Services

Digitally Planned Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial roots, placed under the gums, that provide a permanent base for fixed replacement teeth.

Compared to dentures, bridges and crowns, dental implants are a popular and effective long-term solution for people who suffer from missing teeth, failing teeth or chronic dental problems. Because they fit, feel and function like natural teeth, dental implants are quickly becoming the new standard in tooth replacement. For EVERY case, we virtually plan and place an implant using our 3D scan [hyperlink] in order to safely position it well away from adjacent tooth roots or nerves - this pre-planning helps the procedure more predictable.

Over time, the medical grade titanium actually fuses to the living bone cells of your jaw. This union forms a strong and durable anchor for your new teeth, meaning there’s no slippage or other movement during talking or eating, which can happen with dentures. You don’t need to worry about your implant getting cavities because dental implants don’t decay (but you still have to floss to keep the surround gums healthy :)) and no more worrying about smiling freely and openly.

Dental implants have the advantage of being a conservative treatment option- the two adjacent “innocent bystander” teeth on either side of a gap don’t need to be shaved down like they would with a more aggressive bridge treatment [hyperlink to bridge section]. Give us a call at 604 423 3577 to set up an appointment to see if you are a dental implant candidate!

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Grafting

If you have been missing a tooth for a while, the bone that held the tooth in can shrink away. Sometimes we need to do a grafting procedure to add bone and/or tissue to an area, or reduce the amount that the bone and tissue shrinks after a tooth is removed (socket grafting). A few months after the bone graft material is placed, the site will be ready, with an adequate amount of bone and tissue to place a dental implant in, or make a bridge fit better and not trap food.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Your back wisdom teeth are notorious for causing oral health complications throughout your life, and although you may not currently be experiencing symptoms, there could be issues occurring under the gums that can be expensive and problematic to fix if the wisdom teeth are left alone and treatment postponed..

Wisdom teeth are often impacted, meaning that there isn’t enough space for them to correctly erupt through the gums. Sometimes we see teeth straightened by braces or Invisalign, only to have wisdom teeth cause them to become crooked again and cause the need to re-do the braces or Invisalign! Wisdom teeth can trap food near the roots of your “good” back molars, causing deep decay that is often impossible to fix and results in extra, unexpected extractions.

Even if you’re not experiencing symptoms, we recommend to come in for an exam around age 16 in order to evaluate your wisdom teeth. The earlier they are removed, the easier the process, with a quicker and more comfortable healing period. If you’re not sure about the status of your wisdom teeth, or just want more information about wisdom teeth removal, make an appointment to see us and discuss. We offer sedation options to help make your treatment quick and comfortable.

SureSmile & Invisalign Clear Aligners

Overcrowding can ruin a healthy smile because teeth that are too close together can become breeding grounds for plaque and bacteria.

Crooked and crowded teeth are more difficult to clean when you brush and floss your teeth. Built-up bacteria might not be removed until you have a professional cleaning. This will allow tartar to form, increasing the chances of tooth decay and gum disease.Invisalign can not only help straighten your teeth to not only improve your smile and self confidence, but has added benefits as well: straightening teeth makes them easier to clean, which in turn will help improve your gum health. Some misaligned teeth can be subjected to increased wear and tear vs. a normally aligned tooth, leading to accelerated breakdown.

If we are doing a smile makeover, Invisalign can help move malpositioned teeth into a better position that will require us to shave away less of the tooth compared to leaving it in it’s original spot and running a higher risk of root canal therapy.Invisalign requires no metal brackets or wires, and the clear plastic aligner trays are very discreet when wearing in public. The aligners are clear - most people might not even notice you’re wearing anything! Visit our office for a consultation, where we will take photos and scans and determine what Invisalign can do for your smile.

After signing up, you will come in for small, tooth-coloured attachments to be bonded to your teeth. These act as lever points for the aligner trays to push on and move your teeth..For best results, you are asked to wear the aligners for 22 hours per day and only take them out to eat. Yes, 22 hours. Wearing them for the prescribed amount of time will prevent teeth from shifting back to how they were originally. Other than that, you are able to enjoy your favourite foods and activities. After your teeth have been positioned in the ideal spots, the attachments are removed and you will receive a set of clear retainers to wear, but only at night. It’s that simple!

Whitening

A white smile can offer a more confident and youthful appearance. But coffee, tea, red wine (yes, the good things in life), along with plaque and smoking (some of the bad things) unfortunately can all contribute to staining and yellowing of your teeth. We offer professional grade whitening systems to help you brighten and revitalize your smile. Using a oxidizing gel, common surface stains can be removed, revealing your whiter enamel underneath.

Dental Exams

More than just a “checkup”, during a dental exam, we evaluate your jaw muscles, jaw joint (TMJ), occlusion (or “bite”), how they interact and can lead to future tooth wear/pain. We also do an oral cancer screening at every exam (lumps n’ bumps), and closely examine your gums for gum disease, inflammation and bone loss. We examine each and every tooth for cracks, decay, broken fillings, and discolouration, and use a variety of digital cameras so that we can show you on a bigscreen TV exactly what’s going on with your oral health.

Hygiene & Periodontal Gum Therapy

There is emerging evidence supporting the connection between oral disease and systemic health such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis and diabetes. Without routine dental visits, plaque (a sticky white biofilm) builds up on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque can lead to gum disease (periodontitis), making you more vulnerable to heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke. Gum disease can also cause your blood sugar levels to rise, making the control of diabetes more difficult. Research also has shown that oral bacteria can not only cause inflammation of pregnant women’s gums, but they can also infiltrate a mother’s bloodstream and lead to premature labour and low birthweight babies.

Good oral care is key to overall wellness. Healthy mouths lead to long, healthy lives and at River District Dentistry, we are committed to helping you keep your smile for a lifetime.We encourage communication and education in order for our patients to have a full understanding of their oral status and work with patients to provide the regularly scheduled care needed to reach optimal health.

Children's Dentistry

From “happy visits” for your inquisitive little one, to routine exams, cleaning, and filling appointments for your older ones, we’re happy to see your kids here at River District Dentistry! We follow the Canadian Dental Association’s guideline of recommending the first dental assessment of an infant within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth or by one year of age. It’s a great chance for your child to see and experience what a dental visit is like, with minimal stress and maximum fun!

Nightguards & Occlusal Splints

These oral appliances can help with clenchers/grinders, as they will protect your teeth from chipping if you have a nighttime bruxing (grinding) habit. They can also be used in some cases to help reduce jaw pain, restore the correct position of the jaws before beginning a mouth makeover, or as the final step in a large case or mouth makeover to help prevent you from damaging your new investment.

Sports Guards

These are a MUST for you hockey/football/rugby/lacrosse players, as well as MMA/boxers. Soccer and basketball players can definitely benefit too! Not only can they help reduce concussive effects, but wearing one can help save you from the months/years of costly treatment required to fix a blow to your teeth.

Fillings/Resin Bonding (Tooth Coloured)

Composite resin bonding is a tooth-coloured option to restore mildly decayed teeth, make minor changes in shape or length of front teeth, close gaps between teeth (for cosmetic reasons, or to prevent food from building up), repair chips or small cracks, improve the appearance of discoloured teeth, or protect tooth root exposed by gum recession. We utilize the BioClear matrix system for your front fillings, which can help give a more natural final appearance compared to order methods.

Crowns (tooth coloured porcelain)

If a tooth has a large cavity or old filling, or has a large crack/fracture, we may recommend a crown. What is a crown? A porcelain crown is a durable restoration that:

• - Covers the biting surface of the tooth and wraps around it 360 degrees
• - Seals the tooth from bacterial contamination
• - Holds it together to prevent it from breaking apart
• - Improves the appearance of a tooth.

Crowns are also usually needed after a root canal on a back tooth to prevent future leakage, re-infection, or irreparable tooth fracture. We use our digital IntraOral Scanner for our crowns to reduce the need for goopy impressions.

Bridges (tooth coloured porcelain)

A bridge helps replace a missing tooth. The two teeth on either side of the missing-tooth-gap have a layer of tooth structure removed (just like with a crown), and then a porcelain bridge consisting of “two crowns connected by an artificial tooth” is made to fill the gap. Bridges are relatively quick to make, but they involve cutting into “innocent bystander” teeth. Where dental implants use a 1-tooth solution to fix a 1-missing-tooth problem, bridges are a 3-tooth solution for a 1-missing tooth problem. Bridges are also susceptible to decay and the underside of them must be cleaned diligently using special flossing accessories.

Root Canal Therapy

Have you ever had a bad toothache that’s aggravated with heat, cold, or pressure? Ever seen a pimple-like bump on your gums next to a painful tooth? Is one of your front teeth darker than the rest? All of these are signs that there may be an issue with the nerve that is inside the tooth. Sometimes teeth with deep decay, trauma, large cracks, or abscesses end up needing root canal therapy in order to get you feeling comfortable. By removing the infected, inflamed, and painful internal nerve and replacing it with a root filling material and covering the tooth with a crown, we can get you out of pain while still saving your tooth!

Extractions

Sometimes a tooth gets fractured, infected, or decayed so deep that it becomes unfixable. In these situations, we have plenty of experience in removing teeth quickly and comfortably in order to remove the problem. We will also discuss what your options are to replace the tooth so that you don’t end up with an unsightly gap in your smile, or a decreased ability to chew.