A Less Obvious Repair Given a choice, most people want to avoid having repairs visible in their teeth, which is why the standard silver-mercury amalgam filling isn’t always appealing. A metal filling is an acceptable, budget-minded repair, but it’s hard to camouflage against white teeth. Alternative materials have made it possible for us to offer restorations that are a natural-looking white. These composite materials bond to the healthy part of your tooth, reducing the risk of decay in the future. Ask us if this treatment is right for you. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

Learn what the American Dental Association has to about the importance of brushing and flossing daily.   The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

Although the mouth is part of the body, we often think of it as something separate. We often ignore bleeding or tender gums, while an irritation or pain elsewhere in the body would mean a trip to the doctor.  Poor oral health can affect a person's quality of life. Oral pain, missing teeth or oral infections can influence the way a person speaks, eats and socializes. These oral health problems can reduce a person's quality of life by affecting their physical, mental and social well-being.  The reality is that oral health problems could be a sign of something serious such as oral cancer. Every year approximately 3,200 Canadians are diagnosed with oral cancer and 1,050 deaths from oral cancer occur. This devastating disease has a low survival rate because it is often diagnosed very late. With early detection the survival rate of oral cancer can be greatly improved. This means going to your dentist for regular dental exams. Your dentist has the training and experience to detect

Saving Hopeless Teeth In the past, teeth with roots that had been damaged or severely infected used to require extraction, because a simple filling was an insufficient restoration. Missing teeth can create problems with your dental occlusion (bite) and should be averted whenever possible. The good news is that Dr. Aitken is able to offer root canal therapy. A root canal is a method of saving a tooth by excavating the pulp chamber of the tooth and replacing it with a filling material. When dentists first began performing root canals, the process involved extensive drilling, took considerable time, and often lacked the appropriate amount of numbing. As a result, the root canal received a reputation as something to be avoided. However, with modern anaesthetics and technology, root canals are often manageable. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

Learn what the American Dental Association has to say about wisdom teeth. The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

Now the Good News The treatment of periodontal (gum) disease, in all its stages from mild to severe, is typically covered by most dental insurance plans. Non-surgical care combined with improved dental hygiene has often proven effective in slowing or even stopping the spread of the disease. However, in more severe cases, treatment may still include surgery. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

Nutrition Tips Following a proper and nutritious diet not only helps keep your body healthy, but your mouth as well. Nutrition plays an important role in the health and cleanliness of your teeth, gums and mouth. Limit Soda, Coffee and Alcohol Although these beverages contain a high level of phosphorous, which is a necessary mineral for a healthy mouth, too much phosphorous can deplete the body's level of calcium. This causes dental hygiene problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Beverages containing additives such as corn syrup and food dye can make pearly white teeth appear dull and discolored. Therefore, it is best to choose beverages like milk, which helps strengthen teeth and build stronger enamel, giving you a healthy, beautiful smile. Drink Tap Water When Possible If bottled water is your main source of drinking water, you could be missing the decay-preventive benefits of fluoride. Monitor Your Low-Carb Lifestyle Despite their popularity, low-carb diets can cause bad

Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org Your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating. They’re essential for chewing and swallowing-the first steps in the digestion process. Your mouth is your body’s initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume. So what you put in your mouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums. In fact, if your nutrition is poor, the first signs often show up in your mouth. Here are a few helpful things to know about how what you eat can impact your dental health. Diet and Tooth Decay The foods you eat and the beverages you drink can have a direct influence on the incidence and progression of tooth decay, depending upon:  The form of the food-whether it’s liquid, solid, sticky or slow to dissolve makes a difference.  How often you eat sugary foods and beverages and how often you eat or drink acidic foods and beverages.  The nutritional makeup of the food.  The combinatio

Bad Effects Of Dental Grills Dental grills, also known as “grillz,” have become popular among some teens and adults due to their popularity among celebrities, especially rap musicians. Grills are decorative covers that snap over one or more teeth. They are usually made of gold, silver or other precious metals. But less expensive grills are often made from base metals that can cause irritation or an allergic reaction. There are no long-term studies of dental grills, so there are no data about long-term safety or about problems resulting from long-term wear. Grills can promote plaque buildup and tooth decay because food particles and bacteria may build up between the teeth and the grill. A grill may also cause abrasion of the teeth that border it. Excessive wearing of grills may discolor teeth, too, so grill fans may need to whiten teeth when they decide to stop wearing the grill. Anyone who wears a dental grill should be especially attentive to dental hygiene, and follow a consistent ro

Learn what the American Dental Association's answer is to the question: "What if an Object Gets Caught in Your Teeth?". The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel. Vista Dental Care      Chad Aitken, DMD 280-5201 43 St. Red Deer, AB T4N 1C7 (855) 636-9223    VistaDentalCare.ca

Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org The right smile can leave you laughing, fill you with joy or make you melt with emotion. But, ultimately, the best smile is one that is healthy and strong. Here are some of the “tooth truths” about how tough your teeth really are ñ and how to keep them that way. 1. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. The shiny, white enamel that covers your teeth is even stronger than bone. This resilient surface is 96 percent mineral, the highest percentage of any tissue in your body - making it durable and damage-resistant.     2. Your bite is powerful! Did you know your teeth can exert an average of 200 pounds of pressure when you bite down? That’s probably what tempts us to use our teeth as tools from time to time ñ but as your dentist will remind you, that’s one of the worst habits when it comes to preserving healthy teeth.     To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org. The remainder of the article det

A Lifetime of Good Dental Habits! Dr. Aitken shares your goals for maintaining and bettering your child’s oral health. Helping them learn the correct way from the beginning builds a lifetime foundation of strong dental habits. Keep in mind that many factors contribute to your child’s teeth being susceptible to cavities when they’re young. Children don’t have the necessary coordination to brush properly on their own. Because of this, it is vital for parents to assist in their child’s daily hygiene. This encourages both thorough cleaning and the instilling of proper dental habits. Poor cleaning can increase the risk that teeth will develop decay when subjected to food and juice acids. Little kids often “graze,” eating frequently throughout the day. This produces an extended exposure to food acids, which may also generate more cavities. The good news is that recognizing poor dietary and hygiene habits, along with applying a fluoride varnish to the mineralizing teeth, can lessen the odds