A Burlington Tradition Of Trusted & Caring Dentistry
Welcome Weekdays Until 8pm & 6pm Weekends! We Bill Your Insurance Directly.
New patients are always welcome. Walk-ins and same day treatments available. 
Tooth Decay :
Despite its prevalence, we don't want any patient to think they're
destined for tooth decay, even if they've had a hard time avoiding it in the past. There are a
lot of factors that contribute to your oral health, but be assured that at our practice you're
in the hands of compassionate decay prevention experts.
Anyone who's been to the dentist knows we have a lot more tools than just a toothbrush & floss
for caring for your teeth. In addition to removing plaque, our arsenal of hand tools &
handpieces are designed to remove hardened deposits called tartar or calculus that are hard for
you to remove yourself using just a toothbrush & floss. During a cleaning visit, we also check
your teeth thoroughly for existing signs of decay. If we find a problem, we will talk to you
about fixing it as soon as possible with a filling, a crown, or another treatment if the decay
is more severe. Of course, our favorite outcome is when we find no decay at all. Understanding
how decay starts is a great way to solidify your understanding of how to prevent it.
There are two kinds of local anesthetics that dentists use to numb your mouth. The first is
called a topical anesthetic, which is swabbed over a small area on the surface of your mouth or
gums. In most cases, this is used to numb the area where the dentist plans to inject the other
kind of local anesthetic. The injectable anesthetic is what we rely on to keep you comfortable &
pain-free.
What Is Tooth Decay?
Statistically speaking, tooth decay could be considered the second most common illness
humans suffer from (number one is the common cold). If left untreated, tooth decay can lead
to pain & more severe problems such as abscesses or systemic infections, not to mention
tooth loss. Data indicates that almost every adult has had tooth decay at some point. Our
goal is to reverse this trend, at the very least in our local community. Educating our
patients about how tooth decay happens & how to prevent it is how we hope to accomplish
this.
A local anesthetic works by blocking nerve cells in a specific area from sending pain
signals to your brain. You can expect this numbness to last for two to four hours, which
means you will probably still feel residual numbness after your appointment.
One myth seems to have emerged from how we were taught about tooth decay & cavities as
children: avoid sugar & you can avoid cavities. The reality is there is no single thing you
can do to prevent tooth decay. Rather, preventing cavities is a collection of good habits,
maintenance & professional attention. The steps for a decay-free smile, in no particular
order, are a healthy diet, a thorough daily hygiene routine & seeing us regularly for teeth
cleanings & checkups.
Causes of Tooth Decay :
Just like other parts of your body, your mouth is populated by both good & bad bacteria. When
you don't care for yourself properly, you can end up creating an environment where the bad
(i.e., pathogenic) bacteria get the upper hand. In particular, these bacteria thrive when there
is plenty of sugar for them to consume, which they digest & excrete as acid. This acid is what
damages your teeth, eating into your tooth enamel & the softer dentin layer underneath. Eating
highly acidic foods (lemons, tomatoes, soft drinks, etc.) can also weaken & even wear away your
teeth.
Keeping Your Mouth Healthy :
If your mouth is in an ideal condition, your body's own immune responses & mechanisms, such as
healthy saliva that contains tooth-building minerals, repair damage & keep bad bacteria from
getting out of control. The goal of preventing decay is to keep your mouth in this healthy,
balanced condition at all times. If you brush & floss correctly, get enough fluoride, limit your
consumption of acidic or sugary foods & visit the dentist regularly, this should be easy for
you..
Guidance On Preventing Tooth Decay :
However, some patients have a tougher time preventing tooth decay & we are happy to provide
guidance. If you've had a few run-ins with cavities, you may need a refresher course on your
brushing or flossing techniques, which we're happy to provide at your next visit. You can also
boost the effectiveness of your at-home hygiene with special toothpastes, mouth rinses,
toothbrushes or floss options. We're happy to recommend these types of products if we think they
will benefit you.
Nutritional counseling is another option to ensure decay-causing bacteria doesn't get too much
fuel. In children whose hygiene skills are still developing, sealing the deepest grooves on
their back teeth can help prevent decay until they're older & better at caring for their own
teeth.
We serve Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Waterdown, and surrounding areas.
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