Dental Rejuvenation

Orthodontics, what is it? | Orthodontics helps permanent teeth grow into their proper positions and may be able to reduce the need for extractions later in life. Although the orthodontic process conducted is specific to each patient, it may include:

• Development appliances to aid in jaw growth
• Functional appliances to correct a jaw that is growing improperly
• Orthodontic appliances to prevent the shifting of teeth

What is Invisalign? | Braces have often been a rite of passage in our lives, with many children, teens, and adults getting the traditional wires and brackets as their teeth grow and develop. Braces can sometimes be downright uncomfortable and even a little embarrassing, especially if you are an adult. Invisalign is the better-looking option for people of any age who want to straighten out their teeth for that aesthetically pleasing smile they have always wanted. Invisalign® takes a modern approach to straightening teeth using a series of custom-made aligners. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable, and virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth. Wearing the aligners will gradually and gently shift your teeth into place, based on the exact movements of your individual plan. There are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. You just pop in a new set of aligners every two weeks until your treatment is complete. You will achieve a great smile with little interference in your daily life. The best part about the whole process is that most people will not even know you are straightening your teeth.

Is Invisalign comfortable? | Gone are the days of tightening wires or covering metal brackets with wax. Invisalign is kind to your gums and lips by having no metal wires or brackets involved. Invisalign is made entirely of smooth plastic that fits close and comfortably over your teeth.  There is no need to tighten brackets when it is time to update the aligner – a new mould of your teeth is created and replaces the old one, meaning the unpleasant sensation of tightened braces is gone for good.

Removable aligners | When you have traditional braces, you cannot take them off. Flossing and brushing becomes harder and food constantly gets trapped. With Invisalign, you simply remove the tray and brush and floss as usual. You can also remove the trays while eating, giving you the freedom to eat any food you enjoy!

Invisalign | Invisalign utilizes a clear hard plastic that surrounds all your teeth. These ‘trays’ are made by taking impressions of your teeth, so they are custom fitted. The trays can be taken in and out by the person wearing them, which is helpful to facilitate flossing, brushing, and eating. If you forget to put on your Invisalign tray for a day or so – they may not fit anymore, and new impressions may need to be taken. Therefore, compliance is a big factor in the success of Invisalign and your treatment. It will not work unless you wear them all the time. With Invisalign, you must visit us on a regular basis to check on your progress and to receive your new trays. The main advantage of Invisalign is that they are almost invisible.

Metal Braces | Conventional braces (metal braces) are fixed. They cannot be taken off, except by a professional. Each tooth has a metal bracket bonded to it and the brackets are all joined by a metal wire. These metal braces are more difficult to brush and floss with. Compliance is not an issue because the patient does not have a choice. With conventional braces, regular visits to our office are required to ensure everything is progressing as planned. Some cases which require more advanced tooth movement can only be treated with conventional braces. You should consult us at your next appointment to see which option best suits your needs.

Our smile is usually the first thing people notice about us. Flashing your bright white teeth is a great way to show people that you are friendly, cheery, and fun to talk to. A lot of us do not have confidence in our look because our teeth become discoloured as the years go by. There is no need to worry, though. Here at Scarboro Smiles, we offer Zoom teeth whitening to help you gain that confidence in your smile.

Why would someone get Zoom? | Unlike traditional forms of teeth whitening, Zoom shows big results in just one quick visit. You can have a brighter, more attractive smile in less than an hour. That is why it is perfect for special occasions, job interviews, school photos, and all the other big moments that require us to look nice and flash our teeth for the camera. A basic appointment for a dental check-up is going to have a lot of benefits, and even just cleaning your teeth rigorously with our dental tools will help make them appear brighter and healthier. For the best results, though, you should have a serious whitening plan. Zoom works, and it works well. In less than an hour, most visitors will leave with teeth that are a few shades lighter, and some have reported a difference of up to 8 full shades. Not only does it work, but it lasts a long time. This is not your basic whitening solution.

Is Zoom safe? | A lot of different methods and chemicals have been proclaimed as the best solution to whiter teeth over the years, but many of them are dangerous for your enamel or gums. Zoom dental whitening uses a safe gel that bleaches out discolorations quickly and safely and it will not damage your teeth or gums.

Which method is best for you? | Here at Scarboro Smiles, we can perform the following types of whitening:

• In office ZOOM whitening treatment
• Professionally supervised take home whitening trays
• Combination of in-office ZOOM and take-home trays

In-office ZOOM whitening uses a high concentration carbamide peroxide, or hydrogen peroxide gel, applied to the teeth while protecting your gums and tissues. The gel is activated by a UV light. The results are often very quick, and sessions are 1-1.5 hours in length. This method is the best for patients who need immediate result (like before a wedding). This in-office method can also be coupled with custom-made trays for use at home.

The take home whitening method requires us to take an impression of your teeth and then fabricate a custom-fitted tray. You can take the tray home and either use it during the day for a few hours or sleep with it at night with the whitening gel in place. The gel used in these trays is either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, but at a lower concentration than the one used in the in-office ZOOM treatment. Because it is a lower concentration, results can take longer to show, usually at least - weeks.

Finally, you can always try the store-bought whitening strips (Crest Whitestrips). These strips are not custom fit to your teeth and usually only cover the front 8. They also do not produce as dramatic colour change as the professionally supervised methods. However, if you think you just need a slight touch up, these may just do the trick. They are inexpensive and easy to use, just make sure to follow the directions in the box.

If you are doing either the take home method or the store-bought strips, and you start to experience any sensitivity or discomfort, discontinue use and consult our office right away.

What are they? | Veneers are made of a thin layer of porcelain that is cemented to the facial surface of your front teeth to make them more aesthetically pleasing.

Who is a good candidate? | If your front teeth have unsightly cavities on their facial surfaces or if they have staining that cannot be removed by whitening, you are a good candidate for veneers. If you really do not like the appearance of your front teeth and they cannot be corrected by other cosmetic procedures, veneers may be the solution to help give you that beautiful smile.

How long do veneers last? | Veneers can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years if they are well maintained. Once you have veneers on your front teeth, you must be careful – no biting into apples or carrots because there is a risk you will break off the veneers. If this does happen, save the piece that broke off and make an appointment as soon as possible to have it repaired. You may want to consider getting a night-guard appliance to protect your veneers from nighttime grinding. And remember to brush and floss!

What procedure is involved? | You will receive dental freezing to be comfortable during the procedure. Your teeth are then prepped, and a thin layer of enamel is removed. An impression is taken and sent to the lab. While the lab is making the veneers, custom-fitted for your mouth (usually about 1-week), you will have temporary fillings on your teeth to protect them. You must be incredibly careful with these temporary fillings because they are not as strong as veneers. During your last appointment, the veneers from the lab will be cemented in place.

What are the downsides or risks associated with veneers? | Anything that involves modifying the tooth from its natural state will inherently weaken the tooth and its structure. To prepare teeth for veneers, approximately 0.5-1 mm of enamel is removed to allow space for the porcelain material to sit on top. Although this is a very thin layer, it is still slightly weakening the tooth. That is why if there is already a cavity, you are a good candidate because we would be removing unhealthy tooth structure anyway. The other side effect is that you may experience tooth sensitivity after the preparations are done, but usually this subsides once the veneers are completed.

What are expanders and what do they do? | An expander is an orthodontic appliance that is custom fit to the patient’s mouth. It is either bonded with cement to the posterior upper teeth or removable. They have a screw in the middle that activates the appliance when tightened. The generated force separates the two palatal bones at their midline (also known as the maxillary suture), the fibers that hold the two segments together get stretched and overtime they are filled in with new bone.

Generally, the patient (or parent in some cases) must turn the screw 1-2 times every other day for as long as your dentist instructs you. During this time, your dentist will want to see you regularly to ensure the appliance is working as it should. Once the activation period passes, the appliance is kept in the mouth for up to 3 months to allow the new bone to fill in at the midline, helping to maintain the expanded dental arch.

Why is it important? | Palatal expansion is an important preliminary treatment procedure because it enlarges the maxillary dental arch and the palate (roof of the mouth). An expander may be indicated when the upper jaw is too narrow in comparison to the lower jaw. When a jaw is too narrow, it limits air flow in the nasal cavity, which is above the palate. The expansion can help correct this issue. Widening the jaw can also help with the issue of crowded teeth as it creates more room.

A narrow jaw will not remedy itself over time, which is why it is incredibly important to do this procedure while your child is an adolescent. Once they have already gone through puberty and their growth spurt, it is not as effective.

What happens during the tightening (activation) process? | As the appliance is tightened over the duration of the procedure, it is possible to feel:

• Mild pressure in the palate
• Temporary discomfort for 30 minutes
• Mild pressure in the nasal bones and possible headaches (rare)

If there is pain and discomfort that involves having to take a pain killer, stop tightening the appliance immediately. You can turn it in the opposite motion to slightly loosen it for the time-being. You must contact our office since this procedure is not supposed to be painful. We will check to make sure that everything is okay and advise you on what to do next.