Category: blog

Archer Dental Little Italy Launches During the 2018 Taste of Little Italy Street Festival

Posted on June 20, 2018

a mariachi band rehearses in front of Archer Dental Little Italy

Last Friday night was a very special evening for everyone at Archer Dental as we officially launched our new location at 564 College Street. Archer Dental Little Italy was born in a blaze of Italian pizza, prosecco and Paparazzi photos! The dentists, dental hygienists, our dental office administrators (plus their families and friends) and several other notable guests all gathered on site to raise a glass to the future.

This was a VIP, invite-only affair. Outside the office was red carpet with silver stanchions and red velvet ropes. Nothing says exclusive event like ten feet of bright red carpet. Our formal Launch Party even had a burly bouncer checking RSVP invites at the door.

The red carpet attracted past and present Archer Dental patients from across the city. People who were not on the official RSVP list, but who could prove they were friends of Archer Dental were allowed to enter and join in the celebrations.

Early in the evening, we had a stream of media mavens, bloggers and lifelong patients. In the picture below, you can see that the Taste of Little Italy street festival is just getting underway outside as Christina Paruag of FemEvolve health and wellness magazine prepares to chat with Dr Natalie Archer.

Amico’s Pizza catered the food, twice; they served Italian meatballs and their signature deluxe pizzas. The first load appeared at seven o’clock and was followed by another delivery at eight.

Below is Dr Grant Yiu with Dr Natalie Archer and some of the extended staff and service providers. Our youngest guest is also pictured here as Grant’s daughter, Mia, stayed up well past her bed time! Archer Dental Little Italy is a family friendly practice with a focus on kids; read about our Shoot the Tooth archery game booth held during the 2018 Taste of Little Italy street festival.

We love kids. Archer Dental Little Italy is located near two busy schools: Clinton Street Junior Public School at 460 Manning Ave teaches Kindergarten to Grade 6, and St Francis Assisi Catholic School is located at 80 Clinton Street and is also Kindergarten to Grade Eight. We hope families will find and use our newest location on College Street.

A Mariachi Exclamation Mark Ended the Evening

Around nine pm, a fully costumed and properly equipped mariachi band showed up and serenaded guests with classics, “Cielito Lindo”, “Guantanamera”, “Mexico Lindo Y Querido” and “Cuando, Cuando, Cuando”; they were the real deal, and so it was a terrific surprise when guests learned that one of the troubadours is an Archer Dental staff member!

Everyone was dancing and enjoying the upbeat musical stylings of the mariachi band.

The mariachi entertained our guests for twenty minutes as the perfect end to an already incredible night.

Come visit us anytime at Archer Dental Little Italy, 564 College St, and keep your eyes open for our anniversary party during next year’s Taste of Little Italy festival.

GLO Science is a Trendy New Teeth Whitening Service

Posted on May 11, 2018

Newly tested technology provides Archer Dental’s teeth whitening service teams in all three locations across Toronto with yet another tool!

Say hello to GLO. GLO Science PRO WHITE is an in-office teeth whitening treatment that combines GLO warming heat and light with professional strength whitening gel (that can only be applied by a dental professional). The patented GLO Brilliant device is the only teeth whitening system in Canada today to combine LED lights with warming GLO heat to accelerate safe hydrogen peroxide whitening formulation. Used in thousands of professional dental offices worldwide, the technology is clinically proven to whiten smiles with no sensitivity.

Suitable candidates are approved in advance for the treatment at Archer Dental. Upon arrival, the patient will first apply GLO lip treatment. After this protective barrier is in place, patients are invited to bite down the blue LED light mouthpiece (upon which our trained professionals have already spread the trademark GLO whitening gel.)

The patient bites down just enough to make contact, and to allow the LED lights inside to warm and glow the photo-activated peroxide paste. Unlike other hand-held whitening devices on the market, the GLO system is proven to be effective, safe, and easy to handle.

GLO chair side service at Archer Dental is a fast professional treatment that creates a whiter smile in under an hour, without pain.

How does it work?

G.L.O. Science whitening system is designed for speed, efficiency and safety. Essentially, this breakthrough whitening system eliminates the messy trays and dentist operated light-guns. The patented Guided Light Optics (G.L.O.) device innovation combines warming heat-plus-light in a closed system mouthpiece to activate the professional strength GLO Professional Whitening Gel. Their technology uses both light and heat to optimize the effects of a specially concocted hydrogen peroxide toothpaste. Eight minute applications are set-up in the device to whiten the top and bottom teeth simultaneously.

Invented by oral health expert Dr. Jonathan B. Levine, GLO Science Professional is safe to use on crowns, caps, bonding and veneers. Below is a video that shows the system at work whitening teeth.

Whitening Gel in G-Vials?

GLO whitening gel comes in small single-use GLO Vials (also called G-Vials) that can be easily squeezed and brushed directly onto teeth.

Hydrogen peroxide is powerful but perishable and needs to be kept in a sealed environment to maintain its potency. The G-Vial is a proprietary system that keeps the whitening gel fresh and active using hermetically sealed vials that prevent oxygen molecules from escaping. The G-Vial’s easy-to-apply brush tip applicator allows for easy targeting of the gel onto teeth, avoiding the lips and gums in order to prevent sensitivity.

The GLO light in the mouthpiece is a blue light (not UV light). The wavelength is similar to what has been used in professional tooth whitening for 10 years. Because the light is built into the mouthpiece and timed for 8 minute intervals only, the contact time is ideal for a session without sensitivity.

GLO uses LEDs (light emitting diodes) that emit blue light. Blue light has a wavelength of approximately 470 nm (nanometers) and is part of the “visible light spectrum”, which ranges from approximately 400 nm to 700 nm. It is completely harmless and has no negative effect on the human body.

Because having a dazzlingly white smile is important to our clientele, Archer Dental likes to keep current on the latest technological advances in this evolving field of study. Our staff has been keeping an eye on GLO Science and their trademark device since it debuted in Canada last fall and we are proud to announce today that this is available in our Little Italy dental office.

Call or visit Archer Dental Little Italy for more information.

Wisdom Teeth Removal as a Right of Passage in Popular Culture

Posted on April 18, 2018

Throughout recorded time, and in many ways right up to this point in our human evolution, wisdom teeth removal was an uncomfortable experience for everyone involved. Almost all historical references to the operation dwell on the pain and discomfort of the surgery. The Egyptians pioneered it, and the Babylonians tried it too. Hammurabi’s Code, written in 1754 BC references tooth pulling as a form of punishment. The surprising appearance of new teeth was noted in texts by Plato and Hippocrates, and later, Europe’s medieval writers would link wisdom teeth to the ‘tooth worm’ which – it was then believed – erupted unseen in people’s mouths to create otherwise unexplained holes in teeth (especially favoring the last molars.) In monasteries throughout Europe, there were ascetic monks who suffered (and eventually died from) impacted wisdom teeth as a form of penitents. And although the 18th century was an Age of Enlightenment for the arts, literature, science and statecraft, common everyday dental care was still very much stuck in the Dark Ages.

Gold Wisdom print designed by ElectricPopSpot and printed by Zazzleart.com

Luckily for us, all of that has changed with modernity; vocational training produces highly skilled dentists, and modern science equips them with effective medical equipment. The profession’s expertise and machinery just keeps getting better, and so does the pain mitigating pharmaceuticals available to patients. These three elements combined have changed people’s perception of the wisdom tooth removal process, and this is reflected in our mainstream media and popular culture in general.

Today, wisdom teeth removal is something of a grand event in young peoples’ lives; the experience has three distinct stages 1) anticipating , 2) enduring and 3) recovering afterwards (through a combination of resting and ingesting delicious soft foods.) This medical mark-of-maturation is now celebrated in many different ways. While there are references in popular music, films and TV shows, wisdom teeth removal videos are especially popular on YouTube; the once dreaded experience now presents young people with a legitimate (and completely legal) opportunity to record themselves in an altered state. The premise is usually the same – a patient recovering from wisdom tooth removal surgery solicits fame as they request a meeting with their favourite film and TV celebrity heroes – but each video still manages to be uniquely entertaining.

University & College Kids Get Wisdom Teeth Done in Summer Break

During their ‘Wisdom Tooth Summer’, many university and college students return to their parents’ house for what is likely to be their last summer at home. Its also quite common to see these same young scholars use the break to get their wisdom teeth removed. And so, together, the two events often become a rite of passage. The surgery is so commonplace in this age group that it’s estimated that well over 500,000 wisdom teeth are extracted across Canada during June, July and August of each year.

Wisdom Teeth Removal in Popular Music

Crash test Dummies - wisdom teeth refernce in Bereft Man

The Ghosts That Haunt Me / Crash Test Dummies – 1991

The ubiquity of wisdom teeth extends all the way into the music industry. Just look at the lyrics in this Crash Test Dummies’ song where the narrator proclaims he’s one of the few people alive who have all their wisdom teeth (but still says things that aren’t so wise).

Comin’ Back Soon (The Bereft Man’s Song)
I’ve all my wisdom teeth
Two up top, two beneath
And yet I’ll recognize
My mouth says things that aren’t so wise
But when I sing my darling’s praise, I know I’m right, or close anyways.

Wisdom Teeth Removal in American Television

In a number of recent television sitcoms, wisdom teeth removal surgery is used as a plot device to put a strong character at a medically induced disadvantage. In the show Broad City, in an episode titled Wisdom Teeth, the female lead, while on a double dose of Vicodin, asks a less than desirable male counterpart for a date (in a 23-minute voicemail that involves a Drew Barrymore impression).

A similar scenario unfolds in The Middle, with Malcolm recording his siblings while they’re both under the influence of a dentist’s painkillers.

In Season Eight, Episode Eight of Long Island Medium, we get some good insights into how families with millennials are affected by the operation, and how they rally around their suffering siblings while secretly enjoying the family member’s temporary weakness. Once again, you can see the medicine in the female character’s hands as she helps her brother move about the house. The show celebrates love, family support, and all the silly things people say when under the influence of powerful pain killers.

On YouTube, video uploads of subjects ‘recovering from wisdom teeth removal surgery’ are so common that the phenomenon is considered to be its own content niche. Countless young people have recorded curious self-reflections from passenger seats in cars, presumably as they are being driven home from a hospital or dental clinic. Their awkward thoughts and sloppy speech are recorded while still under the influence of the drugs administered during the wisdom teeth removal surgery. The titles of these videos employ words like ‘recovering after surgery’ and ‘still under influence’.

A number of everyday Americans have used their wisdom teeth removal scenario to meet their celebrity idols; Ellen Degeneres flew one viral video subject to her television studio for an interview, and Ryan Reynolds sent another to an exclusive Deadpool screening after that young man’s Recovery Video accrued half a million views.

As pop culture has shown us, having your wisdom teeth removed isn’t nearly as terrifying as it sounds. Not only is it a rite of passage that marks the passage of time between childhood and adulthood, but it’s also an opportunity to relax and let yourself be silly. Who knows? Maybe your post-wisdom teeth removal video will be the next viral sensation.

How to Help Your Child Stop Sucking Their Thumb

Posted on March 28, 2018

For most children, thumb sucking is a natural instinct. Occasionally stemming as far back as their time in the womb, thumb sucking is the easiest way for young kids to self-soothe in times of stress or discomfort.

Unfortunately, the longer a child sucks their thumb, the more pronounced the damage to their teeth and mouth is likely to be over time. So how can you help your child avoid a future full of braces and other expensive (and often uncomfortable) oral appliances intended to correct the damage?

The best way to prevent permanent damage to the oral structures inside the mouth is to help your child wean themselves off of sucking their thumb. Here are a few tips to help you help your child keep their teeth straight, their jaws aligned, and their smiles bright!

Before you attempt to force your child to stop sucking their thumb, it’s important that you sit down with them and explain why they need to give it up. No matter how old (or young) a person is, they’re far more likely to work with you if you take the time to explain the problem to them rather than forcing their hand (pun intended.)

Let your child know that sucking their thumb can cause serious permanent damage to their teeth, jaws, and oral palate and work with them to come up with solutions together.

Depending on how young your child is, it might be tricky for them to understand the gravity of the situation and why it’s so vital they stop sucking their thumb sooner rather than later. This is where the internet (and specifically YouTube) comes in.

Rather than just trying to describe the problem in words they can understand, show them exactly what happens over time when they keep sucking their thumb. Empower them and educate them so they can be the ones to make the decision to quit (which in turn increases their likelihood of succeeding.)

Rather than scolding your child and making them feel ashamed of failure, reward your child when they do well. And you don’t have to give your child a physical reward in order to practice positive re-enforcement; the next time you see them reflexively put their thumb in their mouth, give them a chance to correct the behaviour on their own.

If they remember to remove their thumb, praise them and let them know you’re proud of them. Failure is to be expected from time to time and your child shouldn’t feel like they need to hide that from you.

Thumb sucking is often a self-soothing behaviour that children adopt in order to comfort themselves. Talk to your child and try to figure out the root cause of their discomfort. Often, by alleviating whatever is causing your child’s anxiety or insecurity, you remove the stimulus that triggers the thumb sucking behaviour in the first place.

Think of your child sucking their thumb as their own personal safety blanket; if you can figure out what’s stressing them out and alleviate that stress, you can cut the thumb sucking off right at the source.

If your child is still struggling to quit sucking their thumb, then there are an array of products available to help them. From bad tasting ‘nail polish’ (originally invented to help people stop biting their nails) to thumb guards, there are a number of different methods to choose from to assist your child with keeping their thumb out of their mouth.

Just be aware that there’s a very fine line to be drawn here and that your child should give their complete consent to trying the products out. Forcing your child not to suck their thumb against their will won’t end well for anyone. This is why the first step is so important. Talk to your child. Make sure you’re both on the same page and come up with a strategy together.

The best thing you can do to help a child who is struggling to stop sucking their thumb (or who has no interest in stopping) is to book an appointment with a dentist. At Archer Dental, our team is equipped to come up with the best possible treatment plan to suit your child’s unique needs.

We also offer Myobrace. Myobrace focuses on treating the underlying causes of crooked teeth and under or overdeveloped bites by gently re-aligning and correcting your child’s bite before permanent damage can be done. When used as prevention, Myobrace can eliminate the need for braces and improve your child’s quality of life as a whole. You can learn more about Myobrace and how it works right here.

Myobrace in Toronto at Archer Dental – Straighten Childrens’ Teeth Without Braces

Posted on March 13, 2018

Archer Dental now proudly offers Myobrace®, a no-braces approach to straightening children’s teeth and jaws.

That’s right, orthodontics with no braces.

What is Myobrace?

Myobrace focuses on treating the underlying causes of children’s crooked teeth by gently re-aligning and correcting less than optimal bites and jaw alignments in their younger and slightly more malleable mouths.

children get myobrace custom fit to correct crooked teeth in jaw

Child holds his custom fit Myobrace

The same principles can also be applied to correct bites in older people, but the device and practice is slightly different (next month, we’ll also be writing about Myosa).

Trusted by reputable dentists and orthodontists in almost fifty countries around the world, Myobrace has already successfully treated millions of children, and is now available at all three Archer Dental locations in Toronto, Canada.

Nature vs Nurture as it relates to Crooked Teeth

There is a great debate raging in dental circles about what really causes crooked teeth. Is it genetics, as we always believed, that leaves people helpless to their body’s dental development? Or is having a misshapen mouth as a teenager the result of inferior breathing habits learned in early childhood? There are arguments on both sides but dentists at Archer Dental are now leaning toward the latter.

It’s common for parents and grandparents to look at their small children and recognize their own noses and eyes, and their own crooked teeth. At the same time, parents often scold toddlers for sucking their thumbs which they believe, and which many orthodontists have told them, is a leading cause of ‘buck teeth’ and misaligned mouths. So, which is the true culprit? Or is every case different and perhaps genes and behaviour are both factors?

Dr Chris Farrell developed Myobrace in Australia

Dr Chris Farrell at MRC, Australia

New thinking suggests crooked teeth are not so much inherited as they are trained, and that misshapen bites are the negative result of a child’s breathing patterns and poor myofunctional habits. This means that with a little work, it may be possible for small children to not inherit the crooked smiles of their parents and grandparents.

Myobrace originates from the work of Australian orthodontist Dr Chris Farrell who is also the CEO of Myofunctional Research Corp (MRC). MRC has been developing innovative intra-oral appliances to treat the causes of malocclusion and TMJ disorder since 1989. MRC develops educational resources to change people’s perceptions about oral health development and to provide both the public and professionals with informative teaching materials that highlight the importance of correcting bad myofunctional habits in children as early as possible. To this end, MRC’s mission statement is: “To Improve the facial and dental development of the growing child and allow treatment for orthodontic and TMJ disorders to be available to all populations with the use of modern and less complex techniques”.

Under Dr. Chris Farrell’s leadership, from 1989 to present day, MRC developed their dental trainers for treating malocclusion into a range of appliance systems suitable for growing children of all ages.

Myofunctional Therapy aims to correct dental dysfunction

Certain conditions and habits learned in childhood can negatively impact oral posture and function. The result is called a myofunctional disorder. Though there are different kinds of disorders, all involve a change in the amount of vertical space between the dental arches when the mouth is at rest, or what dentists and other health practitioners call ‘freeway space’. One of the main goals of myofunctional therapy is to normalize this space by teaching patients new ways of chewing, breathing and swallowing, ultimately encouraging proper function instead of dysfunction. Myofunctional therapy can help people of all ages train themselves out of having bad dental posture and is especially effective in children.

Myobrace discourages incorrect myofunctional habits

The specially fitted plastic hardware makes thumb-sucking, nail-biting, and tongue thrusting quite impossible. Instead the device reinforces positive myofunctional behaviour such as closed-lip nasal breathing and proper tongue function and swallowing patterns. The innovation aims to create a normal and harmonious oral-facial muscle environment, and to restore balance to the mouth, face, head, neck and body.

Mouth breathing – When children breath through their mouths rather than their nose, their tongue doesn’t rest in the roof of the mouth properly. This often results in an underdeveloped upper jaw and restricts the forward growth of the lower jaw. Along with the concern of teeth crowding and the resultant crooked teeth, incorrect development of the upper jaw can affect a child’s breathing by restricting their air intake.

tounge thrusting as daytime resting position pushing teeth forward

Child tongue thrusting

Tongue thrusting is the common name for an orofacial muscular imbalance which manifests as a bad habit. Tongue thrusting occurs when the individual takes comfort in moving their tongue forward so that it protrudes through the anterior incisors during swallowing, speech, and even while the tongue is at rest. The other name for this is ‘reverse swallowing’ (which along with the picture to the left, might help you to visualize and understand this oral habit better.) People who tongue thrust are at serious risk of developing oral deformities and other preventable ailments and dysfunctions over time.

Thumb sucking and nail biting are two other negative myofunctional habits that should be discouraged in small children. Bear in mind there is difference between resting a thumb in the mouth and a child actively sucking their thumb. The former is natural and was probably practiced by the infant in the womb, while the later could lead to tongue thrusting as detailed above.

Allergies, asthma and an open mouth posture also contribute to incorrect jaw development. Growing up, most of us have had one or more of these myofunctional problems, which may have been the cause of incorrect dental and facial development.

Sleep Disorders can result from mouth breathing while at rest, and these are a self perpetuating cycle for deteriorating oral health. As well as affecting jaw and facial development, the medical profession now recognizes that mouth breathing is abnormal and is one of the main contributors to Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) problems. Generally speaking, children that snore are often tired in the morning and are more likely to have learning problems and other developmental challenges. If left untreated in a child, SDB will likely result in more and greater health problems and a poorer quality of life in general for sufferer as an adult.

Symptoms commonly associated with Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) can include:

Developmental and behavioural problems
Snoring
Gasping
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Interrupted sleep

If your child suffers from any of these SDB symptoms, please consider scheduling an appointment at any of our three locations for a health exam. Early evaluation for the signs of poor jaw development and immediate remedial action can save your family financially and dramatically improve the quality of life for your child.

What is Myobrace?

The Myobrace^®System is a preventive pre-orthodontic treatment that focuses on addressing the underlying causes of crooked teeth, often without the need for braces or extraction of teeth. Myobrace is a series of removable intra-oral appliances that unlock natural growth and development. Treatment is best suited to children aged 3 to 15 and involves wearing myobrace in the mouth for one or two hours each day plus overnight while sleeping.

How to get your child started on Myobrace?

Visit the dentists at Archer Dental for analysis. Additionally, and perhaps before you book your visit, you could continue your research and answer Myobrace ten point questionnaire. The Myobrace questionnaire is an online evaluation which allows you to screen your child for ‘the causes’ that may be negatively affecting his or her jaw and facial development. The document asks for insights on how your child breathes, their posture, the open or closed position of their mouth and tongue at rest, as well as information on the way they swallow. These are their myofunctional habits and MRC will attempt to link these behaviours to the way your child’s teeth and jaws develop. You can print the questionnaire or send the results to the dental office prior to or during your first visit to Archer Dental.

Holistic Dentistry and Disease Prevention for Oral Health

Posted on February 14, 2018

holistic dentist in Toronto examines bite and studies occlusion

At Archer Dental, we believe it’s just common sense to view the human body as a whole rather than the sum of its parts. Instead of isolating each problem, we like to view the entirety of a patient’s health when coming up with a treatment plan. With Alternative Healthcare now presenting so many viable options in so many different medical fields, it’s no surprise that Holistic dentistry, a popular dental buzz-word, has become a new ‘ideal’ in oral health care. But what is it exactly? And more importantly, is holistic dentistry the right medical choice for you?

What is Holistic Dentistry?

Holistic dentistry aims to promote a patient’s overall health and wellness as opposed to just focusing on the treatment of specific illnesses or diseases. Holistic dentists factor every aspect of their patient’s health into their evaluation and eventual treatment plan. This means that a holistic dentist isn’t just evaluating mouths, teeth, tongues, jaws, and gums, but rather the patient’s entire medical history. Every aspect of a patient’s health will come into play when treatment options are discussed (both preventative and reactive).

Holistic dentist in Toronto listens to patient describing life conditions environment stress and toxins

Archer Dental hygienist listens as Patient describes their diet and life environment.

How is Holistic Dentistry different than Traditional Dentistry?

Holistic dentistry differs from traditional dentistry because it focuses on the whole body rather than just the mouth. Holistic dentistry relies on both a modern, scientific approach to healthcare and wellness as well as aspects of natural medicine and homeopathic healing techniques.

What does having a holistic approach mean?

A holistic approach to dentistry simply means that your dentist will want to know more about your overall health and medical background. Here at Archer Dental, our experienced staff will use this information to try to figure out a treatment plan that works best for you as an individual. Holistic dental practices will always suggest treatment options that limit a patient’s exposure to toxins, and will work with patients to ensure they’re getting enough nutrients in the foods they’re eating – this is not to simply preserve their teeth, but rather to encourage a ‘whole body health’.

Why is holistic dentistry a better approach for patients?

While there’s nothing inherently lacking about traditional dentistry, the scope and scale of treatment options available to a patient are much narrower. Where traditional dentistry focuses on the treatment of specific diseases and oral ailments, holistic dentistry aims to improve the health of the entire body by looking for links between your oral health and your overall health. Your oral health doesn’t exist inside a vacuum; any illnesses or diseases present in your mouth can often affect (or be affected by) other organs and tissues in your body.

Dental assistant uses i-teroscanner to to scan teeth alignment, occlusion (bite) before using computer processer to plot correct/alignment.

Dental assistant uses i-teroscanner to to scan teeth to analyze current alignment, occlusion (bite) and using digital technology how to digitally correct/align and show patients at Archer Dental in Toronto.

Which diseases or physical conditions have a direct link to poor oral hygiene?

Here’s a list of some common illnesses that have been linked to declining oral health:

Rheumatoid arthritis – well funded medical research now demonstrates a clear link between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Heart disease and stroke – bacteria from diseased gums can lead to the formation of artery-clogging plaque and, left untreated, could result in heart disease and stroke. Studies have even shown that patients with cavities and gum disease experienced strokes twice as often as those with good oral health.
Respiratory infections – micro-organisms inhaled from the mouth and throat into the lungs can result in respiratory infections and may even worsen existing lung conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Diabetes – people with diabetes may suffer unexpected complications and difficulty controlling their condition due to bacterial infections in the mouth.
Pregnancy Complications – premature labour and delivery can be triggered by an inflammatory response resulting from gum disease bacteria in the mouth.
Alzheimer’s disease – Scientists also believe that there are links between periodontal bone loss and tooth loss as well as Alzheimer’s disease and worsening oral health

Archer Dental screens smokers and all patients routinely for Oral Cancer

Archer Dental is happy to provide patients who smoke cigarettes with oral cancer screenings by examining the neck and jaw bone for any abnormalities potentially caused by tobacco usage.

It’s important to remember that smoking increases your risk of developing oral cancer and other dental diseases as tobacco is extremely harmful to the gums and tissues of the mouth.

Are metal fillings still being used by dentists in Canada?

Metal fillings are still common in the Canadian dentistry and still deemed safe by conventional standards. That being said, Archer Dental does not use mercury (silver) fillings. We carefully remove old, failing mercury fillings that have begun to break down and corrode in our patients’ mouths. We believe that prevention is the best way forward and try to avoid any foreign metal objects that could eventually cause fractures, cracks and other types of harm to your teeth and mouth. At Archer Dental, we use filling material that is safer in the long term and is BPA free.

Low Confidence and Mental Anxiety

Poor oral health can be linked with low self-esteem, sleeping complications, and behavioural and developmental problems in children. Having an unsightly smile can put people of any age at a severe disadvantage in life which is why we firmly believe that the best solution is to treat the source of the problem. In this respect, we believe that things like cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening are absolutely a part of holistic dentistry as they focus on strengthening the connection between a patient’s mind and body. Whether that means removing extraneous teeth or fitting patients with braces or Invisalign, veneers, bridges, dentures or tooth implants, Archer Dental is proud to provide a wide array of resources to help you make over your smile. No matter what your budget, we can work with you to find a solution that fits your situation.

xray showing cancerous lesion on bone structure of the face - the lips and gums

Spotting mouth cancer using dental patient Xrays

Basic Principles of Holistic Dentistry at Archer Dental

Holistic dentistry at Archer Dental acknowledges the mind, body, and spirit of the patient rather than just their mouth, gums, and teeth. Our practice relies on the following basic holistic dentistry principles to treat patients as effectively as possible:

Proper nutrition is a vital part of preventing (and reversing) degenerative dental disease
Archer Dental avoids and eliminates toxins in dental materials and takes great care to remove toxins or would-be toxins in patient’s mouths
We believe that dental malocclusion (bite problems) often result in a physical imbalance and as a result, our dentists focus on their prevention and treatment.
Gum disease is the root of many greater health problems (studies exist today that suggest a link between gum disease and Alzheimer’s, for example) .

Fundamentally, holistic dentistry involves giving more care and offering patients a greater commitment by regularly scheduling checkups. Additionally, we use advanced procedures designed for early detection and to help prevent a myriad of diseases and oral-health related illnesses before they start.

Dr. Archer Tackles Halitosis on CBC talk show, The Goods

Posted on January 24, 2018

Dr natalie Archer of Archer Dental on CBC The Goods, 22 jan 2018

On Tuesday, Jan 22nd 2018, Toronto dentist, Dr. Natalie Archer appeared on Season 2 Episode 7 of the CBC daytime TV talk show, The Goods to share some quick facts about bad breath and the medical condition known as Halitosis. Even more importantly, Dr. Archer told the live studio audience and thousands of home viewers what they can do to help the situation if they’re among the 35% to 40% of all Canadians who struggle with bad breath.

With charismatic hosts and good audience interaction, the show is easy to watch and an effective teaching tool. In the ten-minute sequence, the in-studio audience gets their chance to vote ‘true’ or ‘false’ with coloured wooden paddles before Dr. Archer definitively answered a series of dental related questions. Dr. Archer’s replies were full of interesting and useful information and that, along with the audience participation, added drama and intrigue to what might have otherwise been a less exciting segment.

wide shot of CBC studio for The Goods, audience interaction on dental issues Halitosis

Wide shot of The Goods TV studio with Dr Natalie Archer discussing bad breath – courtesy of CBC, The Goods

Brushing and flossing regularly is your best defense against bad breath. True or False?

As you can probably guess, this is True, and almost the entire audience guessed this and waved their TRUE paddles. Careful, methodical, twice-daily brushing and flossing is the primary method of combating bad breath and keeping human mouths clean. And there’s a reason dental hygienists all tell their patients to floss regularly; flossing is one of the best ways to remove food particles from in between teeth. When food remains anywhere in the mouth, bacteria will break down the material creating a sulfur-like compound that gives off a fermented, bad-breath smell (aka. Dragon Breath or really bad morning breath). This is the reason why Dr. Archer recommends that patients floss their teeth before they brush for best results.

Dentists recommend using 10 inches of floss when cleaning teeth? True or False?

Dr Natalie Archer holds ten inches of flass to show its not enough floss to properly clean teeth

Dr Archer shows why ten inches of floss is not enough! Photo courtesy of CBC, The Goods

False. Ten inches is not enough! You need sixteen inches of floss or more to ensure you use a fresh part of the waxy thread between each tooth (so the cord won’t transfer food particles or plaque to other teeth as you clean). A great way to measure is to pull floss the length of your arm, from finger tips to elbow.

At this point one of the hosts asked about the value of Flosser Pics, the plastic spike with a little more than a centimeter of floss in a bow at the end. Are these valuable oral hygiene aids? Interestingly, Dr Archer is not the World’s biggest fan of these tiny plastic innovations. While she praised their ubiquity and convenience, she reinforced the notion that old school flossing with 16 inches of fresh dental floss twice a day remains the best choice for optimal oral heath.

Sugar-free gum is one of the best ways to combat bad breath temporarily. True or False?

True. Sugar-free gum, if chewed for five minutes or less, is a great way to freshen your breath. They keyword here is temporarily because this is not a long-term solution. Indeed, Dr. Archer recommends disposing the gum after only five minutes. The gum works because it stimulates the mouth’s own salivary glands, and for this reason, gum is better than candy or mints.

Dr Natalie Archer of Archer Dental in Toronto on CBC daytime television show, The Goods

Dr Archer explains why babies always have fresh breath, photo courtesy of CBC, The Goods

Why do babies and even toddlers never have bad breath? Babies don’t have bad breath because their mouths are full of saliva that helps keep their breath fresh. Anything adults can do to increase their saliva flow is beneficial, and so, conversely drinking alcohol or even using an alcohol-based mouthwash just before you retire for the evening is a terrible practice. Its detrimental to your salivary system and such alcohol-scorched mouths may end up drier, and potentially smellier in the morning than if they had not gargled before bed.

Bad breath sufferers can’t smell their own stinky breath. True or False?

True. In so many cases people just get used to all their own smells, and so will find it difficult to detect if they themselves have bad breath, especially as they get older. Asking a trusted friend seems to be the best way to get this critical unbiased information, and yet many people are too embarrassed to ask. The longer you ignore the problem, though, the worse it can get.

Persistent bad breath smell is usually a sign that something else is wrong, and more complicated dental issues exist in the sufferer’s mouth; these people should be examined by professionals.

Patients After Cosmetic Dentistry

Posted on December 20, 2017

Cosmetic Dentistry is more than simply improving a patient’s physical appearance; it can build or restore personal confidence, boost self-esteem, and banish any feelings of shame or embarrassment that person may feel about their smile. Below are some of the more common treatments available at all three Archer Dental locations in Toronto.

Whitening

Teeth whitening is the most popular and the least invasive form of cosmetic dentistry available and it can have a hugely positive impact on a patient’s self-esteem. Patients who have their teeth whitened often remark that they feel far more confident in their day to day lives and that they no longer feel self-conscious about smiling.

While some patients save tooth whitening for big events like weddings and proms, it can have an immediate positive effect on your attitude and how you view yourself even on a regular day to day basis. Readers can learn more about teeth whitening in Toronto by reading about Cynthia Menard’s most recent teeth whitening experience at Archer Dental Rosedale.

Straightening

There’s a reason dentists try to get young patients outfitted with braces as soon as possible; having crooked teeth or gaps in between your teeth can causes a number of self esteem issues for patients of all ages. No matter how healthy your teeth are, it’s hard to feel confident when your smile isn’t as straight and aesthetically pleasing as it could be. Crooked teeth can also cause patients discomfort and pain when the teeth are too crowded together in the jaw.

While the thought of years of braces or Invisalign can be tough for a patient to wrap their head around, the feeling of joy and relief when they finally have the straight teeth they’ve always dreamed of is hard to beat. The confidence that comes from having straight teeth can change a person’s life for the better.

Veneers

Whether your teeth have stains below the surface that can’t be whitened away or they don’t quite suit your mouth the way you’d like them to, tooth veneers are a great option for perfecting your smile and bringing your confidence back.

Veneers are caps that are put over your existing teeth to even out your smile and make your teeth look more uniform so the rest of your personality can shine through without distraction.

Implants

Thanks to the marvels of modern dentistry and advanced oral surgery, a patient with missing teeth now has options. They can embrace the gaps in their smile, they can wear dentures or a bridge, or – thanks to the miracle of modern medicine – they can get teeth implants. Teeth implants are the only long term solution that blends seamlessly with your existing teeth and is certain bring back your confidence in a way that removable dentures never really can.

Missing teeth are a huge source of shame for most patients and tooth implants are a guaranteed way to make you feel good about your smile again!

Feeling like you have to hide your teeth when you talk, smile, eat, and interact with others not only negatively impacts how you feel about yourself but it also wastes energy that you could be putting towards other things.

The one standout feeling across the board that almost every patient expresses after undergoing cosmetic dentistry is that of confidence. It’s incredible how much of a boost to your self-esteem and self-worth a beautiful smile can give you.

Teeth Whitening for Miss World Canada, Cynthia Menard

Posted on December 5, 2017

Miss World Canada gets teeth whitening at Archer Dental

The staff at Archer Dental Rosedale office got quite the surprise when 17 year old Cynthia Menard came in for an appointment on Monday the 22nd October, 2017.

Cynthia Menard for teeth whitening at Archer Dental Rosedale

2017 Miss World Canada – Cynthia Menard at Archer Dental Rosedale

2017 Miss World Canada – Cynthia Menard stopped by for a dental check-up, teeth cleaning and teeth whitening at Archer Dental as part of her preparation to fly to Sanya, China for the Miss World 2017 beauty pageant (the biggest beauty pageant on the planet.)

One of our dental hygienists, Christina, worked with Cynthia the whole way doing a comprehensive cleaning and then guiding her through the teeth whitening process. Due to her hectic schedule after winning her crown in July, and because she had been so busy for many months beforehand, Cynthia had not been to the dentist in over a year. Christina the dental hygienist worked with her to achieve a cleaner, fresher, and brighter smile.

Our front desk staff were proud of themselves that morning and felt lucky they were able to fit Cynthia in that day. But let’s face facts; this wasn’t really what we would consider an emergency. Canada’s Miss World delegate already has a winning smile. So we signed on to help polish and make perfect our nations’ representative in a competition where every little thing matters, and having bright white teeth is critical.

And yes this busy young woman had a very hectic schedule and couldn’t spend more than a few hours with us that morning. Not five minutes after she’d been seated for her appointment, she got a call from the pageant administrators hoping to orchestrate the rest of her day. After her teeth whitening, Cynthia was scheduled to to pick up a mobile make-up kit from MAC Cosmetics in Yorkville to ensure she’ll look her best in Toronto, China and everywhere in between. After that she was to meet with Helene Clarkson (a famous Canadian clothing designer donating her signature ‘traveler’s clothes’) and then attend one final singing lesson at a local music school to polish her vocal performance.

Cynthia’s visit lasted over three hours but she remained chipper and in bright spirits throughout the procedure. Christina the dental hygienist wanted to make sure that Cynthia’s primary request (she wanted to brighten the natural pale yellow colour of the dentine of her teeth) was remedied as professionally and effectively as possible. Christina examined Cynthia’s teeth and matched her natural colour to one in the Vita Classical Shade Guide, the most ubiquitous tool used for tooth-shade analysis in the world. Using this gauge, Christina gave Cynthia a good idea of what her teeth would look like after they’d been whitened.

Miss World Canada had two Teeth Whitening Options at Archer Dental. She Chose Both.

Dental patients seeking teeth whitening at Archer Dental have two options: the Venus White Pro whitening trays for use at home, or the Venus Whitening Max (an in-house procedure using photo-activated chemical processes). Cynthia got both treatments.

The Venus White Pro take-home whitening solution requires dental impressions to be taken at a dental office. A dental lab then creates special form-fitting whitening trays for each individual consumer’s at-home use. The carbamide peroxide whitening gel in the kits is available in concentrations of 16%, 22% and 35%. The chemical process removes stains and whitens tooth enamel after repeated applications over time (but should be used for no longer than two weeks.)

Christina explained the Venus White Pro whitening product to Cynthia and informed her that there could be sensitivity during and after the whitening procedure. Christina also told Cynthia that there’s always a possibility for gum tissues to look and feel blanched after the treatment. If this were to happen, Cynthia was advised to apply vitamin E oil to the affected areas. For best results, Venus White Pro should be used with custom whitening trays for about ten days, after which most patients report results of noticeably whiter teeth!

Dental impressions were completed for Cynthia’s upper and lower teeth by using small plastic shovels filled with fast drying silicon clay known as ‘alginate impression set-up’. The small pan was placed into Cynthia’s mouth and the resulting impression left behind becomes a mold from which a sculpture of Cynthia’s teeth will be cast. The resulting casts will be used to create Cynthia’s customized dental trays.

Once the dental impressions were done and Cynthia had rinsed the last bits of the alginate gel from her mouth, Christina got ready to begin Round Two.

Comprehensive Teeth Cleaning Happens Before Venus Whitening

Christina made sure to clean and polish all of Cynthia’s teeth with Prophy Paste before whitening them to remove any plaque buildup and to address existing stains. Prophy Paste is a pumice-based prophylaxis dentist super toothpaste which is used to clean and polish enamel.

After polishing Cynthia’s smile, Christina flossed all of her teeth with a satin finish Oral B floss.

She then gave her a set of futuristic looking protective glasses and it became clear something exciting was going to happen next.

Cristina placed a small cheek retractor in Cynthia’s mouth to ensure she had full access to her teeth.

Christina then put an OptraGate protective barrier around the retractor to shield the area around her mouth. Cynthia was now ready for the whitening process to begin.

Aware that Cynthia was about to travel overseas with the express purpose of smiling for the (many, many) cameras, Christina took precautions to ensure that Cynthia’s gums remained healthy and were protected from the whitening gel. Christina applied a temporary ‘gingival barrier’ between the teeth and the gums to protect the gum tissues during the whitening process.

Here is what photo activated teeth whitening looks like close up!

Christina used a 38% Hydrogen peroxide mix on Cynthia’s teeth in four 15 minute back-to-back sessions of photo-activated whitening. Cynthia had no sensitivity during treatment and was quite comfortable, giving the camera a big thumbs-up at the end of the fourth treatment!

And there was lots of laughing and good cheer. Before leaving, Christina gave Cynthia some final instructions: no coloured foods, take an Advil if needed, and use Sensodyne for any sensitivity.

Good luck to Cynthia at the 2017 Miss World competition in Sanya, China! All of us at Archer Dental will be cheering you on from Toronto!