More people go to their dentists looking for ways to make their teeth look whiter. It’s not hard to understand why there’s this greater emphasis on whitening products and procedures for the teeth. After all, every day, we’re bombarded by images of people who have perfectly white teeth. You see these in the movies, on television, in magazines and online. Usually, when there’s a photo of a smiling person somewhat, that model or actor is going to have pearly white teeth.

So there’s this greater expectation from people that they too should have a set of white teeth. However, the reality can be very far from that, which is why there is such a demand for teeth whitening. After all, the different kinds of food and drink that we consume may result in stains or discoloration of the teeth. Coffee is one example of such a drink, but there are many others. Other habits and activities can also result in less than perfect looking teeth. Smoking can cause teeth to be discoloured, for instance.

Since there are many people who would like to have whiter teeth, companies and dentists together work to bring whitening products and procedures to the people who need them. This is something that many people can appreciate. It means that even if a person has ended up with stained or discoloured teeth over time, it’s usually not too late to achieve a whiter smile.

If whitening is something that you are interested in, we will take an impression to make a bleaching tray customized for your teeth with a take-home bleaching kit. This customized bleaching tray is important so that the bleaching agent will only affect your teeth, and minimize contact with the surrounding soft tissue such as your gums.

A sports mouthguard is a dental appliance used to help lower the risk of oral injuries during physical activities, such as contact sports. Accidents can happen when participating in any athletic activity. Without the use of a mouth guard, injuries that could occur include chipped or broken teeth, damage to the root of the tooth, broken crowns, fractured jaws, and concussion. For this reason, any athlete- adults and children alike- should be fitted for a mouthguard.

There are many different options available such as stock mouth guards and the boil-and-bite variety of mouthguard, which can be purchased at your local sports store. However, the safest and most effective option is a custom-fitted mouthguard which can be made by our dental professional at Rymal Square. With custom-fitted mouth guards, our dental professional makes an impression of your teeth and uses the impression as a mould to create the custom-fitted mouthguard. This allows for the mouth guard to cover all the teeth and stay firmly in place, offering maximum protection against injury.

Periodontics is the facet of dentistry which encompasses the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of periodontitis and gingivitis.

Regular hygiene visits are important to prevent gum disease and maintain good oral and overall health! Aside from checking for cavities, maintaining extensive and often expensive dental work, maintaining fresh breath and healthy gums, there are many other compelling reasons to visit our hygienist.

You may have heard the recent reports in the media linking gum disease to stroke, heart attack, diabetes, respiratory disease and premature birth. If you think you are exempt from gum disease and you have no worries, think again. It is often referred to as the silent killer of your teeth because it causes no pain until it reaches its most destructive phases. It can, however, be detected and treated in its early stages by our dental team.

Signs of gum disease include red, swollen or tender gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing, loose teeth and chronic bad breath. While patients are advised to check for the warning signs, there might not be any discomfort until the disease has spread to a point where the teeth cannot be saved. Regular dental exams are imperative to detect gum disease early thereby improving the overall outcome of treatment.

Removing plaque through daily brushing, flossing and professional cleaning is the best way to minimize your risk. Our staff at Rymal Square can design a personalized program of in-office and at-home care to meet your needs.

Contact our office today at 905.387.5000!

When more than half of the tooth’s biting surface is damaged, we may use an inlay or onlay. Inlays and Onlays can be made of porcelain, gold, or composite resin.

The inlay or onlay pieces are bonded to the damaged area of the tooth. An inlay, which is similar to a filling, is used inside the cusp tips of the tooth. An onlay is a more substantial reconstruction, similar to the inlay but extending out over one or more of the cusps of the tooth.

Porcelain is the material of choice due to its colour and strength, which matches the natural colour of your teeth.

Traditional fillings can reduce the strength of a natural tooth by up to 50 percent. Inlays and onlays are bonded directly to the tooth using special high-strength resins can actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75 percent. As a result, they can potentially last from 10 to 30 years. In some cases, where the damage to the tooth is not extensive enough to merit an entire crown, onlays can provide a very good alternative.

Exposure of tooth roots is the result of gum recession. Gum graft surgery will repair the recession and help to prevent additional gum and bone loss.

Gum grafts are used to cover tooth roots or develop gum tissue where absent, due to excessive gingival recession. During gum graft surgery, our dentist takes gum tissue from your palate or another source to cover the exposed tooth root. This can be done for one tooth or several teeth to even out your gum line and reduce sensitivity.

A gum graft can reduce and inhibit further recession and bone loss. In some cases, it can cover exposed roots to protect them from decay. This may reduce tooth sensitivity and improve the esthetic of your smile. Whether you have a gum graft to improve function or esthetics, patients often receive the benefits of both: a beautiful new smile and improved gingival health – your keys to smiling, eating and speaking with comfort and confidence.

Rymal Square Family Dentists is a comprehensive dental practice that cares for patients of all ages.

The whole family is welcome.

One of our goals is providing quality care in a comfortable and professional environment making every member of your family feel welcome and at home. Our convenient location makes us accessible to the whole family.

We also understand that a child’s first visit can be intimidating and we take a relaxed approach to make children feel comfortable their first time, making future visits less challenging, resulting in a lifetime comfort with dentistry.

If you are looking for a family dentist in Hamilton area, please give us a call today at 905.387.5000.

At Rymal Square Family Dentists, we strive to address your emergency dental needs. While no one needs to be burdened with dental problems, they are a daily fact of life.

Please take a note of the following list below for appropriate management during each dental emergency. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment later on.

Please be sure to contact our office as soon as possible to allow timely management of the emergency.

Symptoms of Dental Emergency: If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should call us immediately.

• Swollen or unusually bumpy gums
• Severe tooth or jaw pain
• Bleeding from the gums
• Facial swelling
• Loose teeth

What is a Dental Emergency?

• Toothaches
• Front tooth knocked out
• Cracked, chipped or fractured tooth
• Broken tooth, lost fillings or lost crown
• Abscessed tooth
• Tissue injury and facial pain (e.g. lacerations, puncture wounds…)
• Infected wisdom teeth
• Conditions like infections or abscesses can be very serious and need to be addressed right away. An abscess may require a root canal, and an infected tooth may need to be pulled. The sooner you come see us, the sooner one of our general dentists can assess your situation and choose the best course of treatment.

Dental implants provide permanent, secure substitutes for lost teeth. With posts made of a biocompatible titanium alloy, dental implants are today’s best alternative to natural teeth. Dental implants can also function as anchors to support traditional dental prosthetics, such as bridges or dentures.

Many of our patients at Rymal Square believe that implants have changed not only their smiles and appearance but also their overall well being! You will once again smile with confidence and enjoy the foods you love after implant treatments. Dental implants offer advantages to other prosthetic options and can enhance your quality of life.

Benefits of dental implants include:

	Maintains jaw bone levels to minimize the appearance of aging
	Does not require the preparation of neighbouring teeth
	Allows for effective chewing and speaking
	Results in a feeling of confidence about your smile
	Provides numerous esthetic solutions
	Dental implants feel and act similarly to your original teeth

A crown often called a cap, is an artificial cover that restores a decayed or damaged tooth to its normal shape and size. It is useful for protecting the structure of a tooth that is cracked or broken. A crown can also be used to change the shape of a tooth, to correct a bite or cosmetic problem, or to replace existing broken or poorly-fitting crowns. A crown may be made of gold and other metals, porcelain, or a combination of the two.

There are many situations that may call for a crown:

	Large old fillings – When large old fillings break down or develop decay, the tooth often needs to be crowned. It is important to crown a tooth that has been structurally weakened to prevent further damage such as cracking or breaking.
	Cracked tooth – When a tooth is cracked, a crown is placed over the tooth to hold it together. If the cracked tooth is left untreated, it can become sensitive or will eventually break. It is important to crown a cracked tooth before it breaks as broken teeth are not always repairable.
	Extensive decay – If a tooth has decay so extensive that the tooth structure is weakened, a crown can often allow the tooth to be saved.
	Broken / Fractured tooth – A tooth that has broken may be too weak to hold a filling. A crown will hold the tooth together and prevent it from breaking again.
	Root Canal Therapy – A tooth that has undergone Root Canal Therapy will need a crown to properly seal and protect the tooth.
	Esthetics – Crowns can help to improve your appearance and smile.