Keeping Barrie Smiling
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At Barrie Dental Arts we are committed to changing the way you think about dentistry.
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It is our mission to provide quality care, and ensure our patients are properly informed, in a comfortable environment.
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OUR SERVICES
Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason. Single or multiple implant placement is available.
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Missing Teeth
Effects on jaw bone and gum
When you lose teeth, it disturbs the interplay between teeth and bone. Gum and bone are no longer stimulated well enough due to the missing teeth, so the jaw bone starts shrinking and your gum pulls back. This can weaken neighbouring teeth until they collapse. Teeth in the opposite jaw can then start growing into the gap.
Effects on your appearance
Missing teeth and a reduced jaw bone can make your face look older and wrinkly, and for your cheeks to become hollow and saggy, because they can no longer fully stabilize your lips and cheeks from the inside.
Every tooth counts.
Root Canal
Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. In order to save the tooth, the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), nerves, bacteria, and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function.
Having a root canal done on a tooth is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. Many patients believe that removing a tooth that has problems is the solution, but what is not realized is that extracting (pulling) a tooth will ultimately be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth.
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Root canal treatment is highly successful and usually lasts a lifetime, although on occasion, a tooth will have to be retreated due to new infections.
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Signs and symptoms for possible root canal therapy:
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An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.
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Sensitivity to hot and cold.
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Severe toothache pain.
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Sometimes no symptoms are present.
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Swelling and/or tenderness.
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Reasons for root canal therapy:
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Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth).
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Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip.
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Injury or trauma to the tooth.
Teeth Whitening
Zoom has helped to imbue over 4 million smiles with confidence. Zoom is now the number 1 patient-requested brand for professional teeth whitening - it is simply the best teeth whitening one can get. If you’re looking for a simple, effective approach to a whiter, brighter smile, contact our office to make an appointment.
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Tooth whitening (or bleaching) is a simple, non-invasive dental treatment used to change the colour of natural tooth enamel and is an ideal way to enhance the beauty of your smile.
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Because having whiter teeth has now become the number one aesthetic concern of most patients, there are a number of ways to whiten teeth. The most popular method is using a home tooth whitening system that will whiten teeth dramatically. Since tooth whitening only works on natural tooth enamel, it is important to evaluate replacement of any old fillings, crowns, etc. Replacement of any restorations will be done after bleaching so they will match the newly bleached teeth.
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Tooth whitening is not permanent. A touch-up maybe needed every several years, and more often if you smoke, drink coffee, tea, or wine.
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Reasons for tooth whitening:
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Fluorosis (excessive fluoridation during tooth development).
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Normal wear of outer tooth layer.
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Stained teeth due to medications (tetracycline, etc.).
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Yellow, brown stained teeth.
Bridges and Crowns
Bridges
Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth.
A bridge is made up of two crowns for the teeth on either side of the gap -- these two anchoring teeth are called abutment teeth -- and a false tooth/teeth in between. These false teeth are called pontics and can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a combination of these materials. Dental bridges are supported by natural teeth or implants.
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Reasons for a fixed bridge:
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Fill space of missing teeth.
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Maintain facial shape.
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Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position.
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Restore chewing and speaking ability.
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Restore your smile.
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Upgrade from a removable partial denture to a permanent dental appliance.
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Crowns
A crown is a type of dental restoration which completely caps or encircles a tooth or dental implant. Crowns are often needed when a large cavity threatens the ongoing health of a tooth. They are typically bonded to the tooth using a dental cement. Crowns can be made from many materials, which are usually fabricated using indirect methods. Crowns are often used to improve the strength or appearance of teeth.
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Reasons for crowns:
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Broken or fractured teeth.
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Cosmetic enhancement.
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Decayed teeth.
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Fractured fillings.
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Large fillings.
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Tooth has a root canal.
Surgical Extractions
Surgical extraction – also called "open extraction", is a tooth removal procedure in which surgical access is required to completely remove a tooth. Even if the tooth is visible in the mouth without surgically exposing it, surgical techniques may be necessary to remove the tooth. This includes sectioning the tooth into two or more pieces, whether or not a soft tissue incision is made. Surgical extraction includes removal of impacted wisdom teeth (third molars), but this does not mean that all wisdom teeth requiring removal are required to be removed surgically.
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Removal (extraction) of a tooth is prescribed if the tooth is too extensively damaged from decay or trauma to be fixable, or if it is infected and the patient is not a candidate for endodontic (root canal) treatment. It is also frequently prescribed when the teeth of one or both dental arches are severely crowded, and straightening the teeth would require unnecessarily complex orthodontics with a potentially compromised treatment outcome.
Sedation
Sedation can help you relax through a dental procedure and make any dental treatment an efficient experience. There are various sedation techniques and procedures that dentists employ to help their patients relax. Call us today to learn more about our sedation practices and schedule an appointment.
What Types of Sedation Are Used in Dentistry?
The following types of sedation are used in dentistry:
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Inhale minimal sedation. You breathe nitrous oxide -- otherwise known as "laughing gas" -- combined with oxygen through a mask that's placed over your nose. The gas helps you relax. Your dentist can control the amount of sedation you recieve, and the gas tends to wear off quickly. This is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after the procedure.
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Oral sedation. Depending on the total dose given, oral sedation can range from minimal to moderate. For minimal sedation, you take a pill. Typically, the pill is Halcion, which is a member of the same drug family as Valium, and it's usually taken about an hour before the procedure. The pill will make you drowsy, although you'll still be awake. A larger dose may be given to produce moderate sedation. This is the type of anesthesia most commonly associated with sedation dentistry. Some people become groggy enough from moderate oral sedation to actually fall asleep during the procedure. They usually can, though, be awakened with a gentle shake.
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IV moderate sedation. You receive the sedative drug through a vein, so it goes to work more quickly. This method allows the dentist to continually adjust the level of sedation.
Regardless of which type of sedation you receive, you'll also typically need a local anesthetic -- numbing medication at the site where the dentist is working in the mouth -- to relieve pain if the procedure causes any discomfort.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth (third molars) most often present in the mouth between the ages of 17-21 years old. However, not every patient's jaw will accommodate the full eruption of wisdom teeth. Even so, most patients have a difficult time keeping these back molars clean. Inadequate cleaning of these molars can lead to cavities and infection. Partially erupted wisdom teeth (part of tooth poking through gums) are even more susceptible to infection.
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A special x-ray is taken to see the full root structure of wisdom teeth and a decision is made and discussed with the patient as to whether they should be removed. Most often, it is ideal to have wisdom teeth removed at a younger age when the roots may not be fully developed and when the bone housing the wisdom teeth is less dense.
Composite Fillings
A composite (tooth coloured) filling is used to repair a tooth that is affected by decay, cracks, fractures, etc. The decayed or affected portion of the tooth will be removed and then filled with a composite filling.
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There are many types of filling materials available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. You and your dentist can discuss the best options for restoring your teeth. Composite fillings, along with silver amalgam fillings, are the most widely used today. Because composite fillings are tooth coloured, they can be closely matched to the colour of existing teeth, and are more aesthetically suited for use in front teeth or the more visible areas of the teeth.
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As with most dental restorations, composite fillings are not permanent and may someday have to be replaced. They are very durable, and will last many years, giving you a long lasting, beautiful smile.
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Reasons for composite fillings:
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Chipped teeth.
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Closing space between two teeth.
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Cracked or broken teeth.
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Decayed teeth.
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Worn teeth.