General Dentistry Services

Bruxism, also known as tooth grinding, can be very damaging because it can wear down your enamel, weaken fillings and crowns, cause damage and headaches, create sensitivity and cause jaw pain over time. If left untreated, bruxism can increase your risk of decay and may cause fractures or chips or even permanent loss. In the event that grinding becomes a nightly occurrence, bruxism treatment may be necessary. Our team of general dentists will thoroughly examine your teeth, cheeks, and gums during your visit to determine the severity of the grinding and whether a custom-made bruxism nightguard is necessary. In some cases, we may also recommend that we perform repair services for any damaged areas before fitting you for a nightguard.

Some of the most common signs that bruxism is affecting your health are:

• Painful or stiff jaw
• Sensitive, loose, or broken teeth
• Sore gums
• Sores on the insides of your cheeks
• A popping sound in the jaw joint
• Morning headaches
• Worn-down teeth
• Fatigue caused by restless sleep

Dental sealants are a thin plastic coating that is applied in liquid form to the chewing surface of your teeth to help protect them from decay. Since sealants are designed to seep into the fissures and pits on the surface, they are able to create a protective shield over the enamel while also smoothing out the tooth’s surface, making them easier to keep clean.

The benefits of dental sealant treatments include:

• Cavity prevention—the liquid sealant seals off grooves, crevasses, pits, and fissures for a much smoother, easier to brush and care for surface.
• Easy application—after preparing and properly cleaning the area, the sealant material will be brushed on with a paintbrush-like tool and then cured with a safe, ultraviolet light.
• Fast application—in most cases, dental sealants can be applied in as little as 5 minutes per tooth.
• Cheaper than fillings—most insurance companies will cover the cost of dental sealants because they are much cheaper compared to the cost of restorations and other decay treatments (fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, etc.).
• Attractive—dental sealants can be matched to your natural tooth colour.
• Durable— dental sealants can last up to 10 years if properly cared for. This includes maintaining a regular homecare routine and avoiding the crunching of hard foods.

Digital x-rays and CBCT scans can help expose decay under the gumline, under fillings and caps, and in between teeth. They can also detect bone loss caused by gum disease, abscesses, cysts, tumours, and early signs of cancer.

The different types of x-rays used in dentistry are:

• Bitewing—taken on either side of the mouth (two on the left side and two on the right side), this type of x-ray is ideal for detecting cavities and seeing how well your jaw matches up.
• Occlusal—taken with a closed jaw, this type of x-ray is ideal for showing how the top and bottom jaws line up, as well as for detecting abnormalities in the mouth floor and palate.
• Periapical—focusing on two complete teeth, showing everything from the crown to the root.
• Full-mouth—utilizes 18 films that capture the entire inside of your mouth.
• Panorex – a single picture of all your teeth and surrounding bones of the face and neck

Cavities are small holes, caused by acid, that form in the surface of teeth. If left unchecked, cavities can cause infections and further decay, leading to weakness, pain, and even tooth loss. At LDSS, we practice preventative dentistry. By carefully monitoring problem areas, we are able to catch and repair small cavities with fillings before they can grow larger and become much more painful and expensive to treat.

The different types of fillings you can choose from during your general dentistry appointment include:

• Tooth-coloured composite fillings
• Silver-coloured amalgam fillings
• Cast-gold fillings

Fluoride treatments can help prevent cavities by hardening enamel, re-mineralizing teeth, rebuilding lost enamel, slowing down the loss of minerals, reversing early decay, and preventing proliferation of oral bacteria. Fluoride treatment can also be used to help treat sensitivity. Since most parts of North America have fluorinated drinking water, brushing with fluoride toothpaste is often sufficient. If you are from a part of the world where drinking water is not fluorinated, your general dentist may prescribe you fluoride tablets or drops to take daily.

During your regular general dental services appointment, one of our dentists will perform an oral cancer exam by thoroughly checking the soft tissues in your face, head, and neck (including the tongue, cheeks, tonsils, soft palate, pharynx, lips, and salivary glands) for areas of discoloration, lumps, and rough spots. Our dentists may also ask about any changes you may have noticed, such as numbness, unusual bleeding, changes in your voice, or difficulty with eating, swallowing, chewing, or how your jaw fits and moves.

At Lethbridge Dental Services South, we are dedicated to proactive, preventative care. Oral cancer screenings help to detect early signs of oral health issues. These screenings typically involve visual inspections and physical palpation to examine the lips, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal region. While early detection of oral cancer may help to improve treatment options, we always encourage regular visits to your dentist as part of an overall commitment to maintaining good health.

By choosing Lethbridge Dental Services South, you’re ensuring that your dental care team is focused on your long-term health and well-being, helping you maintain a healthy smile.

Root canal therapy, also known as endodontics, is a general dentistry treatment that focuses on diseases and injuries to the dental pulp inside your teeth (the soft interior made up of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue). Since the pulp does most of its work during tooth development, adult teeth can survive without pulp. That is why, when pulp becomes inflamed or infected, the best choice of dentistry treatment often involves removing the remaining pulp along with the infection. By removing the pulp, we can relieve your pain as quickly as possible and help save the tooth instead of removing it. If an infected tooth is left untreated and must be removed, the remaining teeth will have to work harder to chew/bite and can even drift into the gap left by the missing tooth, impacting the way your jaw fits together.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a condition that effects your breathing while you sleep, causing you to pause or stop breathing. Your airway may become blocked or collapse, decreasing airflow to your lungs. When this happens, your body wakes you up in order to resume breathing, preventing you from getting a good night’s rest and leaving you feeling tired during the day.

Sleep apnea can potentially cause health risks if left untreated, such as:

• Heart disease
• Depression
• Acid reflux
• Memory loss
• Mental confusion
• Adult asthma
• High blood pressure
• Low blood oxygen levels
• Decreased sexual desire
• Abnormal cholesterol
• Higher blood sugar levels
• Weight gain
• ADHD
• Bed wetting
• Liver problems

A sleep apnea oral appliance is a premium, custom-fit dental appliance that is specifically designed for the treatment of snoring and mild to moderate OSA. In some cases, it may be an effective, comfortable, and durable alternative to CPAP therapy or corrective surgery. In certain circumstances, patients can use both an OSA appliance and a CPAP machine, which is known as “co-therapy”.

Tooth sensitivity can often be caused by decay, a crack, worn enamel, worn fillings, and exposed tooth roots. In some cases, using desensitizing toothpaste can help block the sensation that is causing you pain. If desensitizing toothpaste does not help you, one of our dedicated dentists can apply a special desensitizing agent or fluoride gel to the affected areas. In the event that this treatment does not work, we will look at other general treatment options such as fillings, crowns, inlays, or bonding based on your unique dental care needs.

Regular dental cleanings and examinations are an essential part of health care for growing children and will often include fluoride therapy and x-rays; however, if your child feels apprehensive during their dental appointment, x-rays and fluoride treatment can be delayed until the next appointment.

Our general dentistry services for children also cover:

• Cavity control and dental hygiene
• Thumb sucking treatment
• Space maintainers to prevent teeth from shifting into empty spaces
• Dental sealants to protect permanent teeth from developing cavities

At LDSS, we want to make dental care fun for kids at our office. That is why our child patients get to choose from costumes to wear during their Junior VIP visit—superhero, princess, puppy, police officer, cowboy, or cowgirl—balloon animals, and access to our toy shelf! Our cavity-free club members also get a free smoothie or ice cream treat!

Regular dental hygiene appointments allow your dentist to identify and address any developing health problems long before they become serious. During your dentistry appointment, your dentist will closely examine your teeth, gums, and bite, as well as perform dental x-rays, oral cancer screenings, and additional diagnostic procedures if necessary. A hygienist will also professionally clean your teeth by using a scaler to get rid of plaque and tartar in between your teeth and around your gumline before applying a fluoride treatment.

An athletic mouthguard can help protect you while participating in various sports and activities. All mouthguards are custom-fitted to the individual’s mouth and are perfect for athletes of all ages, from teenagers to adults. They are also helpful in preventing concussions.