Regular dental visits are important because they can help spot oral health problems early on when treatment is likely to be simpler and more affordable. They also help prevent many oral problems from developing in the first place. Visiting your dentist regularly is also important because some diseases or medical conditions have symptoms that can appear in the mouth.

• Your teeth are sensitive to hot or cold
• Your gums are puffy and/or they bleed when you brush or floss
• You have fillings, crowns, dental implants, dentures, etc.
• You don’t like the way your smile or teeth look
• You have persistent bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
• You are pregnant
• You have pain or swelling in your mouth, face or neck
• You have difficulty chewing or swallowing
• You have a family history of gum disease or tooth decay
• You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, eating disorders, or are HIV positive
• Your mouth is often dry
• You smoke or use other tobacco products
• You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy
• Your jaw sometimes pops or is painful when opening and closing, chewing or when you first wake up; you have an uneven bite
• You have a spot or sore that doesn’t look or feel right in your mouth and it isn’t going away.

Most people need to visit the dentist once or twice a year; others may need more visits. You are a unique individual, with a unique smile and unique needs when it comes to keeping your smile healthy.

• Healthy habits. Brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing daily are essential for everyone, no matter how unique your mouth is. It’s the best way to fight tooth decay and gum disease.
• Regular dental visits: Continuity of care is an important part of any health plan and dental health is no exception. When your dentist sees you regularly, he or she is in a good position to catch oral problems early. For instance, catching gum disease when it’s still reversible, or cavities when they are small and are more easily treated.
• Keeping your mouth healthy is an essential piece of your overall health. It’s important to keep your dentist informed of any changes in your overall health as well.

Ask your dentist to explain step-by-step. Dentists love having satisfied, healthy patients.

Dental x-rays are one of the lowest radiation dose studies performed. A routine exam which includes 4 bitewing x-rays is about 0.005 mSv, which is less than one day of natural background radiation. It is also about the same amount of radiation exposure from a short airplane flight (1-2 hrs). Proper shielding is also common, which makes the potential risk even lower.

Generally, it is recommended to brush and floss after each meal or twice a day.

If you’ve ever felt pain in your teeth after drinking or eating hot or cold food and drinks, you’ve experienced tooth sensitivity. One out of every four adults have had tooth sensitivity, often coming and going over time. Tooth sensitivity is tooth pain that comes from a wearing away of the tooth’s surface or gums. When gums recede, or pull away from the teeth, they leave the root of the tooth bare. Because these roots are not covered by enamel (the hard-outer layer of the tooth), thousands of tiny channels leading to the tooth’s nerve are exposed. When heat, cold or pressure touches these channels, you may feel pain. Ignoring your sensitive teeth can lead to other more serious oral health problems. This is especially true if the pain causes you to brush poorly, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

You may occasionally experience bad breath. It can be caused by certain foods, poor oral hygiene, gum disease, dry mouth, tobacco products or a medical disorder. Sometimes a sinus infection, postnasal drip or other respiratory tract infections can cause bad breath. If bad breath persists, your dentist may determine whether it’s caused by a dental condition.

Your teeth may feel fine, but it’s still important to see the dentist regularly because problems can exist without you knowing. Your smile’s appearance is important, and your dentist can help keep your smile healthy and looking beautiful. With so many advances in dentistry, you no longer have to settle for stained, chipped, missing, or misshapen teeth. Today’s dentists offer many treatment choices that can help you smile with confidence, including:

• Professional teeth whitening
• Fillings that mimic the appearance of natural teeth
• Tooth replacement and full smile makeovers

Country Dental Cambridge provides both general and specialty dentistry under one roof. We offer convenient appointments before or after work & on weekends.

As with any new thing, dentures may be uncomfortable for a short period of time.  Irritation and soreness are common. As your mouth adjusts to the dentures, these problems should ease. Contact our denturist at Country Dental Cambridge.

Some changes in speech may happen. If something is difficult to pronounce, practice saying those words when you have free time at home. Be sure to contact our denturist at Country Dental Cambridge if your teeth begin to click when you speak.

We want your teeth and smile to look great!  Dentures are designed to mimic the look and function of your natural teeth.  You will do things naturally like any person without these problems.

The cost of dentures all depends on the patient’s needs. Before you even determine if you need a denture, some work might need to be done, like an extraction.  You must factor in those costs as well.

A complete set of dentures usually costs more than partial dentures, naturally. Dentures do provide a value though, insuring the peace of mind of our patients.  Insurance might also cover the expenses for getting affordable dentures. Our treatment coordinator will be happy to submit an insurance predetermination prior to your denture treatment.  We also offer direct billing to your insurance and payment plans.

After getting your dentures, proper care is important to increase the lifespan of your denture investment.  Our dentists and denturists will recommend particular ways to care for your new false teeth. A denture reline procedure may be needed from time to time to adjust the fit.  Structural changes of your teeth and gums might also force the need for a new set of dentures as well.

Call and request an appointment with our Country Dental Cambridge denturist or for more information about getting affordable dentures, contact us online or give us a call!

An implant retained denture is one that is stabilized by the use of dental implants that have been placed in the jaw. Implants are especially useful in the lower jaw as lower dentures tend not to fit as well as upper ones. Implants can transform a denture into an appliance that you can feel confident wearing out in public without fear of them dislodging.

Upper dentures fit well because the shape of your palate allows for a suction seal.  On the lower arch, this doesn’t exist and there are several muscles in your cheek which along with the tongue work hard to dislodge the denture. It is important to consider implants to confidently keep a lower denture in place.

Immediate dentures are placed right after diseased teeth are removed.  This way, you never go without having teeth.  However, in the first few weeks following extraction of teeth and placement of the immediate denture, your gum tissues and bone will change shape due to natural healing process. It is therefore a requirement to have your denture relined between 6-8 weeks after the initial placement of the denture.  This adds some cost to the procedure, but is well worth it for people that cannot go without having any teeth.

Partial dentures are appliances designed for individuals who are missing some, but not all teeth. They use existing teeth for stabilization (using clasps and other design features).  The most comfortable partial dentures have a thin cast metal framework which are easier to wear compared to bulky plastic partial dentures.  Partial dentures can be made for both the upper and lower arches.

It takes a few days, and up to a few weeks to adjust to your dentures. You may notice that your speech is different, but with time this goes away.  People that have been wearing dentures for many years adjust very quickly.  However, if you have had a lifetime of using your own teeth and are then presented with having to wear dentures, the psychological impact can mean it takes longer to adjust.  It is best to manage expectations when considering dentures as a treatment option.

A properly fitting denture will improve your appearance by giving you the facial support needed to look your best.  In addition, the teeth are optimized to make you look your best and improve self confidence.  When you notice that your face is ‘sagging’ or ‘drooping’ or even notice more wrinkles, it may be time to replace your dentures.

Removing dentures at night allows your gums and tissues to breathe.  If you continuously wear your denture, you are at risk for infection (usually fungal).

No, it is not normal, and typically indicates that your denture is not fitting like it should and is rubbing the tissues causing the soreness.  See your dentist for an adjustment to fix the problem.

It is important to continue seeing the dentist regularly to ensure your dentures fit well.  At your checkup appointment, the dentist will help remedy any problems with your denture, assess the soft and hard tissues in your mouth and check for cancer.

Discuss the potential cost of a wisdom tooth extraction with your dentist.  Each case is different, but generally the more difficult it is to remove a tooth, the more it can cost.  An impacted wisdom tooth might cost a lot more than a loose or severely decayed tooth.  Always check out your dental insurance to see if an extraction is covered. Payment plans and dental financing are also possible at Country Dental Cambridge through PayBright.

It is more than understandable that a patient would feel anxious about the pain involved with a wisdom tooth extraction. Country Dental wants you to remain as comfortable and worry-free as possible.  Wisdom teeth removal is mostly a straightforward procedure but it is still classified as dental surgery.

Our dentists explain exactly what to expect and what methods of relief are available for the pain involved.  There are plenty of methods available to keep pain at a minimum before and after a procedure.  Country Dental Cambridge is proud to offer the convenience of sleep dentistry, with treatment options ranging from oral sedation, to iv sedation and full sleep dentistry. Our dedicated medical anesthesiologist works alongside our dentists to deliver a team approach care.

Wisdom teeth extractions have now become routine tooth extractions. Most only take a few minutes to complete.  Our dentists usually provide a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and gums. If you are very anxious about the pain, sedation dentistry can be used to help you remain calm.

The dentist or surgeon will rock the tooth back and forth. Then by rotating it, the dentist widens the socket for an easier extraction.  The patient will sense a dull pressure during this time because of the numbing of pain receptors. The tooth is fully detached, and the dentist covers the exposed gum with gauze.

Having dental implants placed is not usually painful. In fact, it is one of the least painful procedures available in dentistry today.  Although this may be counterintuitive, feedback from our patients tells us that they were pleasantly surprised at how little pain there was afterwards. Since there are no open wounds with implant surgery, pain can typically be managed with over the counter drugs such as Advil or Tylenol.

Depending on the number and location of the implant, the procedure usually takes an about an hour.

Sticking to a soft diet with enough liquids to keep you hydrated is the best plan after having the implant placed. It is best to avoid harder foods that require more effort to chew.  Our specialists will follow up with you routinely to ensure adequate healing is taking place.

After an implant is placed, it typically takes 2-3 months to fully integrate into the bone.  In some occasions, the implant can be loaded with a crown immediately following surgery, but this is done on a case by case basis. Once integration is complete, the crown can be placed.  When you have a consultation with one of our specialists, they will determine the best course of action and inform you of the timelines involved.

Once a dental implant is fully integrated with the bone, it can last for many years with good home care and regular dental visits.  Implants that were placed over 40 years ago are still working optimally today.

In some rare cases, patients with titanium allergies (titanium is the primary component of a dental implant) can reject implants.  Additionally, an infection of the bone can prevent integration.  However, all that is required is some time to heal and the specialist can place another implant for you.

Most insurance companies like to cover the most inexpensive option, and as a result they tend not to cover dental implants. This is changing however, and more and more insurance companies are realizing the long-term benefits of implants and are now starting to cover them. We have convenient and affordable payment plans to help you finance your dental implant.  Please call us or visit us online to learn more!

Country Dental Cambridge provides both general and specialty dentistry under one roof. We offer convenient appointments before or after work & on weekends.

Do you have any of the following symptoms?

• Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers
• Discomfort when chewing or biting
• Dull ache or severe pain
• Discomfort that wakes you up at night
• Your dentist has diagnosed the need for endodontic treatment either by clinical exam or x-ray

If you answered yes to any of the above, you might very well need a root canal. Please call and schedule for an evaluation.

Be aware not all teeth that are in need of root canal therapy will cause pain. It is possible to be pain-free and still need a root canal.

We will examine the x-ray and the tooth, then administer a local anesthetic. After the tooth is numbed, a small protective sheet, called a dental rubber dam is placed to isolate the tooth. An opening will be made in the crown of the tooth and small instruments will be used to clean the canals and to shape the canal spaces for filling. Once the canals have been adequately cleaned and shaped, the canals will then be filled with a polyester synthetic root canal filling and sealer. A temporary filling is then placed to close the opening. Your dentist will remove the temporary filling before the tooth is restored.

With modern techniques and varied local anesthetic solutions it is rare to have any sensation in the tooth during treatment. For the first few days after treatment, it is normal for your tooth to be sensitive to biting. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications in order to control normal post-treatment discomfort.

In most cases the discomfort will subside dramatically within the first 24-48 hours. Any sensitivity to cold, hot or even breathing in air through your mouth will be gone after your visit. Nevertheless, you may experience mild discomfort to pressure that could last for several days after treatment. Taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory analgesics such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), usually relieves this discomfort.

The most common predictor of post-treatment pain is pre-treatment pain. If the tooth is already hurting the root canal procedure will remove the cause and allow healing to begin.

The most common complaint is tenderness to touch, bite, tapping or chewing on the tooth. It is always best to chew on the other side until a permanent restoration replaces the temporary restoration.

The single most important benefit of root canal therapy is that you keep your tooth. Extraction may lead to other dental problems. For instance, drifting of teeth, bite problems, TMJ discomfort, and the need to treat adjacent teeth that do not otherwise need dental treatment in order to restore the missing tooth. No matter how effective modern tooth replacements are – and they can be very effective – nothing compares to your natural tooth.

Root canal treatment (also called endodontics) is needed when the blood or nerve supply of the tooth (known as the pulp) is infected through decay or injury. You may not feel any pain in the early stages of the infection. In some cases, your tooth could darken in colour, which may mean that the nerve of the tooth has died (or is dying). This would need root canal treatment.

If the pulp becomes infected, the infection may spread through the root canal system of the tooth. This may eventually lead to an abscess (gum boil). An abscess is an inflamed area in which pus collects and can cause swelling of the tissues around the tooth. The symptoms of an abscess can range from a dull ache to severe pain and the tooth may be tender when you bite. If root canal treatment is not carried out, the infection will spread, and the tooth may need to be taken out.

Yes. However, as a dead tooth is more brittle, it may be necessary to restore the tooth with a crown to provide extra support and strength to the tooth.

In the past, a root-filled tooth would often darken after treatment. However, with modern techniques this does not usually happen. If there is any discolouration, there are several treatments available to restore the natural appearance.

The purpose of the treatment is to remove the bacteria or dying nerves from inside the tooth and to disinfect the root canals. This is achieved by making a small hole through the tooth into the pulp chamber, locating and measuring the root canals, then cleaning and widening them using fine instruments called files.

Once the pulp has been removed and cleaned up, the canals are filled to seal them off from re-infection. In most cases abscesses will start to heal at this point. Changes on the x-ray are not usually seen up to six to eight months following treatment.