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What Is the Cause of My TMJ Disorder? | Ottawa Dentist

Sleep is a very important component to our daily lives. If it’s good, we have a productive day and a healthy start to the day. If it’s bad, not only is your disposition affected, but your health may begin to feel the effects.

That said, do you find that you are experiencing jaw pain lately? Do you wake up with a tense jaw or a headache? When your teeth are misaligned, it causes the jaw muscles to apply extra pressure to compensate for the poor alignment of your teeth, or a “bad bite.” This extra pressure increases stress on the surface of the teeth and will eventually lead to cracks, chips and jaw pain. Jaw pain results from a muscle strain placed where the upper and lower jaw meet, called the temporomandibular joint. When pain occurs, it is called TMJ disorder.

TMJ disorders are problems with the muscles or joints in your jaw. When left untreated, TMJ can lead to headaches, ear pain, bite problems, jaw pain and much more. There are several conditions that can end up causing TMJ, and you may be surprised that some are bad habits you picked up.

  • Bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching. Sufferers of bruxism often wake up with jaw or ear pain due to wear on the jaw’s cartilage lining.
  • Gum chewing or nail biting
  • Malocclusion, or the misalignment of teeth. Some find it hard to chew on a certain side, so they habitually chew on the other side causing excess stress.
  • Previous jaw fractures or injury

If you feel that you have developed any of these symptoms, contact a dental professional for an examination. They will evaluate your symptoms and help provide treatment to alleviate your pain.

For more information about TMJ disorder, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Back on the Grind with Your Smile | Ottawa Dentist

For many of us, grinding our teeth is a common habit we have during certain times of stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, grinding your teeth can begin to cause issues with your dental health. After all, dental wear on tear is very similar to a car’s tires. They don’t last forever if you don’t look after them. Bruxism is the excessive grinding of the teeth and/or excessive clenching of the jaw, generally while you sleep.

The problem is that many people don’t know they are grinding their teeth because they are sleeping. However, a dull, constant headache or sore jaw is a telltale symptom of bruxism. But many times, people learn that they grind their teeth by their loved one who hears the grinding at night. You dentist can also examine your jaw and abnormalities with your teeth.

So, why grinding your teeth harmful? In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in a fracturing, loosening, or loss of teeth. The chronic grinding may wear their teeth down to stumps. When these events happen, bridges, crowns, root canals, implants, partial dentures, and even complete dentures may be needed.

Not only can severe grinding damage teeth and result in tooth loss, it can also affect your jaws, result in hearing loss, cause or worsen TMD/TMJ, and even change the appearance of your face.

Don’t worry – there are ways to remedy your bruxism. For some, all it takes is a mouth guard while your sleep. For others, it may be fixed with meditation or a new sleep routine. If you have symptoms of bruxism, or if you are told that you grind your teeth while you sleep, contact your dental professional for a consultation.

For more information about bruxism, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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What to Know About a Smile Makeover | Ottawa Dentist

They say that first impressions are most important, and for many of these impressions, it begins with a smile. However, like most people, you’ve likely dreamt of having a better-looking smile – one that is straighter, and preferably, whiter. A smile that brightens a room!

So, how do we get this elusive Hollywood smile? It’s known as a smile makeover.

A smile makeover is a process whose main goal is to improve the appearance of the smile through a combination of various cosmetic dentistry treatments or procedures. The list of treatments includes, but are not limited to, dental veneers, composite bonding, tooth implants and teeth whitening. More than being a cosmetic procedure, though, a smile makeover carries a lot of functional and health benefits as well.

For example, those with malocclusions may find it hard to brush and floss their teeth, making them prone to tooth decay and gum disease. Correcting malocclusions through orthodontics can help solve that problem, as well as the other possible complications that come with malocclusion, such as speech impediments, accidental chipping and so on.

Cosmetic dental treatments alone are expensive enough, which makes it safe to say that a series of such treatments is bound to cost a lot – something that happens in a smile makeover. In fact, it would not come off as a surprise for patients to spend well over thousands of dollars just to get the smile they’ve always wanted.

Yes, a smile makeover is expensive, but as long as you see your smile as something that you’ll own and wear for the rest of your life, it should be easier for you to decide whether it is a worthy investment or not.

For more information about smile makeovers, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Why You Should Get Your Teeth Cleaned Regularly | Ottawa Dentist

Do you visit the dentist twice a year for a checkup and cleaning? Are you dodging the dentist all the time? If you knew just what is going on inside your mouth, keeping your appointments would be a necessity. Sure, we have a great dental hygiene routine, but that isn’t enough. Here are five reasons to reconsider evading the dentist’s chair:

Oral cancer prevention. Or, at the very least, early detection. Just like any form of cancer, your survival rate increases dramatically the sooner it is diagnosed. If you frequently drink alcohol or smoke tobacco, then it’s even more important to have your mouth checked every six months for signs of oral cancer.

Dental infections. Healthy mouths do not and never will bleed when flossing or brushing. Bleeding teeth and gums are one of the earliest signs of gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss and other complications if not treated early.

No more bad breath. If you find that your breath stinks regularly, sometimes to the point that it affects your sense of taste, that’s a telltale sign of an oral infection, something that only your dentist can treat.

Lowered risk for dental problems. Although dentists recommend paying them a visit every six months to lower one’s risk for dental problems, some people actually need to have their teeth cleaned much more often.

Keeping your teeth white and healthy. The first thing we notice upon meeting someone new is their smile. By visiting the dentist regularly, you can keep your teeth looking shiny and healthy, allowing you to smile freely without being self-conscious, giving your self-esteem, and your day-to-day life, a much-needed boost.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Katia Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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A New Parent’s Guide to Pediatric Dental Hygiene | Ottawa Dentist

Many parents believe that the best time to establish good dental hygiene habits is right when their child’s first tooth appears. In actuality, the best time to start taking care of your child’s teeth is the moment that your child is born. Because even without teeth, bacteria can and will build up. And as more teeth come in, and fall out to make room for permanent ones, the dental hygiene routine will change. Here is a quick rundown of ways to care for your tiny human’s teeth from birth to the first dental visit:

After each feeding, wipe your baby’s gums with a soft damp cloth to remove excess milk and bacteria. Once your child’s teeth develop and break through the gums, it’s time to start brushing twice a day. Very similar to the way we brush our teeth but use a soft children’s toothbrush and baby toothpaste until they reach preschool-age, when the amount of toothpaste increases to the size of a pea. Little humans have a tendency to swallow the toothpaste, instead of spitting it out.

As they begin to eat, realize that they are going to love anything with sugar, so try to keep their favorites to something special. And since good habits start at home, start teaching your family good dental hygiene habits.

When it comes to baby’s first dental visit, parents should take their children as soon as their first tooth pops out, but no longer than the child’s first birthday. Doing this makes it easier for the dentist to look for any early signs and symptoms of problems with the child’s teeth and teach you important information about your child’s diet, the use of the right bottles, brushing, etc.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Katia Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Keeping Your Smile as Bright as Possible Between Whitening Treatments | Ottawa Dentist

Do you find that your teeth continue to yellow, despite all of your daily hygienic efforts? You are not alone. There are millions of people suffering from the same problem. And it has nothing to do with your dental habits. This happens because the outer layers of your teeth get stained over the years by consumption of beverages with caffeine, soda, wine and smoking. When these outside sources of staining are left to sit on the teeth all day until your next brushing, the dentin on your teeth becomes yellowish or darkened. The best way to help your stained discolored teeth is professional tooth whitening.

There are some of the various ways our teeth begin to get a yellow tinge. If you find that yours are caused by medications, address this with your physician. But many lifestyle habits we have are causes to stain our teeth over time:

  • Caffeine
  • Discoloration due to a health condition
  • Excessive exposure to fluoride as a child
  • Internal bleeding due to trauma
  • Natural aging- as time goes by enamel gets thinner and thinner and will get a yellowish hue
  • Smoking
  • Soda
  • Tetracycline based antibiotics used before the age of 8 years old
  • Wine

It is best to consult your dental professional for advice on keeping your teeth white, especially after a professional whitening treatment. After all, you want your bright smile to last as long as possible. Here are some simple rules to live by to try and slow the yellowing process:

  • Visit your dentist regularly for teeth cleanings
  • Rinse your mouth out with water several times throughout the day
  • Use toothpaste with whitening agents

For more information about teeth whitening, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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What Is a Cosmetic Dentist? | Ottawa Dentist

When you hear the word cosmetic dentist, what do you think differentiates them from a general dentist? What makes them different, in particular, is just how they pay attention to the maintenance and improvement of the natural beauty of the smile of their patients.

Say you need a filling – a general dentist may recommend a metal composite restoration method because it’s been around for centuries already. However, most cosmetic dentists disagree with this.

For cosmetic dentists, porcelain is their material of choice when it comes to repairing any type of damage to their patient’s teeth because they’re malleable, easy to use, safe and most important of all, aesthetically pleasing.

Cosmetic dentists, unlike general dentists, make it their job to protect both the structural integrity and aesthetics of their patient’s smile. And, while elective, there are many cases where the treatments offered by cosmetic dentists provide much better restorative benefits compared to conventional methods, such as:

Correction of physical flaws. The procedures preferred by cosmetic dentists can help conceal, as well as correct plenty of dental problems, from misshapen teeth, chips, cracks, unsightly gaps and stains, and so on.

Improved self-esteem. Many agree that the one thing that stops you from smiling is a flawed smile. Cosmetic dentists can help fix that for you so that you can smile away all you want and be prouder of the way you look, giving your self-esteem a much-needed boost.

Future damage prevention. While most of the procedures are designed to help make teeth look beautiful, they can also affect it positively in other ways. Bonding can help improve the structural integrity of the teeth. By covering up hairline fractures or worn edges will not only improve their appearance but prevent further damage.

For more information about cosmetic dentistry procedures, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Do You Need a Cosmetic Dental Procedure? | Ottawa Dentist

On the quest for the ideal smile, there are many paths to take. Because smiles are like snowflakes – no two smiles are alike. This is how we know that your perfect smile is attainable, it may just take some time. So, if you are ready to take the next step towards a pristine pucker, it’s time to visit your dental professional to discuss a treatment plan. Here are some of the more common procedures:

  • Composite white fillings repair cavities without having silver filling in the mouth. Existing metal fillings can be replaced with modern white resin.
  • Bonding uses composite resin to help change the size, shape, or color of teeth. Because it attaches to teeth in the same way that composite fillings attach, bonding can be used to fix chips on visible front teeth.
  • Teeth that are discolored or stained can be whitened – either in the office or using take-home trays.
  • Veneers – a thin layer of porcelain on top of the tooth – can be used to change tooth shape, size, or color
  • Crowns can be used as a cap on top of teeth damaged by cracks or decay
  • Orthodontics – either traditional or Invisalign – can be used to permanently straighten teeth.
  • Gum tissue can be surgically altered – either added via grafts to help with recession, or removed to create a more appealing tooth length
  • For missing, broken, or severely damaged teeth, full implants can be used to provide a replacement tooth

Because modern dentists have implants as a final catchall, virtually any problem – even major problems involving multiple missing teeth – can be solved given enough time and room in the patient’s budget. However, your dentist will be able to guide you through the process by explaining the procedure’s pros and cons.

For more information about cosmetic dentistry procedures, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Autumn’s Seasonal Hero Can Help Your Smile | Ottawa Dentist

Tonight, little humans all over Canada will set out around their neighborhoods looking for a bag full of sweet treats in exchange for a pledge not to trick. It’s a fair trade for most of these tiny ghosts and goblins. As parents, we need to take this time to not only instill good dental habits, but to teach moderation when it comes to things like Halloween candy.

We all know that not all candy is the same. Some are chewy, others crunchy – some have a fruit flavor while others are made of chocolate. It doesn’t matter the preference, candy is a certain treat that needs to be handled in moderation, or it will lead to cavities and other health issues.

One way to do this is by introducing another staple of the autumn season – apples. We bob for them at Halloween parties, snack on them covered in caramel and indulge in pies filled with them. But more than that, apples are really good for our smiles.

It’s true – this crispy fruit is fantastic for producing saliva, which is our natural way of keeping our mouths clean and bacteria free. Additionally, the fibers within the apple play an added role in cleaning our teeth in a way similar to a toothbrush. Now, it’s not a substitute… Apples are a healthy snack but shouldn’t replace your daily dental hygiene routine. These are just natural ways that you can improve your smile while enjoying a tasty treat.

So, while you are teaching your little ones about brushing their teeth after snacking on Halloween candy, why not switch up the seasonal snack with an apple from time to time?

For more information about smile-friendly ways to celebrate Halloween, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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When It’s Time for a Dental Visit | Ottawa Dentist

We all know that regular dental visits are necessary in order to keep our smiles as healthy as possible. It’s important that we keep up with our daily dental hygiene routines to keep our smiles healthy, but a dental professional can detect future dental issues we can’t see. But what exactly should one expect from a dental checkup? Let’s give you a quick breakdown:

The first thing most dentists will do when for a patient’s first visit is conduct x-rays. The x-rays not only provide a current glimpse at the state of the patient’s oral health, but they offer a glimpse at the patient’s dental history. Fillings, crowns, bridges and implants will be plainly visible, as well as any existing problems such as untreated decay.

As the dentist reviews the x-rays, it’s likely that the dentist will discuss your dental history – what problems has the patient had? What prompted the visit? What concerns does the patient have?

Based on the result of the x-rays, it’s likely that the dentist will determine certain teeth need attention (perhaps a cavity needs to be filled), or that a general professional cleaning is needed, or perhaps that the patient is generally in good oral health. Depending on the time allotted for the visit, the dentist may be able to address his recommendations at that time or ask that the patient make a follow-up appointment.

And that’s it – simple procedures in order to get your smile the healthiest it can be. If you’re still unsure, or if you have any questions, call the dentist’s office – they’ll be more than happy to walk you through the plans, and give you more details about what to expect on your first visit.

For more information about dental checkups, call Dr. Pliev in Ottawa, ON at 613-235-5348 or visit www.ottawadentistryonkent.com.

Dr. Konstantin Pliev proudly serve patients from Ottawa and all surrounding areas.