General and Family Dentistry

The oral system consists of the teeth, gums, jawbones, muscles and temporomandibular joints.

Oral examination and cleaning involves checking all these structures to ensure that there is no disease of the hard tissue (teeth and bones) or soft tissue (gums, mucous membranes, tongue). Also, some diseases, such as diabetes, show symptoms in the mouth.

The dentist will establish a diagnosis that will make it possible to prepare the best available treatment plan for you.

In addition to protecting against dental injuries, it also reduces the risk of concussion, jaw and tooth fractures, as well as injuries to the neck and mucous membranes of the mouth. In short, it keeps your smile healthy.

If someone in your household clenches or grinds their teeth, either during the day or at night, they could be suffering from bruxism. This is a condition that should not be taken lightly.

Repeated teeth grinding leads to premature wear of the teeth, often causes jaw pain, and can sometimes lead to migraines. In severe cases of bruxism, we can observe cracking in the jaw joints, neck and shoulder pain, a feeling of congestion in the ears or difficulty in opening the mouth.

A bite plate (occlusal plate) is an effective solution for reducing the negative effects of bruxism. Made from a precise impression of your teeth, it is worn mainly at night, and sometimes during the day, if necessary.

A bite plate helps :

• Partially absorb teeth grinding and clenching;
• Relax jaw muscles, reducing tension;
• Relieve jaw joints and reduce pain;
• Limit the deterioration of teeth and bone structures;
• Reduce snoring in certain cases.

A bite plate helps to reduce the effects of clenching and grinding, but at the same time we help you to work on the causes, such as stress, poor nutrition or postural problems.

Tooth decay is a common condition caused by the presence of bacteria in dental plaque. The sugars in plaque are converted by bacteria into acids that demineralize teeth and can lead to tooth loss. However, many of these problems can be avoided through prevention, and cavities that are detected early can be effectively treated by dentists.

Symptoms of tooth decay

At first, tooth decay may present no symptoms, but if it progresses, it can cause :

• Tooth pain;
• Sensitivity to cold and/or heat, and even pressure;
• Bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth.

Treatment of tooth decay

Treating tooth decay treatment involves removing the damaged part of the tooth, then restoring it with suitable solutions, such as:

• Composite resin fillings;
• Ceramic inlays.

Root canal treatment involves the removal of blood vessels and nerves from the dental pulp to devitalize the tooth following irreversible inflammation or infection. Once the cavity has been drained and cleaned, it is filled with a special material. Although the tooth is no longer alive after this treatment, it can be preserved and continue to function normally.

Periodontal disease is a condition that affects the tissues that support the teeth, such as the gums and bone. Although good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist can help prevent it, it can affect anyone.

Here are some simple tips to avoid gum disease:

• Carry out preventive cleanings and annual check-ups;
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day;
• Floss daily;
• Adopt a healthy diet and avoid smoking, as tobacco is a major risk factor for oral disease.

The two most common forms of periodontal disease are gingivitis, which affects the gums, and periodontitis, which also affects the supporting bone of the teeth.

Crowns

A prosthetic crown is generally recommended by the dentist when the tooth has lost much of its natural structure and cannot be permanently restored with other materials without risk of fracture.

Like a hat covering the tooth, the crown protects the tooth and restores its strength. Laboratory-made crowns are often made of ceramic, a strong and durable material that provides excellent protection for the tooth while mimicking its natural appearance. As a result, crowns are often used to enhance the aesthetics of a smile.

After removing decay and preparing the tooth to receive the crown, the dentist takes an impression that is sent to the laboratory for fabrication. Once the crown is made, it is cemented onto the tooth or attached to a dental implant if the tooth is missing.

Crowns may be necessary in the following cases:

• Cracked tooth ;
• Significant destruction of the tooth surface;
• After root canal treatment.

Bridges

A dental bridge consists of two parts: the abutments and the pontic. The abutments, located on either side of the gap to be filled, support the pontic, which replaces the missing tooth or teeth. The bridge can also be attached to dental implants.

A bridge replaces a missing tooth and is attached to the adjacent teeth, helping to prevent dental problems that can occur after tooth loss, such as:

• Extrusion of the opposite tooth, a phenomenon known as “super eruption”;
• Chewing difficulties;
• Tooth displacement, which can lead to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders;
• More difficult oral hygiene, increasing the risk of periodontal disease.

Complete removable dentures

Full dentures replace all the natural teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw. They are held in place by a very fine fit and suction exerted by the mouth.

There are several steps involved in making a full denture. First, a preliminary wax-up is made from impressions and precise measurements to ensure that the shape and colour of the teeth match your face.

Once you and your denturist are satisfied with the results, the final version of the denture is made in acrylic. The dentist will then place the new teeth in your mouth. Finally, several follow-up appointments are necessary to adjust the denture and ensure optimal comfort.

Wisdom teeth are the third molars in the back of the mouth. They usually appear in early adulthood and often do not have enough room to grow properly. As a result, they often remain partially covered by gum tissue, do not emerge fully, or are poorly positioned, making them difficult to maintain.

There may not be enough space for wisdom teeth to develop properly.

What is an impacted wisdom tooth?

An impacted wisdom tooth is one that remains trapped under the gum tissue. This means it cannot emerge, either because of a lack of space, or because of a poor developmental position.

Why remove wisdom teeth?

The main reasons for removing an impacted wisdom tooth are as follows:

• When wisdom teeth cannot emerge properly due to lack of space, which can cause pain.
• When they are partially erupted and decayed because their position makes proper cleaning difficult.
• When they cause hygiene problems without being of any real use.
• If a wisdom tooth begins to “sink in” when the opposite tooth is missing, which can cause misalignment.
• If they are painful.

A frenectomy is a minor procedure performed by a dentist under local anesthesia. The labial or lingual frenulum is cut out of the mouth. The procedure is used to correct speech problems, malocclusion, or gum loosening caused by the position of the frenulum. The labial frenulum connects the lips to the jawbone, while the lingual frenulum connects the tongue to the jawbone. Post-operative pain is generally mild, allowing the patient to resume normal activities as soon as possible.

If gingival recession requires correction, gum grafting can be performed. The tissue used can be obtained from a tissue bank. This material, called Alloderm, has been rigorously treated to reduce the risk of rejection and disease transmission.

Using technologies derived from the treatment of burn victims, these tissues have been modified for periodontal applications. Recovery after the procedure is rapid and discomfort is reduced because there is no need to remove tissue from the palate.