If you are one of the many people for whom the dentist is something of a nightmare figure, the chances are good that your perceptions are grounded in fairly old fashioned ideas about dental practice. If you remain scared to visit your local surgery on account of drills and needles, you will be pleased to know that things have changed somewhat.

In the past, dentistry was, by necessity, full of procedures that were uncomfortable to endure. Drills and injections are perhaps the two most feared elements of a spell in the dentist's chair, and both of these are slowly on their way to being replaced.

Today, a high-tech dentist has access to equipment which makes your appointment at the surgery far easier. Laser treatment, for example, is used in soft palette surgery and because it involves no cutting or penetrating, it is completely painless. (more...)

The scope and ability of modern cosmetic to improve your smile is remarkable indeed. Cosmetic dentistry has advanced in terms of both techniques and materials to the point where some would say we can even improve on nature in some cases, providing that Hollywood smile that everyone longs to have. Cosmetic dentistry can replace missing teeth, straighten crooked teeth, enhance the appearance of discoloured, chipped, or otherwise disfigured teeth, and even close gaps between teeth. This cosmetic dentistry guide aims to give you the information you need to be able to discuss usefully with your dentist the types of treatments that might benefit you.

Some of the main cosmetic dental procedures that are now available are: Dental bonding – This uses a special etch technique to securely bond tooth coloured resin fillings on to teeth to enhance their appearance by covering unsightly marks, repair chipped corners, or improve the shape of teeth. The resin material is usually hardened very quickly with a special light source so the treatment is quick, painless, and relatively inexpensive.

Porcelain veneers - these are ultra-thin slivers of porcelain fabricated from models of your teeth to fit them exactly. They are similar in appearance to false fingernails, but thinner, and more sophisticated in their structure. Veneers can incorporate an opaque layer to completely mask a dark coloured tooth and make it look as white as you like! A small amount of tooth enamel is usually removed before a veneer is placed in order that it does not appear too bulky but this is easy and virtually painless so no anaesthetic is normally required. The porcelain veneer is bonded on to the tooth with a light-activated low viscosity resin, and can repair a chipped or broken tooth, close gaps between teeth, or change the shape and colour. Your smile can be transformed with veneers without having to reduce the teeth to small stumps as is necessary with crowns. (more...)

For the first appointment, new patients should see a dentist Richmond Hill Ontario for their diagnostic appointment that should include an extra-oral and intra-oral examination, including an oral cancer screening. Dental x-rays are taken and a diagnosis and treatment plan is usually done.

Few dental patients understand what the dentist Richmond Hill Ontario Ontario is doing during an oral exam, or that the procedure is even occurring. The dentist needs to describe what they are doing and why. The dentist Richmond Hill should explain that he or she is checking the teeth and gums and other soft tissues for any dental disease.

The dentist should ask patients if they would like more details of their dental condition. The dentist needs to explain things clearly, avoiding using technical dental terms. When patients understand what the dentist Richmond Hill Ontario is doing, they are more likely to trust them and more likely to accept the dental treatment options that he or she recommends.