Why Do People Experience Dental Anxiety?
Dental anxiety can stem from various factors, such as:
• Fear of pain: Some patients worry about experiencing discomfort during procedures.
• Past negative experiences: A bad dental experience in the past can leave lasting impressions.
• Feeling of helplessness: Lying in the dental chair and not being in control can be unsettling for some.
• Embarrassment: Concerns about the state of your teeth can make you hesitant to visit the dentist.
Understanding the source of your anxiety is the first step toward overcoming it.

Tips to Stay Relaxed at Highland Woods Dentistry:

1. Share Your Concerns
   Don’t hesitate to let our dental team know about your anxiety. Sharing your feelings helps us tailor your treatment to your needs, ensuring you’re as comfortable as possible throughout the visit.
2. Choose a Calming Distraction
   We offer distractions like music, headphones, or even TV shows during your appointment. Bring along your favorite playlist or audiobook to help you relax.
3. Practice Deep Breathing
   Simple breathing exercises can do wonders for calming your nerves. Try inhaling slowly through your nose for four seconds, holding your breath for four seconds, and exhaling slowly through your mouth. Repeat this process until you feel more at ease.
4. Book a Morning Appointment
   Scheduling your visit early in the day can help you avoid the buildup of anxiety as the day progresses. Plus, you’ll have your appointment out of the way and can focus on the rest of your day stress-free!
5. Ask About Sedation Options
   Modern dentistry offers various sedation techniques to help manage anxiety. From nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to oral sedation, these options can keep you calm and relaxed during your procedure. Our dental team will discuss the best choice for your needs.
   How We Help Nervous Patients
   At Highland Woods Dentistry in London, we pride ourselves on creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all our patients, especially those who feel nervous. Here’s how we make your dental visits as stress-free as possible:
   • Gentle Communication: We take the time to explain every step of your treatment so you know exactly what to expect.
   • Comfortable Environment: From cozy waiting areas to advanced technology that minimizes discomfort, we aim to make your experience as pleasant as possible.
   • Patient-Centered Care: We work at your pace, taking breaks as needed and ensuring you’re comfortable every step of the way.
   Take the First Step Toward a Stress-Free Dental Visit
   Don’t let dental anxiety keep you from achieving a healthy, beautiful smile. Whether you need a routine cleaning or a more complex procedure, we’re here to help.
   Contact us today to schedule your appointment by calling us at (519) 668-7574—we can’t wait to show you how stress-free dental care can be!

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As part of our full dentistry service in London Ontario, we are proud to offer our patients crowns and bridges to restore the function and appearance of missing or damaged teeth. When a tooth is broken, worn, decayed around the gum line, weak or misshapen, a crown can be customized to cover and protect the natural tooth. Most crowns are porcelain, the preferred choice due to their strength and natural appearance.

What are Dental Crowns?

Crowns or partial crowns (onlays) are required when there is insufficient tooth strength to hold a filling. An impression is taken of your natural tooth so the lab technician can create a crown that is sculpted to match your bite and jaw movements. They are a form of prosthetic attached directly to a damaged tooth or implant, dental crowns have several applications. For people who have had a dental implant fitted, the crown is installed on top to give the appearance of a natural tooth, and to restore normal function. Porcelain crowns are bonded to the tooth or implant using dental cement, giving a result that’s secure and long-lasting.

What is a Dental Bridge?

If missing teeth have created an empty space, don’t worry; we can restore your beautiful smile! A dental bridge is an artificial tooth (or set of teeth), otherwise known as a pontic, which is attached to adjacent teeth to keep it in place. A bridge is an option to replace a missing tooth or teeth, to help maintain the shape of your face, your bite and the look of your smile. Because the bridge is bonded to surrounding teeth for support, the health of surrounding teeth, gums and bone is critical to the success of the bridge.
Different materials can be used for dental bridges, such as; porcelain, alloys, gold, or a combination. Porcelain is often the preferred choice for its appearance, so that the dental restoration is as close to the natural tooth colour as possible, and its strength.

If a crown or a bridge is a possible solution for you, give us a call to schedule an appointment to review your options.

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Highland Woods Dentistry is pleased to care for the dental needs of all members of your family with skill, knowledge, care and compassion.

We know that each family member has distinct and individual dental needs, which is why we’re happy to be able to offer a wide range of dental services, performed in a comfortable, family-friendly environment. Your family’s oral health is our specialty. Our dental centre is based in London Ontario, and we are ready to welcome young patients right through to seniors.

For youngsters making their first trip to the dentist, we make visits fun, relaxed and educational so kids are happy to make return visits. For teens, we focus on their needs – good nutrition, healthy lifestyle choices and good oral care habits; Adults may require cosmetic treatments along with maintenance of healthy teeth and gums, and seniors may have medical issues that affect their oral health.

Some of the family dental procedures we offer include:

Regular checkups – The frequency of your visits depends on age, dental health, and any ongoing or recent treatment. At your check-up, we’ll perform a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and mouth, and offer useful guidance on how to maintain your dental health.

Oral surgery – Our team of experienced dental professionals will support you throughout the entire process of having surgical dental treatment. We offer oral and nitrous oxide sedation to help you overcome nerves, and we’re always happy to provide guidance – there are no wrong questions!

Dental implants – If a tooth – or several teeth – are lost, dental implants can provide a permanent restorative solution.

Crowns and bridges – If you have experienced tooth loss, an alternative to dental implants is a crown or bridge. These are fixed prosthetic’s that restore the function and appearance of missing teeth.

Other services ->

Regular checkups help keep your teeth and gums strong throughout your lifetime. Call us today for an appointment.

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What are Dental Implants?

There are several types of prosthetic that can be used to create a replacement tooth. If you lose a tooth or teeth due to trauma or decay, an implant is an ideal solution for many patients to restore the function of your teeth and rejuvenate your smile. The implant is a synthetic tooth root, typically made of titanium, which is surgically implanted into the jawbone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the root post. Dental implants are the most permanent solution. As the jaw bone heals, it grows around the implant, locking it into place. The implant itself acts as an anchor for a bridge, crown, denture, or other dental prostheses.

Who is Eligible for Dental Implants?

Not everyone is a candidate for implants. Dental implants are a suitable choice for people who have lost teeth due to injury or disease. However, in order for the implant to be successful, ideally, the patient should be a non-smoker with good oral health, sufficient bone in the jaw and healthy gums; all are important factors to supporting the implant. If a patient has a soft jaw bone or gum disease, the risk of failure or infection is too substantial to proceed. During our consultation, we’ll perform a thorough check of your natural teeth and gums, and confirm with X-rays whether you are suitable for this type of treatment.

How are Dental Implants Fitted?

This is a relatively invasive procedure, but we will do everything to keep you as comfortable and calm as possible. We’ll start by removing any tooth or teeth that require extraction, then we will drill into the jaw, replacing the root with an implant. After the first procedure, your jaw bone will be given a chance to heal, then you will return to the office to have the artificial tooth fitted to the implant. Although appearance is immediately improved after the second appointment, function is restored gradually over several weeks.
One implant will replace one missing tooth, but if you have several teeth missing in a row, a few strategically placed implants may be positioned in a way that they can support a permanent bridge without putting stress and wear on surrounding teeth. Implants can even be used to support a full bridge or denture that is permanently fixed if you have lost all of your teeth, eliminating the need for traditional dentures.

You must care for them just like you would care for your natural teeth with daily brushing and flossing and regular checkups. Call us today to discuss implants if you think you may be a candidate.

Check other services we offer.

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Dentures are a tried-and-tested prosthetic treatment for tooth loss. If you’re missing many or all of your teeth, today’s dentures are natural looking and functional. If only some teeth are missing, partial dentures attached to a metal frame and affixed to your surrounding teeth can fill the gaps.

What are Dentures?

When natural teeth are lost, due to impact, disease, or older age, the gaps that are left behind can have a detrimental impact on speech and the ability to eat and drink normally. Confidence may also be dented when patients feel that their appearance has changed dramatically.

Dentures help to correct this. They are prosthetic’s that are supported by the gums or surrounding areas of existing teeth. Complete dentures are suitable for patients who have lost most or all of their teeth, while partial dentures can fill the gaps left by less extensive tooth loss.

How are Dentures Fitted?

At our Dentures London Ontario clinic, we will assess the current condition of your teeth and gums, and if you are suitable for dentures, take impressions. These will then be made into dentures, which will be fitted in the office to ensure they are snug to your gums and working perfectly. And if you have any issues with dentures, we’re always available to help!

Dentures require daily care, just like natural teeth, to stay clean and keep bacteria from growing inside the mouth. Remove your dentures to clean – use a soft-bristled brush to gently clean your gums, tongue and dentures, then rinse. Talk to your dentist about the right product to clean your dentures. When you aren’t wearing them, keep them in water to ensure they don’t dry out and lose shape or crack.

Over time, the shape of your mouth can change and dentures may not fit right. If your dentures are broken or irritating your mouth and gums, or if you want to learn more about dentures, please contact our office.

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When teeth are chipped, stained, misshapen, crooked or have gaps, you can improve the look of your smile with durable porcelain dental veneers.

What are Veneers?

Veneers are a cosmetic dental treatment that is used to improve the appearance of teeth or protect them from damage. They are thin, custom-made shells that fit over the front of your teeth. Customized to match the shape and color of your teeth, they easily correct imperfections and look very natural.

There are two main material types; composite and porcelain veneers. Composite veneers are built from a thin layer that adapts to the natural shape of the teeth, while porcelain veneers are created in a separate lab and bonded to the teeth with dental cement in the office.

Who are Veneers Suitable for?

Veneers are fitted to healthy teeth, so this is a necessity for successful treatment. If teeth are unhealthy, broken, or missing, there are several alternatives to try; including bridges, crowns, dentures, and implants.

How are Veneers Fitted?

First, a mold is made of your teeth. When your veneers are ready, the front of your natural teeth are prepared and the veneers are placed. When veneers are fitted, the original tooth structure is retained, and a layer of material is placed over the top. Veneers are stain-resistant, but to maintain their look, it’s best to avoid coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco, just like your natural teeth.

If you’d like to know more about how veneers can improve the look of your smile, contact us for an appointment to discuss or check other dental services we offer.

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Today’s resilient composite fillings are the usual choice to fill a tooth that has decay. The composite material simulates the appearance of a healthy natural tooth, which is more aesthetically pleasing than amalgam fillings of the past. Composite fillings are often made from resin material matched to your tooth color and give you a smile that looks natural, clean and uniform.

What Causes Cavities?

From a young age, we’re taught to brush and floss our teeth carefully to avoid cavities. However, even the most diligent among us may still end up with tooth decay. Cavities are parts of the tooth that have worn away due to decay, caused by acid from plaque.

Cavities are usually accompanied by sensitivity, and more severe cases may cause pain. There might also be discoloration and bad breath present.

How are Cavities Treated?

The best way to deal with cavities is to apply fillings to protect the natural tooth, prevent further damage, and improve appearance. Fillings can be made from porcelain, metal amalgam, gold, or composite resin.

There are many options available when your tooth needs a filling. Several factors must be considered depending on the amount of decay, tooth structure and more.

Why Composite for Filling Cavities?

One of the key advantages of composite resin is that it protects the tooth whilst retaining the original tooth color. This is why you may have heard them referred to as ‘white fillings’. Composite resin, just like other filling materials, bolsters the existing tooth structure and prevents further damage deeper in the tooth. Composite resin is also a great choice for correcting chipped teeth, thanks to its natural color.

If you have a cavity that needs to be filled, be sure to discuss the options available to best maintain the integrity of your tooth and the look of your smile.

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We offer a wide range of oral surgery treatments: removal of impacted teeth, including wisdom teeth, is a common reason we may recommend oral surgery. This is important to your overall oral care, to help maintain healthy teeth and to relieve pain that may result.

Why Might I Need Oral Surgery?

There are several dental conditions that require the expertise of an oral surgeon to treat successfully. These include:

Wisdom teeth extraction –  Removal of some or all of the third molars, usually as a result of impaction, is a common surgical procedure.

Other tooth impaction – For some patients, there simply isn’t enough space to accommodate all teeth, so to relieve the pressure and prevent further damage, we recommend removal of impacted teeth.

Dental implants – To replace broken or missing teeth, patients may be offered a permanent alternative to bridges and dentures.

Is Oral Surgery Painful?

Before your procedure begins, we will ensure that the area in which we’re working has been numbed with a local anesthetic. We’ll also check in with you during surgery to make sure you’re not in pain. After the procedure, you may feel pain or sensitivity as the anesthetic wears off, but a low dose of regular painkillers can help.

Will I Feel Anxious?

It’s no secret that some people do experience anxiety when in the dentist’s chair. We have many options to help you through oral surgery, including nitrous oxide sedation and oral sedation, particularly if you are anxious about your upcoming procedure. We’re also happy to explain any aspect of your procedure to help you feel more confident about surgery.

Call us today to discuss options to ensure you have a pain-free and relaxing experience.

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Your oral health is important and you want to maintain a healthy smile. Many times, we can prevent dental problems with regular preventive care. In order to help prevent problems, we have a range of personalized services to suit you and all your family members. These include regular hygiene appointments, checkups, and cosmetic and implant dentistry to name a few.

What is Preventative Care?

In the context of dentistry, preventative care encompasses all of the steps you take to avoid encountering problems with your teeth and gums. It’s the set of tasks that help you to maintain a beautiful smile!

The best place to start is with a regular check-up. We know that this isn’t always a prospect that everyone relishes, but at our friendly surgery we do our best to make you feel comfortable. We’re happy to talk you through all parts of the process, so that you’re confident – and dare we say it, excited! – to visit us.

What Happens During a Check-Up?

We’ll perform a thorough inspection of your teeth and gums to make sure that everything is healthy. We may also take X-rays to check whether you have any problems under the surface of the gums. If there are procedures you need to improve your oral health, we’ll explain them fully and ensure you’d happy with the treatment plan.

How Often Should I Visit?

For healthy people, we would recommend visiting once a year at the very least. If you’re having ongoing treatment, we’ll see you more often, and your next appointment will be booked before you leave the office.

It is our goal to ensure your smile is beautiful and healthy throughout your lifetime. Your oral health is our priority. If you have oral health concerns, please talk to our team about ways we can help ensure the long-term health of your teeth and maintain your beautiful smile.

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Many patients are anxious about dental procedures. We understand that you may be nervous, so we have solutions to help you through your appointment. Dental anxiety is a common occurrence, and there’s no need to miss out on treatment because of it; that’s why we offer nitrous oxide sedation to our patients.

What is Nitrous Oxide Sedation?

When undertaking dental treatment, it’s natural to feel concerned. To alleviate your anxiety, we offer a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen – also known as laughing gas, which is delivered via a small mask over your nose. This is a mild to moderate sedation that will help you feel very relaxed for the duration of your treatment. You will remain awake but you will be calm and anxiety-free, negating the need for surgery to take place at the hospital. After the procedure, the nitrous oxide is removed and you will return to normal quickly.

How Will I Feel?

For most people, using laughing gas feels calm and comforting, and promotes a positive dental experience. Once the procedure is over, nitrous oxide is removed, and you’ll be able to recover and feel back to normal quickly.

What are the Alternatives?

Nitrous oxide sedation is a popular solution but there’s more than one type of sedation; alternatives include intravenous and oral sedation. We’ll work with you to decide which is best for your circumstances and overall health.

Call us today if you want to find out more about your options!

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