As kids, we’re all taught to brush our teeth regularly to keep them healthy. But what about our gums?

The gum is the soft tissue surrounding the neck of teeth which also covers the jawbone. By covering the dental roots, it protects them against microbes. A healthy gum is pink and firm, it attaches around the neck of the teeth and does not bleed when brushing or flossing.

• Using a soft-bristled brush, gently brush your gums each time you brush your teeth (with a vertical motion from the gum to the tooth).
• Carefully clean molars and pre-molars (because these teeth are located in the rear portion of the dental arch, they are often neglected, making them more susceptible to plaque buildup).
• Use dental floss every day to get rid of plaque between your teeth. Make sure the floss reaches just beneath the gumline (be gentle to avoid cutting the gum tissue).
• Adopt healthy eating habits, focusing on fruits and vegetables and leaving out acidic and over-sweet foods.
• Avoid tobacco.

Many patients stop using dental floss because of bleeding or pain. However, this is not the solution, as the situation may worsen rather than improve. Bleeding is caused by bacteria found in plaque, causing swelling and bone loss. This is why regular flossing is so important. If pain or bleeding persist after a month, you should go see a dental professional.

In fact, oral health treatments (teeth cleaning) and regular exams are really important to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy. When left untreated, gum disease can affect the bone that keeps your teeth in place. To avoid complications and, ultimately, the extraction of a tooth, it is best to adopt a preventive approach and seek treatment before problems become worse.

Dental sensitivity is described as a sharp and stabbing tooth pain, generally occurring when consuming cold foods or beverages. This is often caused by receding gums or enamel wear which expose the sensitive layer located under the tooth’s enamel: the dentin.

• Tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Damaged restoration
• Sinus or ear infection

This condition can develop suddenly or gradually at any age. Tooth sensitivity does not naturally increase over time and has various causes such as eating habits and oral hygiene. For instance, overbrushing or the consumption of acidic foods and drinks may increase tooth sensitivity.

To hedge against tooth sensitivity, one must have an adequate oral hygiene. It is advisable to use a soft-bristled toothbrush as well as using toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Make sure not to apply excessive pressure during brushing and take time to gently remove any traces of dental plaque by flossing.

Since eating acidic and sugary foods can result in pain, adopting healthy eating habits, focusing on fruits and vegetables, is recommended. Teeth grinding can also explain dentin hypersensitivity. Finally, routine checkups at your dentist remains the best way to keep a healthy mouth.

If pain persists, seek advice from your dentist. They will be more than happy to determine the cause of your pain and provide appropriate solutions.

Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day is the best way to get rid of plaque. If it is not completely removed, it hardens and becomes tartar. When this occurs, only a dental professional can remove it.

The role of dental hygienists is to provide therapeutic and preventive care aimed at ensuring optimal oral health. This includes detection, assessment, planning, and prevention to ensure good oral health habits.
After a thorough oral examination, the dental hygienist removes tartar from your teeth with a small, purpose-made metal curette. Once the tartar has been eliminated, the hygienist usually polishes the teeth to clear away any stains visible on the tooth surface using a grainy paste applied to the electric rotary tooth cleaning tool. To also ensure that areas between the teeth have been properly cleaned, the hygienist ends the session with dental floss. The dentist will then perform a complete dental check-up.

Scaling helps prevent certain gum diseases such as gingivitis, but also some problems like chronic halitosis (persistent bad breath). Another reason why professional cleaning should not be overlooked is that despite irreproachable oral hygiene, tartar can accumulate under the gums. If it transforms into advanced gum disease, bacteria can enter the bloodstream and reach other parts of the body.

Since periodontal diseases and untreated gingivitis are the leading cause of tooth loss in patients over 35 years of age, regular cleaning are of utmost importance. Omitting to do so puts your gums at risk for serious problems.

With time, prostheses can become uncomfortable. They may move while you chew or chatter as you talk. They can also rub against your gums, causing pain and injury.

But what happened to your once-comfortable prosthesis? At first glance, it may seem to have become too big when in fact it’s your mouth that’s changed size. Here’s an explanation:

When the jawbone is no longer stimulated by dental roots, it tends to lose some of its mass, gradually becoming thinner. This phenomenon is known as bone resorption. The gums have less contact surface to support the prosthesis properly, making it unstable. And, as long as there are teeth missing, bone resorption will continue.

The denturologist can adjust your prosthesis for improved stability, using one of these procedures:

Relining a prosthesis involves adding acrylic inside the prosthesis to increase its contact with gums. By filling the voids between your gums and the prosthesis, it will be better supported inside your mouth.
The prosthesis’ appearance remains unchanged because the teeth and pink acrylic base aren’t touched; only the interior surface is modified.
This technique is a quick, affordable and effective solution to stability problems. Relining can extend the useful life of your prosthesis.

Rebasing consists of reshaping the prosthesis. The denturologist changes the pink acrylic base but the teeth are kept and placed on the new base, which is perfectly adjusted to your gums. This procedure can only be done if the teeth are still in good shape.

Because the prosthesis has to be reshaped, rebasing takes a bit more time. Depending on the work to be done, it could take one or several days to complete. But the wait is worth it! Once ready, your new prosthesis will be perfectly adjusted, stable and comfortable again.

Prostheses can usually be repaired. However, we recommend letting the denturologist take care of any repairs needed, because he or she has the expertise and the materials to do the job right. Attempting to repair a prosthesis yourself could have an adverse effect on the device and your health. Over-the-counter glue is toxic and it does not provide for reliable, long-lasting results.

Your denturologist’s know-how will ensure your prosthesis is comfortable, esthetic and durable.

• The prosthesis has broken in two
• It’s cracked or worn out
• A tooth has come loose
• A tooth or a hook is broken (on a partial denture)
• A tooth is missing
• A tooth has to be added following a new extraction

The denturologist will assess the condition of the prosthesis to determine if it can be repaired. Most of the time, repairs can be done in one day.

• If the prosthesis has broken in two, the two parts are temporarily glued together
• A mould is made of the prosthesis using silicone or plaster
• The prosthesis is broken once again and the resin is ground down where it broke. The aim is to create enough space for new resin to be filled in so that it fuses to the old resin
• Both parts are placed on the silicone or plaster mould and the void is filled with new resin
• The prosthesis is hardened and reshaped using a resin drill
• Finally, it’s sanded and polished for a smooth, shiny finish

If the prosthesis is old (more than five years), the teeth are too worn out or a major adjustment is needed, the effectiveness and durability of the repair cannot be guaranteed. In this case, we recommend completely replacing the prosthesis.

Cleaning your dental prosthesis is essential. Just like with natural teeth, plaque accumulates on artificial teeth every day. If your gums, remaining teeth or the prosthesis are not cleaned properly, you could develop an infection or an illness, including:

• Bad breath
• Stains on the prosthesis
• Gum disease
• Cavities on remaining teeth
• Loss of remaining teeth
• Heart disease, diabetes, etc.

Cleaning a prosthesis is simple, but should be done regularly and carefully.
1) Remove the prosthesis before going to bed; this prevents bacteria from growing and gives your gums a chance to rest. Soak your prosthesis while you’re asleep

2) Brush your prosthesis:

• Use a soft-bristled brush that’s meant for cleaning dentures
• Use water and a denture toothpaste that doesn’t contain abrasives

3) Soak your prosthesis:

• After brushing it, place your prosthesis in a daily denture care solution overnight
• If your prosthesis has metal hooks, soak the prosthesis in warm water only so that the metal won’t tarnish
• You can also mix equal parts white vinegar and water to soak your dentures in; this removes any accumulated tartar
• By soaking your dentures, you’ll prevent the acrylic part from drying out and losing its shape

4) We also recommend removing and cleaning your prosthesis after each meal. A light brushing with denture toothpaste will immediately remove any bacteria that could cause plaque. If you can’t clean your prosthesis after a meal, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water

It’s important to remove food particles and tartar that accumulate on prostheses to keep teeth and gums healthy. A good cleaning routine will help your prosthesis last longer.

• The denturologist will check the condition of your prosthesis. If there’s a crack or a weak spot, he or she can carry out the necessary repairs
• He or she will clean and polish the prosthesis, giving it back its original shine
• The prosthesis’ stability is checked. If it moves, doesn’t adhere as well or is causing you pain, the denturologist will adjust it. Depending on the case, rebasing or relining may be needed to make the prosthesis comfortable again
• The denturologist will give you advice on how to care for your prosthesis

• The dentist will check the condition of your gums and remaining natural teeth. He or she will also check the progress of bone resorption and the presence of oral disease
• The dental hygienist will clean your remaining teeth. A professional cleaning eliminates tartar, which cannot be removed just by brushing the teeth

Wearing a dental prosthesis is important for your self-esteem, but also for your overall health. If you don’t, you’ll suffer irreversible changes to your appearance: your face and mouth will sag, making you look much older. Furthermore, by not being able to chew properly, you may develop serious digestion problems. For all these reasons, it’s really important to have comfortable, properly adjusted prostheses that are worn regularly.

Anxiety is an abnormal and overwhelming sense of insecurity. It is characterized by apprehension, tension, sweating and fear in a given situation. Under stressful circumstances, the endocrine system produces cortisol, known as the stress hormone. All of the physiological manifestations occurring when one doubts his capacity to cope with a situation are generated by a high level of these hormones. Most of the time, the patient refers to nervousness. Anxiety differentiates from fear since the latter involves a real danger. We can pretty much say that we all had to cope with anxiety at least once in our lives.

Many patients suffer from dental phobias. For this reason, they avoid their dental treatment and jeopardize their oral health. Our role is to reassure you. We will explain how the treatment is performed and answer all of your questions. We know you might have had bad experiences that have left you with a high level of anxiety. In this situation, we can use conscious sedation to carry out your treatment more easily.

Known as “hilarious gas,” inhalational sedation uses a combination of nitrous oxide and oxygen. It allows you to remain conscious throughout the duration of the intervention, in a state of well-being and relaxation. It’s very safe, the uptake is rapid and the dose is easily adjustable. The nitrous oxide is completely excreted from the body quickly after the treatment, and recovery time varies from 3 to 5 minutes. You can, therefore, resume your activities immediately after your treatment. This method is often used in anxious and uncooperative children as well.

Keep in mind that you are not alone in your position. Many people suffer from dental phobia, but few are aware that there are ways to control it. If you are nervous or worried to the point of avoiding visits to the dentist, talk to him. He will not hesitate to recommend conscious sedation for a positive dental experience.