Cosmetic, General and Neuromuscular Dentistry
May 14th, 2012
Most mouthwashes claim to treat the causes of bad breath by killing bacteria and fighting plaque. Our dentists may suggest a special anti-microbial mouthwash to combat mouth germs.
Antiseptic mouthwashes work by killing bacteria in your mouth and throat. These bacteria produce certain compounds. When the compounds break down, sulfides are released, leading to a less-than-fresh breath odor.
Some dentists have suggested that alcohol-containing mouthwashes may actually contribute to bad breath by drying your mouth out. Normally, salivary flow rinses away food debris and the bacteria that feast on the debris. When your mouth is dry, saliva is not present to rinse your mouth. Since alcohol dries out the soft tissues of the mouth, it is possible that mouthwash containing alcohol could do the same; however, there are also many sources countering this claim, stating that mouthwash only temporarily dries the mouth.
Ultimately, the freshening effect of mouthwash is mostly temporary. The most effective way to keep odor-causing bacteria at bay is to practice good dental hygiene, which should include:
- Brushing your teeth and tongue after every meal.
- Flossing once a day.
- Receiving professional dental cleanings.
Ask our dental team about the most effective ways to freshen your breath. There are multiple causes of mouth odor, and treatment is not always the same for each patient.
If you are experiencing bad breath, please contact Villanova Dental Studio to schedule a consultation with our experienced Kanata dentists.
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May 7th, 2012
As you age, your teeth and gums will undergo inevitable changes, just like the rest of your body. However, dentures do not have to be in your future. By maintaining proper dental hygiene and attending regular check-ups with your dentist, you can help limit the effects of the aging process on your teeth.
Gum recession is one of the most common problems encountered by older patients. The phrase “you’re a bit long in the tooth” refers to the appearance of receding gums, which tend to expose more of your teeth’s root surfaces over time. If you do not keep gum disease in check with periodontal therapy, gum recession can eventually lead to tooth loss. However, missing teeth can be replaced by dental implants, and implants can help curb the process of further tooth loss if they are placed in time.
Most people’s teeth also begin to yellow over time as the enamel layer wears off. Teeth whitening can help restore your smile to a brighter, more naturally attractive color. Meanwhile, be aware that your saliva flow will decrease as you get older. Since saliva acts as a buffer against acids in the mouth, the absence of it can leave your teeth more susceptible to decay and cavities.
Just because you are growing older does not mean you should resign yourself to poor oral health or cosmetic problems with your teeth. Our experienced Ottawa dentistry team at Dentistry at Main can help you maintain a healthy and beautiful smile no matter how old you are.
If you live in the Ottawa, Stittsvile, or Kanata areas of Ontario, please contact us today to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Barakat.
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April 18th, 2012
Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a complex jaw joint that links your facial muscles, nerves, and tendons together. If this joint becomes slightly misaligned or dysfunctional, all of these tissues will be strained, leading to the many painful symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Chronic headaches, facial pain, jaw clicking and popping, dizziness, and ear pain are all common symptoms of TMD.
TMD can be caused by a few different factors, including:
- Malocclusion – If your bite is not in proper alignment, it can place stress on your jaw joint, eventually resulting in TMD.
- Bruxism – If you grind your teeth at night (or clench them during the day), your jaw joint can become misaligned.
- Trauma – Any kind of physical blow to your jaw can result in misalignment. This is the most common cause of TMD.
To determine whether or not you have TMD, our Ottawa neuromuscular dentistry team will use a specialized TMD diagnosis device called the K7 Evaluation System to map the movements of your jaw and identify any irregularities. We also use a TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation) unit to find the ideal resting position of your jaw. This not only helps relieve your pain, but it also gives us a starting point to design a more permanent treatment plan centered around correcting your bite.
If you have further questions about TMD, please contact our experienced Ottawa TMJ dentist today to schedule your initial consultation. Dentistry at Main serves patients in the Ottawa, Stittsville, and Kanata areas of Ontario.
Posted in TMD, TMJ | Comments Off
April 11th, 2012
Darkened or discolored teeth can make you embarrassed to smile, compromising an otherwise attractive appearance. Although teeth whitening can restore many cases of yellow, stained teeth, it is important to know why teeth darken at all in order to avoid future cases of discoloration.
Teeth can darken because of several different influences, including:
- Foods and drinks – Tea, coffee, wine, soda, and some fruits and vegetables can stain your teeth.
- Tobacco – The nicotine in tobacco can leave dark stains on your teeth.
- Poor oral hygiene – If you do not brush and floss on a regular basis, plaque and other stain-producing substances will remain on your teeth and cause discoloration.
- Medications – If doxycycline or tetracycline (antibiotics) are given to children before the age of 8, they will discolor teeth as the child grows older. Additionally, certain antihistamines (such as Benadryl) can cause discoloration.
- Disease – Many diseases can affect the enamel and dentin layers of your teeth, causing them to yellow. Also, certain disease treatments can affect tooth color, such as chemotherapy.
- Age – The protective outer layer of enamel on your teeth will gradually wear away as you grow older, revealing the natural yellow color of the dentin layer.
If you have darkened, stained, or discolored teeth, we can help. Please contact our Ottawa teeth whitening team today to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Barakat. Dentistry at Main serves patients in the Ottawa, Stittsville, and Kanata areas of Ontario.
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April 4th, 2012
When you are looking for a new dentist, it is important to evaluate a wide variety of factors before choosing one dentist over another. The right dentist for you should accommodate each of your dentistry needs with the highest quality services.
Because we believe in the excellence of our dentistry team, Dentistry at Main offers free initial consultations to help potential patients like you learn more about our practice – and to help you understand why dentistry is worth taking seriously.
During your initial consultation, take all the time you need to ask about Dr. Barakat’s:
- Experience
- Credentials
- Education
- Treatment options
- Dental technology
- Patient testimonials
Dentistry is constantly evolving. Although most dentists are equipped to provide basic general dentistry services, an exceptional dentist will stay on top of advanced knowledge by completing additional training and continuing education. Furthermore, the right dentist for you should have plenty of experience addressing your specific concerns. Ask to see a before-and-after gallery to get a visual idea of the dentist’s skill in resolving various dentistry problems.
No matter what your needs are, our Ottawa dentist Dr. Barakat has the advanced training, up-to-date technology, and extensive range of experience you deserve as a patient.
Please contact us today to schedule your free consultation. We look forward to showing you how we stand out in the Ottawa, Stittsville, and Kanata areas of Ontario.
Posted in Dental Implants | Comments Off
March 22nd, 2012
If you are suffering from serious headaches that keep you inside in the dark where it is quiet, you’ve either already seen a doctor, or have at least contemplated it. You might believe you have migraines based on what you’ve heard or researched. However, you still need a proper diagnosis from a doctor, because you may not have migraines at all. In fact, your pain may be related to jaw malocclusion, and called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD or TMJ).
Migraines
Migraines are chronic and neurological in nature. Nausea, vomiting, and light and sound sensitivity are common, as well as terrible pain. Doctors believe that genetics and hormone levels may play a role, as women are more likely to suffer than men. However, an equal number of boys and girls going through puberty have shown a propensity for migraines.
TMD
TMD is caused by some kind of tooth or jaw issue. This includes broken or missing teeth, grinding or clenching, arthritis, or even an injury. Symptoms of TMD can include different things at different times. Jaw pain, shoulder, neck, and back pain, tinnitus, clicking, vertigo, facial pain, and more may all be present with TMD.
Although TMD headaches can be severe, they are not migraines, merely “migraine-like.” Although this information does not ease the pain, you should know that there are treatments to ease or even stop your discomfort.
If you have been told you do not suffer from migraines, but you have serious headaches, please speak with a dentist with experience in treating TMD to end your pain.
If you are in the Ottawa, Ontario area, please contact Dr. Barakat and Dr. Atanasiu at Dentistry on Main to schedule an initial consultation today.
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March 15th, 2012
Being unhappy with the way your teeth look isn’t all that uncommon. Many people wish they could change the color or shape of their teeth, even in subtle ways. One of the cosmetic dental procedures available to people who want to change the way their teeth look is with porcelain veneers.
Porcelain veneers are a good option if you want to fix:
- Gaps
- Chips, cracks, or broken teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Discolouration
Porcelain veneers are made with very thin shells bonded to the front of your teeth. Depending on your particular needs, porcelain veneers can alter the size, shape, alignment, and colour of the affected teeth.
The dentists at Dentistry at Main understand that each patient who wants porcelain veneers to fix imperfections has different desires. For this reason, there is more than one porcelain veneer option at our Ottawa office. The flexibility offered by the different choices means that every patient will have their dental issues addressed as fully as possible.
If you would like to discuss your porcelain veneer options and are in the Ottawa, Ontario area, please contact the dentists at Dentistry on Main today for an initial consultation.
Posted in Porcelain Veneers | Comments Off
March 8th, 2012
Both porcelain veneers and porcelain crowns have benefits to correcting issues with your teeth. This is not a question of one being better than the other, but which is best for your particular problem that you want to fix. Minor imperfections might best be fixed by veneers, while more major issues involving strength and protection may best be dealt with by crowns.
Veneers
Porcelain veneers are bonded to the front and biting edge of the teeth. They are a very thin substance, and a small proportion of your tooth enamel is shaved away to accommodate them. Veneers are best used to correct gaps, discolouration, chips, cracks, and broken teeth. The results are very natural looking.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are a dental restoration made to give strength and structure to most, or all, of the tooth or teeth. Crowns are used to correct very serious damage, such as decay, large fillings that need to be replaced, or large cracks. They are also used in root canal work. Crowns are also made to match the natural tooth colour so that no one will be able to tell you have had dental work done.
Veneers and crowns each solve different dental needs for our patients. Choosing one or the other depends on what you need to fix.
If you are in need of veneer or crown work and are in the Ottawa, Ontario area, please contact the experienced veneer and crown dentists at Dentistry on Main today.
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March 1st, 2012
Chewing, speaking, and generally moving the jaw is second nature to us. We’ve done this since we were infants, usually without thinking about it. However, this requires using muscles, joints, bones, nerves, and teeth together. When they do not work together properly, pain and discomfort are the result, such as the case with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD or TMJ).
Four muscles move the lower jaw. These are the tensor veli palatine, tensor tympani, the digastrics, and the mylohyoid. They are aided by the temporomandibular joint, which includes a massive nerve cluster, called the trigeminal nerve, in our jaw. In addition to this, you have your top and bottom rows of teeth. Even though nearly all people have all of these things, around 90% of us have some kind of malocclusion or misalignment. This includes overbites and underbites. This puts strain on our jaw joint, which in turn causes various painful symptoms.
These symptoms are not limited to pain in the jaw. Because the trigeminal nerve is so large, pain may be felt in the neck, shoulders, and extremities. Headaches may feel like migraines due to strain placed on the nerve, and the simple act of chewing your food may be debilitating.
The jaw and its parts are very complex. When there are problems, the source may be difficult to nail down. However, dentists with experience in neuromuscular dentistry can get to the root cause of the pain and solve it.
If you are suffering from jaw pain, headaches, or other symptoms that do not seem to have a source, please contact the dentists at Dentistry on Main for a neuromuscular dentistry diagnosis today.
Posted in TMD | Comments Off
February 22nd, 2012
If you need a dental crown or dental bridges, the first step is for Dr. Barakat to take an impression of your teeth. The accuracy of this impression is essential in order for your dental restoration to fit and function properly. To conduct the most precise impression possible, Dr. Barakat uses Cadent iTero® dental technology, which takes a digital impression of your teeth and eliminates the need for the traditional tray-and-putty procedure.
The iTero digital impression technology captures several images of your gums and tooth surfaces, then sends the complete scan to Dr. Barakat’s computer, where a full 3D model of your teeth is built. Your digital impression will allow Dr. Barakat to produce superior and more consistent restoration results.
Some of the other advantages of iTero technology include:
- Faster – The iTero scanning sequence only takes 3 to 5 minutes, and the unparalleled precision of the dental crowns require fewer adjustments when Dr. Barakat places them.
- Patient experience – With iTero digital impressions, you can see your dental work on-screen, helping you learn and engage with the process.
- Less waste – The hassle and mess associated with using trays and putty are a thing of the past. The iTero process is simpler and easier for both you and your dentist.
If you would like more information about our dental technology, please contact us today to schedule an initial consultation with experienced Kanata dentist Dr. Ami Barakat. We serve patients in the Kanata, Stittsville, and Ottawa areas of Ontario.
Posted in Cadent iTero | Comments Off
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