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Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJ) explained

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, commonly called "TMJ," are a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. Researchers generally agree that the conditions fall into three main categories: Myofascial...
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What’s the difference between the bleaching I can do at home with a kit from the store and the bleaching that my dentist does?

Dentists have been doing what's called "non-vital" bleaching for many years. Non-vital bleaching is done on a damaged, darkened tooth that has had root canal treatment. "Vital" bleaching is done on healthy teeth and has become more popular in recent...
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Minimally Invasive Dentistry (MID)

Nothing is as valuable as your natural tooth structure. So when it comes time to removing a small cavity, why use a large drill when you can use air abrasion. Minimally Invasive Dentistry comes into play here. At Langford Dental,...
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Wine, Fruit Juice, Soda — Which Drinks Can Harm Your Teeth?

Much of what you drink, including diet drinks and sports drinks, can damage your teeth. To keep your mouth healthy, try these strategies for choosing drinks. Aside from what you eat, what you drink has a big impact on your oral...
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CBCT: Cone Beam Computed Tomography

We are very excited to add this is new technology to Langford Dental. A CBCT is a very low dose dental CAT scan of a small or large area of interest. The image created is an incredibly precise 3-D rendering...
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Dry Mouth (Also Known As Xerostomia)

Dry mouth occurs when there is not enough saliva, or spit to keep your mouth moist and comfortable. Dry mouth is not a disease. It is a side effect of taking medications or can be a symptom of certain diseases...
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Can My Teeth Erode Away?

Canadian dentists are seeing more and more patients with dental erosion. Dental erosion occurs when the hard part of the tooth wears away from direct contact with acid. Dental erosion can be caused by certain health conditions such as stomach...
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Do I Have Receding Gums?

Gums that recede to expose the root surfaces of teeth is a common condition in adults over the age of 40. Many consider it to be just a sign of aging, and in some cases it is essentially that –...
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Are Cavities Contagious?

In short, yes! Cavity causing bacteria can be transferred from parents to children by many different ways. A few examples are: sharing utensils, cleaning a soother by putting it into your own mouth and then giving it to the baby,...
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Why is being honest about my medical history important to the dentist?

Filling out any medical form can be a very simple thing for some and a long complex process for others depending on their health. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Some questions on medical forms may not seem relevant to dentistry. For example, questions asking...
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What are ‘soft teeth’? Do I have them?

Over the years I've heard many patients say, "I seem to have really soft teeth. Ever since I was a child I would come out of every dental visit with a cavity. No matter how much I flossed and brushed...
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3 simple things you can do to prevent cavities

Aside from the obvious things your dentist tells you like flossing and brushing your teeth, there are other simple everyday things you can do to fight cavities. Eat and drink your food/liquids in one sitting. In other words, don't graze!...
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My dentist has found that I have a dead tooth and need a root canal. What exactly is a root canal and why is it necessary?

Most people have heard of the term “root canal” but there are a lot of misconceptions about what this procedure actually entails. A person’s tooth has many layers with the innermost being the pulp - commonly referred to as the...
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What can I do if I witness someone losing a tooth (getting it knocked out)?

Most of us are fortunate enough not to have witnessed or experienced an accident such as this. Luckily these situations rarely occur; however, if they do, it is important to know what to do. An encouraging fact is that many...
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Why should I replace a tooth that has been removed?

This is a very common question that we are asked when a tooth needs to be taken out. It is definitely possible to leave the space with no replacement. For some people there will be no major issues aside from...
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Why do my gums bleed?

This is a very common question that dentists hear on a daily basis. Although this can be a painless phenomenon, it can be uncomfortable and worrisome. Luckily, for the majority of cases this can be easily corrected. The most common cause...
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Is there a dental device that can be used to prevent snoring?

Snoring and sleep apnea (a condition that involves periods during which a person stops breathing while asleep) afflicts many people. A large portion of people with sleep apnea are not even aware that they have it. The most common cause...
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Why do dentist recommend coming in every 6 months for check ups and cleanings?

There are many factors that go in to the recommended time frame between dental examinations and cleanings; the average person is seen at least on a 6 month recall schedule. There are several reasons that a person should be seen by...
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What are dental veneers?

Dental veneers are custom made, extremely thin porcelain or resin composite restorations permanently bonded to natural teeth. They are most often placed on front teeth, and sometimes on premolar teeth (side teeth) to improve/enhance your appearance.  Dental veneers are considered...
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What??? A sugar that is good for your teeth???

What is xylitol? Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol that helps prevents cavities. You may recognize other sugar alcohols used in sugarless products, such as mannitol and sorbitol. Xylitol is the sugar alcohol that shows the greatest promise for cavity...
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