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Tag: calgary dental clinic

Is Whitening Your Teeth At Home Safe During COVID-19 - Savanna Dental - Dentist Calgary NE
1Mar
Have you started to notice discoloration in your smile during COVID-19? Learn from a certified Calgary dentist whether whitening your teeth at home is risky business or safe to go ahead with.

Various methods of in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments have become increasingly popularized in recent years. Although most of our teeth are generally white overall, our tooth enamel becomes more and more discoloured over time for various reasons. With the severity of the pandemic still upon us, many clients at our Calgary dental clinic location have inquired whether it is safe to proceed with whitening their teeth at home. If you are questioning this, stick around and find out the answer to this question from one of our Calgary dentist specialists.

What causes tooth discoloration?

Before we get into our teeth whitening discussion, let’s quickly review some causes of tooth discoloration that may occur on particular teeth or throughout your entire smile:

  • Drinks such as red wine, tea, and coffee.
  • The tar and nicotine found in tobacco.
  • When you age, the dentin, located directly beneath the tooth, begins to get more yellow as your tooth enamel becomes thinner.
  • If you have ever suffered trauma to your mouth area, you may have disrupted blood flow to your teeth which will cause it to slowly decay over time.
  • Medications including some brands of high blood pressure prescriptions, antihistamines and antipsychotics.

Teeth Whitening Selections

Now that we understand the cause of tooth discoloration, let’s take a quick look at the tooth whitening options clients have available to them:

  • Teeth whitening toothpaste works to fade the discoloration on the surface of your teeth. It is considered to be the mildest method of teeth whitening procedures available.
  • Whitening strips, lights and trays that work to lighten the tooth enamel.
  • In-house at a Calgary dental clinic that is performed by a professional.

Is it safe to whiten your teeth at home during COVID-19?

Generally speaking, clients should not worry about any health concerns when whitening their teeth at home. That being said, you may experience some side effects depending on the type of at-home treatment you decided to use, including extreme tooth sensitivity and irritated gums. This typically occurs when whitening products contain chlorine dioxide, which has the potential of damaging and diminishing the layer of tooth enamel on your teeth, which causes sensitivity. While not all at-home teeth whitening solutions utilize chlorine dioxide, it is recommended that you check the label to see the listed ingredients. Keep the whitening strips on for the amount indicated on the product box, but no longer. As a Calgary dentist professional, it is understandable that clients may wish to use multiple treatments on their teeth to speed the process along. However, we do not recommend you do so, as it may cause harm to your gum tissues and lead you to have severe sensitivity.

Final Thoughts

All in all, clients can safely whiten their teeth at home without any severe health concerns. If you are, however, looking for a Calgary dentist that operates out of a Calgary dental clinic to provide you with a professional teeth whitening service, we are currently open and operating in accordance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

For more information, contact our Calgary dental clinic

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Oral Hygienists Urge Canadians to Say No to Tobacco - Savanna Dental - Dentist Calgary NE
22Feb
Local Calgary dental clinic highlights the health concerns related to prolonged tobacco use to join Canadian oral hygienists in urging citizens to say no.

To combat the adverse effects of tobacco use amongst Canadians, Canada’s oral hygienists intend to mark January 17 – 23 as the National Non-Smoking Week as an educational and awareness initiative to decrease the prevalence of smoking in the community. While statistics indicate that the number of Canadians who smoke decreased between 2015 and 2018, current statistics report that 3.3 million Canadians aged 25 and older are still choosing to smoke, despite health concerns. Therefore, to further the awareness initiatives, the purpose of this article is to highlight once again the adverse health concerns that are related to smoking tobacco.

What is Tobacco?

For those of you who may be unaware, “tobacco is a plant that contains nicotine, a psychoactive (mind-altering) drug that speeds up activity in our central nervous system but has relaxing effects too.” It is available in various forms, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and powder form. Accordingly, over 4,000 chemicals are detected in tobacco smoke, including lead, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, and arsenic, with at least 70 chemicals known to cause various forms of cancer.

The Risks Of Tobacco Use

For those of you who may be unaware, “tobacco is a plant that contains nicotine, a psychoactive (mind-altering) drug that speeds up activity in our central nervous system but has relaxing effects too.” It is available in various forms, including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, and powder form. Accordingly, over 4,000 chemicals are detected in tobacco smoke, including lead, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, and arsenic, with at least 70 chemicals known to cause various forms of cancer.

Smoking has long been linked to numerous health concerns, including various types of cancers and heart disease, as we just mentioned. However, what many Canadians fail to realize is that tobacco also increases your chances of:

  • Respiratory and lung disease
  • Problems with fertility in women
  • Problems with blood vessels
  • Premature death

According to the Government of Canada, approximately 100 Canadians die of health issues related to smoking each day. Additionally, research indicates that smokeless tobacco forms, including chew and its powder form, are among the lead cases of mouth and throat cancer. These tobacco forms can also lead to:

  • Tooth loss
  • Receding gums
  • Discoloured teeth and gums 

Why Calgary Dental Clinics Are Concerned

Calgary dentists are particularly concerned for their patients as they fail to realize the likeliness of them being at risk for mouth sores, altered smells and tastes, and decreased blood flow to their gums even without having a cancer diagnosis. This is ultimately going to cause patients to have bad breath, discomfort and dry mouth, which in turn will reduce their overall quality of life, which is why local Calgary dental clinics are urging their community to be more aware and take these health concerns more seriously.

What Can You Do Today?

After reading this article, if you find yourself interested in finding out more about the health risks of tobacco; we urge you to consult with a licensed medical professional who will be able to assist you with your inquiries. We suggest making an appointment with our Calgary dental clinic, Savanna Dental, so our experienced oral hygienists may help you with any mouth-related concerns you may have.

If you are looking for a Calgary dentist, please visit savannadentalclinic.ca for more details and book an appointment.

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When Should I Start Taking My Child to the Dentist - Savanna Dental Clinic - Calgary Dental Clinic
12Dec

When you have a child, your whole life changes. You need to take care of them, pay attention to their health, and make sure that they grow happy and healthy. One important thing that you need to pay attention to is their oral health. First-time parents may not know this, but the Canadian Dental Association recommends taking kids to the dentist around their first birthday or 6 months after their first tooth comes out, whichever comes first. The main goal is to prevent any problems with their teeth, like cavities and tooth decay.

Even during COVID-19, you should schedule their dental checkups and cleanings. We know how scary it might sound to go out of your house, but it is necessary. We recommend doing it before problems arise. Also, as mentioned in our previous post, at Savanna Dental we follow the ADA COVID-19 guidelines to make sure that your kid has a safe and have a  pleasant visit to the dentist.

So, if you are planning to take your child to the dentist for the first time you need to make sure that their experience is the most pleasant and comfortable as possible. Most kids, even being so little, remember their first time to the dentist.

To set some expectations and make sure that you do not experience any surprises during your little one’s visit, these are some of the few things that will happen during their first dental visit:

  • The parents can sit in the dental chair with the kid in their lap to make them feel safe and comfortable while the dentist performs the dental checkup.
  • Entertain the child by playing cartoons on Netflix
  • The dentist checks babies’ teeth, jaw, bite, and gums to make sure that everything is healthy.
  • The parents and dentist discuss teething, daily dental hygiene, and other relevant topics, so they are educated and understand the child’s oral health needs.
  • The dentist will recommend booking a follow-up (usually every 6 months)
  • Provide a prize at the end of the visit!!

If you are in Calgary and decide to take your child for their first dental appointment, you can visit our pediatric dentist, Dr. Aman Bhopal at Savanna Dental, and he will make sure to take care of all your baby’s dental needs. We are accepting new patients and you can contact us by clicking here or by calling us at (403) 293-3413.

Taking Care of Your Oral Health During COVID-19 - Savanna Dental Clinic - Calgary Dental Clinic
2Dec

COVID-19 came along with a lot of stress eating, out of boredom and to distract ourselves from what is happening around the world.  Obviously, most of us like to eat snacks and sweets to ease stress. However, habits like these can cause new health issues. Regarding your oral health this could mean cavities and tooth decay.

Last couple of months, COVID-19 cases have been increasing rapidly in Alberta, especially in Calgary. To control the spread, we should only go out of the house if it is necessary like essential groceries, drug store to get medications, and dental and/or medical appointments.

At Savanna Dental, we have developed this list of 5 tips to take care of your oral health:

  1. Have a healthy and balanced diet – eating healthy and having a balanced diet is key to provide our body, bones, teeth, and gums with the nutrients that they need to fight infections and diseases.
  2. Eat less snacks and sweets – eating a lot of sugar and/or salt can increase the risk of developing cavities and increase tooth decay. To prevent these, we recommend reducing the consumption of sugary and salty treats to up to once a day.
  3. Stay hydrated – staying hydrated is essential to produce saliva which washes away food from the teeth and maintains your oral health. Also, having a glass of water after every meal can help you rinse your mouth and remove any food excess from your teeth.
  4. Brush, floss and rinse your teeth – brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash should be part of your daily life. We recommend doing it at least twice a day when you wake up and before you go to sleep. However, if you can, you should also be doing it after each meal.
  5. Keep your toothbrush clean – viruses can survive in your toothbrush for up to three days. A good rinse with mouthwash and water can help maintain a clean toothbrush. Also, remember to change your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months.

These are just a few recommendations to help you prevent oral health problems. However, if you are suffering from tooth pain, Savanna Dental can help. Call us at (403) 293-3413 or walk into our dental clinic in Calgary NE.

Taking Care of Your Oral Health During COVID-19 - Savanna Dental
14Nov

When Coronavirus (COVID-19) started, the entire world stopped. People avoided public places, offices, and traveling. Dental clinics were deemed non-essential, at least temporarily, which forced them to close.

After the pandemic hit, governments began to put measures in place to contain and control the virus (e.g. wear face masks, practice physical distancing, sanitize your hands, etc.). Businesses started to open and offer their services again. In Alberta, dental clinics started to quickly open, knowing how important it is for people to have dentists available to take care of their dental needs.

The Alberta Dental Association (ADA) created a COVID-19 guideline for dental clinics to follow to reduce the risks of spreading the infection. At Savanna Dental, we not only follow the ADA COVID-19 guideline, but go above and beyond for the safety of our staff and patients. Here is a summary of the measures we take to ensure your safety:

    • Staff must have basic knowledge of the disease, the infectivity, and modes of transmission and have ongoing training sessions around the ADA&C guidelines.
    • Display posts with COVID-19 protocols and measures.
    • Daily screenings of the entire dental team including having their temperature taken twice per day and completing a COVID-19 screening checklist.
    • Screen patients on the phone and once they enter the clinic according to ADA&C COVID-19 guidelines.
    • Maintain an up-to-date contact list for all staff.
    • Ensure that all patients are wearing a mask when entering the clinic as required by the City of Calgary.
    • Provide hand hygiene stations for patients.
    • Promote physical distancing by maintaining 6 feet apart guidelines.
    • Minimize the number of people in the clinic and minimize contact at reception.
    • Require staff to wear masks at all times when in the clinic.
    • Enforce hand hygiene to all staff by frequent handwashing and using hand rub before and after every patient.
    • Clean and disinfect surfaces after every single patient including waiting area and public bathroom.

At Savanna Dental Clinic, we know how important it is to address tooth pain as it occurs. If you were not able to attend your dental appointment because of pandemic closures or if you are currently experiencing any kind of dental pain, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are open and accepting new patients, walk-ins, and dental emergencies.

COVID-19 Info. (2020, September 03). Retrieved November 14, 2020, from https://www.dentalhealthalberta.ca/covid-19-info/

The risk of DIY Straighten Teeth Aligners - Savanna Dental Clinic - Calgary Dental Clinic
23Oct

Social media and the internet are a good way to stay informed of news, trends, and things happening all around the world. These are also used as marketing platforms to promote products and services to attract new customers for businesses. It is impressive to see how many new products are being launched every day and it is even more interesting to see how a lot of these new products can be ordered online as Do It Yourself (DIY) kits.

Recently, we have seen that this is starting to happen in the medical sector, specifically in the dental world. Some companies have started to promote DIY invisalign teeth-straightening aligners that you can order online to try to correct and improve the appearance of your smile.

The DIY process involves ordering a kit to take a digital impression of the customer’s teeth. Based on the impressions, a licensed dentist or orthodontist will prescribe a series of custom-made aligners that are sent to the customer by mail with instructions on how to use them and when to switch from one into another to gradually move the teeth into the correct position. However, this process is not as easy as it sounds.

Most dentists recommend having a consultation first to assess your case and provide a plan to improve not only your smile but more importantly your oral health. Dental practitioners have extensive training to take precise impressions and assess how aligners will interact with or exacerbate pre-existing dental issues. Additionally, in-person dental visits are necessary to continuously assess your oral health and ensure that the aligners are doing their jobs. Without these in-person assessments with a professional, a patient runs the risk of causing permanent tooth damage, gum damage, and joint pain. The information that you share with your dentist and what they see during the dental visit is vital to provide dental care.

Technology is evolving at a rapid pace and everyday new and advanced tools are being created to make life easier. However, we do not recommend performing orthodontic treatments at home without first having an appointment with your dentist to assess your current dental condition.

At Savanna Dental in Calgary NE, we offer Invisalign invisible braces as one of our orthodontic services to improve the appearance of your smile. Visit us, and we will provide you with a free consultation. You can also contact us, and we’ll provide you with more information.

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