Our team knows one thing no patient likes hearing when visiting our office is “root canal.” But what, exactly, is a root canal, and when might you need one?

A root canal is a treatment uses to repair and save a tooth that is infected or badly decayed to the point where the nerve is involved. In the past, if a patient had a tooth with a diseased nerve, dentists in most cases would recommend an extraction. Today, however, with a procedure called root canal therapy, available at our office, you may save that tooth—and your beautiful smile—after all!

Here are some symptoms that indicate a decayed or infected tooth, courtesy of WebMD:
• Severe toothache pain upon chewing, biting or application of pressure
• One tooth consistently more sensitive to hot or cold than other teeth
• Pain that hurts without any stimulus, keeps you awake or wakes you up at night
• A tooth that feels loose
• Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth
• Pain that persists weeks following a filling or replacement of a filling
• Chronic pain and/or pressure that may extend to the ear, eye or neck

If any of these symptoms apply to you, we recommend you schedule an appointment with us right away.

The best way to avoid a root canal is to practice good oral hygiene at home, and that includes brushing at least twice a day and flossing to reduce plaque and bacteria. For more tips on how to avoid root canal therapy or for general questions about your dental treatment, we invite you to ask us during your next visit to our office! We also invite you to ask us on Facebook!

Spring is in the air! As you probably know, you can always connect with us on our Facebook page, but we invite you to please contact our Toronto office with any updates to phone numbers and addresses, so that we may be able to reach you.

We also encourage you to call us and let us know if you have any new phone numbers or if your contact information has changed!

Thank you! Have a great week!

Great question. The mouth is the window to your body. Research has shown that there are direct links between your oral health and your overall health. You may be at risk of having periodontal disease if you smoke, have health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or osteoporosis or if family members have had gum disease. In short, any time is a good time to see a periodontist for an evaluation.

Because periodontal disease can exist without pain or discomfort, it is important to be aware of the following warning signs that may indicate a problem:

Red, swollen, sore gums
Gums that bleed when brushing and flossing
Teeth that appear longer or have loosened or drifted
Large spaces that form between the teeth
The gums begin to pull away from the teeth
Chronic bad breath
Partial dentures no longer fitting

If you have experienced any of these signs, you owe it to yourself to schedule a periodontal exam at our Toronto office. Gum disease is both preventable and treatable by Dr. Weinstein and his team. Today's periodontal treatments provide you with a variety of options that are gentle, safe, and effective. Dr. Weinstein will help determine which treatment best meets your needs. Gum disease is both preventable and treatable by Dr. Weinstein and his team. Today's periodontal treatments provide you with a variety of options that are gentle, safe, and effective. Dr. Weinstein will help determine which treatment best meets your needs.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog. Please check back often for weekly updates on fun and exciting events happening at our office, important and interesting information about periodontics and the dental industry, and the latest news about our practice.

Feel free to leave a comment or question for our doctor and staff – we hope this will be a valuable resource for our patients, their families, and friends!