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OTHER SERVICES

Advanced Laser Bacterial Reduction Treatments in Grande Prairie

At Plaza Dental Clinic, we offer laser bacterial reduction treatments in Grande Prairie. We are constantly learning and striving to advance the standard of patient care in our office. As such, we added (when needed) this effective procedure to your routine professional teeth cleaning to help fight gum inflammation (gingivitis) that can lead to periodontal disease (periodontitis).

 

Periodontal disease affects approximately 80% of adults and continues to be a growing epidemic in our society. Periodontal disease is a gum and bone infection caused by oral biofilm (plaque) and inflammation. Bacteria that remain undisturbed produce this biofilm that begins the inflammatory process. Over the last few years, improved techniques have been developed to better eliminate this irritant.


During your routine hygiene appointment, the use of soft tissue diode lasers can enhance your gum health as an addition to traditional scaling and root planing. Before/after cleaning the hard tooth surfaces, the laser is used to eliminate the bacteria under the gums.


Using the soft tissue diode laser before/after we scale the teeth does several important things:

Reduces bacteria from getting into your bloodstream. Most patients will have some bleeding during the cleaning process. This allows the bacteria that are present in your mouth to flood into your body. The latest research shows that oral bacteria may be linked to a number of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, low birth weight, premature babies and more.
Prevents cross-contamination. Infected pockets in one area of your mouth can spread to other areas. Bacterial reduction minimizes this chance.
Kills the bad bacteria that may cause periodontal disease. Regularly eliminating the bacteria in the pockets allows the good bacteria to repopulate the area, thus improving your overall health.

Ultimately, by eliminating bacteria under the gums, inflammation and bleeding are reduced and periodontal disease is better managed. This decontamination process is painless and normally takes about 5-10 minutes.

 


Please ask one of our hygienists or any of our educated team members if you have any questions regarding this treatment.

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Benefits of Laser Bacterial Reduction

Laser Bacterial Reduction is one of the most sophisticated ways to eliminate inflammation-causing bacteria from your oral cavity. The treatment utilizes lasers that vigorously target bacterial colonies in your mouth. If left untreated, these bacterial growths can lead to gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. There are many benefits of using the Laser Bacterial Reduction method. Some of these benefits are listed here:

Removes bacteria that could cause inflammation
Promotes healing with a non-cutting tissue method
Works as a preventative step to achieve the best oral health possible
Less time-consuming process
Less swelling in the gums
Less bleeding
Minimal tissue damage
Low-cost procedure

Children's Dentistry

Children are a welcome addition to our family-oriented dental practice. We make sure that your child's experience with us imparts feelings of trust and security, leaving them comfortable and open to learning about their teeth.


What Is the Right Age to Take My Child to the Dentist?

 

You can bring your child for a dental exam at three years of age or earlier if you face any issues. The first appointment is offered as a fun introduction to dentistry. We check for decay, clean and polish their teeth, review brushing techniques, and sometimes even provide a fluoride treatment. A discussion with you on how different foods, drinks, and snacks can adversely affect your child's teeth is a very important aspect.


Your child will be scheduled every six months. As children are rapidly growing and changing, special attention is given to the growth and development of their facial bones, erupting permanent teeth, smile function and aesthetics. We also monitor the effects of oral habits, including pacifiers, baby bottles, and thumb sucking. Orthodontic evaluations occur if your child exhibits signs of undesired development.

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Dentistry for Seniors

It is never too late to enjoy healthy gums, and you are never too old for regular dental check-ups. Still, many adults neglect their oral health by not keeping up with their regular dentist appointments. At Plaza Dental Clinic, we offer personalized oral care services to senior patients for proper oral hygiene to help them lead an active and healthy lifestyle regardless of their age.


Today, individuals live longer than ever, so ensuring dental health is essential. Poor oral hygiene can affect your ability to maintain proper nutrition. It also impacts your overall well-being. Some health conditions even stem from poor oral health. We offer preventative dental services to keep cavities and gum disease at bay. If your dentures require special attention, we are here for you. You can trust us for regular dental check-ups and cleanings to maintain good dental health during your senior years.

Adults Dental Health Concerns

 

With growing age, seniors are at high risk of developing a few dental health concerns, including:

Tooth loss
Darkened or stained teeth
Gum disease
Root decay
Uneven jawbone caused by missing teeth
Dry mouth due to reduced saliva flow
Impaired sense of taste
Thrush
Denture-induced stomatitis

Additionally, tooth decay and gum disease have been linked to other health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and aspiration pneumonia. If you have gum disease or tooth decay, bacteria from your mouth can enter the bloodstream and can weaken your immune system causing these additional health concerns.

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Oral Cancer Screening

In this procedure, an examination is performed to identify the signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth. It aims to detect mouth cancer at an early stage so that there are higher chances for a cure. We can examine your mouth and screen for oral cancer during a routine dental visit. Additional tests may also be conducted to facilitate the identification of abnormal cells in your mouth. Some of the common factors that often result in an increased risk of oral cancer include:

Tobacco consumption of any sort
Heavy alcohol consumption
Extensive sun exposure that can increase the risk of lip cancer

If you think you could be at a risk of developing oral cancer, ask us about the screening tests that might be appropriate for you.

What Can You Expect During the Screening?

What Can You Expect During the Screening? The dentist will check your mouth for patches or mouth sores
The dentist will check the tissues in your mouth for abnormalities using gloved hands
Your throat and neck may also be examined for lumps

Results

If any mouth cancer or precancerous symptoms are detected, you may be recommended a follow-up visit or a biopsy procedure.

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Digital X-ray

At Plaza Dental Clinic, we offer digital x-ray. Dental digital x-ray imaging is far less intrusive than conventional x-rays. We place a sensor inside your mouth that sends the digital information to a computer. We have a panoramic cephalometric x-ray machine which eliminates the need to insert a plate or film inside the mouth.


Our dentists use CBCT to assess the underlying bone structure, nerve pathways and soft tissues. 3D Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) is a type of imaging technology that uses an imaging machine to capture around 150-200 images from various angles and compile them into a single 3D image within a minute.


CBCT scan is a quick process. A full mouth scan often takes around 20-40 seconds. During a CBCT scan, an x-ray arm slowly rotates around your head. Our dentists may have you rest your head against part of the machine or use stabilizers to ensure that your head remains stationary during the scan. The process won’t cause you any discomfort.

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iTero Scanner

iTero scanners have established an industry standard for intraoral scanning as it produces highly detailed 3D scans. iTero scanners feature a laser (or light-emitting wand) that is significantly smaller than the wands of older intraoral scanners. The scanners of the past contained larger wands that couldn’t manoeuvre a complete and accurate 3D scan. The wand present in the iTero scanners is small enough to reach the farthest areas of your mouth, which helps in producing high-quality scans.


A larger wand size required you to open your mouth uncomfortably wide, which is not the case with the iTero scanner. The small size gives us enough flexibility during the scanning process to ensure greater detail. Consequently, the digital impressions created are quick and accurate. These scanners also offer real-time simulations so that you can watch the impression of your mouth in real-time as the wand moves through it. Plaza Dental Clinic uses the iTero scanner to create a high-quality digital impression of your mouth.

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Periodontal Surgeries

Distal wedges
This surgical procedure removes the additional tissue covering a portion of your back teeth. It is performed under a local anesthetic, which numbs the area and ensures that you do not feel any pain.
Flap surgery
If you have severe gum disease which cannot be cured with antibiotics or root planing and scaling, you may need surgery. A flap procedure helps clean the roots of a tooth and repairs bone damage caused by gum disease.
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Why Choose Plaza Dental Clinic?

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All Direct Billing

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New Patients Are Welcome

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Sedation Dentistry Available

Taking Care of Your Teeth

Your teeth do much more than just chewing; they make you look beautiful.

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