Professional General Dentistry Services in North Bay

Dental problems can occur at any time. Bleeding or swollen gums, moderate to severe dental pain, fractured teeth or dental trauma, these concerns can be addressed with your dentist at Lakeshore Dental Care. We are happy to offer emergency dental care to our patients, as well as serve the community through the on-call service provided in North Bay.

A dental cleaning (or hygiene visit) is extremely important to maintain the foundation of your mouth - gums and bone that hold teeth in place. According to the Canadian Dental Association, more than 70% of Canadians suffer from gum disease at some time in their lives. Gum disease can cause swollen/red gums, bone loss and infect tooth roots. During your dental cleaning, your hygienist will remove destructive cavities causing bacteria, plaque and tartar build up. They will also inform you of any signs of inflammation, gum pockets and swelling. Regular dental cleanings are the best way to beat gum disease and detect early cavities and disease in the mouth.

A severely damaged tooth may need to be extracted (removed) due to fracture, decay or a crack that cannot be restored to save the tooth. Permanent teeth may also need to be removed for orthodontic treatment and wisdom teeth may need to be removed due to pain, infection, position or not having enough space in the mouth.

Periodontal or gum disease is an infection that affects the gums and jawbone, which can lead to a loss of gum, bone and teeth. There are two major stages — gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the milder and reversible form; periodontal disease is often more severe. In some cases, gum surgery will be required to reverse the effect of the disease.

Not all oral abnormalities are visible during an examination. To ensure proper oral health, X-rays are taken on a regular basis to detect cavities, bone loss, imperfections, or even oral cancer. X-rays are needed as part of your oral health regimen.

Pediatric dentistry is the provision of oral healthcare for infants and children. At Lakeshore Dental Care, you can look forward to a kid-friendly atmosphere that is safe, warm and welcoming. Our team is extremely proficient in treating children by providing the latest advancements in dentistry to ensure that your child receives safe and effective treatment for their needs. We strive to provide an enjoyable experience for both you and your children.

Oral cancer starts in the cells of the mouth, tongue or throat. In this exam, your dentist will feel for lumps or irregular tissue changes in your neck, head, face and inside your mouth. Your dentist will also look for sores or discolored tissue in your mouth.

Root canals treat diseased or abscessed teeth. Once a tooth is injured, cracked or decayed, it is necessary to open the tooth and clean out the infected tissue in the centre. This space is then filled and the opening sealed. Keeping your tooth helps to prevent your other teeth from drifting out of line and causing jaw problems. Saving a natural tooth avoids having to replace it with an artificial tooth. Root canals will often leave your tooth weaker than it originally was, and your dentist may recommend a crown to strengthen the tooth.

This surgical specialty is a bridge between dentistry and medicine where we provide diagnosis and treat diseases affecting your jaws, mouth, face, and neck. We can assist with bone grafting, TMJ surgery, and more.

Sedation dentistry is generally used for patients who are nervous at the dental office. It can help calm a patient’s nerves or allow them to be put to sleep where they won’t remember the procedure. It can also produce numbness in a particular area of the mouth, for example, when using nitrous oxide (laughing gas) with children to avoid local anesthetic. There are many different types of sedation, from laughing gas to oral sedation or deep sedation and general anesthesia. Your dentist will discuss your current health, including current medications, to select the most appropriate form of sedation for you or your family.

The complete oral examination is a generalized look at a patient’s oral health and overall health. This examination can take from 40-50 minutes, and includes medical history, oral cancer screening, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and extraoral tissue check, gum disease screening, x-rays and examination of all teeth for detection of cavities, broken teeth, missing teeth, infection or any other sources of pain or breakdown. The dental exam will not only help treat ongoing problems but also provide future preventive treatment to ensure you maintain your healthy smile.

Bruxism (or grinding) is a disorder that involves excessive movement of clenched teeth back and forth and side to side during sleep. Clenching is the act of biting your teeth together with excess force during sleep. Clenching/grinding your teeth can cause damage to your jaws, generalized tooth pain and sensitivity, and fractured/broken teeth. Some common symptoms include headaches, earaches, facial pain, stiffness/pain of the jaw, limitations of mouth opening, tiredness upon waking, tooth sensitivity (especially in the morning), and crunching/popping of jaws. In order to help with grinding/clenching, an examination would be conducted by your dentist, and often a nightguard recommended (a piece of plastic that fits on top of the teeth to act as a cushion to protect your joint and teeth at night). If you experience any of these symptoms, it is time you visit your dentist at Lakeshore Dental Care.

Dentures are removable prosthetic devices replacing lost teeth. There are three types of dentures – a flipper (which is to replace a small number of teeth for cosmetic purposes), partial (which replace one or multiple teeth) and full (when all teeth in one arch have been lost). Full dentures are often referred to as “false teeth”.

​Our TMJs, temporomandibular joints, are two of the most important joints in our bodies. These are the joints that connect our lower jawbones (mandible) to our faces. TMJ disorders or diseases are common. If you are experiencing pain or discomfort in front of your ears when opening or closing, generalized tooth pain or sensitivity or locked jaw, it could be time to visit your dentist about TMJ issues.