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What You Need to Know About Frenectomies | Ottawa Dentist

When we think about dental procedures, we generally think about teeth and gums, but there are a few lesser-known bits that can require necessary dental attention. One of these is the frenulum. Frenulum is a thin connective tissue that connects one surface to another inside the mouth. We have three types – lingual frenulum connects our tongue to the bottom of our mouth, labial frenulum connects attaches the lips to the gums (top and bottom at our front teeth) and buccal frena attaches our gums to the sides of our cheeks. In fact, you can see your frenum if you look in a mirror. Lift your tongue to see your lingual frenulum, pull your upper or lower lip to expose your labial frenulum. That’s your frenulum!

Now, this will only really become a problem if the frenulum is elongated and here’s why. As an infant, having an elongated lingual frenum may cause issues feeding, because babies need their tongues to suckle milk. If left untreated, it will cause speech issues as they become a toddler and begun to speak. And if it’s the labial frena that is elongated, it may cause orthodontic issues because it could cause gaps as permanent teeth start to come in. Many times, the issue can be remedied with braces.

Thankfully, there are plenty of natural, non-invasive options to try first. But if that doesn’t help, there is a simple procedure that can remedy any abnormal frenulum issues – a frenectomy. So simple you are in and out within fifteen minutes. Even recovery time is minimal – if you keep it clean and follow aftercare instructions, you’ll be back to normal within two weeks.

Schedule your appointment today. Call Dr. Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.urbandentalcentre.com.

Dr. Katia Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.

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Teenage Life with a Crooked Smile | Ottawa Dentist

We’ve all been there – puberty is one of the most topsy-turvy times a person can have in their lives. Between the physical changes and the hormones kicking in full throttle, life decides that social relations are also intricate to our development. And for many of us, the hormones are making a mess of that bit.Because teens are very into social media and getting their likes, physical appearance is important to maintain. But if your physical issue is a flawed smile, it can become a self-conscious disaster during these formative years. And unfortunately, traditional braces don’t exactly help on the social scene. Thankfully, there is a solution to your teen’s social discomfort – Invisalign Teen. Invisalign Teen is a fantastic way for your teen to straighten their smile in the most discrete way possible. Rather than traditional braces, Invisalign Teen straightens teeth through the use of clear, removable aligners as they slowly move the teeth to their proper position. Here are some basic benefits to choosing Invisalign Teen, as opposed to the traditional method:
  • If your teen plays sports, they won’t need to worry about brackets getting knocked out while playing.
  • If they are more into the arts, playing an instrument or acting in a play won’t be an issue.
  • You no longer have to worry about broken wires or brackets due to diet restrictions. They can eat as much popcorn as they want.
  • Daily dental hygiene won’t need to change as the trays are removeable and cleaned separately.
Your teen will be awkward during this time in their lives, but if you can help prevent undue stress while also improving their smile, you may want to consider Invisalign Teen. If you would like more information about Invisalign Teen, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com. Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.
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What Is AcceleDent? | Ottawa Dentist

We would all love to have the best smile we possibly can, so we visit the dentist to help us improve any flaws that may have been created over time. Now, if your treatment options are orthodontic, you are in for a rather long session of braces, whether you get the traditional variety or the invisible options like Invisalign. Of course, it depends on your personal case, but it takes a while for teeth to move and adjust into a proper formation to create the smile you are looking for. At least, it used to take a while… In walks Acceledent. Acceledent is a revolutionary, simple to use, hands-free device that can reduce your orthodontic treatment by up to 50%. You heard it correctly – half of the time! A mouthpiece is attached to an activator that gently vibrates. It is these micropulses that move your teeth. Each day, you will bite down on this mouthpiece for twenty minutes. No hands necessary, so it won’t interrupt your daily routines. Clean the mouthpiece with some dish soap and that’s all the upkeep you’ll need to do. Not bad for something that will speed up the arrival of your new smile. Now, there are some treatment options that aren’t right for everyone. Patients with a lot of crooked teeth or gaps, Invisalign probably won’t be right for you. Fortunately, Acceledent is ideal for everyone that is undergoing orthodontic treatments. The only issue is that you will need to visit your dentist in order to get it – it’s only available by prescription. If you would like more information about AcceleDent, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com. Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.
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Tips and Tricks for Wearing Invisalign | Ottawa Dentist

When you are set to receive Invisalign treatment to straighten your teeth, it is an exciting time. Not only will you end up with a gorgeously straight smile, but the aligners are clear so no one will even notice that you’re straightening your teeth. Your lifestyle is going to change while it’s happening – but it isn’t going to turn your world upside down. Here are some tips to keep in mind so the process goes as smooth as possible… Follow direction. When you get your aligner trays, you are going to receive lots of instructions from your dental professional regarding maintenance – they know what is best. And because you need to change out your aligners every other week, it is important to keep your dental appointments to check progress and address any issues. Keep the trays in. You will need to wear your aligners 22 hours a day. As much as you want to give your mouth a break, don’t. Removing the trays will only delay your treatment process and possibly damage the aligners. Don’t stray from dietary restrictions. Just like with braces, you are going to have dietary restrictions. Follow them. Not only will soft foods aid while your mouth is sore, but certain foods will stain your teeth and the clear trays. Daily dental routine. Because your trays can stain quite easily and they are covering your teeth, it is important to brush and floss regularly to prevent staining and other dental issues that may arise from bacteria trapped in between. Hold onto your trays. In case damages are made to your Invisalign trays, keep your previous trays to use as temporaries until new trays can be made. If you would like more information about Invisalign, call Dr. Katia Doumit in Ottawa, Ontario at 613-232-8000 or visit www.lesplanadedental.com. Dr. Doumit proudly serves Ottawa and all surrounding areas.