Fillings & General Dentistry

Fillings & General Dentistry

At Phi Dental Care, we offer a wide variety of general dentistry options including fillings, teeth whitening, root canals, laser treatment for cold sores and desensitization, frenectomies, and dentures. We specialize in both composite and glass ionomer fillings, lip and tongue tie releases as well as partial and immediate dentures for patients still transitioning from their natural teeth.

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Types Of Fillings We Offer At Phi Dental

(All Fillings Offered At Phi Dental Are BPA Free)

What are Composite Fillings?

Composite fillings are also called white fillings. This kind of filling depends on where the tooth is in your mouth. For example, we bite down hard on our back teeth (molars), so a plastic filling may not be a good choice in this area of the mouth.

To place a composite filling, we clean all the decay from the tooth and put glue (or bonding material) on the inside of the hole. Then, composite resin is put into the hole in thin layers. Each layer gets hard with the help of a special light that we hold over the tooth. When the last layer of the filling is hard, we shape the filling, so it looks and feels natural.

Advantages of composite fillings:

• These fillings will be the same colour as your natural teeth.
• They cost less than gold fillings.
• In most cases, they are direct fillings to be done in one appointment.

Teeth Whitening At Phi Dental

Do Whitening Products Work?

Results depend on the concentration of the product. Most whitening products contain Hydrogen Peroxide in concentrations ranging from 5-35%. Whitening strips are standard and come in concentrations around 10% (relatively weak). Over-the-counter gels can also come in concentrations of 5-10%. Professional whitening trays that you use at home come in concentrations of 15-35%. Professional in-office whitening is the most vital type of whitening and usually comes in strengths more significant than 30%—the higher the concentration, the more dramatic the whitening.

Root Canal Treatment At Phi Dental Care

What is a Root Canal?

Root canal treatment also referred to as endodontic therapy, removes infected or injured tissue (pulp) from inside the crown and roots. It is an effective and safe treatment for teeth whose pulp has become inflamed and infected or in situations where we are trying to save and restore a tooth. We sometimes refer our patients to an endodontist specializing in endodontic therapy for complex cases.

What Happens During the Root Canal?

Before the root canal is performed, you will be given a local anesthetic to minimize any pain or discomfort during the procedure. A rubber dam is placed around the tooth to protect the tooth from bacteria found in your saliva. Next, the dentist makes an opening in the tooth to reach the root canal system and the damaged pulp. While using very fine dental instruments, the pulp is removed by cleaning and enlarging the root canal system. Once the canal is cleaned, it will be filled and sealed and then capped with either a temporary or permanent filling.

Can You Prevent Needing a Root Canal?

In many cases, a root canal becomes the only viable option to retain a tooth that has suffered severe damage or has become infected. The best way to prevent the need for root canal treatment is to follow a good oral hygiene routine by brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and visiting your dentist regularly.

How is a Tooth Restored After Root Canal Treatment?

Your tooth needs to be restored to look, feel and work as much as a natural tooth as possible. Depending on how much of the natural tooth is intact, we will either use a permanent filling or crown to restore your tooth. A back tooth will likely need a crown because chewing puts great force on back teeth. If there is not enough of the tooth left, the posts can be used to support the crown.

How Will I Feel After I Receive a Root Canal?

After root canal treatment, your tooth may be tender for the first week or two. Bad pain or swelling is NOT expected. If this happens, please call our office.

What is Root Canal Surgery?

Considerable advancements in diagnosis, radiographic imaging, equipment, and techniques allow dentists and endodontists to complete successful root canal treatments. Yet, in some rare cases, root canal surgery is needed when regular root canal treatment cannot be done or when it has not worked. Root canal surgery allows the dentist or endodontist to check the end of the root for fractures or cracks, remove parts of the root that could not be cleaned during regular root canal treatment and clear up an infection that did not heal after standard treatment.

Laser Treatment For Cold Sores & Desensitization

Approximately 60-80% of the population carries the virus, making it more common than you think!

Unfortunately, due to sterilization standards, we are not allowed to practice dentistry on these patients when cold sores are in the vesicle stage. However, our dentists do offer a laser treatment that can be utilized at the first sign of an outbreak.

What is a Cold Sore?

Cold sores are caused by the Herpes Simplex Type 1 virus and are highly contagious blisters that occur on the lips, cheeks, or chin for many different reasons such as stress and over exposure to the sun. There is currently no cure, but the lifetime of an outbreak is usually under 2 weeks.

Laser Treatment for Cold Sores

Most patients report an “itch” or “tingle”, this is the best time to laser the sore so as not to reach the vesicle stage.  Although the laser can be used as a treatment option when the sore appears visibly, the chances for stopping it in its tracks are reduced but a prescription can also be issued to combat the symptoms at home.

If you are able to get in to see us for laser therapy before the sore appears, we can usually stop an outbreak before it surfaces. Most people get their sores in the same spots, so they are able to sense when one is developing.

If you don’t catch it in time, and you already start to develop a blister, our laser treatment can still provide aid, as the laser works to break down the nerve cells creating instant relief and increases the production of collagen which helps the patient heal faster.

Checking for Tongue and Lip-ties

If you believe your baby may have one of these conditions, here are a few steps you can take to diagnose the issue:

• Look for issues when nursing. Tongue and lip-ties usually make it difficult for your child to latch properly onto the nipple when breastfeeding. Look for symptoms such as an inability to properly nurse, clicking noises while the baby is suckling, excessive drooling, poor weight gain, or “gumming” and chewing of the nipple when feeding.
• Your child’s tongue may also appear “short”, because they cannot stick it out properly, due to the excessive tissue.
• “Flip” the upper or lower lip open, and feel for any resistance which could be caused by lip-ties. Look at the small band of tissue that connects the lips to the gums. It should be quite thin and pliable. If it looks thick, it seems too short, or if the lip is difficult to move, lip-ties may be present. Examine the tongue or lip – lay your baby down on your knees, facing you. Run your finger under their tongue. Does this membrane feel short, strong, or excessively thick? A normal tongue will allow for a smooth and uninterrupted swipe underneath the frenulum.
• Get a professional opinion. While examining your child for lip and tongue-ties is a good place to start for a diagnosis, a professional examination from a qualified doctor like Dr. Lawrence Chong is required to determine the proper treatment method for your child.

Dentures

What are Dentures?

Dentures are artificial replacements for your natural teeth and gums. If an accident, a disease or poor oral health care has left you with only a few healthy teeth or none at all, your dentist or prosthodontist might suggest dentures to replace your missing teeth. There are 2 types of dentures: partial and complete. For both types of dentures your dentist or specialist makes a model of your teeth by taking impressions. The models are used to custom-make your dentures.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are also called “removable partial denture prostheses” or “partials.” They may be used when nearby teeth are not strong enough to hold a bridge, or when more than just a few teeth are missing. Partial dentures are made up of one or more artificial teeth held in place by clasps that fit onto nearby natural teeth. You can take the partial denture out yourself, for cleaning and at night.

Full Upper Dentures

Complete dentures are what we most often refer to as “false teeth.” They are also called “full dentures” and are used when all your natural teeth are missing. Complete dentures are removable as they are held in place by suction. They can cause soreness at first and take some time to get used to. There are 2 types of complete dentures: immediate dentures and conventional dentures.

Immediate Dentures

Immediate dentures are made before your teeth are removed. Your dentist takes measurements and makes models of your jaws during your first visit. Once your teeth are extracted, your dentist inserts the immediate dentures. The benefit of immediate dentures is that you are not without teeth during the healing period, which can take up to 6 months. During the healing period, your bones and gums can shrink and your immediate dentures may need to be relined by your dentist for a proper fit.

Conventional Dentures

Conventional dentures are made and inserted into your mouth after your teeth have been extracted and the gums and jaw tissues have healed.