We are thrilled about the wonderful article written about Dr. Deskin in the most recent issue of the Brant News...
Recently designated Invisalign preferred provider Dr. Steven Deskin says new technology has changed the way orthodontic devices look and feel.
“Because they are made to a high degree of accuracy by computers, Invisalign orthodontics are very thin and very comfortable to wear, more so than any other appliance that we make,” Deskin said. “From speaking distance it is not visible.”
Because of that, many adults and some teen patients of Brantford North Dental opt for Invisalign orthodontics to avoid feelings of self-consciousness caused by more cumbersome devices like braces.
“It might make the difference between somebody’s more stubborn children getting orthodontics and using them properly,” Deskin said. “People don’t even have to know that you are straightening your teeth.”
Invisalign is a series of semi-flexible but firm plastic trays that fit precisely on the teeth of individual patients. A mould is taken of the teeth and from there three-dimensional models are created on a computer, based on Deskin’s specifications.
The trays are designed in several different facilities throughout North America, Deskin said.
“Each facility does a different thing,” he said. “The first facility does the modelling and with my guidance will maneuver the teeth to where we want them to go.
“We can move (teeth) along in a model simulation. Once the simulation is finished, each step is broken up into two-week segments and each segment is moved to another facility to manufacture a tray.”
Trays fit snugly on the teeth, slowly moving them into place. Each tray is worn for two weeks. In most cases, the desired result is achieved within six to nine months.
“The teeth can be completely overlapped due to crowded teeth and you can completely resolve the problem,” Deskin said.
In addition to helping people with self-esteem issues, having straighter, well-aligned teeth helps alleviate many health issues.
“It looks nice, yes, but teeth will wear unevenly over time if they are uneven,” Deskin said. “But if you have a stable bite, you don’t have that problem. You have teeth that are easier to clean so they are healthier.
“You have a good bite and a good jaw relationship, which is healthy for the jaw joints.”
Invisalign trays can be removed to allow for easier brushing and flossing. People can eat what they like, clean their teeth and put the trays back on.
“If you have a wedding to go to or a family photo to be taken, you can take the trays out for a while if you don’t feel comfortable with them on,” Deskin said. “And for people with busy schedules it is more convenient because you don’t have to come into the office as frequently.”
Office visits are generally scheduled every six weeks. Patients of Brantford North Dental also have the added benefit of being able to receive regular dental care or cosmetic dentistry on-site so they avoid having to shuffle between offices.
“It’s unique because not everybody offers both orthodontic and cosmetic dentistry services,” Deskin said. “We have cases where the teeth need attention individually. Part of that could be how they are aligned and part of that is how they are shaped, so it is best if it can all be done in a co-ordinated approach.”
Deskin also recently introduced SpaDent whitening services that are completed in-chair and use ingredients that eliminate pain and sensitivities caused by regular bleaching.
Call 519-759-0049 or visit www.brantfordnorthdental.com for more information.
By Brenda | Monday April 1, 2013
Being the animal-lover that I am, I was so touched by this video, not to mention a bit envious of the dentist who got the amazing opportunity of helping restore the beak of this majestic bird.
Beauty and the Beak from Keith Bubach on Vimeo.
By Brenda | Sunday August 26, 2012
Childhood obesity and tooth decay are growing concerns in today's society and as research reveals, these problems are worse among low-income families.
While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that young children consume only one serving of juice each day, a survey conducted by the University of Michigan revealed that half of all kids from low-income families drink double that amount.
One of the causes of this problem is that many parents believe that pure fruit juice is a healthy option for their children that will serve as the fruit portion of a well-balanced diet. In reality, juice is not an adequate replacement for fruit and juices can have almost as much sugar in them as soda pop!
If you have a child six years old or younger, here are some simple guidelines to follow:
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allow your child to have no more than one serving of fruit juice a day
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stay away from soda pop as well
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encourage your child to drink water
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if he or she is resistant to drinking water, break up the one-day juice serving into multiple drinks by watering your juice down. The diluted juice may at first not satisfy your child, but he will quickly become accustomed to the more subtle taste
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encourage your child to eat fruits and vegetables, and familiarize yourself with Canada's Food Guide to learn more about what comprises a healthy diet for children.
By Steven Deskin | Wednesday March 14, 2012
Tooth decay is major problem amongst toddlers today. In fact, just yesterday the New York Times published an article on the increasing number of preschoolers requiring extensive dental work due to excessive cavities – much of which ends up having to be done under general anesthesia which of course presents its own set of risks.
So what's causing this tooth decay epidemic? A number of factors contribute to dental caries in children including:
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constant snacking and drinking sweet drinks including juice
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drinking and eating before bed without brushing
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"bottle mouth" (caused by parents allowing their child to suck on a bottle for prolonged periods of time)
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parents who give their children bottled water instead of tap water which contains fluoride
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kids not brushing and flossing, or doing so, but not properly and effectively
As a dentist, it's heartbreaking for me to see a little guy or gal come in with a mouthful of cavities. While many parents think that because these teeth are not permanent, they do not play an important role in their child's general health and wellbeing, unfortunately, this could not be further from the truth. A baby's teeth perform many important functions including:
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enabling them to eat a wide variety of foods
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making speech possible
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aiding in the proper growth and development of jaw bones and facial muscles
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enabling them to maintain a physically attractive appearance
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reserving space for the permanent teeth and helping guide them into position
So, you can see why it is so distressing for me to have to break the news to parents that their young child has a mouthful of cavities.
That's where Sesame Street comes in...
I was thrilled to learn about a new initiative led by the folks we all know and love at Sesame Street called "healthy teeth, healthy me". This multimedia outreach program ingeniously uses Elmo and his lovable friends to motivate children ages two to five years of age, their parents, and caregivers, to maintain positive dental health habits. By empowering children to make healthy choices for their oral health, and educating adults about the benefits of instilling good oral health habits in their children early in life, this program can have a profoundly positive effect on our society's future adults' dental and overall health and wellbeing.
The fantastic activity sheets for kids, fact sheets for parents, brushing charts and other hands-on materials are available to download free of charge. The gameshow "Brush Those Teeth" features everyone's favourite gameshow host, Guy Smiley, and gives kids helpful visuals that show them how and where to focus their brushing efforts. You also have to give a listen to Elmo's catchy rapsong, "Brushy Brush" and the other fun tunes that are sure to entertain young and old while at the same time getting that all-important message out that caring for young children's teeth is an important part of keeping their bodies healthy.
I have only two words to say about this amazing resource... "Steven like."
By Steven Deskin | Wednesday March 7, 2012
While it may not be possible to have the lifestyle of a celebrity, most of us can have a star-quality smile. Check out some of these famous smiles and what they looked like before they underwent their dental transformations...
50 Cent
Celine Dion
Chris Rock
Faye Dunaway
Gary Busey
Hilary Duff
Keith Urban
Keyshia Cole
Miley Cyrus
Nicholas Cage
By Steven Deskin | Wednesday February 29, 2012
A couple of months ago, I learned of a 24-year-old man from Cincinnati who had died from a toothache. While of course any death is a tragedy, for me it's especially difficult to hear of situations like this because they are so preventable. Apparently, the man had been told that an infected tooth needed to be pulled. He did not, however, follow through with his dentist's recommendation. Shortly after visiting his dentist, he started getting headaches and his face began to swell. Finally, he visited a hospital emergency room where the doctor prescribed antiobiotics and pain medication. However, he felt that due to financial pressures, he had to make a choice between the two prescriptions, and chose the latter - the pain medication. While this kept his pain under control, it did not stop the infection from spreading and ending up in his brain whichultimately killed him.
Another incident reported more recently in the news, fortunately had a better outcome. It was still, however, a very, very, close call. I realize that there are dental-phobic people out there whose fears are keeping them away from the dentist, and for all of you out there (you know who you are!), I strongly encourage you to read this article. While you may feel that a visit to the dentist can be a frightening experience, it can pale in comparison to the consequences of not going. And, rest assured that for the faint of heart, there are many options available to you that can help alleviate your fear and anxiety including nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and taking anxiety-targetting medications like Ativan, which your dentist can prescribe.
By Steven Deskin | Sunday November 27, 2011
What better topic for my very first blog than to write about my amazing Grandmother, Anne. I am just in the process of fitting Anne for her brand new dentures and I have to say, she looks fantastic! My wife, Brenda, jokes with her that she looks like a ninety-year-old!
In all seriousness, one of the reasons that Anne's dentures are such a success story is that Ann has taken such good care of her teeth throughout her life. This has enabled her to keep her own teeth for as long as she did (she just had the last seven pulled recently) which in turn, preserved the bone in her jaw. Good jaw bone means good anchors for dentures which is every dentist's dream.
Anne is living proof that people are living longer these days. Therefore, more now than ever, it's important to take care of our teeth with good oral hygiene habits and regular visits to the dentist so that they we can all have big, beautiful smiles like Anne's for many years to come!
By Steven Deskin | Wednesday October 19, 2011
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