Archive

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”]

When it comes to restorative dentistry treatments and procedures, the technical terminology can be confusing for some patients — and who can blame them? After all, we’re the experts in restorative dentistry, having completed years of dental school and certifications on top of performing regular tooth restoration procedures for our patients. One of the most common questions we get from patients with damaged or missing teeth is what the difference is between dental crowns and dental bridges, so we are dedicating this blog post to educating our patients about these restorative dentistry techniques.

WHAT ARE DENTAL CROWNS?

Dental crowns are a restorative dentistry technique that has stood the test of time and continues to evolve with the latest advancements in dental technology. Traditional tooth crowns “cap” decaying or severely damaged teeth in order to shield them from further deterioration, which would otherwise lead to possible infections, the need for root canal therapy, or the teeth falling out altogether. In fact, when a patient requires a root canal treatment, or the removal of the infected “pulpy” center of a tooth, it will become weak and will require a dental cap for ongoing protection. Given that the teeth are dry, brittle, and fragile after the underlying nerve is removed, dental crowns act as a shield to prevent further cracking, chipping, or breaking.

DENTAL CROWN CREATION & FITTING

These traditional tooth crowns cover the entirety of the damaged tooth and are permanently fitted for long-lasting protection. At Trillium Dental in Ottawa, our process for fitting dental crowns involves taking a mould of the tooth shape and fitting patients with a temporary dental crown while a permanent one is made in our dental lab. Once the permanent dental crown arrives, we will have you return to our dental clinic for the fitting, where we will bond it with the damaged tooth. Thanks to today’s advanced dental technology, our dentists are now able to provide patients with permanent dental crowns that perfectly match the colour of their surrounding teeth.

CEREC® DENTAL CROWNS

At many of our Ottawa dental clinics, we are pleased to offer CEREC dental crowns that integrate CAD-CAM technology, which allow us to create and fit an unlimited amount of permanent dental crowns in a single dental appointment. Whereas traditional dental crowns require two separate dental appointments, one for the temporary crown and another for the permanent crown fitting, CEREC technology allows us to set patients up with as many of these permanent, white dental crowns as they need in just one sitting. So, if you haven’t found the time to get dental crowns created and fitted in two dental appointments, we can now take care of it all for you in one appointment at a number of our dental offices in Ottawa.

WHAT ARE DENTAL BRIDGES?

Dental bridges integrate several types of dental technology to create a tooth replacement prosthetic, also known as a “fixed bridge” or “tooth bridge.” These innovative dental prosthetics are customizable to the patient and serve to replace one or more missing teeth by holding in the fake tooth replacement(s) with two adjacent dental crowns. These dental crowns help fill in the empty spot from the missing tooth by supporting the false tooth replacement and keeping it secured in place. It is also important to note that dental bridges are a permanent form of restorative dentistry, as the dental crowns are literally cemented to the surrounding teeth upon which they are capped. Though there are many different tooth replacement options for the anchor teeth, such as dental implants and prosthetic fillers, the tooth crowns and dental bridge that connects them is permanent.

DENTAL BRIDGE CREATION & FITTING

As with traditional dental crowns, the dental bridge procedure requires two separate appointments at your local dental clinic. During the first dental appointment, your dentist will administer a local anesthetic and file down the anchor teeth that will serve as the support for your dental bridge. If these surrounding teeth show signs of significant decay or damage, we may suggest that dental implants be used instead, which consist of fake teeth with titanium roots being inserted and secured to the underlying jawbone for optimal support. Then, your dentist will take a dental mould of the teeth, which they will use to create any false teeth, as well as the tooth crowns for the dental bridge. During this process, a temporary dental bridge is created, which will be switched out for a permanent one when you return for the second appointment.

BOOK A RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY CONSULTATION AT TRILLIUM DENTAL IN OTTAWA

Wondering if you would make a good candidate for dental crowns or a permanent dental bridge? Contact us today to learn more, or book a restorative dentistry consultation at Trillium Dental today. Our family dentists would be more than happy to take a look at your teeth in order to determine whether you require tooth crowns, dental implants, or a fixed dental bridge.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.8.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

If you’re like most people, you’d love to have perfectly white teeth without having to do anything to maintain the beautiful shine of your pearly whites, but for many people, this is simply not a reality. There are many factors that play into the color of your teeth and their overall appearance, including your oral hygiene habits, quality of dental care, and, you guessed it: your diet.

At Trillium Dental in Ottawa, we offer professional teeth whitening treatments and take-home teeth whitening kits for patients who wish to improve the color of their teeth, and our Zoom! whitening procedure has proven to whiten teeth up to nine shades in an hour-long session at our family dental clinic. However, if you’re wondering how to whiten teeth without using teeth whitening gel or DIY teeth whitening techniques, avoid smoking cigarettes and limit your consumption of these five foods:

COFFEE & BLACK TEA

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but coffee and black tea consumption is one of the leading causes of stained teeth among adults — particularly college students and working adults. This is because the dark color and acidity of coffee and dark tea can cause the teeth to absorb some of it, resulting in tooth discoloration and unsightly yellow teeth stains over time. The more coffee, chai tea, and English breakfast tea you drink, the more susceptible you are to experiencing some level of tooth discoloration, so if you’re wondering how to keep your teeth white without giving up these delicious drinks, consider using a straw to avoid direct contact with your teeth.

RED & WHITE WINE

Again, we hate to be the one to break it to you, but wine is another culprit of yellowing teeth. Like coffee and black tea, red wine is high in sugar and acid content, in addition to being a dark beverage, which creates the perfect environment for tooth staining. Though white wine is light in color, its sugar and acidic properties still put you at risk of staining your teeth. This is because the acid in grapes, oranges, and many other citrus fruits latches onto your teeth and begins to eat away at the tooth enamel if it is not removed via brushing and flossing. Drinking wine through a straw, no matter how “dorky” it may be, is the best way for winos to avoid staining their teeth, and luckily, there are many different wine straws available online!

CITRUS FRUITS & DARK BERRIES

The same logic applies to citrus fruits and dark berries. Though these delicious treats contain high levels of vitamin C, antioxidants, and other vitamins and minerals that are essential for a healthy, balanced diet, they are not the best for your teeth. This goes back to the high sugar and acid content in wine and citrus fruits, which love to hang out on the tooth surface, causing tooth yellowing, stains, and uneven tooth discoloration. Our dentists certainly aren’t here to tell you to cut fruit and veggies out of your diet, so if there’s one tooth-staining food category that you should be sure to include, it’s colorful fruit and veggies!

TOMATOES & PASTA SAUCE

Tomatoes are another healthy food that are not so great for your teeth, as the dark red color and acid in these tasty veggies (or fruits?) take a particular liking to your tooth enamel. Plus, tomatoes are a popular ingredient that is found in a wide variety of cuisines, from Italian food, like ravioli and spaghetti, to popular Mexican dishes and American condiments like ketchup. This makes it harder to avoid including tomatoes in your diet, so if you’re really concerned about tomatoes staining your teeth, cut down on this veggie when you can and be sure to brush your teeth after eating a dish that includes tomatoes or pasta sauce.

CANDY & SODA

As if you needed another reason to eliminate candy, soda, and sugary sports drinks from your diet, consider the negative effect they have on your teeth. Dark colas are particularly notorious for contributing to tooth discoloration, given that the dark color, when combined with the chemicals and added sugar, can cause your teeth to yellow with time. Because of these unnatural chemicals and excessive amounts of sugar, soda and candy are some of the worst things you can put in your body, period. So, if you’re looking for a natural teeth whitening method, do your body a favor and cut soda out of your diet, as well as other detrimental chemicals like those found in candy, processed foods, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and e-cigarettes.

SCHEDULE A PROFESSIONAL TEETH WHITENING TREATMENT AT TRILLIUM DENTAL

While our dentists highly recommend cutting down artificial sugar consumption (i.e. soda and candy) for better oral health, there is another way to improve the color of your teeth without cutting down on colorful fruits and veggies. Contact us today to discuss what professional teeth whitening costs here at Trillium Dental in Ottawa, and feel free to reach out to us for recommendations about the best teeth whitening products to use if you wish to do your own teeth whitening at home.

We also offer take-home teeth whitening kits at our Ottawa dental clinic, so feel free to stop by at any time to pick one up and get information about our other cosmetic dentistry treatments. We look forward to meeting you and helping you get that perfect, white smile you’ve been dreaming of!

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]