Childhood Thumb Sucking

Good oral health begins in childhood, and at Vista Dental, we’re proud to be a resource for Medicine Hat families. Because thumb sucking is such a common behavior in small children, many parents wonder whether it is harming their child’s dental development. While it is not a good thing, whether it is a cause for concern depends on whether the child is close to losing their first baby teeth.

Babies and toddlers commonly suck their thumbs or a pacifier as a way of self-soothing. Because the connections between their skull bones are not fully developed, their faces are a bit more flexible than older children’s. However, baby teeth start falling out and being replaced with permanent teeth at around the age of five. Continued thumb sucking at this point will likely result in an overbite and could also cause other forms of misaligned teeth, or even misaligned jaws.

It is best to approach children over the age of four who are still sucking their thumbs by encouraging them to participate in breaking their own habit. If there is a deep-seated anxiety which is motivating their behavior, it may be necessary to consult with a child psychologist. Children sometimes develop a habit of pushing their tongues against their incisors as a substitute for thumb sucking, which also can cause an overbite.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit VistaDentalMH.Ca.

 

HPV-Associated Oral Cancer

Dentists commonly treat a number of oral pathologies, not just those directly related to the teeth, and one of our most important duties at Vista Dental in Medicine Hat is to assess adults for oral cancer. As a result of years of anti-smoking campaigns, oral cancer fatalities have declined. However, rates of oral cancer associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV) are on the rise, which is why we want our patients to be aware of its risks.

Tobacco-associated oral cancer usually occurs in the front of the mouth and can be scanned for with technology which is standard in most dental offices. But HPV-associated cancer usually occurs further back in the throat, in a region called the oropharynx, giving throat cancer the medical name “oropharyngeal cancer.” Most adults will have an HPV infection at some point in their lives, and the one strain out of hundreds which is known to cause throat cancer cannot be tested for.

Detecting HPV-associated cancer usually requires a tactile examination. This type of cancer is easier to treat and has a higher survival rate than tobacco-associated cancer, but because people think of oral cancer as a smoker’s disease, they often do not know to guard against it. Visit our office if you are suffering from pain or numbness in your throat or the area between your jaw and your ears, as these are common symptoms.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit VistaDentalMH.Ca.

 

What is Gum Grafting?

Vista Dental offers patients solutions for both their teeth and gums, to achieve optimal oral health as well as a stunning smile!  Even if you haven’t had the best oral hygiene habits until now, we can still help correct the negative effects of gum disease with gum grafting.  A gum graft procedure covers exposed teeth and repairs receding gums. 

When plaque builds up at the gum line, the gums stretch and form little pockets around the buildup. These pockets can be cleaned out, but they remain at the gum line and cause the gums to recede.  Receding gums cause teeth to become exposed closer to the root, which causes sensitivity. A gum graft procedure consists of harvesting healthy tissue from the roof of the patient’s mouth and transferring it to the site that needs reinforcement. This gives the deficient gum a replacement and encourages the growth of new material around the graft.

To learn more about gum grafting and all the services we provide, visit VistaDentalMH.Ca for more information. To schedule an appointment at Vista Dental, located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077.

WaterLase Technology

Vista Dental takes pride in offering the best dental technology for our patients. WaterLase is an incredible development in the tools dentists use every day, and also has many benefits for patients.  The WaterLase device uses the combination of laser and water power to replace the traditional drill and scalpel tools.  The WaterLase can be used on both hard and soft tissue, and is so versatile that dentists can complete more work in a single session. 

When used on the gums, the WaterLase causes little to no bleeding and less swelling. The precision that can be achieved by using WaterLase is also important for teeth because the laser can target only decayed tissue without compromising the healthy tooth that remains.  This powerful and precise technology helps dentists achieve great results without causing trauma to the mouth, which results in less pain and recovery time.  Using WaterLase means less anesthetic shots for the patient and can even eliminate the need for anesthetic in some cases.  Patients who experience anxiety at dental appointments should also try this less invasive and virtually painless method.

To learn more about WaterLase and all the technology we use, visit VistaDentalMH.Ca for more information. To schedule an appointment at Vista Dental, located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077.

Inlays and Onlays

We provide a full range of prosthodontics at Vista Dental, from implants and full dentures down to partial crowns. When patients’ molars or premolars have suffered damage to the chewing surface, a partial crown can get them eating and smiling again.

The raised, pointy bits of teeth are called cusps. In the chewing teeth, they are separated by indentations. Partial crowns are divided into inlays and onlays, which are distinguished simply by how much of the tooth surface they replace. Inlays cover damaged indentations, while onlays replace damaged cusps.

One of our doctors will remove the decayed or damaged portion of the tooth before scanning the patient’s mouth or making an impression to be used as the basis for the artificial crown. The inlay or onlay will be milled from porcelain, which is the same color as natural bone and resistant to decay. Our office’s CEREC machine can have the partial crown done in less than an hour, and it can be cemented in once it’s complete. Patients should maintain their oral hygiene to keep their new tooth part in good condition.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit VistaDentalMH.Ca.

Teething Safety

Vista Dental provides dental care to families and people of all ages. We want parents of young children to know how to provide the best care possible for their babies by educating them about teething.

Babies usually begin teething when they are about six months old. This is likely to make them fussy. To provide them with pain relief, there are a number of toys on the market, many of which can be cooled in the refrigerator. However, it is important that parents understand that “cooled” or “chilled” does not mean “frozen.” The temperature of teething rings, especially, should not be lowered to an extreme temperature to avoid damaging a baby’s skin or gums. Washcloths, on the other hand, are safe to freeze. Some parents also provide their children with cooled metal or wooden spoons.

Popsicles and other frozen treats are also popular remedies, but they present a choking hazard. To mitigate this, they can be placed in mesh nets which babies may suck moisture through. Parents should bring their children to the dentist as soon as their first tooth starts emerging so we can teach them how to brush it.

Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit VistaDentalMH.Ca.

Preventive Dentistry

If you don’t take care of your teeth and properly maintain your oral health, you may find yourself spending thousands of dollars in restorative dental care down the line. Although we love to see you here at Vista Dental, we want to help save you money and assist you in keeping your permanent teeth for life. When the dental team and the patient work together, this can help to prevent the need for invasive treatment in the future.

Preventive dentistry emphasizes the importance of ongoing hygiene procedures and daily practices to prevent tooth decay and other dental diseases and conditions. Effective preventive dentistry combines at-home oral care by patients with chairside treatments and counseling by dental professionals. The American Dental Association recommends a minimum of two dental checkups each year for professional cleaning and management of any developing conditions. Obeying this recommendation can help our doctors stop a dental disease in the earliest stages, protecting your smile and your wallet.

Considering that oral health is linked to overall health, preventive dentistry is important for the sake of your overall wellbeing. To learn about services we provide at the practice, visit www.vistadentalmh.ca for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Vista Dental located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1B 4Y2, Canada, call 403-548-7077.