Month: November 2018

Some people are lucky enough to get their wisdom teeth and never have a problem in the world. Others, not so much.

Did you know that if your wisdom teeth aren’t causing pain, you may still need to have them removed? It ultimately has to do with how they’re affecting the teeth next to them.

Crowded and Crooked Teeth

When there’s lack of space inside of your mouth, the third molars (wisdom teeth) can become impacted or only erupt part of the way. This pressure can cause adjacent teeth to shift out of place, creating a chain reaction throughout the rest of the mouth. In fact, you may not realize your teeth are repositioning until you start to see the ones at the front of your mouth looking crowded or crooked.
If you’ve had braces before, this can be a pretty big concern.

Swelling in Your Jaws

Teeth have a natural eruption cyst around them when they’re developing and getting ready to come in. Sometimes, this cyst can become enlarged and press against the tissues around it, creating swelling in the jaws toward the back of your mouth.

Pain (Off and On, or Constant)

Typically, wisdom tooth pain is a come-and-go type of symptom. You may experience moderate discomfort today and nothing tomorrow. If it gets to where the discomfort is more often than not, it’s probably time to go ahead and have your wisdom teeth removed.

Cavities or Other Infections

Because of their location, wisdom teeth are at a heightened risk for developing cavities and periodontal (gum) disease. Even if you practice good oral hygiene (including flossing every day,) the third molars may only be partially erupted and impossible to thoroughly clean every day. This can let small amounts of food debris and plaque slip just under the gums, ultimately leading to a cavity or infection. Like any other tooth, such problems can start to spread to adjacent teeth as well.
Rather than just treating the cavity or periodontal infection — which is at an increased risk of recurring — it’s typically a healthy choice to have the wisdom tooth removed.

Feeling Nervous? We Have Something for That, Too!

It’s natural to have a little bit of anxiety related to your wisdom tooth removal. At Holland River Dental in Bradford, ON, we offer sedation dentistry choices to help our patients relax during an extraction, oral surgery, or any other type of dental treatment where comfort is a concern. Sedation is a safe and effective option for our patients that are looking for a bit more comfort during their visit.

Schedule a Wisdom Tooth Evaluation Today

To find out whether you — or your teen — need to have wisdom teeth removal surgery, start by scheduling an exam and X-ray with our Bradford dentist. We’ll take a full-mouth panoramic film to determine the location and positioning of each of your third molars, so that you can make an educated choice about whether to have them pulled. Contact us today to get started!

Are you looking for a new personal or family dentist in Bradford, ON? If it’s been a while since you’ve had to find a new dental provider, you might not be sure exactly where to start or how to choose the best one for your needs. Here are seven tips for finding a dental team that will fit your smile and lifestyle!

Ask Your Friends

Word of mouth referrals are perhaps the best ways to find a great dentist. Your coworkers, neighbours in Bradford, and even acquaintances around town are great resources for finding out which area dentists are worth seeing. If you’re looking for something in particular, getting some first-hand advice from a current patient may be all the information you need.

Find a Dentist Who Works with Your Insurance

The type of dental insurance or health coverage that you have can sometimes be a large deciding factor as to which dentist you choose. Depending on your particular insurance, some dentists may be a preferred provider while others are not. This can affect your total out of pocket cost, even if only by a little, as well as your overall budget.

Find Out What Services They Offer

When you’re wanting to have a particular type of treatment — such as a smile makeover with veneers, sedation during a wisdom tooth extraction, etc. — you’ll need to find out if that specific type of service is offered by the dentist in question. Some offices offer many of the same services, while others have additional adjunctive or elective procedures they offer, which may not be available elsewhere.

Check Their Availability

What are the office hours like? If you have a non-traditional work schedule or are a single parent, it can be challenging for the logistics to work out just right when you or your child needs to see the dentist. Keep any scheduling restraints in mind before you start to reach out to the practice.

Browse Their Website

Most dentists these days have a business website and social media account. Browsing through their photos and lists of services can help you pre-view the office without ever having to step foot inside! You can even get a feel for the team and the general office atmosphere.

Read Online Reviews

If you’ve narrowed down your choices to two or three different dentists in the Bradford, ON area, now is the time to start reading online reviews from other patients. Many 3rd party platforms allow users to “rate” businesses, including dental offices, from 1-5 stars. Just keep in mind that people may be more inclined to share bad experiences with good ones. If you notice a trend one way or the other, take note.

Call the Office

Finally, it’s time to contact the dentist directly to schedule an exam or consultation. Think of this initial meeting and communication as a way to try the office out and see if they’re a good fit. Chances are if you’ve already followed the other six tips, they will be!

At Holland River Dental, our Bradford, ON practice is happy to see new patients of all ages. Contact us today to book your first appointment!