DECAYED TEETH AND WHEN THEY NEED TO BE EXTRACTED

Tooth decay is not recognized when it's in the early stages and it is not something we can clearly see by looking in the mirror. For this reason it is exactly why, on top of good home oral health care, it is very important to see your dentist and dental hygienist regularly for dental cleanings and check ups. 

Tooth decay in the tooth enamel doesn't necessarily cause toothaches. Toothaches may start when the decay reaches the dentin, the softer mid-layer of a tooth that lies between the enamel and the pulp. Decayed teeth can be saved if they are identified while they affect only the enamel or dentin, however once the decay reaches the nerve of the tooth a root canal or an extraction may be necessary. 

To avoid root canals and extractions be sure to visit your dentist regularly.

Dentist in Brampton
Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski Dental Office and Associates

BRUSHING – Don’t Rush Your Brush

How well you brush your teeth is more important than how often you brush. Remember it’s the spots you miss where the problems start. Here’s five tips to improve your brushing:

1. Take the time to carefully and gently clean each tooth, ideally twice a day. The average person brushes for less than 35 seconds. A good brushing takes at least two to three minutes. Quick Tip: Keep brushing for as long as a song.
2. Be gentle, particularly when cleaning where the gums meet the teeth. Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gumline, and gently work the bristles back and forth using short strokes. Don’t forget to brush your tongue, too.
3. Use a soft toothbrush which is less likely to damage your teeth and gums. Choose a size and shape that enables you to easily reach every tooth.
4. Be sure to change your toothbrush frequently. Every three months is recommended; more often if you’ve been ill. Quick Tip:  New season – New toothbrush.
5. Remember to floss too, since no amount of careful brushing, can clean between your teeth! 

Information as per the Ontario Dental Association. 

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski Brampton Dentists

905-458-6620

DENTAL CROSSWORD PUZZLE CONTEST

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski Brampton Dentist Crossword Puzzle Contest

Print, complete and email puzzle to mirabudd@rogers.com to be entered to win Oral B Rechargeable Toothbrush. You may also take a photo and text to 905-458-6620. Draw will be held April 1st 2014.

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski Dental Office 

ROOT CANAL TREATMENTS (Endodontics) – What is Root Canal Treatment?

Today, with modern dentistry, root canal treatment has become a common form of treatment for diseased (abscessed) teeth. This treatment can be provided by your regular dentist or root canal specialist (Endodontist). Here’s how it’s done: In healthy teeth, the interior of the tooth is filled with tissue (pulp). Once the tooth is injured, cracked, or decayed, it is necessary to open the tooth and clean out the infected tissue in the centre. This space is then filled and the opening sealed. During the procedure the area around the tooth is frozen. Sometimes difficulties may be encountered during or after root canal treatment. This may require the use of medication or involve further treatment. A crown or cap may be necessary to protect the tooth, once the root canal treatment has been completed. Teeth that have had root canal treatment can stay as healthy and last as long as other teeth. In most instances, you won’t be able to feel or see a difference. Information as per the Ontario Dental Association.

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski

Root Canals Brampton  

THE IMPORTANCE OF DENTAL X-RAYS

Melissa SAYS!

Along with a dental examination dental x-rays are an important part of your dental health. Dental x-rays help your dentist diagnose cavities (that can not be seen by a visual examination), cracks in the tooth, diseases in the bone, periodontal or gum disease, infections underneath the gum, bone loss, abscesses, cysts or tumors.

X-rays can help diagnose problems early, when they are easily treatable and cost a lot less money. It is better to have a small filling done then to let it go until you are in pain. If there is pain or infection this means you have let the problem get too far and may need a lot of treatment which also increases time of treatment and cost.

On an individual basis, your dentist decides how often to take x-rays depending on the health of the oral cavity. If you are prone to cavities or have a lot of bone loss the dentist might suggest more frequent x-rays, then someone who has no bone loss and not prone to decay.

At our office we take digital x-rays. For more information on this or other topics, be sure to contact one of our dental professionals.

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski - 905-458-6620

FLOSSING - Clean Between Your Teeth

Let’s face it – many people are still not flossing. This is a big problem if you want to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life. Flossing at least once a day cleans between the teeth and under the gumline where your toothbrush can’t reach and where most cavities and gum disease start. If you’re not flossing, you’re missing 35% of every tooth. It you haven’t flossed recently, it’ll take a while before flossing becomes an automatic part of your daily routine. Quick Tip: Floss every night before you brush, for maximum benefit. But soon your teeth won’t feel clean without it. Don’t worry if at first flossing causes slight bleeding, but if the bleeding continues for more than ten days, contact your dentist.

Here’s how to floss: Carefully ease the floss between the teeth, right down to the gumline. Gently wipe plaque from both sides of adjacent teeth. The goal is to arc the floss in a “C” shape following the contours of each tooth. Quick Tip: Beginners should start with waxed shred-resistant floss because it slides between the teeth more easily. The Ontario Dental Association.

For more information on this or other topics be sure to contact one of our dental professionals.

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski and Associates

Dentists in Brampton

Whoopi Goldberg talks about Gum Disease - It can kill you!

For more information on gum disease contact one of our dental professionals at 905-458-6620.

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski and Associates

Dentist Brampton

What is SINUS LIFT SURGERY?

For an implant to be successful there must be enough quality and quantity of bone where the implant is to be placed. The upper back jaw has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants due to insufficient bone and the closeness to the sinus. If bone is lost in that area for reasons such as periodontal disease or tooth loss there might not be enough bone to place an implant. In such cases a sinus lift surgery may be necessary.

Sinus lift surgery can help correct this problem by raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants. Several techniques can be used to raise the sinus and allow for new bone to form. In one common technique, an incision is made to expose the bone. Then a small circle is cut into the bone. This bony piece is lifted into the sinus cavity, much like a trap door, and the space underneath is filled with bone graft material. Your periodontist can explain your options for graft materials, which can regenerate lost bone and tissue.

Finally, the incision is closed and healing is allowed to take place. Depending on your individual needs, the bone usually will be allowed to develop for about four to 12 months before implants can be placed. After the implants are placed, an additional healing period is required. In some cases, the implant can be placed at the same time the sinus is augmented.

Undergoing sinus lift surgery has been shown to greatly increase your chances for successful implants that can last for years to come. Many patients experience minimal discomfort during this procedure. (AAP)

For more information on this and other procedures be sure to contact one of our dental professionals.

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski - Brampton Dentist

Dr. Annabel Braganza - Brampton Periodontist 
905-458-6620

DO YOU HAVE GUM DISEASE?

Periodontal Disease also known as gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults, because it occurs at an age when cavities are usually a thing of the past and the initial symptoms often go unnoticed.

Here is what to watch for: gums that bleed when brushing; red, swollen or tender gums; or persistent bad breath.

Periodontal or gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gums, ligaments and bone that support the teeth and anchor them in the jaw. The bacteria which act mainly on certain carbohydrates, in our diets, are normal inhabitants of the mouth, living in a thin film called plaque. If plaque is not removed, it may eventually harden into tartar, a hard mineral shell that irritates and erodes healthy gum tissue. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. If left untreated, pockets begin to form between the teeth and gum tissue and may erode the tissue which attaches the tooth to the jaw. This stage is called periodontitis.

Gum disease can be treated at all stages, but most importantly, it can be prevented. Here's how: Brush twice daily, floss daily, eat a balanced diet and visit your dentist regularly for a preventive check up and professional cleaning which is essential in the prevention of gum disease.

Information as per the Ontario Dental Association.

For more information on this and other topics call one of our dental professionals.

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski and Associates

Dentists Brampton

CAN A TOOTH BE REPLACED? Bridge/Implants/Dentures

Bridge/Implants/Dentures (Prosthodontics)

Can A Tooth Be Replaced?

You can diligently floss and brush your teeth and still lose a tooth, to gum disease or accident. If this happens, the tooth should be replaced in order to restore your smile, regain your chewing and prevent other teeth from shifting. There are three main types of artificial teeth and each one is designed for a particular situation. They are dental implants, removable dentures and fixed bridges.

A DENTAL IMPLANT is made by surgically placing one or more small metal posts beneath the gum into the jawbone. In a few months, when they are attached to the surrounding bone, they are exposed and have the artificial tooth or teeth attached to them.

A REMOVABLE DENTURE replaces all of the lost teeth in the arch with one appliance. The denture is held in place by clasping some of the remaining teeth or by suction where none of the natural teeth are left.

A FIXED BRIDGE is a replacement that is cemented to the adjacent teeth and cannot be removed.

Information supplied by the Ontario Dental Association.

For more information on these or other topics be sure to contact one of our dental professionals.

Dr. Elizabeth Dimovski and Associates
Dentists in Brampton Ontario
905-458-6620