FAQ | Toronto Beaches & North York Family Dentistry

Dentistry on Main Street
124 Main Street
Toronto, Ontario M4E 2V8
Tel: (416) 699-0620

Sheppard and Yonge
Dental Health Centre
116 Sheppard Ave. West
North York, Ontario M2N 1M5
Tel: (416) 221-9588

We will continue to grow our FAQ section as you ask us new questions. If you have a question that is not addressed in this section please enter it in the form below. We will respond to your question as soon as possible to the email address you provide.

Is Teeth Whitening Safe and what are the Pros and Cons?

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure that allows us to bring back a bright, youthful healthy appearance to teeth that have yellowed or stained.

Under supervision teeth whitening is absolutely safe and may be a relatively quick and cost effective way to restore your confidence in your smile.

Darkened teeth may be the result of an underlying condition that may not be solved by whitening. This is why we recommend you speak to us before considering any procedure to ensure it is an appropriate solution for your specific situation.

The Pros and Cons:
Cons: The negatives associated with whitening are generally short term. The results of teeth whitening are noticeable after a single visit and will be noticed by others around you if you are self-conscious at first. Some patients experience heightened tooth sensitivity and irritation or soreness in their gums during the whitening process. These effects dissipate shortly after the whitening process has been completed.

Pros: Whitening is safe and effective. The long term results of increased confidence and health benefits of smiling more often far outweigh any short term discomfort. The bright white look of your teeth will convey a cleaner, healthier and youthful appearance.

The effect has been shown to increase confidence and allow you to smile more often. White teeth create a positive focal point for others while you speak, leading to an increase in your confidence.

Why are my teeth so sensitive?

There are many reasons that can contribute to tooth sensitivity. The condition is known as dentin hypersensitivity.

Dentin Hypersensitivity is often caused by gum that have receded exposing the underlying root and tooth structure. The best solution is prevention of receding gums through proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits.

If you are already experiencing sensitive teeth we recommend visiting our office to determine the cause. In the meantime you can try a specialized tooth paste to reduce the sensitivity of the exposed area. Toothpastes that contain potassium nitrate are used to achieve this and are available over the counter at you local pharmacy.

Avoid Aggressive Brushing
An avoidable causes of sensitive teeth that is ‘in your hands’ so to say, is aggressive brushing. Many people are under the misconception that brushing harder or using a firm bristled tooth brush will better clean their teeth. This coupled with improper brushing technique (using a back and forth motion) can damage enamel exposing dentin and resulting in tooth sensitivity.

Using a soft bristle brush with proper technique along with regular cleanings at our office will be more effective at keeping your smile beautiful and healthy. we may also recommend an electric toothbrush and special mouth rinses depending on your specific situation.

What is a Root Canal?

Root Canal Therapy is often the most effective way to save a natural tooth once a decay, infection or injury has gone too far for a simple fix.

The outer layer of your tooth is made of a hard substance called enamel. This layer is made to withstand chewing forces and daily activities of your mouth. It also protects the dentin and pulp portion of your teeth that are connected directly to your bloodstream and nourish the tooth.

The layer of enamel, although strong is by no means indestructible. Once a problem has passed the enamel and entered the dentin and pulp of your tooth infection often occurs. This can be painful for your tooth and your health can be adversely affected.

Root Canal Therapy is the removal of the root canal content or ‘pulp’ composed of blood vessels and nerves. This stops any further infection from entering the bloodstream as well as removing the source of pain from your mouth. The area or ‘canal’ is then filled and the tooth is repaired with a crown to protect it from further breakage.

This allows you to keep your natural tooth as the place holder in your mouth rather than needing a prosthetic such as a dental implant.

Why do I have silver metallic fillings?

Amalgam (Silver Fillings) vs Composite (Tooth Coloured Filling) In the not so far past amalgam or ‘silver fillings’ were the only option strong enough to withstand the forces that chewing places on a tooth. Advancements in material have made it possible for a composite resin to hold up to the stress that a mouth puts on a tooth. These composite resins have an aesthetic advantage to their amalgam predecessors as they can be made to match the colour of your tooth.

Tooth coloured fillings can often be placed while affecting less of the natural tooth and bond to the tooth, making the tooth more resistant to future fracture. Their ability to match your tooth’s natural colour also makes them virtually indistinguishable from your tooth.

Amalgam fillings have come under scrutiny due to their mercury content. The risk to a person’s health from the trace amounts of mercury vapour that may be released during chewing has been the topic of debate. These fillings are strong, effective and have been in use for over a century now.

We would be please to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both materials with you. If you are self-conscious, we can also discuss replacing your silver fillings with tooth coloured ones that may have you smiling more often.

Is a Dental Implant right for me?

If you are missing a tooth for any reason you could be affecting more than just your appearance. The teeth in your mouth serve many purposes including, chewing, clear speech, holding adjacent teeth in place, maintaining oral health and more. A missing tooth can allow adjacent teeth to shift, adversely effecting surrounding teeth, increasing the chance of decay and increasing the look of premature aging.

Think of a missing tooth as a place where a tooth used to be. It is important to fill the place of that tooth with one of the dental options available to you. An Implant is a permanent solution to a missing tooth that can solve the negative aspects associated with a missing tooth. The implant as its name suggests is a prosthetic post that is implanted into your bone in place of your tooth’s root. Once the bone and tissue have healed sufficiently a cosmetically pleasing false tooth is placed on the post and crowned to look and act naturally.

If you are missing one or many teeth for that matter we would be pleased to discuss implants as well as all of the options unavailable to you.

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Frequently Asked Questions at our North York and Toronto Beaches Dental Offices