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17 Thursday , Septem ber 2, 2010 O A KVILLE BEA V ER w w w .o akvillebeaver .co m If you have any questions these professionals can answer, please write to: Ask the Professionalsc/o The Oakvi le Beaver, 467 Speers Road, Oakville L6K 3S4 orfax to: 905-337-5568 Hopedale Shopping Centre 1515 Rebecca Street Suite 220, 2nd Floor 905-827-0301 OakdaleDental.ca Dr. Rosenblat D.D.S. Q: What causes the notches or grooves at thegumline of many of my teeth? A: I see these quite often.They vary in size and the number or teeth involved and are commonly called abfractions (I promise not to use that word again). Chewing pressure causes flexing and stress to concentrate on the area of the tooth where the white enamel of your tooth (the part you normally see) and the root of a tooth meet. Abnormally heavy forces on a tooth can result in the loss of tooth substance looking like a wedge cut out at the gumline of the tooth. Many people have tooth clenching and grinding habits (often caused by poorly positioned teeth) and sometimes are unaware of their habit. Heavy wear on the biting surface of teeth can also be a result of these chewing habits. But there are other factors that can exacerbate the formation of these notches. Excessively heavy tooth brushing on these vulnerable teeth is one. Corrosion in the form of an acid environment promotes tooth loss in these stressed areas. People with GERD (gastro esophageal reflux-many people are already being treated for that) or those with diets including carbonated beverages (even diet pop) or large amounts of acidic foods such as mangoes, citrus or similar fruits can have dramatically deeper notches as well as other signs of acid wear on their teeth. I see quite a bit of that today too. Even your occupation can be a factor. Industrial gases released in the fabrication of products from batteries to soft drinks can result in corrosion (wear) of teeth and contribute to notching. There are many factors that come in to play as to the cause.The resulting notches can be minor or severe and I have seen them cause the nerve of a tooth to die and root canal treatment is required. So we try to repair these areas with composite (white) fillings to prevent sensitivity, nerve death and the weakening of any teeth involved. Great things start with a smile! Visit my blog at OakvilleFamilyDentistry.com Susan Leung Certified Teacher/DirectorQ A How can I prepare my child for school in September? To help children get ready for the new school year and to minimize academic stress, Sylvan Learning offers these tips and ideas to make the transition from summer to school easier. Back-to-School Tips: Sylvan Learning Centre offers academic coaching through the Study Skills Program. Help your childs confidence soar as they improve work habits and achieve higher grades. Get back in the routine. Start establishing bedtime and mealtime routines that are similar to school year routines. Set education goals. Help your child set realistic goals at the very beginning of the year. Develop a relationship with your childs teacher. Teachers can be the best source for information about your childs scholastic performance, and they can recommend ways to help your child resolve any difficulties they are having. Homework routine and place. Agree upon a specific time and place for homework in advance. Stay on schedule. Start talking to your child about how they will stay organized during the school year. 4 R V B S F 0 O F t 1 P S U $ S F E J U & S J O . J M M T t 0 B L W J M M F 1-800-338-2283 www.educate.com t t t t t It takes 8 muscles to read this ad. Dont take your muscles for granted. Over 50,000 Canadians with Muscular Dystrophy take them very seriously. Learn more at muscle.ca