There are times in your life where you may need something more at the dentist then a simple check-up and cleaning. Dentists offer much more than these simple procedures and can help you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile no matter your starting point. Here are some of the most common dental procedures that you can have done and why you may need to invest in them.

Fillings
Getting a dental filling is incredibly common. Most people, at some point in their life, will get a cavity that needs to be filled. Tooth decay is a reality of life, and sometimes even if you practice perfect dental hygiene, you will still end up with a cavity that needs to be filled. To try and keep cavities at bay though you should avoid sugary drinks, avoid sticky sweet food (fruit chews and gummies are notorious for causing cavities in young children) brush and floss at least twice a day, and get bi-yearly cleanings. Cavities can be filled with amalgam fillings, composite fillings, metal fillings and ceramic fillings. Which type of filling you get depends on age, the problem, and the type of teeth (both which tooth it is and if it is a baby tooth or an adult tooth).

Braces
Braces are incredibly common, both traditional braces and products like Invisalign. There are many different reasons why you may need to have braces. You can have crooked teeth, overcrowded teeth, overlapping teeth, an overbite, an underbite, or an open bite just to name a few. Occasionally, along with braces, you may need a tooth extraction if you have too many teeth (hyperdontia), on the other hand, if you have too few teeth (hypodontia) then you may need some kind of implant or bridge. Whether you have conventional bracket and wire braces, lingual braces (where brackets are placed on the backs of the teeth), or aligners like Invisalign, teeth can be slowly straightened to fix your smile.

Root Canals
While back in the day an abscessed or diseased tooth was merely removed, now a root canal is performed on them. A root canal is completed by the tooth being opened up, and the infected or decayed tissue inside is removed. The inside of the tooth is then filled and sealed back up. A root canal allows adults to keep their teeth rather than having them removed and receiving dentures instead, which can damage the gums over time.

Veneers
Chipped, stained, and misaligned teeth, as well as tooth gaps, can all be fixed with veneers. Veneers can even be used in place of bracing, though this is a very extreme and expensive and they are not permanent. Porcelain veneers, which are the type we use at Lumina Dental, can last up to fifteen years. Veneers fit on over top of your teeth so you can retain the integrity of your root and no implants will need to be made. For someone with a tooth imperfection, or an adult who may not want to go through bracing, veneers are an excellent choice.

All In One Spot
Lumina Dental offers countless dental and orthodontic services. We do cosmetic dentistry, children and family dentistry, orthodontics, sports and night guards, urgent care and implants and dentures in Maple Ridge. Contact us today, and we will be happy to brighten your smile.