General Dentistry 

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Composite Fillings

Composite fillings are a tooth-coloured restorative material used to repair a damaged or decayed tooth. The affected portion of the tooth is removed and then filled with the composite filling. It is then cured with a visible blue light which causes it to harden almost instantly.

Composite resin dental fillings are strong, durable, and make for a very natural looking smile. Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend composite resin dental fillings for the following reasons:

• To restore chipped or worn teeth
• To close a space between two teeth
• To repair cracked or broken teeth
• To repair damage caused by tooth decay

Please contact Boundary Dental Clinic if you have any questions regarding composite fillings

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Crowns (Caps)

A crown or ‘cap’ is a dental restoration that covers the majority of an affected tooth to improve its strength and esthetics. A crown acts like a helmet for your tooth distributing the chewing forces more evenly over the entire surface. If a tooth is damaged but not lost, a crown may be used to restore its shape, appearance and function.

Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend a crown for the following reasons:

• To repair broken or fractured teeth and fillings
• For cosmetic enhancement
• To restore decayed teeth
• To strengthen teeth with large fillings
• To provide strength to root canalled teeth

Do you need a crown? Contact us at Boundary Dental Clinic to discuss options and address your concerns.

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Bridges

A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) dental restoration that consists of one or more prosthetic teeth that bridge the gap created by missing teeth. There are several types of fixed dental bridges, including traditional, cantilever and resin-bonded bridges. The traditional fixed bridge is the most common and consists of an artificial tooth (or teeth) fused between 2 crowns that go over the anchoring teeth on either side of the gap.

Dental bridges are highly durable and can enhance your smile for many years. Your dentist or hygienist may recommend a dental bridge for the following reasons:

• Fill space of missing teeth
• Maintain facial shape
• Prevent remaining teeth from drifting out of position
• Restore chewing and speech
• Restore your smile
• Upgrade from a removable partial denture to a permanent fixed solution

An alternative to a bridge is an implant. Implants are usually the best option for replacing missing teeth but everyone is different, so please ask our dentists what option is most suitable for you. Please contact Boundary Dental Clinic if you have any questions.

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Root Canals

Root canal therapy is the process of removing infected, injured or dead pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth). The canal is then filled with materials designed to prevent infection from recurring and restore the tooth to its full function.  A successful root canal treatment lets you keep your tooth rather than having it extracted.

Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend root canal therapy for the following reasons:

• Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth)
• Infection or abscess has developed inside the tooth or at the root tip
• Injury or trauma to the tooth

 Symptoms or signs for root canal therapy may include:

• Minimal to severe pain
• Tooth discolouration
• Sensitivity to hot and cold
• Swelling and irritation in the surrounding gum tissue
• Sometimes no symptoms are present but there is a history of pain or trauma to the area in question

Are you experiencing pain or discomfort with a tooth? Please call Boundary Dental Clinic so we can help you save your tooth.

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Complete & Partial Dentures

A denture is a removable dental appliance that replaces missing teeth and the surrounding tissue. At Boundary Dental Clinic we design dentures to be comfortable and functional. They are similar in appearance to natural teeth and can dramatically improve your smile and facial appearance.

There are two types of dentures - complete and partial. Complete dentures replace all natural teeth and cover the entire upper or lower jaw. These dentures rest directly on the gum and provide support for the cheeks and lips. A partial denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth. It consists of prosthetic teeth attached to a gum-coloured base that attaches to your natural teeth with clasps. A partial denture not only fills in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from shifting

 Your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend dentures for the following reasons:

• Loss of teeth
• Enhancing smile and appearance
• Improving chewing, speech, and digestion

Please call Boundary Dental Clinic to discuss all the options we have available for replacing your missing teeth.

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Tooth Extractions/Wisdom Teeth

Unfortunately sometimes a tooth needs to be removed, or extracted, from the mouth. There are many reasons why a tooth will be extracted but in general it is due to a large infection in or around the tooth or because it is no longer functional.  These scenarios arise from gum disease, cavities or fractured teeth. 

Most people will develop wisdom teeth later in life, usually around 18 years old, and it is important to assess whether the patient has room for them. If a patient has trouble keeping their wisdom teeth clean or they do not have enough room in their mouth for the teeth to fully erupt, then extractions are often warranted. We encourage the assessment of wisdom teeth as soon as they are present as their removal is easier on patients when they are young.

Please contact Boundary Dental Clinic to set up an exam with Dr. O'Brien