Our Dental Services
DENTAL CHECKUP
Our mouth is resistant to many bacteria but our teeth have their weak spots exposing themselves to decay. Dental check-ups are carried out to look for any tiny points of decay to be treated early. During a checkup, your dentist will use a small mirror to examine the surfaces of each tooth. Anything that looks abnormal will then be closely checked with special instruments. By seeing your dentist on a regular basis and following daily good oral hygiene practices at home, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Some of the ample benefits of regular dental check-ups are:
-
- Prevention of gum disease
- Early detection of periodontal diseases
- Improvement in oral hygiene and appearance
- Saving money by taking proper care of teeth
- Getting most updated and useful tips based on your teeth condition
CANCER SCREENING
The VELscope is an FDA approved device that aides in the early detection of oral cancer. This is a pain-free, non-invasive procedure where a safe blue light is emitted into the patient’s mouth. The dentist is able to immediately view different fluorescence responses to help differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue.
Oral cancer when detected early has a greater chance of successful treatment. Most people are not aware of this disease until it has presented itself as a problem and by then it has progressed extensively.
We at Dr. Lama Ghantous Dental Clinic in Ottawa recommend yearly screenings for adults, especially denture wearers and smokers.
CROWN
What are Dental Crowns?
A crown is an artificial restoration that fits over the remaining part of a prepared tooth, making it strong and giving it the shape of a natural tooth. A crown is sometimes known as a ‘cap’.
Crowns are an ideal way to repair teeth that have been broken, or have been weakened by decay or a very large filling. A crown could be used for a number of other reasons, for example:
-
- to replace a discoloured filling to improve the appearance of the tooth
- to protect what is left of a tooth with root filling
- It may help to hold a bridge or denture firmly in place.
Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies can occur when your tooth breaks, cracks, becomes loosened, or is knocked out completely. They can also happen if a filling or other dental work fails, or if you have an acute dental infection.
Dental emergencies can be avoided by taking some simple precautions, such as wearing a mouth guard during sport, and avoiding hard foods that may crack or break your natural teeth or dentures.
If your tooth is knocked out or loosened and pushed out of position you should call your dentist immediately and book an emergency appointment. If you can see your dentist within an hour of the incident, your tooth will have the best chance of surviving the trauma.
FILLING
Dental Filling treatment restores function and integrity of teeth by filling cavity/hole/chipped tooth with restorative material. If your dentist decides to fill a cavity, he or she will first remove the decay and clean the affected area. The cleaned-out cavity will then be filled with any of the variety of materials such as composite resin, porcelain etc. If you don’t take care of the decay in its early stage, it will get nearer to the nerve of the tooth and if allowed to progress too far will cause irreparable damage in which case, just simply filling the tooth will no longer be a viable option.
Reasons for having a filling may include but are not limited to:
-
- To improve oral health by removing gaps that traps plaque
- To prevent sensitivity to hot, cold and sweet food
- To prevent the further decay of tooth affecting the nerve that will end any relevant pain
- To improve the appearance of your tooth and your smile
HYGIENE
Scaling & Root Planning
Cleaning can involve Root Scaling, Root Planning, and General Hygiene.
Though brushing and flossing will help clean the plaque from your teeth, tartar is one thing that is not removable at home. With the special tools at our clinic, we will ensure the removal of tartar build up and plaque on your teeth.
After the removal of tartar build up and plaque, your teeth will be polished to help remove any surface stains on your teeth, and then flossed.
If gingivitis not treated and nothing is done about it, the inflammation will work its way down towards the foundations of the tooth causing a “periodontal pocket”. Again, within the confines of the pocket, the conditions are such that the bacteria can have a right old party, and cause more damage.
Periodontal Disease
Cause
Our mouths are full of bacteria. These bacteria, along with mucus and other particles, constantly form a sticky, colorless “plaque” on teeth. Brushing and flossing help get rid of plaque. Plaque that is not removed can harden and form “tartar” that brushing doesn’t clean. Only a professional cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar.
Risk Factors
Smoking. Need another reason to quit smoking? Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors associated with the development of gum disease. Additionally, smoking can lower the chances for successful treatment.
Hormonal changes in girls/women. These changes can make gums more sensitive and make it easier for gingivitis to develop.
Diabetes. People with diabetes are at higher risk for developing infections, including gum disease.
Other illnesses and their treatments. Diseases such as AIDS and its treatments can also negatively affect the health of gums, as can treatments for cancer.
Medications. There are hundreds of prescription and over the counter medications that can reduce the flow of saliva, which has a protective effect on the mouth. Without enough saliva, the mouth is vulnerable to infections such as gum disease. And some medicines can cause abnormal overgrowth of the gum tissue; this can make it difficult to keep teeth and gums clean.
Genetic susceptibility. Some people are more prone to severe gum disease than others.
IMPLANTS
You can have dentures with the support of implants in your jawbone. Implants are placed into the bone of the jaw and corresponding attachments into the denture. There are 2 types; Removable and Non-Removable. Both of these options provide the closest function of natural teeth that you can get and are a much more secure Denture.
INVISALIGN
Invisalign is a modern approach to straightening teeth, using a custom-made series of aligners personalized for each patient. Invisalign portrays your complete treatment plan from the initial position of your teeth to the final desired position, using modern 3D technology. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place little by little moving towards the desired position projected. The aligner is replaced regularly with a new aligner that brings your teeth even closer to your perfect smile.
Invisaligns are comfortable, clear and easily removable. They not only improve your smile but also improve your dental health as there will be no significant change to your oral hygiene routine for this. Compared to metal braces, invisalign give faster result, the treatment time is about a year in average.
MOUTH GUARD
A mouth-guard is a rubber-like flexible appliance which is worn in athletic and recreational activities to protect teeth from trauma. It can prevent serious injuries such as broken teeth, jaw fractures, cerebral haemorrhage and neck injuries by helping to avoid situations where the lower jaw gets jammed into upper jaw.
They may also reduce severity and incidence of concussions. Players who participate in basketball, softball, football, wrestling, soccer, rugby etc. should wear mouthguards.
The ideal mouth guard:
-
- Allows you to speak and does not cause problem with breathing.
- Is a firm device.
- Provides a high degree of comfort and fit.
- Is easy to clean and durable.
- Is resilient, tear-resistant, odorless and tasteless.
ROOT CANAL
Root canal treatment or endodontics involves removing infected tissue from your tooth, cleaning the root canal and then filling it to prevent further damage or infection. The treatment will vary depending on your individual needs, symptoms, medical history and any previous treatment you may had on your teeth.
Severe root pain, prolonged sensitivity of the tooth, tooth discoloration, gum swelling, recurrent pimple on gum are signs that you might need a root canal treatment. Benefits of root canal include:
-
- Root canal treatment is not hurtful as it’s done under local anesthesia.
- Root canal treatment can save your tooth from having to be taken out.
- Root canal treatment saves your surrounding teeth from infection as well.
SEDATION
Nitrous oxide sedation (i.e., laughing gas) is administered through a tube that is placed over your nose. As you breathe normally through the nose piece, the blend of nitrous oxide and oxygen will induce a euphoric feeling. Most patients prefer this method because it is only in effect during the time that it is needed.
Oral sedation, as the name implies, is medicine given orally prior to your visit to our office. This method allows the patient to partially sedated by the time you arrive for your appointment. Once you are comfortably settled in, we will begin your procedure.
If you would like to learn more about the various Sedation options, give us a call, our team will be more than happy to answer all your questions.
SPORTS GUARDS
Sports guards help protect your teeth from blows to the face and head and are important for athletes to wear. Anyone who is participating in a sport are prone to falls, body contact, flying equipment and unexpected situations. Sports guards typically cover your upper teeth and are specifically designed to prevent broken teeth, damage to your lips and any kind of other oral damage.
If you have braces or any other type of dental appliance located on your lower teeth, your dentist may suggest a guard for your lower jaw as well. Research shows that oral injuries are prominent but are also preventable. All high risk sports players are recommended to get their very own custom made sports guard.
TEETH Whitening
Among the many reasons that can cause teeth to discolour, smoking, drinking tea, coffee & alcohol, tooth decay, tartar and fillings – are only a few. Teeth Whitening is a successful and simple method that involves bleaching your teeth to make them lighter. The degree of whiteness achieved will vary from patient to patient and with the type of bleaching process chosen. You may want to whiten your teeth to:
-
- Increase Self Esteem and Confidence
- Look your Best for a special occasion
- Boost your overall feeling of wellbeing
- Have warmer and brighter smile
- Have better first impressions
VENEERS
If you have misshapen teeth, unsightly gaps or discoloured teeth, veneers may be the answer for you. Veneers are ultra-thin shells of porcelain or a composite resin material, which are bonded to the front of your teeth. This procedure requires little or no anesthesia and can be the ideal choice for improving the appearance of the front teeth. Veneers can also mask discolorations, to brighten teeth and to improve a smile.
Generally, veneers will last for many years, and the technique has shown remarkable longevity when properly performed. It’s not uncommon to see slight variations in the color of veneers upon close inspection, as this occurs even in natural teeth. Nevertheless, this procedure can greatly enhance your smile and can heighten self-esteem.