Services

We are a family centered dental practice. We offer a full range of dental services including children’s dentistry and orthodontics.

What sets us apart from the rest?

We understand that a trip to the dentist is not on everyone’s favorite list. Our team will take the time to listen to all of your questions and concerns about your dental health. We will formulate a treatment plan that is affordable and appropriate for you and your family. We will never over treat or do unnecessary procedures.

Our team is committed to working with you as a partner to optimize and maintain your dental health!

Cleanings (hygiene)

A preventive (recall) program is a joint cooperative effort between you and our team to preserve your natural teeth, gums, and bones of the oral area by preventing the onset, progress, and recurrence of dental diseases and conditions.

Preventing dental disease starts at home with good oral hygiene and a balanced diet. It is continued in our dental office by the efforts of Dr. Cao and the dental hygienists as they promote, restore, and maintain your oral health.

Regular dental exams, cleanings, and x-rays are all part of an effective prevention program. Prevention helps avoid serious and costly dental problems and is the key to having a healthy, confident, and beautiful smile.

Fillings

COMPOSITE RESIN FILLINGS (WHITE FILLINGS)
Composite restoration have a natural, tooth-like appearance and are used primarily on anterior teeth, although many patients now prefer to have composite fillings placed on posterior teeth. Two major advantages of this type of restoration is that it bonds to the tooth and it matches the tooth colour giving an aesthetically pleasing result.

SILVER (AMALGAM) FILLINGS
Amalgams are commonly known as silver fillings. They do contain some silver and small amount of mercury; however, they are a mixture (or alloy) of metals that are bound together, or in other words, amalgamated. Amalgam fillings have been used for many years and are often the preferred treatment for posterior fillings due to its strength.

The time it takes to do a filling depend on the size of the cavity. A tooth is divided into 5 surfaces and the more surfaces involved, the more time it will take. Some small one surface filling may not require any freezing at all and may only take 10 or 15 minutes to to.

Cosmetic Dentistry

You only have one chance to make a first impression! A clean, healthy smile is attractive, sexy and a sign of self-confidence. Now you can design your own smile! Your smile says a lot about the person you are and it projects your self-image. Do you wish your teeth were a little whiter, shaped differently, not as crowded, or a space wasn’t as prominent? Take another look at your smile and talk to Dr. Cao about how you can improve your appearance by designing the course of treatment that is best for you.

VENEERS
A veneer is a layer of tooth coloured material, usually porcelain, which is cemented to the facial surface of the tooth. Veneers are also used to improve the appearance of teeth particularly if they are discoloured. A veneer may be placed on one or more anterior teeth to improve the colour of the teeth or perhaps to close in a large gap between teeth. This procedure is much less invasive than a full coverage restoration and it preserves the natural structure of the tooth. Ask us for more information.

Whitening (bleaching)

Have you ever thought of a whiter smile? The results of vital tooth bleaching can be quite spectacular; however, it may not be the choice of treatment for everyone. For example, if you have an anterior white filling or a crown, the bleaching process will only affect the colour of the natural tooth but not the restorations. Also, bleaching is not recommended in individuals who have very sensitive teeth.

In general, there are two different types of whitening procedures that may be performed. One procedure is done in the dental chair where a hydrogen peroxide solution is applied to the targeted teeth and a light is used to accelerate the process. This is often referred to as laser bleaching. The second whitening system is one that you can do at home. An impression is taken of your upper and lower teeth so that a custom bleaching tray can be made. You will be supplied with a gel that is placed in the tray and you leave it in your mouth for a specific time, sometimes overnight. It is very important to follow home care instructions carefully and not exceed the time when leaving the bleach on the teeth.

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal treatment can provide an effective means of saving a tooth that might otherwise require removal. The presence of the teeth and their root structures helps to maintain the overall structure of the jaw. Root canal treatment may be recommended if the pulp of the tooth becomes dead (non-vital). The pulp is the main source of blood supply to the tooth and it receives its nourishment from vessels that pass through the roots of the tooth (root canals). If the pulp becomes non-vital or if there is an irreversible inflammation present or if the tooth has suffered trauma through an injury, root canal treatment may be warranted. A tooth that is abscessed will show a localized pus formation at the root end of the tooth. If the abscess is left untreated you may experience severe discomfort and the infection could spread to the surrounding bone. Root canal treatment may not be recommended if the tooth has a poor prognosis (can not be saved) or if the inflammation is reversible. Talk to Dr. Cao if you are experiencing any pain for discomfort.

Extractions

Extractions are performed when a tooth is decayed or fracture beyond repair. You will be given local anaesthetic which will numb the tooth prior to the extraction. It is imperative that you follow the post operative instructions to avoid any complications following the surgery. Dr. Cao will go over with you what you need to do after your tooth is being taken out.

Crown and Bridge

CROWNS
A crown (sometimes referred to as a cap) is a full coverage restoration that restores the anatomical surfaces of a damaged or fractured tooth to their original contour and function. The anatomical surfaces are the parts of the tooth that you can see above the gum line. Typically, this type of restoration is recommended when there is very little tooth structure left to restore or when there has been a root canal done on the tooth.

The three types of crowns that are commonly done:
1. Porcelain fused to metal – This type of crown is often used on posterior teeth due to the strength that the semi-precious metal can provide during chewing. The veneer or facing of the tooth consists of porcelain that gives the restoration a natural looking quality.
2. Porcelain crown – This is a very thin shell covered by layers of porcelain to resemble the shading and translucency of a natural tooth. This restoration is often recommended for anterior teeth.
3. Metal crowns – this type of crowns are normally done for the posterior teeth especially in patients that are heavy grinders.

BRIDGES
Every tooth in your mouth provides support, structure and function to the jaw. Absence of even a single tooth can cause the adjacent teeth to drift into the position of the missing tooth. A bridge is a dental prosthesis that is used to replace one or more missing teeth in the same arch and is permanently cemented into the mouth; therefore, you cannot remove it. This is normally recommended after an extraction.

Orthodontics

Closing spaces and straightening teeth can improve your self-image and self-confidence, no matter how old you are. Dr. Cao will analyse your mouth and the surrounding bone structures to determine where the teeth should be. If there is enough room, the teeth will be straightened through the use of brackets, wires, elastics, headgear and other appliances to achieve a harmonious balance between facial muscles and teeth. If there is not enough room, teeth may have to be removed to achieve the desired results.

We recommend that if your child is showing signs of crowding or too much spacing, he/she should have an orthodontic consultation by the age of 7 or 8. Some other signs of early treatment would be mouth-breathing, thumb or finger sucking, jaw joint problems or any visible discrepancy in the jaw size. Sometimes early treatment (phase I treatment) may prevent more severe orthodontic problems in the future. Please talk to Dr. Cao if you are having concerns. Phase II treatment involves full braces with archwires and is usually done when all permanent teeth have erupted.

Dentures

A denture is a removable, artificial replacement for your missing teeth. It is made of acrylic with plastic or porcelain teeth attached to it. A complete denture will replace all of your missing teeth in one arch. A partial denture is a removable appliance that only replaces some missing teeth. It stays in place by attachments to the remaining teeth.

Implants

Missing teeth may be cute in small children, but many adults feel extremely self-conscious about their smile if they have experienced tooth loss especially if it is an anterior tooth. People are living longer lives in a more esthetically pleasing way, which are two good reasons to consider tooth replacement options.

A dental implant is a manufactured post (usually made of titanium) that is designed to create a stable foundation for a natural looking tooth restoration. Placed directly into the jawbone, a dental implant is the closest thing to your natural tooth. It serves as a substitute for the missing root structure. Dental implants can replace one or more missing teeth and it can also provide support and stability for a full lower denture.

A good candidate for implant procedure would be one who has adequate bone structure and does not have a serious medical condition. Dental implants usually involves 2 stage surgery. During the first stage of treatment the surgical site will be prepared where the titanium screw (post) is incorporated into the bone. The soft tissue is closed and the surgical site is allowed to heal for 10-14 days. It may take as long as 3 to 6 months for the bone to heal or integrate with the implant.

After the tissues and bone have completely healed, the second stage of the procedure consists of removing the soft tissue from the surrounding area and uncovering the healing screw. An attachment post is screwed into the implant that now extends above the gum line. The soft tissues are again allowed to heal for 10-14 days during which time the dental prosthesis is being made. On the final appointment the dental prosthesis will be attached to the posts resulting in a strong permanent restoration that is aesthetically pleasing as well as functional.

TMD

Temporomandibular joints are the jaw joints used to open and close your mouth. TMJ disorders can be caused by injury to the face and jaw regions, bite problems, grinding teeth, clenching your jaw, whiplash, and even poor posture resulting in damage to the joints or misalignment. Facial, tooth and earaches as well as “clicking” in the jaw, headaches, neck shoulder and back pain can occur. Systemic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, which affects the joints of the body, can also affect your jaw joint, causing degeneration. Forms or treatment include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and bite guards. In more serious cases, were severe pain is persistent, surgery may be necessary.