What factors affect the colour of my teeth?

Some people are born with teeth that are more yellow than others. Others have teeth that become yellow with age. Your natural tooth colour can also be affected by other factors, such as:

Surface stains and discoloration can be caused by:

- Tobacco use

- Drinking coffee, tea, &/or red wine

- Eating highly pigmented foods such as cherries and blueberries

- Accumulation of tartar deposits

Internal stains can be caused by:

- Treatment with the antibiotic tetracycline during the time when teeth are forming

- Yellowing or graying of the teeth as part of the aging process

- Trauma to the teeth that may result in the death of the tooth's nerve, giving the tooth a brown, gray or black colour

- Ingesting too much fluoride when teeth are forming (from birth to age 16), which gives teeth a "mottled" look

Whitening your teeth has become easier and more effective then ever. Whitening can be done either in-office or at home. Both methods use bleaching gels that oxidize out tooth stains. Sensitivity is a common side-effect of tooth whitening, however normally those symptoms pass within 24-48 hours.

For more information about teeth-whitening options, please contact our office to schedule your appointment with Dr.Jennifer Thomm at Great Lakes Dental.

Dr. Jennifer Thomm

Great Lakes Dental

519.542.3427
info@greatlakesdental.ca
Helping Our Community

Why see a Dentist every 6 months?

Well, you might be surprised to learn the extent of what really goes on during your regular check-up. In addition to cleaning and polishing all the visible and hidden surfaces of your teeth, we also check for many potential problems. Tooth decay, oral cancer and periodontal (gum) disease are just a few examples of problems that can have serious consequences if left undetected.

We recommend that our patients visit our office at least twice each year to ensure their optimal oral health and to help avoid serious, unnecessary pain and/or costly problems. In certain cases, we may even recommend 3 or 4 visits per year in order to properly treat conditions that require more regular attention.

Maintaining a regular dental appointment schedule isn’t just good for your teeth, it’s an important part of your overall health.

If you'd like more information, please contact our office to schedule your appointment with Dr.Jennifer Thomm at Great Lakes Dental.

Dr. Jennifer Thomm

Great Lakes Dental

519.542.3427
info@greatlakesdental.ca
Helping Our Community

How Can I Protect My Child's Teeth?

Preventive care is an important element in any dental care plan. This is especially true in the case of children who often have high sugar diets that can lead to tooth decay. As a result, it is important for children to visit their dentist for check-ups and cleanings at least twice per year.

Another great way to protect young teeth is the application of tooth sealants. This procedure involves applying a plastic resin material to the grooves and pits of cavity prone teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier against oral bacteria to prevent the start of tooth decay. Applied soon after the eruption of new molars and premolars, tooth sealants could help your child to avoid the unpleasantness of cavities and fillings.

For more information about tooth sealants, please contact our office to schedule your appointment with Dr.Jennifer Thomm at Great Lakes Dental.

Dr. Jennifer Thomm

Great Lakes Dental

519.542.3427
info@greatlakesdental.ca
Helping Our Community

What Are Most Common Causes Of Tooth Loss?

When people think about tooth loss they normally think of accidents or tooth decay. What most people don’t realize is that the leading cause of tooth loss among adults is actually diseases of the gums rather than the teeth themselves. 

In fact, gum disease or periodontal disease, results in more lost teeth than trauma and tooth decay combined.

 Typical signs of periodontal disease are gums that bleed when you brush or floss, red, swollen and tender gums, persistent bad breath, and teeth that appear to be getting longer. 

Fortunately, with prompt treatment in its early stages, periodontal disease is highly treatable. As a result, we regularly screen our patients for the tell-tale signs of gum disease.



For more information about periodontal disease, please contact our office to schedule your appointment with Dr.Jennifer Thomm at Great Lakes Dental.

Dr. Jennifer Thomm

Great Lakes Dental

519.542.3427
info@greatlakesdental.ca
Helping Our Community

CEREC Dentistry

CEREC is an acronym meaning Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. It’s a type of technology that incorporates two computer technologies: CAD (computer-aided design), and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing). The CEREC procedure allows Dr. Jennifer Thomm to design, manufacture, and perfect a crown while you wait in our beautiful office at Great Lakes Dental. The process can be completed in less than an hour.

The process begins with taking a picture of the tooth that will receive the crown. Using that image, a digital impression of the real tooth is created. The software allows us to re-create the adjacent teeth digitally (ensuring a proper fit), the image is then sent to the milling machine via wireless transmission.

With a CEREC crown, you’ll get a permanent crown during a single office visit. The design process allows us to match that crown to your real tooth as closely as possible.

CEREC crowns are made out of ceramic material and milled using diamond blades.

Before securing the crown in your mouth with resin cement, we smooth, file, and refine the shape of the crown. After cementing the tooth in your mouth, Dr. Jennifer Thomm and her team at Great Lakes Dental will check to make sure the surface of the crown is smooth and makes proper contact with your teeth when you bite down.

For more information about CEREC crowns, please contact our office to schedule your appointment with Dr.Jennifer Thomm at Great Lakes Dental.

Dr. Jennifer Thomm

Great Lakes Dental

519.542.3427
info@greatlakesdental.ca
Helping Our Community

Bad Breath?

According to recent studies, almost half the population of adults in North America suffers at least occasionally from bad breath (halitosis). The most common cause of bad breath is bacteria in the mouth and on the back of the tongue. These bacteria produce a volatile sulfur compound, which in turn produces a smell similar to “rotten eggs”. Other causes of halitosis include certain foods, smoking, alcohol, hormonal changes or simply being hungry.

Depending upon the type of bad breath, the treatment usually begins with ensuring meticulous oral hygiene. A dentist or dental hygienist will check for gum disease and if necessary prepare a detailed treatment plan. Tongue scraping should also become an important part of daily home care and part of your regular tooth brushing routine.

For more information please contact our office to schedule your appointment with Dr.Jennifer Thomm at Great Lakes Dental.

Dr. Jennifer Thomm

Great Lakes Dental

519.542.3427
info@greatlakesdental.ca
Helping Our Community