Root Canal

When the pulp of a tooth becomes infected or dies, root canal therapy is necessary to save the tooth. It is generally a comfortable treatment that can save your tooth and keep your mouth healthy.

Why would I need this procedure?

A Root-Canal (Endodontic) treatment is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, a blow to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

Symptoms of Infection

• The tooth is sensitive to hot or cold
• The tooth hurts when biting or pressure
• There is a throbbing, severe tooth pain
• The area is swollen
• You have a bad taste in your mouth

Sometimes, there are no obvious or noticeable symptoms to let you know there is a problem! Only regular dental visits and digital x-rays as well as the expert eye of the dentist can reveal the underlying trauma.

How does this procedure save my tooth?

We first remove the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the tooth, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, we will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

Will I feel pain during or after the procedure?

Many endodontic procedures are performed to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern techniques and anesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure.

For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow your dentists instructions carefully.

Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatments is completed. However, as with any dental treatment if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, call our office!

If you desire to improve your smile and potentially
your quality of life then contact us today at 403.262.3826!

Dentures

What are Dentures?

Dentures (also known as false teeth) are prosthetic teeth worn by those who have lost their natural teeth through injury or illness. There are many different types of dentures designed to address a variety of dental situations. Dentures may be removable or implanted, and they may replace teeth on the lower mandibular arch or the upper maxillary arch.

Those who have lost their teeth find both functional and aesthetic benefits from dentures. Well-made dentures allow the wearer to enjoy all kinds of food, whereas missing teeth or poor dentures significantly restrict chewing ability. Dentures also support the lips and cheeks, improving the appearance of a patient who has lost his or her natural teeth.

Dentures are custom designed to fit each patient's mouth, and skill and patience are required to create an effective pair. Poorly made dentures can cause significant discomfort and erode the gums and bones of the jaw, leading to greater dental problems. A combination of implants and removable pieces are often the best option. Additionally, dentures help strengthen muscles controlling your expressions that require the support of your teeth, rid you of pronunciation problems caused by missing teeth and aid with chewing.

Who is a candidate for dentures?

If you've lost, or are losing, all of your teeth a Complete Denture is something to discuss with your Tower Smiles Dentist. If some of your teeth remain and are healthy, a partial denture may be your way to a great smile.

This procedure should be thoroughly discussed with your dentist as there are several personal and medical factors to take into consideration. You may instead be a candidate for dental bridges and dental implants as optional procedures.

If you desire to improve your smile and potentially
your quality of life then contact us today at 403.262.3826!

Dental Implants

Dental Implants are small, titanium, screw-shaped threaded cylinders that are placed into the bone in the upper (Maxillary) and/or lower (Mandibular) arches of the mouth. They are used to replace one or many missing teeth, or to stabilize dentures. Titanium is an inert metal that is capable of creating a very tight bond with bone. Titanium is used in other operations such as knee or hip replacements -- so it is a proven surgical component.

The implant acts like the root of a natural tooth, and bone actually forms around a special coating on the implant to hold the implant firmly in place. This process is referred to as osseointegration. A crown, with the look, feel, and function of a natural tooth is then affixed to an abutment which is connected to the implant. The 'abutment' is simply a small connecting piece between the implant and the crown.

In cases where there are multiple missing teeth, or where the patient has previously had dentures, multiple implants are placed in the mouth to allow for implant-supported crowns or bridges, ball abutment retained overdentures, and/or bar-supported overdentures.

The success rate for dental implants is very high; and, with proper care, good dental hygiene, and a healthy life style, it is rare that implants will fail. Over the past 30 years, hundreds of thousands of implants have been placed. Many of the 'original' implants are still functioning without problems. Technology and procedures have advanced significantly since the first implants were placed. The success rate is now in the 95%+ range. Some reasons for failed implants can be attributed to an unhealthy lifestyle (smoking), or to poor dental hygiene.

What are the benefits of Dental Implants?

• There is a significant improvement in the overall quality of life for patients who have implant-supported or retained dentures, as opposed to standard or conventional (free-floating) dentures.
• Implants maintain, or realign, facial structure and profile, and preserve bone.
• Dental Implants are easy to clean, and do not decay.
• Implants help to preserve adjacent natural teeth. With an implant-supported bridge, there is no need to stress or traumatize adjacent natural teeth in order to hold the bridge in place. Traditional removable partial dentures also place stress forces on the remaining natural teeth.
• Implant-supported crowns and bridges have a longer functioning life than conventional crowns and bridges placed over natural tooth structure.
• Implants help to prevent the appearance of premature aging due to bone loss. Osteoporosis can accelerate bone loss with patients using standard or conventional dentures.
• Patients who wear conventional full dentures often experience difficulty eating, speaking and smiling. Implant-supported dentures virtually eliminate embarrassing denture slippage. The implants 'anchor' the dentures.
• Implants are cost effective when taking into account the functioning life of the implant.

If you desire to improve your smile and potentially
your quality of life then contact us today at 403.262.3826!

Tooth Colored Fillings

At Tower Smiles we are pleased to offer our clients an alternative to traditional Mercury Amalgam fillings and a more affordable option to Ceramic Restorations. Many of our clients find that these fillings are esthetically pleasing (as they are tooth colored) and this makes them a compelling choice to other restorations options.

So with the decline in the use of amalgams by dentists, over 70% over the fillings created today are composed of resin or synthetic composite materials. Composite fillings are made up of acrylic and glass particles, and contain no mercury or other metals. The filling material is white or matched to the colour of your teeth and has a very natural appearance. However, it should be noted that these types of fillings, while improving strength because they are fused or bonded to the tooth, are only a short-term solution for larger fills, with a life of around two years.

How is a composite filling placed?
Following preparation, we place the composite in layers; using a light that specializes in hardening each layer. When the process is finished, we shape the composite to the tooth. Then we will polish the composite to prevent staining and early wear.

What is the cost for tooth filling with composite material?
Prices vary, but composites average about one-and-a-half times the price of a silver filling. Most dental insurance plans cover the cost of the composite up to the molar teeth. They pay up to the price of a silver filling on the molar teeth, with the patient paying the difference.

What are the benefits of composite fillings?
Esthetics are the main benefit, since dentists can blend shades to create a color nearly identical to that of the actual tooth. Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure, which helps to prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes.

What are the disadvantages?
After receiving a composite, a patient may experience minor post-operative sensitivity. If this happens, the sensitivity usually dissipates within a few weeks.

How long will a composite tooth filling last?
Studies have shown that composites last 7-10 years.

Some of the benefits to "Composites" are:

• Composite filling material bonds directly to the tooth structure. Because of this, we have to remove far less tooth than we would have to if we were to do an amalgam filling. This reduces the risk of tooth fractures, and root canals as the patient ages.
• Amalgam filling material is not considered the optimum choice by most dentists.
• Amalgam fillings expand over time. This leads to a weakening of the tooth structure, and can cause fractures.
• Composite fillings, however, support the tooth structure and thereby strengthen the tooth. Composite fillings are not only cosmetically far superior, but, as mentioned above, their "wear rate" is the same as amalgam fillings.

If you desire to improve your smile and potentially
your quality of life then contact us today at 403.262.3826!

Snoring Solutions (MPowerRX)

The MPowRx™ Snoring Solution was developed by a dentist/medical researcher specializing in the use of oral devices for sleep disordered breathing and working with a team of sleep experts. The inventor was seeking a comfortable appliance that would be inexpensive for patients who suffered from snoring or mild OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea). In such cases, expensive devices that must be custom fitted by a dentist may not be necessary. The inventor designed an appliance  that would accomplish the task of pulling the tongue forward slightly with minimal intrusiveness.

The MPowRx™ Snoring Solution is a simple one-piece appliance  to prevent snoring which can be comfortably retained within the mouth while the patient is sleeping. It is formed in one step from moldable sheet resin material, fits between the lips and teeth and has an aperture with a protrusion for holding the tongue. Once the protrusion is squeezed to reduce the air volume, a vacuum is formed which keeps the tongue comfortably retained within the protrusion. Retention of the tongue helps keep the upper respiratory air passages open, improving nighttime breathing and relieving snoring in a large number of patients.

If you desire to improve your smile and potentially
your quality of life then contact us today at 403.262.3826!