preservation isn’t possible.

Weighing Your Options

When it comes to choosing between preserving a natural tooth, opting for a dental implant, or pursuing cosmetic dentistry, consider factors like:

  • Longevity
  • Cost
  • Aesthetics
  • Functionality

A consultation with a reputable dentist in Downtown Vancouver, BC, can help you make an informed decision.

Why Consult O2 Dental in Downtown Vancouver, BC?

Choosing the right treatment involves a comprehensive understanding of your dental health and the available options. At O2 Dental, we specialize in offering customized treatment plans, whether it’s preserving a natural tooth or recommending dental implants and cosmetic dentistry options. Our team is committed to ensuring you receive the best care tailored to your needs.

Conclusion

Decisions about your dental health should never be made lightly. Whether you’re looking to save a natural tooth or considering alternatives like dental implants or cosmetic dentistry, consult a specialist to guide you. O2 Dental, a premier dentist in Downtown Vancouver, BC, offers a range of services designed to suit your individual dental needs.

When it comes to maintaining a healthy, beautiful smile, knowing your options and consulting experts is crucial. And in Downtown Vancouver, BC, O2 Dental is the dentist you can trust for all your dental needs.

What Can You Do About Sensitive Teeth?

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If you’re reluctant to eat anything hot or cold because it will hurt your teeth, it’s time to talk to your dentist in Downtown Vancouver about your sensitive teeth and find an appropriate solution. Apart from the hot and cold food and drinks, anything sweet, sour or sugary can also trigger severe toothache and discomfort in sensitive teeth.

The Academy of General Dentistry states that around 40 million people in the United States alone suffer from sensitive teeth. If you’re dealing with tooth sensitivity, here’s what you can do:

Use a Soft Bristle Toothbrush

Scrubbing too vigorously and using a heavy hand while brushing can aggravate the sensitivity. Aggressive side-to-side brushing can wear down your enamel and lead to gum recession. So if you’re not already using a toothbrush with soft bristles, it’s time to switch. A soft-bristled toothbrush will not damage your enamel and hence reduce your sensitivity. Brush your teeth using gentle, circular strokes while keeping your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gum line to keep your enamel strong and teeth clean.

Change Your Toothpaste

Switch to a toothpaste that is specifically for sensitive teeth. Using desensitizing toothpaste can help calm the throbbing ache and provide temporary relief from sensitivity. Most toothpaste can temporarily fill the tiny holes or gaps in your dentin or enamel that can provide you relief from sensitivity by blocking the exposure of teeth’s nerves. There are several over-the-counter toothpaste and other products available for sensitive teeth. Your dentist can recommend a suitable product that might work for you.

Avoid Acidic Foods

Avoid consuming problematic food and drinks such as soda, pickles, coffee and sticky candies. These food items can increase your sensitivity by attacking your tooth enamel. Instead, try snacking on plain yogurt, milk, cheese, high-fiber vegetables and fruits. These items will help you fight the bacteria and acid that damage your teeth. Limiting the consumption or avoiding these acidic foods and beverages can reduce your sensitivity. It’s also better to avoid liquids and food that are extremely cold or hot as it can lead to severe tooth discomfort.

Dental Coatings

Your dentist can apply some coating to relieve you from sensitive teeth. There are several dental coatings and varnishes that can help control sensitivity. A commonly used varnish is fluoride. Your dentist can suggest a fluoride treatment that will fill in any holes or gaps in your dentin to reduce the exposure of teeth to temperature changes and other elements. Some other plastic sealant coatings and bonding agents can also strengthen your enamel and relieve sensitivity.

Visit Your Dentist

The best solution for sensitive teeth will be provided to you after a checkup with your dentist. Downtown Vancouver is the hub of expert dental clinics like ours, where you can get a fitting solution for all your dental issues. Once we see the extent of the problem, we can plan a suitable course of action to tackle the root cause. If your tooth sensitivity is caused by a cavity, a dental crown or filling can help relieve pain. In some cases, a root canal may be necessary if all other options fail to be effective.

Schedule an appointment with our skilled dentist Downtown Vancouver and solve all your dental concerns.

Diabetes Dental Care: A Complete Guide

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A study found that 10 percent of adults with diabetes have lost all of their teeth. That number should shock you because diabetes and oral health is no laughing matter.

Suppose you are one of the millions living with diabetes in Canada. In that case, you already know how high blood sugar affects your heart or pancreas. Still, you probably haven’t paid much attention to how diabetes impacts your oral health.

Unfortunately, there are health consequences if you ignore the relationship between type 1 or type 2 diabetes and oral health.

Continue reading for information about diabetic oral conditions and the importance of diabetes dental care.

How Diabetes Impacts Your Oral Health

If you have diabetes, then teeth and gum problems are sure to follow. So oral symptoms are some of the first you may notice when you develop diabetes.

Some people may feel a burning or tingling sensation intermittently. This is called dysesthesia, and unmitigated blood sugar levels often cause it. However, if symptoms are still present with good glycemic levels, it might be a permanent disorder caused by neuropathy.

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is another common diabetic oral condition. Scientists believe that this is due to how diabetes changes the functions of your salivary glands.

Dry mouth causes significant impairments to quality of life because it can make it painful to eat and even smile.

Xerostomia and high salivary glucose levels also contribute to the prevalence of gum disease and dental decay. This is because your saliva is the first line of defense against tartar buildup. In addition, high levels of glucose encourage the growth of “bad” bacteria.

Take note if you have sores that won’t heal, have loose teeth, or a change in taste or smell. If you experience any of these symptoms, you must visit a dentist for diabetes dental care right away.

Diabetes Dental Care

Dental care for diabetes is essential; your life depends on it. Doctors today understand the correlation between periodontal disease, heart disease, and cancer. Luckily, there are some things you can do at home to support a healthy mouth.

  • Maintain good glucose levels by eating a healthy diet and exercising often
  • Brush your teeth twice a day, and after eating
    • Use soft circular motions angled at your gum line
    • Spend time on every tooth and about 30 seconds in each quadrant
  • Floss every day
  • Drink plenty of water

And, remember never to ignore unordinary symptoms like dry mouth or tingling, which may be related to serious problems. Your doctor and dentist can treat these symptoms and prevent worsening.

Prevent Dental Disease

Diabetes dental care is more than home hygiene. If you have diabetes, the only way to ensure that your mouth is healthy and free from disease is by visiting a professional dental office for a thorough check-up and cleaning two to four times a year.

Keep in mind that special care should be taken with type 1 diabetes and dentistry. That is why visiting it’s vital that you find a dentist that you trust.

At O2 Dental in Vancouver, we believe that everyone deserves a happy, healthy, and confident smile. So contact us today to schedule a check-up.