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General Dentistry Procedures from Our Dental Office in Thunder Bay
Westfort Family Dental treats patients of all ages with great care and compassion. When you visit our dental office in Thunder Bay, there will be several general dentistry services available to you. Prior to any procedure, you'll receive a comprehensive oral exam, which is a thorough evaluation of your oral condition. Your dentist will not only examine the condition of your teeth, but also your tongue, gums, jaw and bite. We'll then customize a treatment plan to best suit your unique needs. Please continue reading for a description of our general dentistry services.
Composite Fillings
Composite fillings are made up of acrylic and glass particles and contain no mercury or other metals. The filling material can be white or matched to the colour of your teeth for a more natural look.
Amalgam Fillings
Amalgam fillings are silver in colour and comprised of a mixture of metals. Mercury acts as glue to bind the metals into a hard, stable and safe substance that can last for decades.
Bridges
A bridge is a fixed dental appliance, meaning it's permanently placed in the mouth and can't be removed. It replaces one or more teeth that are missing between any healthy remaining teeth. The bridge is made from porcelain or other strong materials for stability. The teeth on either side of the missing tooth/teeth will be affixed with crowns, which will hold the bridge and its replacement teeth in place.
Crowns
A crown is a full-coverage tooth restoration intended to protect a root canal tooth, seal a cracked tooth, cover a discoloured tooth, restore a weakened tooth, support a dental bridge, cover damage left by dental decay, or strengthen a tooth after a large filling.
Endodontics (Root Canal)
A root canal is required when bacteria invades the nerve within the nerve chamber of the tooth or the canal of the root. This procedure is recommended as the last resort in saving a tooth that is either in severe pain, badly infected and/or has a large cavity or decay. The procedure itself involves the filling of the roots and is as painless as a filling in a tooth. It's a longer procedure though as the roots are below the gums and not easily accessible.
Frenectomy
A frenectomy is the removal of the muscular attachment between two tissues. There are two frena located in the mouth: one which connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth, and one that connects the inside of the upper lip to the gums. The frena can sometimes prevent normal mouth function, resulting in their removal.
Mouth Guard
A mouth guard, also known as sport guard, is a protective device that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and reduce injury to the teeth, lips and gums. These removable dental appliances are moulded to fit the upper or lower arches of teeth, providing a protective cushion to help prevent clenching and grinding disorders, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and sports injuries.
Maintainer
If a baby tooth is lost before the permanent tooth is ready to erupt, the nearby teeth can move into the space where the primary tooth used to be, creating a lack of space in the jaw for the permanent teeth. If this crowding happens, the permanent tooth emerges lopsided or is not able to erupt at all. A space maintainer is placed to keep this area open for the permanent tooth and helps guide it into position. The maintainer is a small metal device that's custom fitted to your child’s mouth and will be removed when the permanent tooth is in the proper place.
Oral Surgery
Westfort Family Dental performs many oral surgery services, including the diagnosis, actual surgical procedure and future treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving the head, mouth, teeth, gums, jaws, and neck.
Removable Partial Denture
Removable partial dentures usually consist of replacement teeth attached to pink or gum-coloured plastic base. Depending on your needs, your dentist will design a partial denture for you. A partial denture may have metal framework and clasps that connect to your teeth or they can be made to attach to your natural teeth with devices called precision attachments.
Sealants
The most effective form of defense against cavities on the top surface of the back teeth – the area most prone to decay – is a sealant. A white protective coating is painted into the cracks on the top of the back molars and premolars and activated with a UV light to form a protective barrier.
Scaling and Root Planing
Also known as “deep cleaning", scaling and root planing does exactly that – we scale off, or remove, the heavy plaque and tartar that has accumulated on your teeth. Root planing is done to create a smooth surface on your roots so bacteria is less likely to reattach. This procedure is often a common treatment for patients with periodontitis.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Wisdom teeth are your third and final set of molars and typically erupt in your teens. They're considered impacted, or unable to erupt, when they have no place to go or grow. They may grow in sideways, which can harm your other molars, or only partially come through the gums, which can cause recurrent bacterial infections, consistent pain and possibly even a tumor or a cyst. If your wisdom teeth aren't correctly positioned, we recommend their removal between the ages of 17 and 25.
Please contact our office to schedule an appointment with your dentist.
