Lakeshore West Dental Office

Our Services

Paediatric Dentistry

Oral care for primary teeth should begin at the onset of the first teeth. Around 5-8 months of age you can begin to use a soft bristle tooth brush to clean your baby’s teeth. We caution the use of fluoridated tooth pastes until the child is able to completely expectorate on their own.  We also strongly recommend that you never put your infant to bed with a bottle of milk, juice or sugar water as it leads to a severe form of dental disease called nursing bottle caries.

Fillings

White fillings or composite resin fillings have become the standard in repairing a cavity. The main advantage to using composite is the tooth is restored to almost the exact strength it was before the cavity. This will in-turn make the tooth less susceptible to chipping and breaking.  Composite resins are esthetically more pleasing.

Root Canal

A root canal procedure is required when the nerve tissue (pulp) is contaminated, or becomes damaged. This allows bacteria to multiply in the pulp chamber which causes an infection or abscessed tooth. This puss filled pocket forms at the end of the tooth root causing discomfort, tingling, sensitivity and even pain. For some patients though, they experience no symptoms. However, if left untreated the infection can enter the blood stream creating serious health complications.  Root Canals are an alternative method in some cases to save a tooth instead of performing extractions.

Extractions

Periodontal disease causes infections that lead to bone loss that will not grow back. Once there is significant bone loss then the tooth cannot be held into place and must be extracted.  If a tooth is decayed beyond repair or compromised by periodontal diseases, then the tooth must be extracted or removed from the mouth.

Hygiene & Preventive Dentistry

Regular dental check-ups are so important and we recommend them at least every six months. Having your check-ups at regular intervals allows your hygienist to keep an accurate record of your oral health. Also, regular check-ups reduce the chances of oral problems becoming large procedures. During your appointment with your hygienist your mouth is checked to see if it is healthy, he/she will look for cavities, measure the bone levels around your teeth, then your restorations will be examined for chips, breaks, or malformation, your bite is tested and finally a complete cleaning.

During your cleaning plaque and tarter are removed from just below your gum line and on the surfaces of your teeth. This is essential to good oral health as tartar and plaque buildup are the main causes of bacterial growth that leads to bone loss and periodontal disease.  Bacteria and toxins are the main cause of bone loss and eventually tooth loss.   The lack of regular hygiene appointments also allows tooth decay to grow. If left untreated it can reach the pulp chamber quickly and lead to root canals.  New studies are showing that poor oral health maybe contributory to the development and exacerbation of other diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and other auto-immune diseases.

Periodontal Non-surgical Gum Treatment

Scaling and root planing done by a dental professional is the main tool used to treat periodontal disease. Chlorhexidine is a part of a professional treatment program which helps treat swelling and bleeding due to gingivitis, an early, reversible stage of gum disease. It can be prescribed by your dentist as a home rinse or used via irrigation during cleaning with your dental professional.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Veneers can dramatically improve your smile to the one you have always wanted!  Veneers are a thin shell of porcelain or plastic that is bonded to the front of a tooth to improve colour and shape.  Veneers can also be used to close gaps in teeth, repair worn ones, improve the colour and increase the length of misshaped teeth.

A crown, also known as a cap is an artificial cover that is placed on a restored tooth that has been structurally, compromised by cavities, large fillings, cracks, or root canal treatment. You can choose from several different types of crowns such as; porcelain fused to metal, full metal, gold, all porcelain, or composite crowns.  Crowns are normally a two appointment procedure.

Cosmetic contouring is a conservative approach to making minor changes in a person’s smile. Sometimes a patient may have a small chip or uneven grooves in their teeth. The dentist simply contours the teeth to make them even while maintaining a natural look. Then the teeth are smoothed and polished to return them to their original lustre.

Visit us to discuss these and many other procedures such as onlays, inlays, bonding, whitening, implants, Bridges or Dentures.

Invisalign (Invisable Braces)

Invisalign is an orthodontic system that was created for those who do not want the look of the traditional “train track” braces.

During invisalign treatment, patients are given a series of aligners (plastic trays) that they must wear 22 hours per day (all of the time except for when eating and brushing your teeth).

These plastic trays are changed every 2 weeks and will gradually move the teeth into the desired position that has been prescribed by Dr. Patel.

Are You an Anxious Patient?

If you are afraid to go to the dentist, laughing gas also know as Nitrous Oxide, can help to relieve dental anxiety, dental fear and phobias.  Nitrous oxide is a gas that has anaesthetic properties; it has no smell and no colour.  You can simply breathe it in through a nasal dental mask.  Nitrous oxide reduces anxiety and gives you a pleasurable feeling.  Some people say it feels kind of like being a “happy drunk”.  Depending on the level of nitrous oxide administrated some people experience an initial feeling of light-headedness, tingling sensations in the arms and legs, followed by warm sensations and a feeling of well-being, euphoria and /or floating can be experienced.  In our office children can have scented nasal masks to breathe in through. These scented nasal masks allow children to breathe in while smelling scents such as cherry, bubble gum and vanilla. This provides them with an overall feeling of calm.  Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective way of relieving anxiety without you requiring assistance to leave the office.