Tips for Keeping Teeth Healthy in St. John’s

On this page you will find helpful information about keeping teeth healthy. In St. John’s, Cowan Heights Dental Centre is among the best for not only treating patients but educating them on how to properly care for their teeth. Read the helpful information below to learn more about effective ways to manage your oral health. If you need a teeth cleaning or other dental service, be sure to contact our office to schedule an appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I take my child for their first dentist visit?

Your child's first teeth erupt around 6 months old. To prevent dental problems, we recommend your child should visit the dentist at 1 year of age. This first visit will help your child to become acquainted with our office and develop a relationship with the dentist and staff while giving us a chance to help educate you on how to properly care for your child's teeth.

How often should I visit the dentist?

Scheduling teeth cleanings every 6 months is the most effective way to prevent tooth decay, plaque buildup and other dental issues. At your dental checkups you’ll also receive X-rays and screenings for certain conditions to ensure your overall oral health is at optimum levels.

What causes tooth decay?

Cavities are tooth decay, and they occur when bacteria living in your mouth make acid that begins to eat away at your teeth. Untreated cavities can cause infection, extreme pain and the loss of your affected tooth. Your tooth will begin to decay with unnoticeable damage to the enamel (outer layer) of your teeth. This will steadily progress to deeper layers of your tooth, eventually reaching the centre or pulp. The pulp contains very sensitive blood vessels and nerves. Most commonly, cavities are cause by poor oral hygiene, improper nutrition, sugary foods, acidic foods, teeth grinding, genetics and avoiding regular checkups with your dentist.

What is CAD/CAM ceramic dentistry?

CAD/CAM stands for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. Cowan Heights Dental is proud to be the first dental office in Newfoundland to make this amazing piece of technology available for our patients in 2004.

The common mercury filling was becoming too controversial and it was a material that we did not feel comfortable placing in our patients’ mouths anymore. It became very important to us that we should be able to offer the very best type of restoration, strengthen a tooth, and provide this superior restoration in a single visit.

This search led us to ceramic restorations made with CAD/CAM. It is the dental industry's closest attempt so far to duplicating natural tooth enamel.

Once we began using CAD/CAM, we quickly discovered that we could not only provide the advantage of a stronger restoration, but also conserve tooth structure for our patients, extending the life of their teeth.

CAD/CAM reduces a normal three-visit appointment down to one easy visit, and it’s really cool to watch. The steps are simple: Once the tooth is anaesthetized, the old mercury filling is removed or the broken tooth is reshaped, then a highly specialized camera is used to take a picture of the tooth. Once this is done, the computer generates a 3D image – now sit back and watch us design a new ceramic restoration designed specifically for you. Within a few minutes your dentist will send the design to our newest milling unit that will cut your restoration out of a solid block of ceramic.

Finally, the restoration is verified for fit, then baked at 790 degrees, cooled, bonded in place, and ready to use – all in one visit.