Cityplace Dental Group
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Dental Questions
Here are some common questions about Invisalign:
This varies case by case. Simpler cases can achieve the desired result in as little as three months. More complex situations can take one to two years.
No! There are many benefits to aligning your teeth, including, ease of hygiene and cleaning, evening out wear patterns, improving your airway, and improving jaw issues.
The number 1 reported feeling with clear aligner therapy is the feeling of pressure. Rarely does anybody report pain. There is some pressure applied with the tray in order to move the teeth to the desired location.
First, we take a series of photos and a scan of your teeth. This allows us to plan for the desired result. Once we are all happy with the expected outcome, the clear aligner trays are delivered to our office. We then bond small composite (“white filling”) attachments that match your tooth colour to your teeth. The trays fit over your teeth and use these attachments to apply pressure to your teeth in the correct directions. From there, we see you occasionally to track your progress and to ensure that your teeth are moving as planned.
Here are some common questions about composite veneers (bonding):
With proper maintenance, composite veneers can last many years. Maintenance includes regular cleanings and checkups as well as proper at-home care.
Usually we do not require the use of freezing or needles.
Another advantage of composite veneers is that they are an immediate service. The day of placement, your smile is transformed. In most cases, there are three appointments
- Initial consultation to discuss options, treatment goals, and to take impressions and photos.
- Placement of composite veneers. (This is the longest of the three appointments where 95 per cent of the work is completed.)
- Refinement appointment. One to two days after placement we make any adjustments we or you see fit. We re-polish the veneers and, if necessary, add effects to ensure the final result is at the level that we aim to achieve.
Here are some common questions about dental emergencies:
After the assessment appointment, we will determine the best course of action for you. This could involve treatment the same day and if not, appropriate intervention until that treatment can be safely performed.
That’s OK. We’ll assess each issue and work on the most urgent ones first. You might be asked to make an appointment for a comprehensive exam so that we can properly assess your less-urgent concerns.
Here are some common questions about dental implants:
Numbing is used for the surgery, similar to many other procedures. The recovery is usually comfortable and managed with over-the-counter pain medications such as Advil.
The healing process can take three to six months depending on your health and the condition of the bone in the area.
In most cases, a temporary tooth can be used to fill in any gaps and protect the implant site.
In general, implant costs are similar to other common methods of replacing a tooth such as a bridge, though the price will vary depending on the condition of the area. We will explain your particular case and discuss costs with you.
Insurance plans vary, but more providers are beginning to cover certain portions of the implant procedure. We’ll work with you to determine what your insurance provider covers for the procedure.
Here are some common questions about dentures:
Nothing feels quite like your original teeth. It will take some time to get used to your new dentures, and sometimes adjustments are necessary to make them work their best. Your condition will be assessed and a prediction of success will be provided before treatment has started.
Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when only some teeth are missing and some natural teeth remain.
We will help you pick the colour and shape of your teeth to make your dentures look as realistic as possible. You can even show us a picture to help us match your original smile. Before we make your final denture, we will create a trial model for you to try out. We won’t continue onto the next step until you approve.
After a thorough assessment, we can determine if you would benefit from implant-supported dentures. If you’ve been missing teeth for a long time, you may not have enough bone or a “ridge” for your denture to hold onto. Implants can help secure your teeth and ensure you won’t have any accidents with your dentures.
Here are some common questions about restorations:
Having a restoration placed shouldn’t hurt. The most uncomfortable part is often the placement or administration of the anesthetic or freezing. We focus on creating a relaxing environment and taking our time to deliver anesthetic, which lends itself to a positive experience while receiving the freezing.
If your silver filling is doing its job and there are no indications for its removal, it’s best to leave it in place. Older silver fillings are always watched to ensure the tooth around it isn’t cracking and that the filling is still tightly fitted against the tooth. If needed, we can safely remove amalgam/silver fillings but current research shows that they are safe if left as is.
We prefer the term “restoration” as we strive to restore the tooth back to its original structure, function and esthetic appearance, even if it’s a back tooth that only a dentist would notice!
This really depends on the maintenance. A daily brushing and flossing routine plays a huge role in helping these last as long as possible. Coming in for regular cleanings also plays an important role so we have a chance to remove any buildup around the tooth and polish anything that requires it, which increases the longevity of your restorations.
Here are some common questions about root canals:
This documentary was removed from Netflix as it was found to have poor use of science and a lot of misleading facts. Root canals are a very safe procedure.
No, root canals are not a waste of time. Because tooth structure is removed to access the nerve, strength is lost and fractures have a higher chance of occurring. Because of this, we might suggest an onlay or crown to increase the life of your tooth.
When you get a root canal, we use plenty of anesthetic (freezing) to make sure you’re comfortable. Often because of the infection, patients may be in pain. The root canal procedure is the best solution to relieve this pain.
Here are some common questions about Smile Design
This service is ideal for anyone who is considering or unsure about having cosmetic or esthetic work completed. This is an opportunity to see a photo of yourself with your new smile before starting any treatment. This helps us get on the same page so we know you’ll be happy with the results!
You only need two appointments
- Your first appointment is your smile design consultation. We’ll discuss your goals and perform a complete oral exam. We’ll take X-rays and a series of photographs followed by upper and lower impressions of your teeth. We’ll use these records to design your smile.
- During the second appointment we’ll share with you our vision for your perfect smile and get your feedback. We will have a presentation for you to review that you can show your family and loved ones to get their feedback.
From there we can decide on how to proceed, and if you’d like, we can get started.
Here are some common questions about teeth whitening:
Patients have good experiences with teeth whitening. Sometimes temporary sensitivity will be noticed immediately following the procedure but otherwise it is a painless procedure.
Before having any cosmetic work performed, it is important to whiten your teeth to your desired level. This is because composite and porcelain do not whiten as natural tooth structure does. After whitening, we will match the bonding or porcelain to your whitened teeth.
In-office whitening takes two hours and the take-home kit takes around two weeks.
Questions From The Chair
This is where we answer our followers' dental (and non-dental) questions in IGTV segments we call QFC - Questions From The Chair!