General Dentistry at UBC / Vancouver

A child’s mouth is not just a smaller version of an adult’s mouth. It’s important to assess the health and development of a child’s teeth to prevent problems and ensure a healthy smile.

The Canadian Dental Association recommends a child have their first visit within 6 months after the eruption of their first tooth.

Education and early detection is the key to having a positive experience for your child at the dentist.

Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth and teeth clean in order to prevent dental problems, such as cavities, gingivitis, and bad breath.

Regular oral hygiene appointments at your dental clinic should be scheduled every six months. These appointments should include an oral exam and teeth cleaning.

Teeth cleaning is the removal of dental plaque and tartar from teeth to prevent cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease.

With all the modern advances in dental treatment, it is best to try and save your teeth. However, circumstances may arise that require the extraction of hopeless teeth. Orthodontic treatment of crowded teeth may also require extractions.

We will ensure that the extraction process is as comfortable as possible. Once profound anesthesia is achieved, the tooth will be removed. Instructions will be given to ensure proper post-operative care and a speedy recovery.

Removing a tooth could lead to the shifting of neighbouring teeth, resulting in problems with chewing and joint function. Of course, loss of a front tooth is also an aesthetic concern. We will also be happy to discuss different ways a missing tooth can be replaced.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Your last molars, called the third molars or wisdom teeth, typically begin to come in (erupt) during the late teen years or early twenties. When they don’t have room to grow in, or they’re trapped in your jaw because they are tilted or rotated, they are impacted.

An impacted wisdom tooth can cause pain, infection and tooth damage

• As your wisdom tooth tries to erupt at an angle, it can push on the neighbouring tooth, causing pain and possibly damaging the tooth.
• Food gets trapped next to the wisdom tooth, making the area a breeding ground for the bacteria that cause decay and periodontal (gum) disease.
• An infection may develop around the impacted tooth, and this infection can spread into the face and jaw.
• Your jaw may become painful and the surrounding gums may swell and become tender.
• A fluid-filled sac called a cyst may develop around the impacted tooth; this can destroy a great deal of jaw bone.

Early removal can prevent problems

You can avoid the pain and possible damaging effects of an impacted wisdom tooth by having it removed early, before its roots are fully developed. We can monitor the development of your wisdom teeth with x-rays, and remove them as soon as we determine they will likely cause difficulties.

Bruxism (teeth grinding) is an involuntary grinding or clenching of your teeth, and usually occurs while you sleep. Grinding your teeth can create a great deal of force on your jaw, which can cause damage to your teeth and jaw joints. Most often the cause of grinding is stress related but can also be caused by the misalignment of you teeth.

Some symptoms of grinding include sore jaw muscles, headaches and neck or ear pain. Although for most people it is the dentist that will see the wear on you teeth and warn you of grinding. If you have restless, interrupted sleep, a professionally made nightguard may be the answer to a full nights rest!

A night guard can help protect your teeth from the harmful effects of grinding and clenching and prevent further damage. A night guard is custom made to fit over your upper or lower teeth, preventing the teeth from grinding together and allowing your jaw joints to be positioned in the most relaxed state. Different types of Night Guards can be made based on your needs, whether you require TMJ therapy, grinding/clenching, or even have sleep apnea. Ask our experienced team of dentists which type is best for you.

A mouthguard (also known as a mouth protector, mouth piece, gumshield, gumguard or nightguard) is a protective device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and reduce injury to the teeth, arches, lips and gums. Mouthguards are most often used to prevent injury in contact sports.

Custom mouth guards help to:

• Prevent oral damage
• Protect against facial injuries
• Provide complete comfort for athletes
• Eliminate hundreds of hours in the dental chair
• Properly fit in the mouth, making it easier to breathe

We have many different types of dental lasers that are suited to different dental procedures. Ask our dentists if you are a good candidate for laser dentistry. Our team is experienced and qualified to use dental lasers as part of your comprehensive care and we strive to stay at the top of dental laser technology.

The Benefits of Laser Dentistry

• Laser dentistry requires little or no anesthesia, causes no vibrations and no drilling noise.
• Surgical procedures using a dental laser may not require stitches
• Infections are minimal as the laser sanitizes the area being worked on
• Less healing time
• Treatment with the dental laser is generally shorter than with traditional dentistry.
• Natural teeth are preserved for a longer time and healthy tooth substances are protected.
• Great for children and anxious patients.
• Provides the best preventive care.

A dental sealant is a thin plastic coating that fills in the grooves of molars and premolars. These grooves collect plaque, a film of food and bacteria. Toothbrush bristles usually can’t reach the plaque that accumulates within the grooves, and this can cause decay.

When should your child get sealants?

We recommend applying dental sealants to teeth as soon as the permanent molars come out, usually between the ages of 5-7 for the first molars, and between ages 11-14 for the second set of molars and the premolars. As the wear out, they should be replaced.

How are sealants applied?

After we clean and dry the teeth, we apply a special solution that slightly roughens their surface. This increases the bonds strength. We paint the dental sealant on and harden it with a harmless high intensity light, forming a protective shield against decay.

Gum contouring, also referred to as gum reshaping or tissue sculpting, can even out a gum line that rests too low or too high on your teeth.

Gum contouring is typically considered a cosmetic procedure and is used to improve the appearance of a smile. However, some people may undergo gum contouring surgery as part of a necessary periodontal procedure, such as crown lengthening, pocket reduction and regenerative procedures.