We thank NYC Dentists Dr. Yuliya Alterman and Dr. Yungelson and the SOUL dental for this content:
Want straighter teeth without having to feel like you’re back in middle school? Contemplating “why get braces as an adult”? This is the post for you!
While today’s braces are far more attractive than what you remember from junior high, some adults are still uncomfortable with wires and brackets visible on their teeth.
The most significant benefit of using Invisalign over braces is that Invisalign allows you to straighten your teeth while maintaining your lifestyle.
Keep Your Normal Oral Hygiene Routine
Take out your aligners and brush and floss as usual.
Invisalign Saves Time
Want to straighten your teeth as quickly as possible? The average Invisalign treatment is completed faster than with traditional braces.
Eat Whatever You Want
With traditional braces, there are many food restrictions. However, since you remove your Invisalign aligners when eating, you don’t have to omit your favorites from your diet. Bring on the popcorn and caramel candy!
Invisalign: Less Painful than Traditional Braces
Soft tissue damage inside your mouth is common with traditional braces because the hardware rubs and irritates areas repeatedly. Invisalign’s aligners are smooth and won’t irritate delicate soft tissues.
Invisalign also straightens your teeth at a more gradual and comfortable pace than wire braces.
Health Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign helps your gums fit better around your teeth.
Using Invisalign can reduce the issues that come with unaligned teeth, like chipping and cracking.
Jaw problems and an unaligned bite may be correctable with Invisalign, and once modified, your overall dental health will improve.
Drawbacks to Using Invisalign
Although Invisalign has many benefits, there are a few drawbacks.
While getting used to your new Invisalign trays, you may experience minor mouth discomfort and achiness.
If you want to improve your smile with little impact on your daily life, then Invisalign is an ideal option. You may be able to straighten your teeth and improve your dental health more quickly than traditional braces.
We are a family dentist in Kitsilano, Vancouver. We offer Invisalign and have seen first hand how adults can greatly benefit from this fantastic dental treatment. Why get braces as an adult? Because it’s possible, and not as inconvenient as in previous decades.
If you’re wondering ‘why get braces as an adult’, traditional braces aren’t the only way to go. Cross bite, crooked teeth, improved self confidence and many other of the valid reasons still stand. Only there is a much better way to achieve the results now.
Drinking sugary beverages such as pop, sweetened sports drinks.
Not attending regular dental check-ups. Small problems can easily grow larger if left alone.
Choose the right dental care products for good dental health
Toothbrush: Choose toothbrushes with soft bristles = effective cleaning and no damage. Electric toothbrushes are great for most people as they help clean better, when used properly. Electric toothbrushes are great for people with arthritis.
Toothpaste: Toothpaste with fluoride will reduce the risk of cavities. Personal preference of flavours and textures.
Floss: Flat, wide dental tape to clean the larger gaps; thin, narrow strips to clean the small gaps. Waxed for tight spaces.
Mouthwash: Soothing ingredients such as Aloe Vera can be good for sensitive teeth and gums. Flouride mouthwash can be a good choice. Anti-plaque, anti-tartar and anti-gingivitis can all be good choices too.
Questions about any of this? We can help! Kits Family Dental is here for you. Please contact us today!
Posted inNews|Comments Off on Good Dental Habits for Children and Adults
Your weight. Your mood. Your sex drive. Your dental health. There’s one thing that can make all these aspects of your health go haywire — hormones.
You may be surprised to learn that hormone surges may make you more vulnerable to gum disease.
Here’s why: More female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) cause more blood to flow to your gums, which causes them to become more sensitive and “overreact” to anything that may irritate them.
“Women are more sensitive to the presence of plaque and bacteria around the gums when the hormone levels are high,” says ADA dentist Dr. Sally Cram. “This can cause your gums to become inflamed, swell and bleed. If left untreated, ongoing inflammation in the gums can also lead to bone loss around the teeth and eventual tooth loss.”
Your hormones are a fact of life, but gum disease not so much. It’s actually preventable and reversible in its early stages. So what’s a woman to do? Start by paying extra attention and taking good care of your mouth during these five times in your life.
Puberty Affecting Gums
Raging hormones can leave a teenage girl’s gums red, swollen and bleeding. (In some cases, the gums’ overreaction to plaque may cause gums to actually grow bigger.) Some teenage girls may also find themselves developing canker sores, which usually heal on their own.
The best treatment? Prevention. “Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, floss once a day and see your dentist regularly,” Dr. Cram says. “Removing plaque and bacteria thoroughly every day can reduce the inflammation, discomfort and bleeding.”
Your Period and Your Dental Health
You may not notice any change in your mouth in the days before your period. If fact, most women don’t. But if you have swollen gums, bleeding gums, canker sores or swollen salivary glands, hormones may be to blame. These symptoms should subside after your period stops — but if they don’t, then the increased bleeding by your gums is signaling something else. Talk to your dentist if you have questions about how your monthly cycle and apparent health of your gums are related.
Stay on top of your daily dental health routine, and if you find you have more sensitivity than usual before or during your period, schedule cleanings for about a week after it ends.
Using Birth Control Pills and How They Affect your Gums
Inflammation may have been a side effect for women taking birth control in the past, but today there’s good news for your gums. The levels of estrogen and progesterone in today’s birth control prescriptions are too low to cause any issues with your gums, according to a February 2013 review in the journal Periodontology 2000.
Still, it’s important make sure your health history forms at the dentist are up to date if you are taking birth control. Here’s why:
Your dentist may need to write you a prescription, and some medications can make your birth control less effective.
If you’re having a tooth removed, you may be more at risk for a painful complication called dry socket. According to the June 2016 Journal of the American Dental Association, women who use oral contraceptives are nearly twice as likely to experience dry socket compared to those who do not. Of 100 women who took birth control, 13.9 experienced dry socket. Only 7.54 of 100 women who did not take birth control had this complication.
Pregnancy and your Gums
During pregnancy, your body is in hormonal hyper drive. Some women find they have developed pregnancy gingivitis — a mild form of gum disease that causes gums to be red, tender and sore. It is most common between the second and eighth months of pregnancy, and you can help keep it under control through good daily habits. “Stay on top of your brushing, stay on top of your flossing and be meticulous about the care of your entire body,” says ADA dentist Dr. Alice Boghosian.
Visiting your dentist during pregnancy is incredibly important — and absolutely safe. In fact, your dentist may recommend more frequent cleanings during your second trimester and early third trimester to help control gingivitis. If you notice any other changes in your mouth during pregnancy, see your dentist.
Menopause and your Gums
Menopause is a huge change in a woman’s life and a woman’s mouth, including altered taste, burning sensations in your mouth and increased sensitivity. “They’re all related to hormones,” Dr. Boghosian says.
Still, there are two critical changes to be aware of: dry mouth and bone loss. “Saliva cleanses the teeth and rinses cavity-causing bacteria off your teeth,” Dr. Boghosian says. “When you have dry mouth, your saliva flow decreases and you’re more at risk for cavities.”
Talk to your dentist if your mouth is feeling dry. “If dry mouth is a problem, suck on ice chips or sugar-free candy, drink water or other caffeine-free drinks and use an over-the-counter dry mouth spray or rinse to help reduce the dryness,” Dr. Cram says. “Your dentist may also recommend prescription strength fluoride toothpaste that helps reduce the risk of tooth decay.”
What you eat can also make a difference when it comes to dry mouth. Avoid salty, spicy, sticky and sugary foods, as well as and dry foods that are hard to chew. Alcohol, tobacco and caffeine can also make dry mouth worse. At night, sleeping with a humidifier on in your room can also make a difference.
Losing bone in your jaw can lead to tooth loss. “The decreased estrogen that occurs with menopause also puts you at risk for a loss of bone density,” Dr. Boghosian says. “Signs of bone loss in your jaw can be something as simple as receding gums. When your gums recede, more of your tooth is exposed and that puts more of your tooth at risk for decay. And if your mouth is dry, that’s a double whammy.”
To help reduce your risk of bone loss, work with your dentist or physician to make sure you’re getting the right amount of calcium and vitamin D, don’t smoke and avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
About Kits Family Dental – Dentists in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC – West Broadway
Dr. Robin Mak, Dr. Sakura Iwagami and Dr. Courtney Butler practice general dentistry, and love seeing young children and pediatric patients as well as adults.
Learn more about our incredible team, the dental clinic in Kitsilano where we do our work, and the products we offer to help attain and maintain your optimum oral health.
We hope to see you soon! Dentist Vancouver – Kits Family Dental!
You’ve probably heard that calcium is very important for growing teeth and bones. Calcium is an essential mineral to help young bodies grow up strong.
What does calcium do?
Calcium is an essential part of our teeth and bones. When we are still growing, this means that your teeth and bones are still growing too. Without the correct calcium intake, these bones and teeth wont’ be able to grow correctly.
We don’t stop growing until our early to mid 20’s.
While you might not notice much growth from your teenager in their late teens, it is usually still happening. This means that the bones are still growing too – requiring that calcium intake.
How much calcium is recommended?
From the ages of 9 until 18 it’s recommended that kids get 1300mg of calcium in their diet. This is the equivalent to 4 servings of whole milk, however non-mild drinkers can substitute with cheese, ice cream, yoghurt and other forms of dairy.
The following are great questions for the dentist. Remember how you seem to forget what you need to ask the minute you enter the clinic? You could even print them out and take it without you to your next dental appointment.
They are typed out in the text following the infographic too, for those that prefer to read that format.
Ten Things People Forget To Ask Their Dentist
How often should I have a dental check-up?
Regular visits to the dentist allow you to get your teeth cleaned professionally and on a regular basis. Most patients come in for one to two check ups per year, depending on the individual.
How can I get my teeth whiter?
Teeth stains can be treated using over the counter at home whitening products or your dentist can perform a whitening treatment for you.
What are the best ways to keep my teeth healthy at home?
You do need to brush and floss daily but to take caring for your teeth to a new level. (Not sure exactly what is meant in the infographic here, but daily brushing and flossing as a base with some fluoride or M! paste depending on the patient. Link to M1 paste page.)
Should I have dental x-rays taken?
Most adults have a full set of x-rays taken every 5 years, but for those at higher risk, your dentist may prefer to take x-rays every 6-18 months.
How can I prevent tooth decay and other problems?
The best way to keep a healthy mouth is to visit your dentist regularly, follow a healthy diet and keep up your twice daily oral care routine.
Why are my teeth sensitive?
Tooth sensitivity may be caused by tooth grinding during sleep, receding gums, fractured or chipped teeth, fillings and orthodontics, tooth whitening.
Should I consider dental implants?
Implants are permanent and are a great alternative to dentures for anyone who has a healthy mouth and jaw.
Should I use mouth wash?
Cosmetic mouthwashes are aimed at freshening breath and maintaining a healthy color and they also contain fluoride to help fight cavities as well.
What age should children start seeing a dentist?
A good time to book a check-up is when the first tooth erupts.
When do baby teeth generally fall out?
Keep in mind that everyone is different and a child’s and an adult’s oral condition depends on how long it’s been since they last visited the dentist.
Bring your list of questions to us, we look forward to seeing you!
Together, we can give you the tools to prevent decay.
About Us
Our Vancouver dental office treats patients of all ages, from your baby at 6 months old to people well into their retirement years.
We strive to provide high-quality, preventive dentistry to all our patients. The focus and commitment of our practice is toward patient education. From teaching parents how to care for their babies’ and young children’s teeth, to giving adolescents and adults the special care they may need to restore their oral health, we are here to help and guide you every step of the way.
We are proud of the many positive reviews that we have gotten over the years. Here are a couple of our reviews as testament:
‘This place is great. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Great dentists! They are gentle with your gums and teeth. They have a good appointment reminder system (email/text). The place is very kid friendly and they have tvs mounted to the ceiling. You can just kick back and relax!
Nick A.
‘‘I have had nothing but good experiences here. I have always dreaded going to the dentist, but here, Dr. Mak and her friendly staff cater to my needs in order to put me at ease. The staff at the front desk are also lovely. I highly recommend this office for your dental needs, especially if you fear the dentist. Thank you Kits Family Dental!
Dentist Accepting Patients in Vancouver – Kits Family Dental
Kits Family Dental is currently accepting patients in Kitsilano Vancouver.
The four dentists at our Kitsilano office are Dr. Robin Mak, Dr. Sakura Iwagami, Dr. Courtney Butler and Dr. Ann Lu.
We welcome all ages from babies to seniors and specialize in children.
Our goal is to provide high-quality, preventive dentistry to all our
patients. Our focus and commitment is towards patient education. From
teaching parents how to care for their babies’ and young children’s teeth,
to giving adolescents and adults the special care they may need to
restore their oral health, we are here to help and guide you every step
of the way.
Our dedicated and friendly staff value your health, dental concerns and personal choices. Together, we can give you the tools to prevent decay and maintain your optimal oral health.
At work with our smallest patients
If you’d like to see us working with a small child while getting a checkup and cleaning or a filling, see our YouTube channel. You might be amazed at the care and patience as well as many methods we use to distract, calm and entertain even the littlest of children.
We have morning, afternoon, evening and weekend appointments available (one Saturday per month, except June, July and August) and are wheelchair accessible. Contact us to book your appointment.
Reviews
We are so proud of our patient reviews. We take great pride in our work and are so thankful that our work is so highly valued by our patients.
Pre-appointment Covid screening questionnaires for every patient.
Temperature checks for every staff member and patient that enters the clinic.
A dedicated staff member that disinfects high touch surfaces and the waiting room (chairs, tables, doors) between patients.
Renovations Adding plexiglass and glass barriers and doors to section off treatment areas.
Installation of commercial air filters in all treatment rooms and patient and staff areas.
Enhanced the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
Limited the number of patients in the waiting room at one time to allow for social distancing
We are asking patients with regular appointments to wait in the car until we are ready for them and are allowing for extra time in between appointments for thorough disinfecting.
Teledentistry consultations.
How Will My Experience at the Dental Office Be Different?
You might be wondering what the “new normal” will look like at our office. It won’t be business as usual due to the additional measures and precautions we’ll be implementing for your safety and the safety of our staff.
We’ve been monitoring updates from our public health authorities and regulators and will continue following all of their recommendations.
We are also offering teledentistry consultations. This is a phone appointment where you can discuss your dental concerns with one of our principal dentists.
Here are some examples of changes you can expect:
We’ll be reducing the number of patients in our office at a given time to allow for appropriate physical distancing in our reception area.
We will ask you to come to your appointment on time and not earlier, in order to minimize the number of people in the reception area. We’ll also be implementing a cell phone check-in process to allow you to wait in your car, or outside our office.
We’re spacing out our appointments to allow extra time for thorough disinfecting of our treatment rooms. Our commitment is to provide the safest environment for you, your family and our staff.
We won’t compromise on the safety of our patients and staff.
Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions and concerns or if there’s anything we can help with!
Routine Appointments
It’s more important than ever to keep up good oral hygiene by brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. We love hearing from you. Feel free to send us a note by responding to this email – even if it’s just to say hello. 🙂
Yours very truly,
Drs Robin Mak, Sakura Iwagami & Ann Lu
Posted inNews|Comments Off on Health Plan – We’re open regular hours!
We love this informative video by dentist, Dr. Burhenne.
Shout out to the cute star of the show, his granddaughter, Quinn. 🙂
Well, even if you don’t have young kids right now, just watching this cute baby and her charming Opa is worth it! Quinn is in an adorable red onesie, replete with matching red toothbrush and her baby legs on full display. For some reason I really like it when Opa pats Quinn on the head.
Baby Holds Toothbrush Too
Opa and grand-daughter both are holding toothbrushes. Give your child their own toothbrush to hold while you attempt to clean their teeth/mouth. What a great idea! Distraction seems to be a good 80% of parenting at times.
Pass on the toothpaste at this age though. It’s messy and can contain chemicals which may not be the best for small kids.
Keep the Experience Positive
Maybe the most important tip, and understanding he sheds, is that many parents try unsuccessfully to brush baby’s teeth and it just becomes a struggle and a chore for both of you. Make it fun! Baby needs to see you smiling and enjoying yourself — that sets the stage for everyone.
I love it that it is a relaxed setting on the couch. Dr. B. says the most important at this stage is to make it a good first experience. He then puts his toothbrush in his mouth and brushes and makes entertaining noises, takes his toothbrush out and then, like magic, Quinn mimics him and starts brushing her own teeth! Wow! Dr. B. says it’s got to be their idea, love that.
Dr. B. and Quinn are such a delight to watch. He could definitely have a second career as an entertainer.
Dr. B. says that at some point you want to grab the toothbrush (at which point he makes a grab and Quinn adorably casts her arm out to keep it from him:-) and scrub the gums.
Tips for Brushing a Baby’s Teeth:
Use an ultra soft toothbrush so if you poke the gums there is no problem.
Keep baby upright, don’t lie them down. If they are lying down, the gag reflex is stronger. Instinctively this is not something they will want to do. If you lie them down and they gag, you can kiss brushing your kids teeth goodbye says Dr. B.
Hold baby up to the mirror and brush together. At this point in the video, Quinn looks at Opa brushing his teeth and happily continues brushing her own. Awwww!
Model good teeth brushing (brush and floss your teeth often).
Kids will need you to brush their teeth after every meal until at least age 6, 7 or 8.
Honestly, I love Dr. B.’s approach. Would it be a stretch to say this kind of approach could be used in parenting older kids and teens and life in general? I think not. Thank you to the wonderful Dr. Burhenne.
About Us
Visit us at Kits Family Dental in Vancouver, BC. We specialize in children’s dentistry and love seeing our youngest patients.
We have lots of experience helping to keep children, and parents too, calm at the dental office.
We are located in Kitsilano at 2223 West Broadway (suites 207 & 209, please check in with reception in suite 207), one block west of Arbutus. Find us on Google Maps.
If you haven’t visited us before and would like a glimpse; view the office, staff and even some of our youngest (and cutest!) patients in the following introduction video.
Contact Us – Dentists Open on West Broadway Vancouver
Kits Family Dental is a dental office in Vancouver, conveniently located in Kitsilano, with flexible morning, evening, and weekend hours to easily accommodate your entire family. Our Vancouver dental office treats patients of all ages, from your baby at 6 months old to people well into their retirement years.
Our goal is to provide high-quality, preventive dentistry to all our patients. Our focus and commitment is towards patient education. From teaching parents how to care for their babies’ and young children’s teeth, to giving adolescents and adults the special care they may need to restore their oral health, we are here to help and guide you every step of the way.
Our dedicated and friendly staff values your health, dental concerns, and personal choices. Together, we can give you the tools to prevent decay and maintain your optimal oral health.
Dr. Robin Mak, Dr. Sakura Iwagami, Dr. Courtney Butler and Dr. Ann Lu practice general dentistry, and love seeing young children and pediatric patients as well as adults.
If you’re here to learn more about our incredible team, the dental clinic in Kitsilano where we do our work, and the products we offer to help attain and maintain your optimum oral health, you’re most certainly in the right place.
We hope to see you soon! Dentists Open on West Broadway Vancouver – Kits Family Dental is now OPEN.
