Just like your family doctor, your dentist may work with dental specialists to provide you with the best care possible.
Learn more »Prevent problems early. Your child's first dental visit should occur by age one or within six months of when you see the first tooth.
Learn more »Dental care during pregnancy is not only safe, regular dental visits support your health and your baby's.
Learn more »Most dental disease is preventable—starting with these five steps to take at home.
Learn more »Clenching or grinding your teeth (often at night) may be the reason and can also cause damage to your teeth and jaw.
Learn more »Your dentist may recommend a number of treatment options to replace missing teeth, such as a denture.
Learn more »Sports-related dental injuries ranging from tooth loss to lacerated gums to jaw fractures are common among children and adults and can have long-term consequences. Mouthguards protect against trauma to the teeth, gums, soft tissues and supporting bones.
Mouthguards are necessary in any sport where there might be a strong chance of contact with other participants or hard surfaces and are also a good idea for recreational activities such as skateboarding, in-line skating and cycling.
A dentist makes an impression of the patient’s mouth and then creates an exact-fitting mouthguard from a cast model of the teeth impression using vacuum- or pressure-formed thermoplastic material. As they are customized, these mouthguards provide the best fit, protection and comfort; they are also the most durable.
This mouthguard, generally made of thermoplastic material, must be warmed in very hot water to soften it, so the user can bite into it to create an impression. When moulded within the mouth (or “bitten”), the plastic takes on the shape of the wearer’s mouth; however, the fit is not as precise as that of custom-made mouthguards—and it may be somewhat bulkier. Boil-and-bites come in three sizes: small, medium and large, and are also sized by age.
Made of rubber or polyvinyl, these mouthguards are held in place by clenching teeth together. As a result, they offer the least amount of comfort, protection and durability, and are often bulky and loose.