Crowns - What, Why, How

So we’ve told you that you need a crown on your tooth.  Congratulations! You are now royalty, haha.  That’s such a lame dental joke, but you can’t blame me for trying! All lame joking aside I’m going to chat about what a dental crown is, why you may need one, and how the process works.

Can you guess which tooth has the crown that Dr. Sunayna did on this patient?

WHAT IS A CROWN?

A crown is essentially a cap that provides full coverage over your existing tooth to prevent it from fracturing.  It is cemented (ie. glued) to your tooth permanently.

Crowns can be made of a variety of materials such as gold, porcelain, and porcelain fused to metal to name a few.  The right material for you will be discussed and decided upon between you and your dentist and is dependent on the situation. However, in 99% of cases a material is used that can be matched to the shade of the rest of your teeth therefore providing a natural look.

WHY DO YOU NEED A CROWN?

Here is a patient who presented with a fractured premolar.

There are many different situations that can warrant the recommendation of a crown.  The first is a broken tooth.  A tooth can break for multiple reasons such as a crack present in the tooth, the way your teeth meet together, grinding or clenching, or accidental just to name a few.  When this happens, a filling must be done in order to fill the broken or missing part of the tooth.  If the tooth ends up being more filling than actual tooth, the tooth is prone to fracture again especially when subjected to the natural forces of chewing and grinding, therefore a crown is recommended.

Another reason a tooth may need a crown is because the tooth has had a root canal.  When a root canal is done, the tooth must be filled in order to replace the amount of tooth lost.  Again, in most situations this means the tooth will be more filling than actual tooth, therefore being at risk for fracture.

As you can see, the fractured tooth has been filled resulting in a tooth that is more filling than actual tooth. Therefore, a crown is recommended to prevent it from fracturing again.

If a tooth has a large cavity, it will require a filling in order to remove the decay present.  If the size of the resulting filling is also large, a crown may be recommended in order to protect the tooth.

If a tooth is left without the protection of a crown for too long, the tooth can fracture beyond pair requiring the tooth to be extracted!

Finally, sometimes, a crown is done for esthetic purposes to mask the discolouration of a tooth or to cover a misshapen tooth.

HOW IS A CROWN DONE?

1. At your first appointment, we will pick a shade for your crown and have you approve it.  Local anesthetic is given and the tooth is filed down to a smaller version of itself.

2. An impression of the tooth is taken so that the lab can fabricate your crown.

A back molar has been prepared for a crown.

3. We will make you a temporary crown to cover your tooth until your permanent crown is ready. Your temporary crown will NOT be the same colour or shape as your permanent crown, so don’t worry when you see it!

4. At your second appointment the temporary crown is removed and the permanent crown is placed.  We ensure the fit, shade, shape and colour are correct.  The crown is then permanently cemented to your tooth.

It is important to note that in some circumstances your tooth may need special procedures prior to doing a crown such as orthodontics, gum, or root canal treatment.

Don’t forget, you must treat a crown like a regular tooth! A crown can get a cavity underneath if it is not being taken care of properly! Be sure to brush, floss, and come for regular hygiene appointments in order to increase the longevity of your crown.

Well, you are officially a dental crown expert! If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to come by the office and ask me. See you at the office! -Dr. Sunayna

Fun at the Niverville Fair & Parade!

Photo by Meghan Corbett

Everyone here knows the second weekend in June can only mean one thing – time for the Niverville Fair & Parade! Every year we all gather to eat candy apples, scream our faces off on rides, sway to the music, and enjoy the Summer weather.

It’s become an annual tradition for us gals from Niverville Heritage Dental to take part in the parade.  We bring our kids along and sometimes even our husbands (thanks Stan for always being our driver!) as we set out to meet and greet all the people who have lined the streets and giveaway our toothbrushes! After all, you need to brush your teeth after all that cotton candy you eat at the Fair, right?

Photo by Meghan Corbett

For the past three years we have loved being apart of the parade and people have asked why we do it.  Here’s the real reason – we believe in COMMUNITY.  We don’t want to be just a regular dental office in town.  We want to be apart of the community.  We loved saying hi to all those familiar faces along the parade route, as well as being stopped and even photo bombed by some patients while we were taking photos at the Fair!

Whether it is sponsoring your child’s sports team or field trip, donating to your wedding social, or speaking at the Elementary school, we want be known as a community staple here in Niverville and in the surrounding areas. 

We’ve got some big plans in the works and we can’t wait to share with you what we have planned! In the meantime, check out this video by the super talented Onairam Studios of us doing what we do best – laughing and having a ball at the Fair this year.  Enjoy!

Being a Mama - Mother's Day

As Mother’s Day approaches and since we are an all female team compromised mostly of Mamas, we decided to give you our take on motherhood, both the good and the challenges! Basically we are trying to keep it real! We hope that all you Mamas out there can relate to our experiences because as we know, when Mamas support Mamas amazing things happen. Happy Mother’s Day!

Kaitlin with Natasha and Baby Max!

KAITLIN

Hi everyone! As of March 13th we added a new little one to our family, Natasha got a baby brother named Max! I am now back in the newborn stage and I must say it is much easier the second time around for me (not for everyone I know) but there are still many struggles. I didn’t really remember how waking up multiple times during the night for feedings can affect me, I need my sleep! I go to bed around 8pm or whenever he falls asleep so I can function knowing I’ll be up a few times at night. I am also always worried about stuff like is he getting enough food, sleeping enough, sleeping too long in between feedings, should I wake him or let him sleep, etc. The worrying never ends!

Natasha is in love with her baby brother and likes to help where she can. This is definitely one of the highs about being a parent, seeing Natasha love on her little brother! It also melts my heart when she tells me “You’re beautiful” in her adorable 2 year old voice randomly, or after I’ve combed my hair (yes I rock the mom bun ALL THE TIME!), and all I’m thinking is I’m 1 month postpartum looking 6 months pregnant still and nothing in my closet fits!

Being a mom is a lot of work, and you are on 24/7.  Even when you go away you are still thinking of them. It is hard work but it is such rewarding work. I wasn’t a girl who dreamt of being a mom growing up, but I am so happy that I was able to become a mom to our two littles. I will take the waking up multiple times during the night, the throwing up (which always happens in the middle of the night, in bed) and the tantrums, for the random “you’re beautiful”, the hugs and kisses, and seeing the joy in their faces and the laughter they bring.

SUNAYNA

Being a mother and all it entails is almost impossible to describe, but let’s start with what people don’t tell you!  No one tells you that labour is not like the movies where a gush of water comes out and out pops a baby, no problem!  No one tells you that you will leave the hospital essentially wearing a diaper.  No one tells you that you will NOT look like Kate Middleton in a perfect outfit with perfect hair and in heels leaving the hospital (I totally thought I would).  In fact, I could barely walk out of the hospital the first time around.  Finally, no one tells you how overwhelmed you may feel staring at this baby, not really sure how you’re going to keep this human (and yourself) alive.

Dr. Sunayna with Niam and Samaya!

But no one can also explain to you the feeling you get when your child(ren) smile at you for the first time.  No one can explain the joy you feel when they say “Mama” for the first time (especially if it’s their first word, haha).  No one can explain how you just know what every coo, groan, or cry means.  No one can explain the secret elation you feel when they come into your bed in the middle of the night and you pretend to be upset but you’re not because you know one day it will stop.  No one can explain how you can feel like you’re going to lose your mind one second because your toddler is having a meltdown over the way you spread his peanut butter, but then the pure love you feel the next second when they tell you they love you. Finally, no one can explain the strength that you just naturally possess the second you become a mother. 

I’ve only been a mother of two children who are the loves of my life for five years now but here’s what I’ve realized.  Whether you are a working mom, a stay at home mom, or a mom whose kids are all grown up, GUILT and BALANCE are always a constant struggle.  I want all of us moms or mother like figures out there to know that it’s okay to take care of ourselves too.  Taking care of ourselves only makes us more available and better to be able to mother our kids.  So my hope is that this Mother’s Day you get a chance to either get your nails done, grab a coffee, sleep in, or just be alone with your thoughts for a bit.  Now I’m going to try to take my own advice! Happy Mother’s Day!

Nikki with her girls Tierzah, Daisy, and Nyah!

NIKKI

For those of you who don’t know, my husband and I have 3 teenage daughters ages 16, and 15 year old twins. Yup twins! Daisy, our daughter, was 19 months when the twins were born. We were overjoyed, excited and super scared!

It has been quite the roller coaster ride though out. The first couple of years were the toughest. I’m the type of person that makes sure everything is perfect. Our girls would arrive to church (because that’s the only day we really got out of the house!) all dressed well, hair done, looking all cute, and I would look all put together as well. But inside I was stressed out and grumpy because it was so much work!

There definitely were more good days than hard days! Nothing like seeing your kids after a day at work and them being so excited to see you and wrapping their little arms around you! Though I don’t get that response anymore, our girls still give us hugs and exchange “I love you’s” always! Motherhood is the most challenging yet rewarding time! Enjoy your time with your kids this Mother’s Day!

Amanda with her kids Ethan and Hayley!

AMANDA

My high of being a mom is very simple, watching my kids succeed.  My biggest challenge is seeing my kids struggle.  But by far, the greatest high is seeing them succeed over their struggles.

One of my favourite quotes is, "One of the greatest gifts a parent can give their child is their presence." I find in today's society there are so many distractions around us that I have to be conscientious on what's really important and that is the giving of your own time.  I try to remind myself to cherish the little things, and also to not sweat the small stuff.  I also remind myself to keep my head up as there is so much joy in the exchange of a smile. Happy Mother’s Day!

RACHELE

 Mom/Mommy/Mother/Mama [Noun, verb]

1.       A person who does the work of many for free.

See also; chef, taxi, cheerleader, teacher, nurse, multi-tasker, crazy, saint

No matter what your child(ren) call you, I am sure you can relate to the above!! Me too!! I am usually known as Mommy or Mom, and absolutely love it! I dreamt about being a mom since I was just a little girl playing with my dolls, and as I grew old enough to babysit, I spent most of my weekends doing so. I have always loved children!

Rachele with her daughters Jaidyn and Brynlee!

I think we can all agree that being a mom is one of the most rewarding, yet challenging jobs around. Some may disagree, but when my girls were younger, those were the easy days for me. Yes, they couldn’t always communicate what was wrong or what they needed, but life seemed simpler for me. They were likely some of the most easygoing babies/toddlers I have seen. It felt so rewarding to see what I made, what was a part of me and how they grew up throughout the years. How can a Mom not be proud?!

As they grow older, have their own opinions and are self-minded, this is where I find motherhood challenging! Bodies start to change, emotions and hormones play more and more into their everyday lives. I find the challenges can be teaching them both how to be strong during difficult times yet letting them figure out how to get out of it themselves. Also, teaching them that there will be plenty of challenges as they grow up, life isn’t all unicorns and rainbows is another aspect of motherhood I find challenging. As the years go by, I realize that tough love is such a thing! We are just entering pre-teen years for my oldest, and I am beginning to believe that payback definitely is such a thing! (Sorry Mom!). But all said and done, I would not change a single thing. My girls make me so proud each and every day! It’s amazing how they can brighten my day! Happy Mother’s Day!

The Three C's - Cavities, Calcium, and Cheese

Photo by Bothwell Cheese

Let’s talk about some C words – cavities, calcium, and cheese.  Calcium is the main component of our teeth, which is why getting a proper amount of calcium is so important to keep our teeth healthy and strong.  How do we do this? By eating calcium rich foods, of course!

Dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and low fat yogurt are great sources of calcium (there are also non-dairy foods that are calcium rich as well) and contribute to our overall dental health.  However, did you know that studies have shown that cheese (yes, delicious cheese) can help reduce cavities? Cue rejoicing everywhere!

Photo by Bothwell Cheese

Cavities are one of the most prevalent infectious diseases present.  In fact, cavities among children is the most chronic childhood disease! Remember, cavities are 100% preventable! Cavities are formed when foods with carbohydrates are broken down into acids by the bacteria in dental plaque that are present on your teeth.  Although cavities are caused by multiple factors that work together, we know that diet and nutrition are important for prevention.

Cheese can help prevent cavities in a few ways.  It has been shown that chewing cheddar cheese after eating a sugary food makes the dental plaque less acidic within two minutes of consumption.  Other cheeses that have been shown to help in decreasing the acidity in plaque are Gouda, Blue Cheese, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, and Swiss.  Cheese can also increase your saliva flow, therefore helping wash away acids on your teeth.  Finally, aged cheese (one of our favourites), is recognized as having cavity fighting characteristics when either eaten alone or at the end of a meal or snack!

Photo by Ceone Taylor Photography

Now that we know the hero powers of cheese, we teamed up with our favourite cheese company, Bothwell Cheese! Why do we love Bothwell so much? Well, they are local and we are all about supporting local.  Their cheese is made in New Bothwell, which is the next town over from us here in Niverville.  Also, Bothwell Cheese is made with 100% Canadian Milk and all natural ingredients! There are so many options from Red Wine Extra Old Cheddar, to Jalapeno Monterey Jack, to Maple Smoked Extra Old Cheddar, there’s something for everyone!

Need an idea for your next family meal that’s healthy and loaded with cheese? We recommend Veggie-Filled Mac N’ Cheese by our favourite registered dietician, Nita Sharda of Carrots and Cake Balanced Nutrition Counselling.

Need some delicious Bothwell Cheese in your life? We are doing an epic GIVEAWAY! All you have to do is comment below with your favourite Bothwell cheese product and you will be entered to win a gift basket full of Bothwell Cheese products as shown here! We will be announcing the winner on Monday, April 8th on our social media accounts, so make sure you are following us on Instagram and Facebook!

So the next time you have a craving, reach for a piece of cheese! It’s delicious, satisfying, and good for your teeth.  It doesn’t get much better than that!

***Contest closes April 5th at midnight.  Winner will be announced on Monday, April 8th on our Instagram and Facebook accounts. This contest is in no way affiliated with Instagram or Facebook. Open to residents of Manitoba, Canada only.

Source: Kashket, S., & DePaola, D. P. (2002). Cheese Consumption and the Development and Progression of Dental Caries. Nutr Rev, 60(4), 97 - 103.

Grateful.

As we embark on a new year, we think it is important to take the time to reflect on the things we are grateful for, both personally and professionally. We hope you enjoy reading a bit of what each one of our team members are grateful for!

Nikki & Amanda - Our dental assistants

Nikki 

Professionally, I am grateful to be working in my hometown which allows me to meet new people and reconnect with others. I’m also grateful to be able to work at an office where the entire team are incredible, genuine, smart, and compassionate women who are always looking out for our patients and one another!

 Personally, I am grateful for my husband! We celebrated 20 years of marriage this past year and I am a much better person because of him! I am grateful for my health and turning 40 this past year! So many milestones, but so blessed!

 I am looking forward to spending time with friends, family, and making memories! Life is too short, enjoy the times you have with one another!

 Amanda

 I am grateful for being able to live and work in such a beautiful community. I love seeing everyone's smiles whether it be at the dental office or while out and about in town!! I am also grateful to my family, my husband and both of my kids who keep me busy, but make my life what it is today.  Thank you Niverville for making my family and I feel so at home here over the years!

Kaitlin & Lindsay - Our dental hygienists

Kaitlin

This past year I am very grateful for my family and the time we have spent living in St. Norbert. It has been an amazing adventure renovating our current home that looks like it was from the 80's, as well as starting to build our "forever" home in Rosenort. I have enjoyed living close to family and watching my daughter have an incredible bond with her little cousin. I am grateful for all my co-workers and how supportive everyone is. It is truly a great place to work and I have found my home here amongst friends.

This coming year I am looking forward to moving into our new house and turning it into our dream home. I am also looking forward to our new baby that is coming in March and being on maternity leave to be able to enjoy the new baby stage, cuddle and love him/her and to see how our daughter will love being a big sister to her baby brother or sister. (Yep, we aren't finding out what we are having)!

 Lindsay

I have many reasons to be grateful, especially this past year as I’ve encountered new blessings. Professionally, I am thankful for the fun and dedicated people I get to work with at the office. They welcome and encourage growth and improvement like no other team I’ve worked with in the past.

In my personal life, I am grateful for my family and friends. This past year I have made it my goal to spend more time with them and appreciate who they are. The last couple years I had been living in Brandon, MB and I lost touch with too many people and am so thankful for their support and to have them back in my life regularly.  I look forward to spending more time with people I care about, taking educational courses relevant to my line of work and starting the hunt for buying my first home!

Rachele & Ainsley - Our administrative team

Rachele 

I am grateful for the relationships I have built with not only the wonderful girls I work with, but for the patients who make our office possible. We have had the best year so far at Niverville Heritage Dental Centre, and it is only going to get better! Tying work and personal life together, I am so very thankful to work as close to home as I do.

 On the personal side of things what can I say, I am very thankful for my two wonderful daughters, my husband and the health and relationships of my family and friends.  All the Best to you and yours in 2019!

 Ainsley

 I am personally grateful for the health of my family and being able to witness the personal accomplishments my children have made over the past year.  Professionally I feel grateful to be able to witness everything we are wanting to accomplish here at the office.  It is so wonderful to see all of us working so hard to achieve a common goal and all the new ideas we are aspiring to together.

 

Sunayna - Our dentist

Sunayna

I feel it is so easy to lose sight of everything you have to be grateful for.  I tend to get caught up with the daily routine, but when I take a moment to reflect, I realize how lucky I really am.  I am eternally grateful to my parents who constantly put my needs ahead of theirs, even when this is their time to relax! They have always been my largest supporters and I don’t know what I would do without them.  My husband and kids give me the motivation I need to keep dreaming and to keep achieving my goals, both personally and professionally.  My best friends keep me sane when I feel like I’m going to lose my mind, and for that I will always be grateful to them.

 Professionally, I feel so blessed.  I have the best group of ladies around me who come into work everyday giving it their absolute all.  They reach for the stars with me, and I know we will accomplish every single dream we dream because of who they are as individuals and what we are as a team.  I am eternally grateful to the community of Niverville who have welcomed me with open arms.  It may sound unbelievable, but I have not once woken up dreading to come to work since I started working here.  I love what I do, I love where I work, I love the people I work with, and I love the people who trust us to work on them.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Photos by: Simply Rosie Photography

Use It or Lose It - Getting the Most Of Your Dental Benefits

Hi! This is Ainsley, and I'm the office manager here at Niverville Heritage Dental Centre.  I'm going to be talking to you about your dental insurance and how you can get the most of your dental insurance plan, especially since the end of the year is drawing near!

Hi! I’m Ainsley, our office manager!

Dental insurance is often renewed on a yearly basis, understanding your plan is the first step to making the most out of the benefits you could be receiving. 

Dental insurance, simply put, can take some or all of the cost associated with most dental treatments off of the patient and into the hands of the Insurance provider.  You pay a monthly premium to have these benefits at your disposal, why not make the most of them?!

The best way to ensure you are getting the most from your benefits is to schedule and keep your routine recare appointments (i.e. dental cleanings and exam).  During these appointments a full hygiene cleaning is done, as well as a thorough check up by your dentist. Having routine check ups with your dentist allows us to find any problems while they are small and address them right away before they have a chance to turn into larger problems.  With most insurance companies, routine maintenance and cavity treatments are often covered at a higher percentage compared to major dental work such as crowns, bridges, dentures, etc.  Most of the time, major work is needed when a small problem wasn’t dealt with and left to grow, so catching problems early on is key to making the most of your benefits!

You’ve all heard the saying “Use it or lose it.”  Well, the same applies for your benefits!  Each year every family member covered on any dental insurance plan has their very own limit to use and if you don’t use it, it is not carried over to the next year. Taking this into consideration when planning any routine or more extensive treatment needing done will help you use the benefits you are entitled to each year and ensuring you have the maximum funds allotted for the following year should you need them. 

We know dental insurance policies can be confusing, we can help with that!  If you are unsure what your plan entails we can help set you on the right track to deciphering it.  We can let you know who to call and even what to ask in order to help you better understand your coverage.  Once we are provided with the details of your personal plan we can even help track your coverage to make sure you stay within the limits and are aware of what portion you would need to pay if any for any treatment or preventative maintenance you may need.

The time of year when insurance benefits are resetting is drawing near!  Most dental insurance plans go by calendar year, which means your plan likely expires on December 31st, and renews for the new year on January 1st. This means if you have any pending treatment to do, make the most of your benefits and use it up before you lose that money by December 31st. Remember, this is the busiest time of year for us as everyone is trying to get in to make the most of their benefits! Don’t get left out! Book now to save your spot! Remember, help us help you make the most of the dental benefits you are entitled to! 

Mouth Guard Mania!

September is Mouth Guard Month!

Calling all parents! It’s that time of year again, it’s Hockey and Ringette season! That means it’s time for our annual Mouth Guard Month! Lace up those skates, grab that stick, and most importantly, make sure your kids have a custom fitted mouth guard from us! We think kids being active and playing sports is a great thing, so much so, that we are a proud sponsor of some of our awesome local teams such as the Clippers.  However, did you know dental injuries to the face are the most common type of injury when playing sports? For this reason, dentists (and most sports regulatory boards) either recommend or mandate the use of mouth guards.

Custom fitted mouth guards are especially made to fit your mouth by your dentist. They are superior to other mouth guards for several reasons:

a.    A custom fitted mouth guard will significantly reduce injuries to the head and neck by protecting your jaw joint.  It also aids in preventing concussions as it acts as a cushion for your lower jaw, and decreases the chances of breaking your front teeth by almost 90%!

b.    A custom fitted mouth guard also protects the soft tissues such as your lips, cheeks, tongue and gums from injury and lacerations.

c.    A custom fitted mouth guard does not impair your breathing or speech. It is made for your mouth, therefore there is no need to clench down on it in order to hold it in place.

Even children with braces should wear a mouth guard.  It will protect the child from being injured from the brackets and wires should an impact occur.  Additionally, children with both baby and adult teeth should have a new guard made as needed as the mouth changes with every tooth that is lost, and with every tooth that erupts.

For the month of September, all young athletes ages 7-17 can have a custom fitted mouth guard made by us for only $50 (regularly priced $200)! Please call 204-988-3634 to book your child’s appointment as spots do fill quickly. See you at the office and on the ice!

Welcome Home.

Hi there! I'm Dr. Sunayna, but please just call me Sunayna. Welcome to the first ever blog post for Niverville Heritage Dental Centre! 

Now you may be thinking, "Why on Earth is this post called Welcome Home?" Most people don't exactly think of home when they think of visiting the dentist, but that's exactly how we want it to feel when you come - inviting, familiar, and comfortable.

We are the office who takes the time to chat with you because we actually want to know what's happening in your life.  We are the office that you can hear laughter coming from when you enter.  We are the office that you will want come back to! Sounds crazy, I know, but I promise, it's true.

I want this space to be a place where you learn about all things teeth that matter to you cause yes, believe it or not, we love teeth! We care about your overall oral health, because we care about you. However, there's only so much teeth related information you can take in, I get that.  So that's why this space will also be about life.  We will chat about things happening in the community, share some of our favourite recipes, showcase some of our incredible patients, and so much more.  So please, sit back, relax, and have a good read. We are so happy to have you.  Oh, and one more thing, welcome home.