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Dental Implants: A Reason to Smile

Dental Implants: A Reason to Smile

Dental implants have become the standard of care recommended by dentists for replacing missing or damaged teeth. Compared to other solutions, many patients are finding that dental implants give them a reason to smile.

Realism:
Dental implants provide a new tooth and root that looks, fits, functions, and feel like a natural tooth. Implants avoid the potential problems associated with some alternatives, such as trouble eating, speaking or laughing.

Durability:
Dental implants can last a lifetime with proper care, making them outlast most of their counterparts which have a lifespan of up to 10 years.

Natural:
Patients are able to retain their natural face shape. Missing teeth can make a person’s face look sunken and saggy, but implants allow you to maintain your proper face shape and smile.

Protective:
Missing teeth may cause jaw bone deterioration or loss, but implants preserve and stimulate the natural bone. The jaw is able to maintain its strength and firmness, protecting your bone structure. Also, neighboring teeth are not affected by dental implants. Healthy adjacent teeth are not damaged and stay exactly where they should be.

Health:
Cavities can’t take hold in a dental implant and crown. Proper hygiene and regular checkups should continue to ensure your mouth is healthy, but that particular tooth will not decay.

Confidence:
Dental implants erase the patient’s embarrassment about their smile and give them the confidence to enjoy life again. No more worries about a big space in the smile, and no concerns that the restoration will loosen or fall out like may happen with dentures.

Convenience:
There are no hassles for the patient to alter their diet because implants allow natural biting and chewing. Favorite foods can still be enjoyed with this restoration.

We look forward to seeing you in our Ottawa dental office

Tips for Fighting Dental Fears

Tips for Fighting Dental Fears

If you experience fear about going to the dentist, you’re not alone. Studies show that about 50% of adults experience some level of fear about dental visits, with 5% of those suffering from severe anxiety. However, patient’s wishes for a nice smile and good oral health allow them to overcome their fears and visit their dentist in spite of their qualms.

These are some techniques that many patients use that enable them to get through their dental appointments successfully:

  • Using internal resources – telling yourself you can do it even though you are nervous
  • Prayer – relying on a higher power to help you through the treatment
  • Self distraction – singing to yourself or playing mental games to keep your mind off of what’s happening
  • Distancing – convincing yourself that any pain feels like something else, such as numbness
  • Optimism – focusing on what’s ahead after your appointment is over

In fact, optimism seems to be one of the biggest keys to overcoming your dental fears. Patients who use this method have been shown to visit the dentist more regularly than other patients who suffer from anxiety about dental treatment. Studies also reveal that humor is another important part of dealing with dental visits. Humor can break down psychological barriers, and allow the patient to feel more comfortable in their interactions with the dentist and staff. An atmosphere of humor tends to reduce stress and increase a sense of well-being and satisfaction in a potentially nervous situation.

However, if none of these techniques work for you, sedation dentistry is a option to consider. At  PermaSmile! we offer a variety of sedation options.

Whatever methods you implement to help you through your dental visit, the most important thing is sticking with it and returning again for your next visit. Your dental health is dependant upon regular dentist’s care.

Dentist in Ottawa for patients with dental phobias.

Patient Types Who Benefit From Sedation Dentistry

Patient Types Who Benefit From Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry is designed mainly to focus on patients experiencing fear and anxiety related to dental treatment; however, it is also an excellent choice for other patient types. Following are the main groups who experience relief and comfort from sedation dentistry:

  • Patients experiencing anxiety and fear or a dental phobia
  • Patients possessing an acute gag reflex
  • Patients who have special needs
  • Patients with physical issues that affect movement
  • Anxious or fearful pediatric patients

Dental professionals want a patient to be as stress-free as possible immediately prior to and during a dental visit. Relieving anxiety and fear can turn an unpleasant, stressful experience into a comfortable visit, resulting in a desire to continue dental health and hygiene by returning for regular examinations and procedures.

An acute gag reflex can leave a patient concerned about vomiting during a dental procedure; in fact, many procedures such as taking impressions or working on the back teeth may be impossible. Sedation dentistry helps patients greatly reduce this gag reflex issue, as it is often exacerbated by anxiety and fear.

Patients who have special needs related to autism, Down Syndrome, or a mental or emotional problem may have real difficulty during dental visits. Other patients may deal with physical conditions such as cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, or other disorders of the central nervous system. Patients in this group may have difficulty following instructions or remaining still. Sedation dentistry solves issues of involuntary muscle movements, allowing the dentist to safely and quickly complete treatment.

Fearful children can be problematic for dentists. Children who cannot be still, comply with instructions, or stop crying can cause time-consuming safety issues. Sedation dentistry allows a dentist to perform treatments without physical restraints that could cause emotional trauma to the child, leading to adult dental phobias and fears.

Visiting the dentist and caring for your dental health should be comfortable. Contact our dental office to see what can be done to make your visit as stress-free as possible using sedation dentistry in Ottawa.

Easing Your Dental Implant Concerns

Easing Your Dental Implant Concerns

More and more patients with missing teeth are taking advantage of the popular restoration method of dental implants. If you are considering implants, you might have some questions or concerns. It may sound like a daunting procedure that might scare you off, but getting the facts will likely ease your fears.

We offer Dental Implants in Ottawa

How will I know about the process?
Seeking treatment from a qualified, experienced, reputable dentist is the first step in the dental implant process. If you and your dentist decide together that implants are a good solution for you, dental X-rays will be taken to get a clear picture of your bite and exactly where the dental implant should be placed. With the appropriate data and information needed, your dentist will create a treatment plan for accurately inserting the implant during oral surgery and later placing a crown on top to complete the restoration. These initial steps in the process will help avoid complications during the implant procedure.

Does it hurt?
If pain is what’s making you hesitate about getting dental implants, the good news is that there is practically no pain during the procedure. You will remain comfortable during treatment thanks to simple anesthesia injections in the area. Although you may notice vibrations during implant placement, actual pain shouldn’t occur. Anti-anxiety medications are sometimes given to calm a patient’s nerves, and sedation dentistry is an option for those with more serious dental fears.

What about recovery?
Most patients experience minimal pain after dental implant surgery. Soreness is normal, similar to what you’d expect after getting a filling, but over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen is usually sufficient. Dentists sometimes prescribe an antibiotic or a mouth rinse to reduce infection risks during healing. With the advancements made in dentistry, there is no reason to shy away from dental implants. Make a dental appointment in our Ottawa office to learn more about them today.

Manage Your Time With a Family Dentist

Manage Your Time With a Family Dentist

Life sometimes seems as though it is zipping by, and that time is running through our fingers at an alarming pace. If you have children, this seems to be more true every year. Multiple children can mean multiple schools, appointments, lessons, meetings and plans. If you are feeling like the family taxi service, you can take steps to simplify your life by finding a family dentist to serve the oral health needs of you and your entire family.

Family dental practices have arisen out of necessity for convenience of appointments and out of the outstanding dental treatments that can be achieved with a long-term relationship between a dentist and a patient. A dentist who has known a patient since childhood carries the knowledge of that patient’s teeth during formative years, and as a result, can offer the most complete treatment possible for that patient.

Several dentists for your family leaves you driving across town, from one place to another, stuck in traffic, putting wear and tear on your vehicle. Your time is too valuable to spend this way. A family dentist can make all of the appointments for your family in one block, sometimes congruently, making things so much more convenient for you.

Sometimes the most difficult parts of parenting occur in a waiting room. Children get bored and squirmy; they need to be up and moving, engaged in age-appropriate activities. No one understands this more than a family dentist. A family dentist will have a waiting area full of toys, games and books to occupy children. Because you also need some pampering, they will often have complimentary beverages like coffee, tea or water. Some have massage chairs, headphones or video screens with movies you can watch while you wait.

You deserve the comfort and convenience a family dentist will bring to you and your family as well as the excellent oral care you expect from any quality dentist.

Our dental office is located in Ottawa

Keeping Your Bright Smile after Teeth Whitening

Keeping Your Bright Smile after Teeth Whitening

It’s a fact of life that teeth can become dingy and yellowed through the years. Your diet, age, personal habits and more affect the shade of your teeth. Even with the best care, it’s nearly inevitable that at some point you’ll want to brighten your smile. Once you pursue teeth whitening, you’ll want to be sure to make your new smile last as long as possible.

Over-the-counter products are readily available from your local drugstore and simple to use. However, they can take a long time to obtain full results and even then, you may not achieve the desired shade you’d like. Professional teeth whitening is the fastest and most dramatic way to brighten your smile.

If you spend the time and money to whiten your teeth professionally, making it last will be important to you. Results can last for a long time, but probably not forever. Here are some tips for making your white teeth last longer:

  • Watch your diet especially carefully for the first 48 hours following treatment. Your teeth are at the most risk for staining during this timeframe.
  • For the first few days, avoid eating known staining foods like blueberries, beets, dark soups, marinades, sauces, curry or tomato products.
  • At first, avoid broccoli, green beans, peas, sprouts, corn, or skinned potatoes. These have increased risk of particles getting stuck into the highly susceptible tooth pores after whitening treatment.
  • Watch out for citrus fruits that are high in acidity, which can also make your saliva more acidic. Your teeth are more prone to damage from acid when they already have increased sensitivity from the whitening chemicals.
  • Avoid drinking dark colas or coffee, since both can stain your teeth no matter when you drink them.
  • Get in the habit of drinking from a straw so that dark colored drinks don’t come into as much contact with your teeth.

Choosing the right foods and drinks after teeth whitening can make a big difference in the length of time your teeth stay white. Make the best decisions to enjoy your bright smile.


If you need a dentist in Ottawa contact us today

PermaSmile!
Dentistry@Slater
300 Slater St, Suite 107
Ottawa, ON  K1P 6A6

Phone: (613) 695-9551
Fax: (613) 695-9552

Directions

Office Hours Mon: 8-4, Tue: 8-4,  Thur: 8-4
Wed: 11-8,  Fri: 8-1

PermaSmile!
Dentistry@Nicholas
1 Nicholas St, Unit 100
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7

Phone: (613) 241-1131
Fax: (613) 241-6513

Directions

Office Hours Mon-Thur:  8-4
Fri: 8-1

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