COSMETIC DENTISTRY.....

One of the first things people notice is your smile. If chipped, stained or crooked teeth are "hiding" the real you, it's time for a smile make over. A beautiful smile can brighten your life every day, professionally and socially. And unlike plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry isn't a major operation. Imagine coming in for a single appointment or two and emerging with the smile you've always wanted.....no pain, no strain, no time taken away from your busy life. The results are immediate and dramatic.

BRIGHTEN TEETH THAT HAVE LOST THEIR SPARKLE:

We can treat discolored, stained or aging teeth with our state-of-the-art whitening process. The treatment can be completed in just over an hour in our office, or you can choose at-home treatments. A dazzling smile isn't just for celebrities anymore. It's for you, because you're worth it!!

COVER PROBLEM TEETH WITH ULTRA-THIN PORCELAIN VENEERS:

Think of this treatment as a manicure for your smile. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are custom fit over your natural teeth. We can change the shape, color and length of your teeth in only two visits. It looks so good you'll wonder why you waited so long.

PORCELAIN CROWNS:

When the size of a "filling" exceeds a certain proportion of the tooth, it must be replaced with a "cap," also called a "crown." Porcelain crowns look very natural and don't have a dark metal line. Porcelain crowns reflect light with a natural healthy glow.

GO NATURAL WITH IMPLANTS:

Implants are bridges that are permanently anchored into the jaw. Because there is always a perfect fit, implants are almost the same as having your natural teeth back again. To qualify for implants, you'll need healthy oral tissues and jawbone ridges that are in good shape. If you're suffering from tooth loss, let's discuss whether implants are an option for you.

BONDING"

Bonding is similar to sculpting individual teeth with a special tooth-like material that looks, acts and feels like the real thing. Bonding is an affordable, quick and painless way to repair many cosmetic flaws or injuries.

TURN "METAL MOUTH" INTO A NATURAL SMILE"

Replace old crowns and bridges with metal-free restorations. There's a huge difference between metal fillings and our new porcelain restorations that reflect the translucence of natural teeth. Your new metal-free crowns, inlays and bridges won't show wear or cause opposing teeth to erode, and fitting the crown or bridge is a breeze.

Repairing Fractured Teeth...

If you're still walking around with that fractured or broken tooth you received as a reward for your most famous skateboarding stunt or swan dive years ago, you're not alone. Many people who simply aren't aware of the consequences of not repairing chipped or broken teeth or who are fearful of what a repaired tooth will look or feel like, simply choose to let a damaged tooth go unrepaired. A damaged tooth can be saved and repaired to look and feel like the real thing, perhaps even better. There are several options available for treatment; the more informed you are, the more likely you will be pleased with the results.
It might be assumed by some that dentists won't be needed once science learns to completely control dental decay and gum disease. Not so! Accidents account for a large share of every general dentist's practice. Countless tooth fractures are the result of even minor traffic accidents. Such high incidence of this type of fracture is directly tied to an overwhelming failure to properly utilize safety belts. Bike falls, sports mishaps, chewing such hard objects as ice, and even blows to the face, give most dentists plenty to do. A fractured tooth can look cute in the mouth of a tousled-haired youngster, but it can evolve into a source of embarrassment for the appearance-conscious adolescent or adult. Fractures are most often caused by accidents that also damage the pulp of the tooth where the nerves are. A serious blow can even cause the eventual death of the pulp, which can be the result even if you do not feel extreme pain at the time of the accident. Although you may feel no pain, you shouldn't ignore or postpone going to the dentist. In such cases, the first outward sign of serious damage may come when the tooth begins to discolor. If this happens, several dental techniques may be employed to try to save the tooth and restore it esthetically. The first step is to replace the damaged nerve structure with a root canal filling. Once this is done, cosmetic restoration can begin. Less complex fractures, such as a small chip off the biting edge of your tooth, may be repaired simply by acid-etch bonding to fill out the slight defect, or may be contoured by trimming it down with a sandpaper disc. Re-shaping will work if your tooth is still long enough that contouring won't harm your smileline. But even if the contoured tooth is shortened, its neighbours can also be shortened to compensate. Avoid crowning if possible because the color, shape and health of the tooth are preserved better with the more simple therapies. Bonding works well if a sufficient amount of enamel is present to obtain an acid-etch to anchor the resin restoration. If not enough enamel is present, the bond may not last long enough to be viable. In this case, a porcelain laminate or full crown may be the best alternative, unless your dentist feels dentin adhesives will prove to be successful. Porcelain crowns and bridges can also fracture. Keep an eye on your metal-bonded crowns to see if dark outlines appear at your gumline. If a dark outline that wasn't there originally gradually appears, you may either have a fracture or shrinkage of the gum tissue exposing the metal band. If it is a fracture, the loss of porcelain at your gumline may weaken the rest of the porcelain veneer and make it more susceptible to additional damage. Eventually the crown may have to be replaced. However, some minor porcelain fractures can be repaired by smoothing the chipped porcelain or bonding composite resin to the area. The first consideration when you chip or fracture a tooth is determining whether the pulp has been damaged. Th pulp is the vital, living part of the tooth. Ultimately, the condition of the pulp and the amount of tooth structure left will determine the choice of treatment for your fractured tooth.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST A GUM INFECTION....

Loosing your teeth to gum disease can do more than ruin your smile or dignity - it can cost you your LIFE! Modern science has now established that gingivitis, gum disease and even bad breath can significantly increase your chances for many of today's most devastating illnesses and medical conditions. Periodental Disease is more than just a disease of the gums. Chronic gum infections create inflammation in the body, it is linked with such disease conditions as:

* Heart Disease and Stroke
* Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
* Lung Infections/Disease
* Cancer
* Pregnancy Complications
* Osteoporosis and Alzheimer's

Medical doctors and researchers are learning more each day about the tight connection between chronic oral infections (gum disease) and the many problems that can be caused or worsened by inflammation in the body. Inflammatory proteins such as C-reactive Protein (CRP) in the blood stream from chronic oral infections, are now linked to serious systemic disease processes like diabetes, heart disease and strokes. Reduced to its simplest understandings, the presence of bleeding is still regarded as the hallmark of gum disease. Now we recognize that its affects are more dangerous than merely causing tooth loss - it is now actually implicated in the loss of life itself! As the window to the body, we've long known that health problems elsewhere in the body are often seen first in the mouth. Bacteria grows below the gum line. Toxins irritate gum tissue and start an inflammatory response. Bacteria and their by-products enter blood stream and spread freely through the body. As the skin around the teeth breaks down with inflammation and starts to bleed, bacteria are allowed to pass through into the blood stream. As these bacteria and their toxic by-products circulate in the body, other medical diseases and conditions can be causes or worsened. The Oral -Systemic connection has now linked chronic oral infections (gum disease) with a number of general or systemic diseases throughout the body. While these connections have been suspected for many years, the recent surge in scientific literature is now becoming clearer than ever. Just like having high cholesterol, having elevated CRP in the blood stream is a sign that something is wrong. It is often found elevated in people with heart disease who have normal cholesterol. It is important to know that many people suffering life-ending heart attacks or strokes have normal cholesterol levels. While the attention on cholesterol is important, new research shows that the pro-inflammatory marker C-reactive Protein, is an independent risk factor. Researchers believe that this may explain why heart disease can still occur with normal cholesterol levels. Medical doctors are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of treating conditions that cause elevations in CRP concentrations in the blood stream.

THE MAN BEHIND THE MASK SPEAKS....

Laser Dentistry Comes to the Fraser Valley:

Lasers have come a long way from something only seen in sci-fi movies, to becoming more a part of our everyday lives. Today lasers are found in our computer printers, compact disc players, grocery store check-out scanners and even some of the weapons used to defend our country. More and more surgical and medical procedures are being performed using lasers and finally, in the last 20 years, lasers have become one of dentistry's most exciting advances.

Dr. Cam Kesteven and his team are pleased to welcome this exciting new technology to their cosmetic practice and are thrilled to be able to offer the unique benefits of soft-tissue laser technology to their patients. Dr. Kesteven has completed his continuing education training and requirements for the Standard Proficiency Certification with the DEKA Ultra Speed CO2 Soft Tissue Laser and he is very happy with the results he is seeing in his patient's smile. His patients have been very receptive to all the benefits lasers have to offer in their treatment planning.

Laser dentistry differs from traditional dentistry in that it is minimally invasive and many procedures can be completed in minutes, which equates to less time spent in the dental chair. Lasers provide a more reliable result with much less, if any, discomfort. Some types of laser dentistry procedures don't even require local anesthesia (no shots)! Anesthesia is dependant on the amount of tissue being removed and the length of the procedure.

Other advantages of soft-tissue laser dentistry include less, if any post-operative pain and swelling, and with only slight bleeding. This lack of pain, swelling and bleeding is due to the nerve endings and blood vessels being sealed off by the laser, so no sutures are needed after the procedure.

In periodontal procedures the laser can be used to remove inflamed and diseased gum tissue within the periodontal pocket that surrounds a tooth more effectively than with traditional hand instrumentation. The diseased gum tissue is vaporized away and the laser will also desensitize the root surfaces., The laser facilitates access to the root surface and sterilizes the periodontal pocket and generates new soft tissue attachment. Periodontally involved patients will heal more quickly, and their gum disease can be managed and maintained successfully because of improved tissue response.

Other laser procedures offered include gum recontouring for an enhanced smile. The procedure is called a gingivectomy and excess gum tissue is removed to lengthen the teeth. Excess gum tissue sometimes develops as a side effect from taking certain drugs, such as dilatin, from poor oral hygiene, or from wearing braces. Think of this procedure as a "gum lift".

The intense pain from cancer sores and cold sores can be instantly relieved without any anesthetic with the laser, and these mouth sores will heal in half the time they normally take to heal. Laser biopsies to check for cancerous lesions or to remove unwanted lumps and bumps takes only minutes to perform and do not require suturing.

Two other procedures that can be performed in minutes with a laser are a frenectomy, which is the removal of tissue attachments from under the tongue or from the upper or lower lip that can contribute to gum recession or cause speech impediments, and a vestibuloplasty, which can increase denture retention by alllowing extension of the denture borders to provide a better fit.

Anyone can be a candidate for laser dental procedures. Age is not a factor. There are no contra-indications for laser use and that includes pregnancy, diabetes, people on blood thinners or who have pacemakers or heart problems.