Bad Breath in Children

At Riverwalk Dental in Calgary, we treat whole families and are proud to be able to help children suffering from a number of oral health problems. One of those problems is bad breath, which indicates that children have a bigger problem and would benefit from a dentist’s examination.

As is the case with adults, the most common reason for bad breath in children is poor hygiene. Children need to diligently brush their tongues, as well as their teeth, or else odor-causing bacteria will eat food particles caught in their papillae and multiply. Bacteria can also grow out of control on children’s tonsils, where bacteria are able to feed on nasal drip. Children suffer from frequent sinus infections, which provide bacteria on the tonsils with plenty of food, and they may also have undiagnosed allergies.

Undiagnosed diabetes is another potential cause of bad breath, but a more common reason is dry mouth. Dry mouth is one of the most common medication side-effects, and it’s no mere inconvenience. The loss of saliva eliminates on of the body’s most important ways of keeping the mouth clean and patients need to either have the medication changed or compensate with throat moisturizers. Children who breathe through their mouths are also at risk for developing bad breath as a result of dry mouth.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Inlays and Onlays

Riverwalk Dental provides a number of ways of fixing or replacing damaged teeth, including partial crowns. Known as inlays or onlays depending on their size, partial crowns are a middle-ground between fillings and whole-crown replacements, and are particularly useful for repairing damage to the back teeth from acid reflux disease.

The back teeth have both raised cusps and indentations. An inlay nestles into the indentations like a permanent sealant; an onlay replaces at least some of the cusps, as well. When a patient needs a partial crown, a doctor will drill away the decayed enamel and make an impression of the patient’s mouth. The impression is then used as the basis for the custom-fitted partial crown’s construction while the patient wears a temporary crown. Once the partial crown is complete, the patient will return to have it cemented in. The partial crown will be made of white porcelain, allowing it to blend in with the rest of the patient’s teeth and ensuring that it will withstand normal wear and tear. The patient need only maintain regular oral hygiene.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Signs of a Failing Implant

Implants are one of the most valuable tools in dentistry and have a very high success rate, but it is possible for them to fail. When they do, it should be considered a dental emergency, and patients should be aware of the signs that they need help.

The most common cause of dental implant failure is inflammation of the gum tissue surrounding an implant, which is called peri-implantitis. Sometimes, this occurs immediately after implant placement when the dental cement leaks onto the surrounding gum. However, it is more common for it to happen years later as a result of periodontal disease. If the gum around an implant turns red or bleeds, the implant is at risk. The gum should never be allowed to deteriorate to the point where an implant can move.

It is also possible for an implant to fail immediately after insertion if it was placed on a nerve or there was insufficient bone tissue. When an implant is placed on a nerve, the patient will experience severe pain which will not improve, and the implant must be removed. Doctors assess bone tissue for stability prior to placing an implant and will monitor the growth of a patients jaw bone for two years after implant placement. If the bone continues to deteriorate, the implant placement is considered a failure.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Cleaning a Fixed Bridge

When Riverwalk Dental patients undergo tooth restorations, they can be assured of receiving instructions on how to maintain their oral hygiene with their new teeth. Patients who get bridges have to learn a few new tricks, but they mostly just need to know how to floss when there’s a gap under a tooth instead of to either side.

There are some floss manufacturers who make specialty floss with stiffened ends which can be pushed through the gap separating the bridge from the gum line. However, it is more common for patients to use normal floss with a threader, which is a piece of soft plastic shaped like a sewing needle. With a threader, patients can draw floss through the bridge gap and loop it around, in the same way patients with braces slip floss past their orthodontic wires. If a patient’s bridge is supported by implants, they may have a larger gap for food debris can get lodged in, but such debris can be dislodged with another tool orthodontic patients are familiar with: the proxy brush. Also known as Christmas tree brushes because of their conical shape, proxy brushes can be mounted on normal-sized toothbrush handles and used in combination with flossing to keep bridges free of plaque.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Stains

Riverwalk Dental provides patients with tooth whitening treatments, but which kind of treatment is appropriate depends on the nature of the stain. If a stain is on the outside of the tooth or just slightly below the surface, it is called an extrinsic stain. But a stain could also be caused by damage to the pulp of the tooth, in which case it is called an intrinsic stain, and treating it could be more complicated.

Any kind of stain can be masked with a veneer or bonding. Since extrinsic stains are acquired from exposure to tar or dark liquids, dentists usually simply bleach them, but that won’t work on an intrinsic stain. Furthermore, damaged dental pulp might indicate a continuing infection which would threaten the patient’s health and comfort. Other possible causes include an excessive amount of fluoride exposure and the use of certain antibiotics, but we’ll need to use our imaging systems to determine whether a root canal or replacement of the crown is necessary. If there is no ongoing threat to the patient’s health, concealing the stain may be all that is required.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Preventing Dry Sockets

Patients at Riverwalk Dental rarely have to struggle with a dry socket, but when they do, we’re here to help. We generally try to avoid extracting patients’ teeth, but sometimes, overcrowding or damage leaves us little choice. Although there is a risk of the empty socket drying out, we try to make sure our patients understand how to care for themselves until it closes and how we will address complications, should they arise.

When a tooth is extracted there is expected to be a small amount of bleeding, which will result in a clot. This clot is what protects the socket from infection, foreign debris, and dryness. Therefore, it is important for the patient to disclose to us all the medications they are on, as some may interfere with clot formation. The patient must avoid disrupting the clot until the socket closes after a few days. This means no sipping through straws, no sticky food, and brushing the area around the surgical site very gently.

Dry sockets are rare, but they are more likely if we had to make an incision into the patient’s gum and suture it shut. The appointment to remove the sutures will supply us with an opportunity to ensure everything is healing correctly, but patients who experience a dry socket should contact us right away so we may provide cleaning and moisturizing therapy.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Basics of Bruxism

When you’re angry, or anxious, do you find yourself clenching your teeth together? Do you wake up with a sore jaw and ask yourself why? If you’ve answered yes to either of these questions, you may want to pay attention while our doctors at Riverwalk Dental discuss the basics of bruxism. Bruxism is the action of clenching or grinding the teeth and although this can occur during the day, it’s most common during sleep.

Bruxism takes a toll on tooth enamel because the action of grinding your teeth can wear it down.  Enamel can’t be restored once it’s lost, so it’s important to address this problem at the first sign of grinding.  Bruxism may cause tooth sensitivity, headaches, and aching jaws due to the overuse of the jaw muscles. When bruxism interferes with sleep, our doctors may suggest a night guard as a treatment option. Depending on the severity of malocclusion, orthodontic options may also be explored.

If you have questions or concerns about bruxism or night guards, please give us a call. Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

Traditional Braces

When you hear the term “orthodontics,” traditional braces are probably the first thing to come to mind. At Riverwalk Dental, we have a variety of orthodontic options for patients to choose from if they desire a straighter smile, but we’d like to take the time and explain the benefits of traditional braces. Depending on your level of self-discipline, they may or not be a better option than their clear alternative – Invisalign.

Traditional dental braces consist of brackets and archwires that are placed on the teeth, which use elastic ties to secure them. Though they are the least aesthetically pleasing option, patients can select from a variety of color choices to express their personalities through their smile. Traditional braces treat a wide range of malocclusion issues such as crowding, alignment issues, and irregular spacing. Though there may be mild discomfort once the brackets are placed, they are permanent until removed, so you don’t have to worry about misplacing aligners. The length of treatment varies from person to person, but once they come off, you’ll see that the duration was worth it.

If you have questions about our orthodontic options, please give us a call. Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

Veneers

Veneers are among the most sought-after cosmetic restoration and are one of our specialties at Riverwalk Dental. They can be thought of as shields for the teeth which, by covering the fronts and tips, are able to mask chips, stains, and slight misalignments.

While previous generations of veneers required significant tooth reshaping, those of the Lumineers brand are thin enough to require very little change to the natural teeth. Once a patient’s teeth have been cleaned and smoothed, we will take a scan of them from which we can use software to design the custom-fitted shells. After being milled, the veneers can be cemented onto the patient’s teeth.

Being made out of porcelain, veneers have a very similar color to natural teeth, and Dr. Chen will consult with the patient to make sure the color is satisfactory. They are still vulnerable to decay and discoloration, so patients will have to maintain their oral hygiene. But they also create an immediate and lasting improvement in the teeth’s appearance and can somewhat improve bite function when being used to fill small chips and gaps.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

The Implant Procedure

Riverwalk Dental’s Dr. Roger Chen provides his patients with a number of technologically advanced treatments to replace missing or damaged teeth. One of the most effective of those is the endosteal implant. A permanent fixture in the mouth, this type of artificial tooth replaces the root as well as the crown.

The word “endosteal” refers to the endosteum, an inner layer of bone. An implant is a screw, usually made of titanium, which is inserted into the endosteum. Placing it requires an incision to be made into the patient’s gums, and it will take between three and six months for a new matrix of bone tissue to grow around the implant, fusing it into the jaw in a process called osseointegration. When osseointegration is complete, Dr. Chen will place an abutment on top of the implant, which will be exposed on the inside of the mouth. He will then take an impression or scan of the patient’s mouth which will be used as the basis for an artificial crown. Once the crown has been manufactured, it can be cemented over the abutment.

Though the implant process is long and requires the patient to have a certain amount of stable jaw bone, it is one of the best means of restoring bite function and appearance. The implant helps to maintain the structure of the jaw bone, preventing the patient’s face from warping, in addition to the other benefits of replacement teeth.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Understanding Dentures

We provide full-mouth restorations at Riverwalk Dental, which means we replace all the teeth in a patient’s mouth. While modern dentistry has created means of permanently affixing false teeth (prosthodontics), such as all-on-four implants, there are still many cases in which the patient benefits from dentures.

Dentures are distinguished by being removable, but they still require permanent changes to the patient’s mouth. Partial dentures, which only replace the front teeth, require the reshaping of the teeth on either side of them. Full-mouth dentures require all the remaining teeth in a jaw to be removed. This is often a sticking point for patients, but it’s usually done because the patient does not have the bone support for implants and should not or does not want to receive a bone graft.

As an office which values our patients’ comfort, we regularly adjust our patients’ dentures throughout their lives to ensure they are comfortable and working properly. If cared for properly, dentures can make a big improvement in the life of a person suffering from poor oral health.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Thumb Sucking

At Riverwalk Dental, Calgary’s first-time parents often ask us whether their child’s thumb sucking habit is harming their oral health. The answer mainly depends on the age of the child. Thumb sucking is a common behavior in children under four, but as they begin losing their baby teeth, it could become a problem.

Very young children’s facial bones are not fully fused together and can shift back from the pressure put on them by sucking a thumb or a pacifier. But this does not remain true for children over about the age of five. Persistent thumb sucking can cause an overbite or other malocclusion, or even misaligned jaws.

Children over four should be coaxed out of their bad habits, but parents should be aware there could be an underlying psychological reason for their child’s need to self-soothe. When this isn’t addressed, children often develop a habit of thrusting their tongues against their front teeth as a substitute, which isn’t any better. There are orthodontic devices to discourage tongue-thrusting, but general practice is to use these as last resorts.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes

There are a vast number of products available to help patients with oral hygiene at home and most people understand the importance of regular brushing. However, they may not be aware of the difference between manual and electric toothbrushes. Which one would benefit them more depends on how they brush.

Studies do not show that there is any difference in the oral health of patients who use either kind of brush as long as they use it properly. This, however, is a very important qualifier, because very few people use manual toothbrushes the right way. Manual toothbrushes need to be used for two full minutes at a time, be held at a 45⁰ angle, and moved in a circular motion (or up and down on the backs of the incisors).

Electric toothbrushes drastically cut down on how much the patient has to move their arm and make tens of thousands of brush strokes per minute, instead of only hundred. It is easier to overbrush with electric brushes, but there is little risk of not doing it enough. Obviously, electric toothbrushes are much more expensive, but for people who can’t use manual toothbrushes or who have problems using them for the right amount of time, the investment may be worth it.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.

 

Types of Teeth

Each of our teeth serves a specialized purpose. At Riverwalk Dental, we want our patients to be informed about their care, so we thought we’d provide this guide to explain why we may want to do certain kinds of work on their teeth.

Adult mouths naturally have thirty-two teeth, with sixteen in each jaw. In the back of each jaw are three pairs of molars, the grinding and chewing teeth. These are the largest, and the furthest ones back are the wisdom teeth, the last to erupt. In front of the molars are two pairs of premolars, which serve the same purpose but are smaller and only have one root, instead of two or three.

The canine teeth are the pointy ones used for piercing. They are important for stabilizing the jaw and maintaining the alignment of the other teeth. The four in front are called incisors, and besides being used to tear food, they are the key ones used in speech.

Riverwalk Dental is located at 540 6^th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 1K5, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 1-403-456-4994 or visit RiverwalkDental.Ca.