Plaque naturally forms in the mouth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that covers the surface of your teeth after eating most things, especially sugars or starches. Tartar forms when plaque is left on teeth long enough that it hardens. If not removed, plaque can harden into tartar and eventually lead to gum disease.

A certified dental hygienist will aim to remove plaque and tartar from your gums and teeth, as well as from the pockets between your teeth and gums. Polish would be done to remove the stains. Dental cleanings are essential in maintaining your gums and teeth in good condition. It is recommended to have cleanings done every 4-6 months.

Dental exam is critical to your ongoing oral health. Here are some of the things dentist is looking for during a dental exam:

• Diagnosis of cavities and need for restorative work;
• Identifying damaged, missing or decayed teeth;
• Condition of your gums, such as periodontal pockets, inflammation or other signs of gum disease
• Early signs of mouth or throat disease;
• Position of your teeth and their alignment;
• Signs of wear on your teeth due to grinding

Digital radiography uses an X-ray sensor instead of film to produce the image. The image is displayed into the screen right away and does not need to be developed like film. X-rays are taken to check for cavities, fractures, determine bone and root health and see if there is presence of impacted wisdom teeth. Dental x-rays will help the dentist make a more accurate diagnosis and present a better overall picture to the patient.

A tooth filling is a procedure where decayed part of the tooth is removed, cleaned out and filled with a filling material. This treatment is mostly used to treat cavities, but it is sometimes used to repair cracked or broken teeth.

Over time teeth change colour for a variety of reasons:

• Certain foods and drinks like tea, coffee and red wine have colour pigments that attach to the enamel of your teeth and may over time change the colour of your teeth.
• Tobacco has chemicals like tar and nicotine that can stain your teeth.
• Certain medications may cause discoloration of your teeth
• With age, your tooth enamel (the outer shell of your tooth) will start to wear away, showing more of the dentin within the tooth. This dentin has a yellowish colour, which causes to have a darker appearance.

Bleaching products contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide which are used to whiten your teeth. Bleaching can either be done at home or in-office.

Teeth grinding and clenching is also known as Bruxism. Long term teeth grinding can cause significant wear of your teeth. People might experience jaw soreness, headaches and fatigue from lack of sleep.

Impressions of your teeth would be taken and a nightguard on either top or bottom teeth would be fabricated. The nightguard would act as a barrier between your teeth and will help protect the wear of the enamel of your teeth.

A dental crown is a tooth shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth that restores its shape, size and protects the tooth from fracturing. Crowns are recommended on teeth that have large fillings, have had root canals treatment or to improve the appearance of a tooth.