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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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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.

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Getting 3D Images in the Dentist Chair | Ottawa Dentist

When it’s time to visit the dentist for a checkup, the chances are pretty great that you will be getting some x-rays taken. Not only do they help your dentist find any issues that may be happening but can help to foresee any issues that may arise in the future. Unfortunately, traditional x-rays were very uncomfortable to get. There were stiff pieces placed inside your mouth while an assistant snaps your smile’s photo. They were very basic images, but they helped our dental professionals show us what’s going on inside our mouths.

3D ConeBeam Imaging is considered as such a technology that can help dentists do a lot more than ever before. The technology is fast, simple and completely non-invasive. All the patient has to do is sit in the dental chair. The dentist has a computer-generated view of the patient’s face, teeth and other important details from various perspectives. For dental practitioners, access to accurate and complete information is important in planning treatment, making it beneficial for both dental practitioners and patients alike.

With the 3D ConeBeam Imaging system, dentists have a more complete visual guide to study their patient’s case from just about any angle they can think of. Even better is that the scan data is easy to duplicate for storage purposes and to make it easier to send out to different specialists later on. Thanks to the more accurate, high-quality, detailed visual information produced by the imaging system, dentists have all the information they could possibly need to diagnose and plan out the proper course of action.

For more information about 3D ConeBeam imaging, 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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Pediatric Dental Care for New Parents | 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. To prevent this from happening, the routine is simple – wipe your baby’s gums with a soft damp cloth after every feeding. Once your child’s teeth develop and break through the gums, it’s time to start brushing. Do it twice a day. Use a soft children’s toothbrush and minimal to non-fluoride toothpaste. As they reach preschool-age, feel free to start using fluoride toothpaste. But remember – too much fluoride toothpaste can leave permanent stains on the teeth.

We all know kids love sugar – try to keep their favorites as something special, not something expected. But that’s not all; there are other circumstances, like being born with low birth weight or premature, ongoing treatment for any special health care needs, brown areas and white spots on the teeth and infrequent trips to the dentist can all lead to the development of cavities.

To stop this from happening, start teaching your family good dental hygiene habits. Everyone needs to be involved in order to get the habit to stick. Other family members can pass on cavity-causing bacteria to both children and babies, so every family member has to make an effort to take care of their teeth properly.

When it comes to baby’s first dental visit, most dental practitioners agree that parents should take their children in for an appointment as soon as their first tooth pops out, but no longer than the child’s first birthday.

For more information about pediatric dental care, 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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Straightening Things Out Early | Ottawa Dentist

We all want what’s best for our children, especially when it comes to their health. And having a healthy mouth is how to prevent many health issues from arising, because our mouth is our first line of defense against many of our overall health issues. And as new parents, instilling a proper dental hygiene routine is paramount in order to get our children used to the process of keeping up proper dental hygiene throughout their lives. But what if you could also ensure that orthodontic work won’t be an issue as they loose baby teeth and permanent teeth grow in? Now you can – with the Myobrace® System.

There are four advantages to this pre-orthodontic treatment guaranteed to remedy major habits that children may develop as they grow and these habits can lead to various dental issues, including crooked teeth and jaw issues:

  • Breathe through the nose
  • Correct tongue resting position
  • Swallow correctly
  • Keep the lips together

With the Myobrace® System, you can curtail these bad habits by fixing the issue from the very beginning. We’re talking by the age of three. Yes, this treatment option consists of four intra-oral appliances that need to be worn an hour a day, and while sleeping. This series will benefit a different issue: habit correction, arch development, dental alignment and retention. These appliances will train your child’s mouth to correct poor habits that can not only lead to dental issues, but also sleep issues. And with a proper arch development, permanent teeth will have a clear access to come in straight and without issue.

Being a parent is hard work, why not get a head start on some things, like your child’s dental future?

For more information about the Myobrace® System, 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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It Happens in Threes | Ottawa Dentist

We have all heard the phrase “it happens in threes”, and it’s generally never meant for anything nice. We all want to be healthy and safe so that we aren’t considered in the next unfortunate set of three. And one way to ensure that you aren’t involved in the next bad luck trio is to look after your dental health. Because our oral health is very important to our health overall. You may not be aware but according to the Canadian Dental Association, seven out of ten Canadians will develop some form of gum disease in their lifetimes. 70% will have this issue, but only if they are lax on their daily dental duties.

Knowledge is power and this is no different. Gum disease is caused by bacteria found in plaque, the sticky colorless film that forms on your teeth. If this plaque isn’t removed by proper oral hygiene habits, plaque will build up and the bacteria will infect every aspect of your mouth. There are three stages of gum disease and each affect your mouth differently: gingivitis, periodontitis and advanced periodontitis.

Gingivitis. This is the inflammation of your gums and teeth that’s caused by plaque buildup at your gum line. This is the only stage of gum disease that can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue are not yet affected.

Periodontitis. Once periodontitis occurs, the supporting bone and tissues structures are irreversibly damaged. Your gums will start to form pockets below your gum line, which traps plaque and food.

Advanced Periodontitis. This is the final stage of gum disease, where the tissue structures and supporting bones are destroyed, which can cause you teeth to shift and loosen, affecting your bite.

For more information about gum disease prevention, 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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The Changing of the Toothbrush Guard | Ottawa Dentist

We know that having a healthy mouth is important for many reasons. It’s aesthetically pleasing, it prevents bad breath and other dental maladies and because it is our first line of defense, it helps keep our overall health in check. That’s why it’s important to know that while your dentist is the professional at keeping your teeth clean and healthy, most of the work depends on you and your daily habits. The more you work to prevent bacteria from settling in your mouth and causing damage, the better off your dental checkups are every year. Because our dental health starts with brushing, let’s take a look at how to care for our friend the toothbrush…

Bacteria are our mouth’s natural enemy. And the best way to limit the bacteria in your mouth is to brush your teeth. How do we do this? With a toothbrush. But brushing your teeth is not enough. The best way to keep those cavity creeps away is to replace your toothbrush on a regular basis. In fact, dental professionals will recommend changing out your toothbrush every three to four months. If you use an electric toothbrush, throw out the head just as often. And if the bristles become frayed, you’re sick, or you have a weak immune system, throw it out frequently.

Every time you’re tempted to skip brushing and flossing your teeth, remember how many bacteria lurk in your mouth – and that they cause gum disease, and decay, and bad breath. Make sure you’re brushing and flossing as often as possible to eliminate some of those bacteria. Rinsing your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash before or after brushing can also help reduce plaque-causing bacteria that can lead to gum disease. Happy brushing!

For more information about caring for your toothbrush, 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.