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Recent studies show that gum disease has been linked to:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Pneumonia and other respiratory diseases
• Diabetes
• Premature, low birth weight babies
• Our Emphasis is on Preventive Dentistry.

Regular dental visits, including cleanings and assessments by our hygienist are essential in the prevention of gum and periodontal disease; as well as maintaining overall wellness.

Gum disease begins with the formation of soft (plaque) and hard (calculus (tartar)) bacterial deposits on the surface of the teeth. Without proper oral care, this bacteria can cause inflammation of the gums. This is known as Gingivitis. The bacteria may then penetrate the gum line and eventually spread into the underlying bone, resulting in Periodontitis. It is estimated 75% of the population has gingivitis. Blood on the toothbrush or dental floss is one of the earliest and most common signs of gingivitis. When detected early gingivitis is reversible and preventable with proper oral care, including brushing and flossing. However, without proper care gingivitis may progress to periodontitis. Periodontitis can progress slowly and is often not painful. You may not even be aware of it until it has progressed to the advanced stage and you are in danger of loosing teeth. Your dentist and dental hygienist can best detect the early stages of gum disease, when it is the easiest to treat.

We will personalize a program based on your needs. Regular checkups are also important in the early detection of other dental problems, including dental decay, oral cancers, TMJ and muscle related conditions.

EVERYDAY DENTAL HYGIENE

Everyday dental hygiene is an essential component of preventative dentistry. Flossing and brushing twice daily is crucial to guarding against tooth decay and gum disease. Without these habits, plaque and tartar quickly begin to build. Brushing and flossing does not catch everything, which is why dentists suggest checkups (that include full dental cleaning) every six months. Since oral health varies significantly from one person to the next, the biannual suggestion should be considered a general guide only.

DIET AND ORAL HEALTH

Diet is extremely important for maintaining proper oral health and is often overlooked as a form of preventative dentistry. If you consume sugary food and drinks regularly, a more frequent brushing and flossing schedule is advised.

FLUORIDE TREATMENT

A mineral that plays an important role in strengthening teeth and preventing decay, fluoride has been proven to have a beneficial effect on preventative oral health, which is why dentists and hygienists often provide treatments during dental visits. Dentists are also likely to recommend toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain fluoride.

COMPLETE ORAL EXAMS

Regular exams are important for more than just checking on the health of your teeth. A complete exam also includes an oral cancer screening, for added peace of mind. Naturally, the more regular the exam (like every six months instead of every year) the better your dentist will be able to monitor fluctuations and changes in your overall dental health. This is very important for detecting early warning signs of maladies like gum disease or gingivitis.

THE BENEFITS OF X-RAYS

In addition to manual examinations, dental x-rays are vital to complete preventative dentistry. X-rays can detect cavities, some tumors, bone infections, and other diseases that are difficult or impossible to spot with the naked eye. Today, some dentists are also offering digital x-rays, which reduce the exposure to radiation in an environmentally friendly way that also has the advantage of producing instant images.

We take same day or walk-in appointments for all dental emergencies.

What is considered to be a dental emergency?

• Is it a broken tooth, broken dentures,
• an avulsed or knock out tooth,
• an orthodontic dental emergency,
• a mobile dental implant,
• a veneer or crown that had been dislodged,
• uncontrolled pain from a tooth ache or a dental abscess,
• uncontrolled intra-oral bleeding or hemorrhage,
• an infected piercing,
• unexplained sudden or chronic changes in tooth colour,
• a foreign body embedded in the intra-oral soft tissue or between the teeth,
• non healing intra-oral ulcerations,
• a broken orthodontic retainer.

Fillings are a restoration procedure used to replace tooth structure that is decayed. Fillings are also used to repair fractured, broken, or severely worn teeth.

Modern dentistry has allowed us to combine beauty with strength when filling teeth. Fillings are made from a variety of materials that will closely mimic the look and feel of the natural tooth, creating a restoration that’s nearly indiscernable from the original tooth’s strength and appearance.

The dentist will begin the procedure by cavity preparation – removing any remaining decay and shaping the final cavity. The next step will be the addition of a composite-resin filling material, which is then cured (hardened) with a curing light. The final step will be polishing the filling to adapt it smoothly to the natural shape of the tooth.

In some cases cavity preparation could become very large for the filling and the dentist will recommend an inlay or an onlay (partial crown) rather than a filling – a restoration procedure designed to replace more tooth structure than a normal filling. This is accomplished by having an impression made and the inlay or onlay prepared in a dental laboratory. The final placement of the inlay or onlay will be made during a second visit at Florish Dental.

Fillings do not last forever so it is essential that you visit us regularly for scheduled check-ups. Fillings can develop cracks or simply wear down due to chewing forces. The dentist monitors the integrity of your fillings during regular exams and will recommend replacing a filling if a problem is detected.

WHAT IS INVISALIGN ?

Invisalign in Edmonton AB For patients who want to enjoy the many benefits of straighter teeth without having to wear uncomfortable metal brackets and wires, Invisalign is an ideal alternative to traditional braces. The process involves the use of a series of clear trays that are worn for a few weeks at a time. Over time, these trays gently and effectively move the teeth until they are perfectly aligned.

NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW

One of the greatest benefits of Invisalign is that no one even needs to know that you are wearing them. The aligners used are made out of clear plastic that visibly disappears once positioned on the teeth. Teenagers that are worried about braces distracting from their appearance can smile without fear the entire time their teeth are being pulled into alignment.

BRACES CAN LIMIT CERTAIN FOODS

Braces can also limit the types of foods that can be eaten. Things like sticky candy or popcorn are completely off limits when you are wearing braces. Invisalign allows for the freedom to eat anything you like because they are completely removable. While the aligners are off, you can also brush and floss your teeth without braces getting in the way.

INVISALIGN OFFERS FLEXIBILITY

Finally, many teenagers love the flexibility that Invisalign offers. Braces can sometimes interfere with sports or playing a musical instrument. No such worries with Invisalign! They can often be worn while participating in almost any activity or they can be quickly removed if necessary.

INVISALIGN VS. BRACES

Choosing between Invisalign treatment and braces can be a difficult and complex decision. Each treatment type has specific pro and cons. Traditional braces are most effective at treating very crooked teeth and tend to be less expensive. On the other hand, Invisalign can help to straighten teeth quickly while helping patients avoid feeling self-conscious about wearing visible metal brackets or wires. Making a decision in the debate between Invisalign vs. braces is best made in consultation with your orthodontist and by carefully evaluating your priorities and budget.

INVISALIGN COST

Enjoying the convenience and appearance of Invisalign can be surprisingly affordable. The total Invisalign cost of treatment varies widely by patient depending upon the difficulty of the case and how long the treatment will last. To increase the affordability of Invisalign treatment, many patients are able to take advantage of orthodontic coverage in dental insurance plans, Flexible Spending Accounts, and convenient payment plans.

INVISALIGN BEFORE AND AFTER

The results achieved by Invisalign treatment can be dramatic. Invisalign before and after photos show a marked improvement in the appearance of crooked teeth and demonstrate the effectiveness of Invisalign in creating healthier, more beautiful smiles.

Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. Also referred to as periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth.

Here are some warning signs that can signal a problem:

• gums that bleed easily
• red, swollen, tender gums
• gums that have pulled away from the teeth
• persistent bad breath or bad taste
• permanent teeth that are loose or separating
• any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• any change in the fit of partial dentures

Some factors increase the risk of developing gum disease. They are:

• poor oral hygiene
• smoking or chewing tobacco
• genetics
• crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean
• pregnancy
• diabetes
• medications, including steroids, certain types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives

See your dentist if you suspect you have gum disease because the sooner you treat it the better. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. If you have gingivitis, your gums may become red, swollen and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by a professional cleaning at your dental office, followed by daily brushing and flossing.

A high standard of oral health is vital at any stage of your child’s development. Whether it’s their infancy, childhood, or adolescence, Pediatric Dentistry plays a crucial role in:

• Maintaining hygiene
• Encouraging proper development
• Keeping smiles sparkling
•  

You may be thinking that cavity treatment on a temporary tooth is unnecessary; after all, it’s only going to fall out soon anyway! But the truth is that decay on a temporary tooth can spread infection, cause your child pain, and even damage the adult tooth below it! 

As your child’s adult teeth begin to erupt, it’s important that a pediatric dentist keeps them clean and tracks their development. The way they grow will be an indicator of any problems they may face in the future, such as crowding, gaps, or misalignment. If we find a potential issue, we can fix it before it ever appears. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Your teenager’s teeth are fully grown in, but that doesn’t make regular appointments with your pediatric dentist any less important. We can keep your teen’s teeth clean and healthy, and even plan orthodontic treatment for any issues that may have appeared. A teenager’s life is full of difficulties and changes. Having a beautiful smile doesn’t have to be one of them!

Fluoride therapy is the delivery of fluoride to the teeth topically or systemically, which is designed to prevent tooth decay (dental caries) which results in cavities. Most commonly, fluoride is applied topically to the teeth using gels, varnishes, toothpaste/dentifrices or mouth rinse.

Systemic delivery involves fluoride supplementation using tablets or drops which are swallowed. This type of delivery is rarely used where public water supplies are fluoridated, but is common (along with salt fluoridation) in some European countries.

Benefits of fluoride therapy

Fluoride therapy is commonly practiced and generally agreed upon as being useful in the modern dental field. Fluoride combats the formation of tooth decay primarily in three ways:

Fluoride therapy promotes the remineralization of teeth, by enhancing the tooth remineralization process. Fluoride found in saliva will absorb into the surface of a tooth where demineralization has occurred. The presence of this fluoride in turn attracts other minerals (such as calcium), thus resulting in the formation of new tooth mineral.
Fluoride can make a tooth more resistant to the formation of tooth decay. The new tooth mineral that is created by the remineralization process in the presence of fluoride is actually a “harder” mineral compound than existed when the tooth initially formed. Teeth are generally composed of hydroxyapatite and carbonated hydroxyapatite. Fluorapatite is created during the remineralization process when fluoride is present and is more resistant to dissolution by acids (demineralization).

Fluoride therapy can inhibit oral bacteria’s ability to create acids. Fluoride decreases the rate at which the bacteria that live in dental plaque can produce acid by disrupting the bacteria and its ability to metabolize sugars. The less sugar the bacteria can consume, the less acidic waste which will be produced and participate in the demineralization process.
There are many different types of fluoride therapies, which include at home therapies and professionally applied topical fluorides (PATF). At home therapies can be further divided into over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription strengths. The fluoride therapies whether OTC or PATF are categorized by application – dentifrices, mouth rinses, gels/ foams, varnishes, dietary fluoridate supplements, and water fluoridation.

Fluoride therapy, while beneficial to adults, is more important in children whose teeth are developing. As teeth are developing within their jaw bones, enamel is being laid down. Systemic ingestion of fluoride results in a greater component of fluoroapatite in the mineral structure of the enamel.

How Do Sealants Work?

Think of them as raincoats for your teeth. When the cavity-causing bacteria that live in everyone’s mouth meet leftover food particles, they produce acids that can create holes in teeth. These holes are cavities. After sealant has been applied it keeps those bits of food out and stops bacteria and acid from settling on your teeth—just like a raincoat keeps you clean and dry during a storm.

Who Can Get Sealants?

Children and adults can benefit from sealants, but the earlier you get them, the better. Your first molars appear around age 6, and second molars break through around age 12. Sealing these teeth as soon as they come through can keep them cavity-free from the start, which helps save time and money in the long run. Ask your dentist if sealants are a good option for you and your family.

How Are Sealants Applied?

It’s a quick and painless process. Your dentist will clean and dry your tooth before placing an acidic gel on your teeth. This gel roughs up your tooth surface so a strong bond will form between your tooth and the sealant. After a few seconds, your dentist will rinse off the gel and dry your tooth once again before applying the sealant onto the grooves of your tooth. Your dentist will then use a special blue light to harden the sealant.

Can Sealants Be Placed Over Cavities?

Sealants can be used over areas of early decay to prevent further damage to your tooth. Because some sealants are clear, your dentist can keep an eye on the tooth to make sure the sealant is doing its job.

Are There Any Side Effects?

With the exception of an allergy that may exist, there are no known side effects from sealants.

Is There BPA In Sealants?

Yes, there is a tiny amount of BPA in sealants but not enough to cause you or a loved one any harm. In fact, you get more exposure to BPA by simply touching a receipt, using cosmetics or coming in contact with dust.

What’s Involved in Root Canal Repair?

The pulp is soft tissue inside your tooth that contains nerves, blood vessels and provides nourishment for your tooth. It can become infected if you have:

• A deep cavity
• Repeated dental procedures that disturb this tissue
• A cracked or fractured tooth
• Injury to the tooth (even if there’s not a visible crack or chip)

If untreated, the tissues around the root of your tooth can become infected. When this happens, you will often feel pain and swelling and an abscess may form inside the tooth and/or in the bone around the end of the root of the tooth. An infection can also put you at risk of losing your tooth completely because bacteria can damage the bone that keeps your tooth connected to your jaw.

Can I Get This Treatment Done During My Regular Check-up Visit?

Your dentist will need to schedule a follow up appointment, or you may be referred to a dentist who specializes in the pulp and tissues surrounding the teeth. This specialist is known as an endodontist.

What Should I Expect?

A root canal treatment usually takes 1 or 2 office visits to complete. There is little to no pain because your dentist will use local anesthesia so you don’t feel the procedure. Once the procedure is complete, you should no longer feel the pain you felt before having it done.

Before treatment begins, your dentist will:

• Take X-rays to get a clear view of your tooth and the surrounding bone.
• Numb the area around and including your tooth so you are comfortable during the treatment.
• Put a thin sheet of latex rubber over your tooth to keep it dry, clean and protected from viruses, bacteria and fungus that are normally in the mouth.

During treatment, your dentist will:

• Create an opening in the top of your tooth.
• Remove the tooth’s nerve from inside the tooth and in the areas in the root, known the root canal.
• Clean inside the tooth and each root canal. Your dentist may treat the tooth with germ-killing medicine.
• Fill the root canals with a rubber-like material to seal them against future infection.
• Place a temporary filling on the tooth to protect it until a definitive restoration like a permanent filling or crown can be placed at the earliest opportunity.

After root canal treatment:

• Your tooth and the area around it may feel sensitive for a few days. You can talk with your dentist about how to relieve any discomfort you may have.
• Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics if the infection spread. Use as directed, and follow up with your dentist if you have any problems taking it.

You will need a follow-up visit after the root canal treatment. At this visit, your dentist will remove the temporary filling on the tooth and replace it with a regular filling or a crown to protect your tooth from further damage. A metal or plastic post may also be placed in the root canal to help make sure the filling materials remain in place. This helps support a crown if you need one.

How Long Will a Root Canal Filling Last?

With proper care, your restored tooth can last a lifetime. Make it a point to brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth once a day and see your dentist regularly to make sure your teeth are strong and healthy.

The purpose of a sport guard is two-fold: protect your teeth from becoming damaged or dislodged while participating in a sport or other rigorous activity; and to offer added protection to your head and brain against concussions.

While you can purchase a generic mouthguard at most drug stores or sports shops, to achieve optimal levels of protection you should have your mouthguards custom designed to perfectly fit your mouth specifically. This is done through having impressions made of your teeth and then having a mouthguard (typically fit for the upper mouth) constructed.

This will ensure a perfect fit, whereas purchasing a mouthguard off the shelf usually means the mouth guard is ill-fitting, uncomfortable, and doesn’t stay in place well during activity.

In office, whitening refers to whitening that is completed in the dental office. Flourish Dental offers Zoom! Whitening, in which an advanced LED light is used to remove even the toughest of stains. This lamp increases the effectiveness of the whitening gel, which will be applied by a professional to ensure that sensitivity is minimal and results are consistently beautiful. In approximately 2 hours, you can expect to see results 3-8 shades whiter. The process is relaxing and safe, with variable intensity settings to ensure your comfort.

Bruxism is a term which refers to the involuntary clenching and grinding of teeth, mostly occurring during sleep, and often resulting in teeth becoming worn down and damaged.

TMD stands for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, and typically this disorder presents in pain in the areas of the joints holding the upper and lower jaw together, which may result in difficulty for the patient in moving the jaw.

Flourish Dental in Edmonton provides professional, custom dental nightguards to treat both bruxism and TMD disorders; contact us to schedule a consultation appointment.

Dental Anxiety

Let’s be honest … going to the dentist may not ever be “fun,” but it doesn’t have to be unpleasant. That’s why at Flourish Dental, we have one priority: your comfort.

From routine cleanings to advanced cosmetic enhancements, we take a warm, calming, and personalized approach designed to make going to the dentist a little easier. This is a place where laughter is heard ringing in the hallways. We strive to make your visit as comfortable as possible. We have staff that will cater to all your needs.

Dental anxiety can stem from a lot of things, but if you have ever felt like you haven’t been heard in a dental office, we will listen! We really want you to feel comfortable in every aspect of your care. Even if you haven’t had a negative experience in the past, a fear of needles or nervousness triggered by the smells in a doctor’s office can all trigger fear, but we are here to talk you through any issues you may have.

Fear related to not being frozen? Have you tried to explain you aren’t frozen only to hear “we’re almost done!” We have a new way to freeze you that works, especially if you have had trouble getting frozen in the past. We will not work on you without making sure you are completely comfortable.

Nitrous Oxide

At Flourish Dental, we use nitrous oxide, also known as “Laughing Gas”, as a conscious sedative during a dental visit. The gas is administered with a mixture of oxygen and has a calming effect that helps phobic or anxious patients relax during their dental treatment.

Because it is a mild sedative, patients are still conscious and can talk to their dentist during the visit. After treatment, the nitrous oxide is turned off and the effects wear off almost immediately. It is also safe and effective for use on children.

An alternative to nitrous oxide is oral sedation, which involves administration of a prescription medication before treatment. Patients are conscious but very relaxed during their dental appointments. Patients who use this method must be driven to and from their appointments by a friend or family member.