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Invisalign is an effective alternative to traditional braces that uses a system of clear, removable trays to straighten teeth. Each aligner is custom-made to fit over your teeth and designed to gradually move teeth into their proper position. Invisalign treatment is not for everyone. The best way to find out if Invisalign is the right option for you is to schedule a consultation with your Dr Merkley.
Invisalign was created as an alternative to traditional braces, and is designed to help guide teeth into their proper position. Just like braces, Invisalign aligners use gradual force to control tooth movement, but without any metal wires or brackets. The aligners are made with a strong plastic material, and are fabricated to fit your mouth. Each aligner is created a little different than the previous one, so that each time you switch aligners, your teeth move a little more.
Aligners are worn for at least 20 hours each day, and for two weeks, before putting in a new aligner. The length of your treatment depends on the severity of your case, and can take anywhere between six months to two years.
Invisalign is a great alternative for patients who want a straighter smile but do not want to wear metal braces, or for patients who have had treatment in the past and want to make minor corrections to their smile. Advantages of Invisalign aligners include:
If you're interested in orthodontic treatment with Invisalign, schedule an appointment with Dr Merkley to see whether or not this is the right treatment option for you.
Your smile is one of your most important features. Dentistry is continuously evolving, and with a variety of advanced treatment options, achieving a beautiful, healthy, aesthetic smile is made easy for patients of all ages.
If you’re considering cosmetic dental treatment, ask yourself a few simple questions:
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, cosmetic dentistry may be the answer you've been looking for!
If you want to change the look of your smile almost instantly, veneers may be for you! Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made from tooth-colored materials (such as porcelain), and they are designed to cover the front side of your teeth. , Veneers are a great solution for teeth that are discoloured, chipped or cracked.
If your teeth could use a little boost in brightness, we offer you professional whitening. Coffee, tea, medicine and tobacco can darken your teeth, but you can improve your smile – and your self-confidence with professional whitening. We offer Zoom in office whitening or Zoom take home products to make you want to smile again!
If your teeth have gaps, small chips/cracks or are slightly crooked, bonding may restore the look of your smile quickly and comfortably in just one visit to our dental clinic. Bonded teeth have the look and feel of natural teeth and are a great option if you don’t want or need a lot of work done on your smile.
Mercury (silver) fillings used to be a popular choice for tooth fillings, so if you have mercury fillings and are worried about metal toxicity or just want a more uniform smile, we offer you mercury-free fillings made out of quality materials that will blend perfectly with the colour of your teeth.
In the past, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you'd probably lose that tooth. Today, with a special dental procedure called "root canal treatment", your tooth can be saved. When a tooth is cracked or has a deep cavity, bacteria can enter the pulp tissue and germs can cause an infection inside the tooth. If left untreated, an abscess may form. If the infected tissue is not removed, pain and swelling can result. This can not only injure your jawbones, but it is also detrimental to your overall health.
Root canal treatment involves one to three visits. During treatment, your general dentist or endodontist (a dentist who specializes in problems with the nerves of the teeth) removes the affected tissue. Next, the tissue will be removed, and the interior of the tooth will be cleaned and sealed. Finally, the tooth is filled with a dental composite. If your tooth has extensive decay, your doctor may suggest placing a crown to strengthen and protect the tooth from breaking. As long as you continue to care for your teeth and gums with regular brushing, flossing, and checkups, your restored tooth can last a lifetime.
More than 480,000 new cases of oral and throat cancers are diagnosed each year, and over 35,000 of those cases are right here in the United States. Oral cancer kills one person every hour in the U.S., and without proper detection methods, a person may have oral cancer and not even know it. In almost all cases of oral cancer, early detection plays a major role in a patient’s chances of survival. By diagnosing and treating oral cancer early, a patient’s five year survival rate is 80-90% greater.
While men above the age of 50 are typically at the most risk for oral cancer, there has been a recent increase in the number of women with oral cancer due to a connection between oral cancer and the human papilloma virus (HPV-16).
The VELscope screening system consists of a specialized white light source and viewing scope that make it easier for your doctor to look closely at the tissues inside your mouth. Normal tissues will almost glow a bright green color. Abnormal tissue shows up much darker under the special light.
An abnormal screening does not always mean that the patient has cancer. If an abnormal screening occurs, your doctor may schedule a second scan later to see if the dark spots disappear, or make a referral for a biopsy for a definitive diagnosis.
An implant is a new tooth made of metal and porcelain that looks just like your natural tooth. It’s composed of two main parts: One part is the titanium implant body that takes the place of the missing root, and the second part is the tooth-colored crown that is cemented on top of the implant. With implant treatment, you can smile confidently knowing no one will ever suspect you have a replacement tooth.
In addition to tooth replacement, implants may be used to anchor dentures, especially lower dentures that tend to shift when you talk or chew. For patients with removable partial dentures, implants can replace missing teeth so you have a more natural-looking smile.
A dental implant is a multi-step procedure involving surgery, healing time and a restorative phase. Dr Rivera is our implant placement surgeon. He evaluates and plans the implant placement. After an appropriate healing period (often 43-6 months), Dr. Merkley will restore the implant with a new functional crown or bridge.
Zoom! is a professional teeth whitening treatment that gets your teeth an average of eight shades whiter — in just over an hour. The treatment is safe, simple, and relaxing! Plus, Zoom! is championed by dentists and patients as a pain-free process.
Learn more about Zoom on their website at www.zoomwhitening.com
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for Zoom! whitening!
