Dentists generally have a bad reputation. Expressions such as “It’s like pulling teeth” and “I’d rather get a root canal” are proof that doing something painful and hard is often compared to going to the dentist. In fact, going to the dentist is shown as something to be endured, not enjoyed.
However, it doesn’t have to be that way at all – and we at Max Dental @ Yaletown certainly don’t believe going to the dentist is a terrifying ordeal for any of our patients.
Our Yaletown dentists do their very best to make your every experience at the dentist a memorable one – in a good way! We know why people dislike going to the dentist and we’ve worked to make our office, our staff and our technology into a perfect combination of excellent patient-focused care and excellent oral health care.
If you’re afraid of going to the dentist, we offer you several dental treatment options and we believe in honest, open communication between you, the patient and us, the oral health care professionals. Let us know when you’re uncomfortable and we’ll do everything we can to make you comfortable and relaxed.
If you’re afraid of pain, you might be pleasantly surprised to learn that current dental technology has made going to the dentist a virtually pain-free experience. Extractions, root canals and even routine cleanings are now the most efficient and stress-free possible.
If you’re worried you’ll be judged for your oral health care regime, we promise you’ll only get a better understanding of oral health care, not a scolding! We’re thrilled you’ve chosen our Yaletown dental clinic as your partner in your quest for a healthy, happy smile.
One of the most common causes for worn teeth is bruxism. Bruxism refers to tooth grinding or jaw clenching, especially during sleep, which wears down your enamel at an accelerated rate. You may have bruxism and not be aware of it, so contact Max Dental @ Yaletown for an appointment and we’ll let you know if your teeth are showing signs of bruxism and what you can do if that’s the case.
Abrasion is another common cause of worn teeth. Simply put, abrasion describes tooth enamel that is worn down by foreign objects in the mouth. Toothbrushes are the most common type of abrasive objects. If you brush your teeth too vigorously, you risk wearing down your enamel too much. Chewing pens or fingernails can cause teeth to lose enamel fast as well, as can an oral piercing or tongue ring.
Erosion is the third common cause of worn teeth. Erosion is caused by any substance that dissolves the enamel. Citric acid is the number one eroding agent of tooth enamel, but if you or a loved one has made a habit of purging, the gastric acids in your stomach can also dissolve your enamel.
At Max Dental @ Yaletown, we offer several dental solutions for your worn teeth, but it’s our policy to work with you to address the cause of the problem, not just the symptoms. Take care of your teeth and contact Max Dental @ Yaletown today for an appointment.
When not wearing a protective mouthguard, 60% of athletes are more likely to experience major damage to the mouth and teeth?
It is estimated that faceguards and mouthguards prevent approximately 200,000 injuries each year in high school and college football.
Mouthguards which are bought at sports stores without any individual fitting, provide only a low level of protection, if any. If the wearer is rendered unconscious, there is a risk the mouthguard may lodge in the throat potentially causing an airway obstruction.
Mouthguards help absorb most of the shock if a person receives a direct blow to the mouth. Mouthguards protect the teeth, gums and the inside of the cheek. Mouthguards can reduce jaw damage and concussion as well and help the wearer avoid costly oral surgery.
In addition, mouthguards can be effective when protecting teeth from bruxism (teeth grinding). Bruxism wears down the enamel, makes your teeth more prone to cavities and can cause jaw, head or shoulder pain.
If you play contact sports or suspect you grind your teeth, contact Max Dental @Yaletown for an appointment to fit a custom mouthguard today.
Have you been told that you require root canal therapy? It’s important to understand what root canal therapy involves so you don’t feel any unnecessary stress when you come to Max Dental @ Yaletown for the actual procedure. Stress can make your experience at the dentist far more difficult than it actually has to be.
What is a Root Canal?
The Root Canal is the name for the space within the root of the tooth, it is a hollow area that contains soft tissues (the pulp and nerves). The number of these hollow canals (one to four) in a tooth depend on the type of tooth and the pulp nourishes and hydrates the tooth.
Why do you need Root Canal Therapy?
However, if your dental pulp is exposed, through a cavity or fracture, or becomes infected (abscessed) for any reason, it will likely require root canal therapy to allow you to actually keep the tooth instead of extracting it. These days, root canal therapy is relatively pain- and stress-free and can be done in as little as one appointment.
What to do if you need Root Canal Therapy?
Contact Max Dental @ Yaletown if you have any questions about root canal therapy or if you would like to book an appointment.
Oral Cancer is the 13th most common cancer reported in Canada?
Men are more susceptible to Oral Cancer than women?
A screening for Oral Cancer only takes 2 – 3 minutes?
ARE YOU AT RISK?
Male smokers over the age of 40 are the most susceptible to Oral Cancer but everyone’s at risk – something as simple as getting too much sun, smoking or drinking alcohol may increase your chances of suffering from Oral Cancer.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
With Oral Cancer, prevention and early detection is key. Practice correct oral health care by brushing twice daily and flossing every day and come in for your FREE VELscope oral cancer screening at your nearest 123Dentist.com Community Dentist Network practice.
MARK THE DATE
As part of Oral Health Month, members of the 123Dentist.com Community Dentist Network are offering a FREE Velscope Oral Cancer screening on April 26, 2012. VELscope screenings typically take only a few minutes and are completely pain‐free.
Did you know: February is National Children’s Dental Health Month?
February is the month to raise awareness about the significance of your oral health. With National Children’s Dental Health month beginning in Cleveland in 1941 and extending to a month-long program since 1981, it is especially important to take care of your child’s oral health. The dental team at Max Dental at Yaletown in Vancouver support National Children’s Dental Health Month and encourage you to follow up with regular checkups and proper oral care.
In February, Max Dental at Yaletown and other dentists around the world are concerned with preventative oral care, especially when it comes to children. It is important to remember that having good oral health habits when you’re young and having periodic dental appointments will get your children on the right track to keep those teeth and gums healthy.
If your child hasn’t been to Max Dental at Yaletown in Vancouver in the last six months, be sure to contact us and make an appointment.
Using dental floss properly is essential to your oral health because it eliminates plaque and gets rid of food bits in places where a toothbrush can’t reach. These areas are in between the teeth and underneath the gum-line. Here are some great oral health tips on clean teeth and dental floss from the dental team at Max Dental at Yaletown in Vancouver.
“Why is dental plaque so bad for me?”
When dental plaque builds up, it can cause tooth decay and gum disease, which is why the dental team at Max Dental at Yaletown recommends that you use dental floss regularly, every day.
“How do I floss properly?”
Here are some strategies on using dental floss most effectively:
– Give yourself about 18 inches of floss and wrap it around both of your middle fingers. Leave an inch or so of dental floss that you can maneuver.
– Hold the dental floss in a flexible way and keep it between your thumbs and index fingers. Be gentle when sliding it up and down between your teeth.
– Take the dental floss and put it around the base of each tooth so you get into the gumline. Do not be forceful with the floss because it can harm gum tissue.
– When you move between teeth, be sure to use the clean section of the floss.
-Removing the floss from your mouth is easy: use a similar back-and-forth motion so you can move the floss up and away from your teeth.
The two kinds of floss you can use are Nylon floss or PTFE. With nylon floss, you can choose between waxed and unwaxed, and there are many different flavors. The problem with nylon floss is that it can sometimes tear easily, but this won’t happen with PTFE floss. PTFE floss is more expensive but worth it because it maneuvers easily between teeth and won’t shred. However, both kinds of floss are efficient in eliminating plaque.
For any questions about dental floss and clean teeth, contact us at Max Dental at Yaletown and we can give you all the information you need.
So, do you have the answer to “How do I floss properly” yet? If not, check out this informative video from Colgate:
We all know that nail biting is a bad habit, but do you know why? The dental team at Max Dental at Yaletown in Vancouver want to clarify why this habit is so detrimental to your overall oral health.
Nail biting is a common habit within certain age groups, including children, teens and young adults. Stress often triggers nail biting, and can diminish as you get older. However, nail biting should be stopped at a young age because it is unclean and unhealthy.
Biting your nails can be detrimental to your oral health for a variety of reasons:
It’s unsanitary. Nails are filled with dirt and they’re even filthier than your fingers. If you bite into your nails, germs will easily get into your mouth and help the spread of bacteria.
Chewing objects is bad for your teeth – When you bite your nails, your teeth will be chewing constantly. The motion of chewing wears down teeth quite fast and puts stress on your teeth which can cause them to misalign.
They harm braces – If you have braces, you know how much pressure is placed on your teeth. If you want to add to this pressure, biting your nails is a great idea! This will stress your teeth out and weaken them, harming your orthodontic treatment and your overall bite.
It can end up costing you – You wouldn’t think that nail biting would be an expensive habit, but it can end up costing you up to $4,000 in extra dental bills during your life!
So what can you do about your problem? Just knowing the facts and how damaging nail biting can be should help you take action and kick that habit for good. The dental team at Max Dental at Yaletown can answer any questions you might have about nail biting. Contact us today!
Your children’s oral health is important, and keeping teeth and gums healthy is crucial on so many levels. Recently, experts have discovered that children’s teeth might be able to help treat Parkinson’s disease and diabetes because of stem cells located in the pulp chambers of the teeth. Clearly, your child’s teeth are vitally important and the dental team at Max Dental at Yaletown in Vancouver want to make sure your children’s oral health care is top notch.
Practicing proper oral health care
If you’re wondering when the right time is to start brushing your baby’s teeth, we have some tips for you. Regular dental cleanings should be done after your baby has their teeth. After you have breastfed or bottle-fed your baby, take a damp washcloth and softly rub your baby’s gums. To make cleaning easier, you can wrap the cloth around one of your fingers to remove all those food scraps from your baby’s mouth.
As soon as your baby’s first tooth comes, a baby toothbrush will be needed. You can easily find special children’s oral health care toothbrushes at your local drugstore. These brushes are gentle and have only a few bristles. You don’t have to worry about buying toothpaste, you’ll only need water to clean your child’s teeth.
Children’s oral health care experts have determined that when more teeth start to come in, that’s when toothpaste becomes necessary. You will only need a very small amount and be sure that there is no fluoride in the toothpaste for the first few years. A great exercise is to have your child pretend to spit out toothpaste after brushing – then they will have already formed good habits when it comes time to use fluoride toothpaste which is hazardous when swallowed.
Here’s a great informational video about baby teeth:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwVSCEZdkXc
For more questions or concerns about proper children’s oral health or your baby’s teeth, call or visit us at Max Dental at Yaletown.
![Wondering “How Do I floss Properly”? Here’s the Answer [VIDEO]](https://www.yaletowndentists.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/wondering-how-do-i-floss-properly-heres-the-answer-video.jpg)
![Children’s Oral Health Care: Taking Care of Baby Teeth [VIDEO]](https://www.yaletowndentists.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/childrens-oral-health-care-taking-care-of-baby-teeth-video.jpg)
