News with tag decay

Cavities aren’t always the black, visible holes that cartoons or online drawings make them out to be. Often tooth decay isn’t visible at all. That’s why it’s important to see your dentist on a regular basis. The earlier we diagnose your cavity, the simpler it is to correct the tooth infection.

Sensitivity to Changes in Food or Temperature

Sweet foods or liquids are the most common items to cause pain in a decaying tooth. Just because you’re not eating sweets doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. Naturally sweet foods like juice or fruit may cause pain as well. While it’s fairly similar to experience cold sensitivity, it’s not common for heat. Severe pain from hot foods may mean there’s nerve damage.

Pain When Biting Down

Something feeling “off” when you bite down is a tell-tale sign of tooth decay. It’s also a common symptom of cracked teeth. If possible, let us know what the general area is that hurts when you chew. You may even be able to pinpoint the exact tooth.

Rough Edges on Your Teeth

When you run your tongue along your teeth, does everything feel smooth? A rough area may mean something is wrong. Believe it or not, your tongue may pick up on the cavity before your tooth even starts to hurt.

An X-ray Can Give You Answers

Digital dental x-rays make it possible to see through and between teeth, where cavities often start. We utilize low-radiation imaging to screen for decay during your exam, so that it’s more difficult for a cavity to go overlooked. When we find decay early on, it means a smaller and more affordable filling to fix it. In some situations, early decay can even be reversed through fluoride therapy and remineralization techniques.

If you think you have a cavity or have gone more than six months since your last dental exam, call North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie today to schedule a checkup. For information visit our tooth repair and fillings page

Are you considering a smile makeover or other type of cosmetic dental treatment? Teeth whitening is a great place to start.

An Affordable Option

Teeth whitening is a relatively affordable cosmetic treatment. Plus, it’s easy to maintain. You can generally plan on whitening your entire smile for less than the cost of other types of treatment. It even makes a great gift for yourself or another family member.

Create a Baseline

Whether or not you plan to get additional cosmetic work done — like veneers or crowns — it’s best to have a white smile to begin with. That way, future restorations can be matched to your adjacent teeth. If you’re planning on having an area bonded later this year, you can’t whiten the material used to place the bond. It’s best to just have white teeth from the start! Otherwise you would need to replace the restoration after you whitened your teeth, so that it didn’t stand out.

Better Results Than Store-Bought Kits

No matter how many whitening strips, trays, or toothpastes you buy online or at the supermarket, they won’t be as effective as a prescription grade product that your Carnegie dentist can equip you with. They may seem cheaper at first, but after you’ve gone through one or two refills, you will have already spent more than if you did getting professional treatment…without the results to show for it.

Find Out if You’re a Candidate

There are a few things you need to know before starting a whitening regimen. First, your teeth need to be free of cavities. If necessary, we can place a temporary filling that can be replaced with a permanent one after you whiten. Also, your gums need to be free of periodontal disease.

Schedule a quick exam at North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie to find out if one of our cosmetic teeth whitening treatments is right for you.

If you’ve been on Pinterest any time recently, you’ve probably seen personal or sponsored posts that have something to do with 'healing cavities the natural way” or “reversing tooth decay without seeing your dentist.' But could these headlines be too good to be true? Yes and no. The truth is, a full blown cavity cannot be fixed, healed, or have the tooth “grow back” by using some magic formula in your bathroom. But if the cavity is only in the beginning stages — we’re talking enamel demineralization on the most outer layers of the tooth — then it can be reversed before an actual “hole” forms in your enamel.

Demineralization: Phase One of Tooth Decay

Before tooth decay actually works its way through the tooth, it must first target a healthy area of enamel. The first stages involve eating away the outermost layers, etching the tooth and creating a weak spot. As more acids come into play, the enamel starts to appear chalky or white compared to the tooth around it. At this point, the surface is demineralized and prime for a cavity to form at any second.

Intercepting Before it’s Too Late

Once a tooth is demineralized, you have an important choice to make: treat the area of weakened enamel to prevent a cavity and re-strengthen your tooth, or wait it out and allowing the cavity to form, then get a filling.

The less invasive and more holistic approach would be to remineralize the tooth and prevent the cavity. This can be done by:

• Cleaning the area more thoroughly each day
• Seeing your dentist for a professional strength fluoride treatment
• Optional treatments in your dentist’s office
• Getting a prescription fluoride to use at home
• Changing your habits to limit acid exposure to the teeth

If you suspect that you have a demineralized tooth or have a history of frequent cavities, call North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie to schedule an appointment.

Did you know that most types of tooth loss can be avoided? Of course, there will always be exceptions here and there, but when it comes to the most common situations we see in our Carnegie dentist office, there are steps you can take to prevent tooth loss from happening before it’s too late.
Here are a few tips:

Wear a Protective Mouthguard During Athletic Activities

Dental injuries occur every day, especially to athletes (no matter their age.) Wearing a custom fitted mouthguard offers the best protection against knocked out teeth and concussions.

Floss Every Day

The leading cause of tooth loss in adults is gum disease. Even if your brushing is great, it won’t clean between the teeth and under the gumlines where periodontitis starts. Clean these areas daily. If you hate flossing that much, consider investing in a water flosser.

Drink a Lot of Water

Staying hydrated rinses your mouth to neutralize bacteria levels, acids, and prevent xerostomia (a risk factor of tooth decay.) Tap water also contains fluoride, to make your teeth stronger.

Don’t Ignore that “Twinge” Feeling

Do one of your teeth feel “off” from the rest? Your body could be trying to tell you something. If a small cavity is starting to develop, it’s best to treat it while it’s still small. Large decay can spread quickly, to the point that the only option left to treat it is to remove the tooth.

Schedule Routine Dental Checkups

At North Road Dental Clinic, our Carnegie dentists recommend seeing patients for a checkup at least every six months. These frequent intervals help us to screen for problems earlier on (when treatment is easier) and work with patients to form good habits to intercept issues as they arise.

Call our Carnegie dentist today to schedule.

If you have a tooth that needs attention, our Carnegie dentist will provide you with the best treatment options available. In most cases, there is more than one to choose from. Ultimately, your dental treatment is up to you, the patient, when it comes to which option you choose. Our clinic strives to inform and guide you, so that you can make the best decision regarding your dental health. Preventing Additional Damage When a tooth is broken or has a cavity, a filling is usually the first choice to repair it.  During this procedure, we remove the decayed section of the tooth and build the tooth back up by bonding filling material to it. It’s important to know that fillings are not as strong as your natural tooth.  The larger the filling, the more compromised the tooth will be.  If you have a strong bite or eat hard foods, you could in fact, break the tooth off further. To avoid this, if we feel that the tooth would be too weak to fill, we may recommend a crown instead. A Protective Outer Shell A crown is a fabricated shell of porcelain that is permanently cemented over your tooth to protect it.  During this procedure, we will need to reduce the tooth around the edges and its’ biting surface, so that when the crown is placed, it lines up properly with the other teeth. A crown is beneficial because it’s made from very strong material.  So rather than chewing up and down on a tooth with a large weak filling, you will chew on the crown.  This practically eliminates the chances of the tooth breaking.  However, crowns are more expensive than fillings.  They also normally require at least two visits to complete.  The first appointment will be to reduce the tooth and place a temporary crown.  The second will be to cement the permanent crown. Call at North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie today.  Together, we can find the best treatment options for your unique smile.

It is so important that children have good teeth when young, to set the standard for their adult teeth. Just because they fall out, doesn’t mean they should be neglected! Giving your children a healthy mouth is so important to their overall wellbeing and health. Follow these tips to keep your child’s mouth healthy.

1. Get in a good habit of brushing twice a day, with fluoride toothpaste-use a children’s paste with a reduced fluoride content. This will physically remove decay causing plaque, whilst also providing the correct amount of fluoride for tooth development.
2. Reduce the amount and frequency of sugar intake. Having regular sugar ingestion will cause harm to your child’s teeth. Of course they’re going to have sugar at times, but keep it as a treat, not regular food, and beware of hidden sugars in things like fruit juices, cereals and dried fruit (sultanas etc...)Try and have a glass of water after too.
3. You may want to use a remineralising agent like “tooth-mousse”. This will help to keep any areas where decay is of a higher risk (perhaps in the fissures) more resistant to decay.
4. Bring your child in for regular examinations, and set a good example yourself by coming too! Please, please, please be careful with the language you use when talking about the dentist. Kids are fantastic patients, as long as Mum/Dad/Aunt/Uncle hasn’t been talking to them about how it won’t “hurt”, and how they don’t want “needles”, and there’s nothing to be “scared” about.

Wisdom teeth are the third molars in the far back of the mouth.  There are four of them; two on each side, one on the top and one on the bottom. Some people don’t develop wisdom teeth.  Others develop them, but they stay impacted in the bone, never to be seen.  In more cases than not, people will have to get their wisdom teeth extracted for various reasons. If you experience any of the following, it may be a sign that you may need to have your wisdom teeth removed.  North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie will gladly give you a recommendation on how to deal with yours. Pain/Swelling/Fever: As your wisdom teeth start to protrude through the bone, you may experience pain.  Swelling and a fever is also common.  If this isn’t something that goes away quickly, we may recommend a consultation to get your wisdom teeth extracted. Bad Taste and/or Smell in Mouth: Wisdom teeth erupting through the tissues can cause gum infections, creating a bad taste and/or smell in your mouth.  Another cause of this could be because the wisdom teeth are so far back in your mouth that they are very difficult to clean.  Removal is usually the best course of action here and will help you maintain a better dental hygiene regimen. Braces: If your teeth are crooked, crowded, or your bite is positioned incorrectly you may have to undergo orthodontic treatment with braces.  Many orthodontists recommend that you have your wisdom teeth extracted before properly aligning your teeth.  If not, they can cause more problems in the future.  If you think you need braces you may have to get your wisdom teeth removed first. Coming in Sideways: If you start experiencing a lot of pressure around your mouth, it could be caused by your wisdom teeth.  Sometimes wisdom teeth are embedded sideways in the bone, but they still try coming through the surface.  Feeling pressure is a sign that this is occurring.  A radiograph and consultation with North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie will confirm if they are sideways and they will recommend how to proceed. Crowding/Teeth Are Shifting: Some people have more teeth than they have room for in their mouth.  Lack of space can cause your straight teeth to shift and become crowded.  If your wisdom teeth start to come through the gum and you think they might be affecting your other teeth you should consider getting them extracted to prevent further shifting. Schedule a consultation today to find out if you or your teen need their wisdom teeth removed.

You might be thinking, “I’m too old to get braces,” or “I’ll look silly if I see an orthodontist at my age.” But did you know that there are dozens of reasons why getting orthodontic treatment as an adult is one of the best things you can do for yourself? Here are just a few to consider: Help Your Teeth Function More Efficiently Are you starting to see your teeth wear down? Sharp, uneven edges or broken dental restorations may be due to uneven biting pressure in key areas of your mouth. Our Carnegie dentists can check your occlusion (bite) to see where these pressure points are, and discuss whether or not braces can help. Lower Your Chances of Tooth Decay Crowded and crooked teeth are more likely to develop cavities than their straight counterparts are. Even if you brush routinely, these areas can be skipped over with your toothbrush bristles and tend to harbor more bacteria, which leads us to the next point… Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease Like tooth decay, misaligned teeth are usually the first ones to succumb to gum disease (periodontitis.) Some dentists and periodontists consider orthodontic therapy to be a valuable tool in periodontal treatment plans. At North Road Dental Clinic, we offer orthodontic consultations for adults and children alike. If you’re thinking about getting braces and live in the Carnegie area, we invite you to schedule a visit today!

Every smile makeover that we perform at our Carnegie dental clinic is unique. For some individuals, only one treatment is needed; others opt for a combination of two or three, for a more comprehensive approach to their aesthetic goals. At North Road Dental Clinic, these are top three cosmetic treatments that we offer: Porcelain Veneers For the most dramatic impact on the way your teeth look, porcelain veneers are one of the best choices. Each veneer bonds to the natural tooth behind it, masking the appearance of aesthetic imperfections such as crowding, discoloration, uneven enamel, etc. Veneers are usually completed in a two or three-visit process, depending on the type of veneers that you choose. As soon as they’re in place, it will make your smile look completely different. Teeth Whitening Simply lightening the colour of your teeth may be the only thing necessary to take your appearance to the next level. Teeth whitening is a great option to consider if you have healthy, straight teeth, or before planning more permanent treatments that need to match your existing smile. Opt for take home teeth whitening that you complete in the convenience of your own home, rather than weaker kits you can buy at the grocery store. You’ll see better results that are easy to maintain throughout the years. White Fillings and Crowns If your smile has been impacted by tooth decay, trauma, or other structural issues, then a cosmetic restoration can improve its health and appearance. These restorations are custom-matched to the colour of the teeth around them, letting them blend in with your smile rather than stand out. Not only are white fillings aesthetically pleasing, they’re less invasive to your tooth. Which one — or two — is right for you? Contact North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie to schedule a cosmetic consultation today.

It’s been a while since your last dental checkup, and you’re starting to worry that something is wrong with one of your teeth. When you bite down, it feels “off”, not to mention there’s a rough area when you run your tongue over it. To your surprise, you find out that you need more than a filling to repair it. Instead, our dentist in Carnegie recommends a dental crown. But you’ve never had a crown before, so you’re not quite sure what to expect. What Exactly is a Crown? Crowns are full-coverage restorations that go over and around the tooth, rather than inside of it like a filling. This protects more brittle or compromised tooth structure, allowing it to withstand everyday wear. Some people refer to crowns as “caps.” The Treatment Experience At North Road Dental Clinic, we’re here to make sure your crown treatment is a comfortable one. After numbing the tooth and removing any damaged tooth structures, we’ll shape the remaining enamel so that a crown can slip over the tooth, then take an impression. You’ll wear a temporary crown for a week or two, while your permanent one is being designed. Once it’s ready, you’ll stop by our Carnegie dental clinic to have the new crown bonded into place. Most of our crowns are made of a high-grade porcelain that matches the colour of the teeth adjacent to them. In some cases, other materials might be preferred. Caring for Your Dental Crown Through good home care and ongoing maintenance, your new crown can last for several years. You will want to floss around it daily, to prevent bacteria from seeping under the margin. We recommend scheduling a checkup at our Carnegie dental clinic twice a year to make sure that your crown and other restorations are all intact. Call North Road Dental Clinic today to schedule your next visit!

Gum disease is a generalized term that encompasses everything from mild gingivitis to complex periodontitis. Sadly, it’s also the main cause of tooth loss in adults. But fortunately enough, if you identify the condition early it can be reversed. Waiting too long to treat it could wreak havoc on your smile for years to come. Do you have gum disease? Watch for these common symptoms: Bleeding gums It’s not normal for gums to bleed. When your toothbrush or floss turns pink, it may mean you need to clean your teeth more regularly. Let your dentist know if symptoms don’t improve within 14 days. Swelling along the gum lines Inflammation is always a sign that your body is fighting off an infection. If you had another area on your body that was swollen, you would likely keep it clean and treat it until the swelling went away. Your mouth deserves the same! Bad breath Halitosis can be caused by more than just an onion on your sandwich or forgetting to brush off your tongue. Periodontal bacteria are often very odorous and difficult to remove if gum disease is moderate to severe. Visible tartar build-up Heavy tartar (calculus) deposits tend to accumulate in areas like behind the lower front teeth and on the outside of the upper back teeth. This calcified buildup is hardened plaque and harbors bacteria; it cannot be removed without special instruments. As long as it’s in place, the gums in that area will continue to be infected. “Long” Teeth Gum recession is one of the more prominent symptoms of advanced gum disease. As the gingiva become infected, they pull away from the tooth and cause “pockets” under the gums, or exposed root surfaces. The teeth may begin to feel loose at this point as well. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms of periodontitis, contact North Road Dental Clinic in Carnegie to schedule a check-up right away.