James Frizzell DDS (Niagara) - Weebly - Blog

Reasons for Receiving a Tooth Extraction

11/24/2020

James Frizzell, DDS, has worked as a dentist in Niagara Falls, Ontario, since 1993. In addition to his dentistry work in Niagara, James Frizzell, DDS, spent eight years with the Canadian Armed Forces. He provides patients with an array of restorative and cosmetic dental services, including tooth extractions.

An individual may need to have a tooth pulled, a procedure known as a tooth extraction, for a number of reasons. Excessive damage, to the point that the tooth cannot be repaired, is the most common reason for needing a tooth extraction. Tooth decay and blunt force trauma are examples of incidents that can irreparably damage one or more teeth. With that said, a dental professional may recommend a tooth extraction as a means of resolving several matters related to oral health.

Mouth crowding, for example, may be addressed via tooth extraction, especially if a dentist is preparing the mouth for othodontia. Tooth decay that reaches the pulp of a tooth is another scenario in which a dentist would recommend the immediate removal of the tooth. In some cases, a tooth may be at elevated risk for infection, such as when a person’s immune system has been hindered by a serious medical procedure. If the risk is high enough, dentists may elect to extract the tooth prior to infection.

Lastly, a person living with periodontal disease may benefit from a tooth extraction. If the progression of the disease loosens teeth, dentists may need to remove those that cannot be properly restored.

Health Conditions That Can Negatively Impact Oral Health

11/4/2020

James Frizzell, DDS, graduated with a DDS from the University of Toronto in 1988 and proceeded to open his Niagara Falls, Ontario, dental office in 1993. Along with treating patients through his Niagara Falls practice, Dr. James Frizzell has established himself as a member of a number of professional organizations, including the Ontario Dental Association.

The Ontario Dental Association provides a range of information regarding medical conditions that can have a negative impact on an individual’s oral health. For example, research indicates that individuals living with diabetes have a higher risk of developing oral infections and gum disease. The development of gum disease, meanwhile, can increase blood sugar levels, exacerbating diabetic complications throughout the body and leading to serious health concerns, including premature kidney degeneration.

Bulimia and anorexia nervosa are eating disorders that directly relate to poor oral health, among a number of other critical health conditions. As the body fails to receive the minerals and vitamins it needs to properly function, teeth and gum integrity begin to suffer. Furthermore, eating disorders that involve binge eating and vomiting subject the mouth to a great deal of acidic activity that can destroy teeth enamel and impact a person's throat and glands.

Additional medical conditions that can affect oral health include temporomandibular disorder (TMD), oral cancer, and iron deficiency. To learn more about the relationship between medical conditions and oral health, please visit the Ontario Dental Association online at YourOralHealth.ca.

Simple Tips for Teething Babies

10/15/2020

James Frizzell, DDS, has owned and operated his Niagara Falls, Ontario dental practice since 1993. Over the course of caring for patients as a dentist in Niagara Falls, James Frizzell, DDS, has treated patients of every age, from seniors to the treatment of an infant’s first teeth.

As young children deal with the emergence of their first teeth, there are several doctor-approved techniques families can implement in order to help children deal with the pain and discomfort. One of the easiest treatments to apply is a wet cloth. Families can freeze the cloth, then allow the baby to chew on it. The cloth serves as both a distraction from the discomfort and a means of reducing inflammation of the gums.

Teething rings and toys provide a similar benefit, though the added pressure more effectively addresses gum soreness. However, gel-based toys should be placed in the refrigerator rather than the freezer, as they're more likely to break when children chew on them if frozen. Teething biscuits are a non-frozen alternative, though parents should pay close attention to a child’s oral hygiene after they finish one of these snacks.

Mouthguards Reduce Injuries among Ice Hockey Players

12/9/2019

With over 20 years of experience, James Frizzell, DDS, operates a private dental practice in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Dr. James Frizzell and his staff provide thoughtful, attentive care related to general and preventive dentistry as well as restorative and cosmetic procedures. As a dentist, James Frizzell, DDS, has encountered several trauma cases related to ice hockey injuries. Research shows that wearing a mouthguard can significantly decrease an ice hockey player’s risk for dental injury.

When hockey players step on the ice, they are immediately at risk for injury. With hockey sticks flailing, players checking, and pucks flying at up to 105 miles per hour, it isn’t surprising that players experience injuries to the head and mouth. Thankfully, most sports organizations recognize the risks associated with hockey and require protective equipment, including mouthguards.

According to a study conducted by the Journal of Sports Medicine, mouthguards significantly reduce the risk of oral and facial injuries to hockey players. In fact, players who do not wear mouthguards are twice as likely to experience a serious injury. Not only do well-designed guards result in fewer lost or broken teeth, they also function as a shock absorber, reducing the impact of blows to the face or jaw.

Some ice hockey players resist the idea of using mouthguards while they play, but dentists can provide valuable information regarding their long-term benefits.

VELscope Oral Screenings Help Identify Cancer

12/3/2019

James Frizzell, DDS, is a longtime Niagara Falls, Ontario family dentist who provides a full range of care within a well-equipped setting. Among the leading-edge offerings at Dr. James Frizzell's practice is VELscope oral screening, which employs tissue fluorescence during inspection of the oral cavity, instead of traditional techniques of reflectance.

Producing a visible and safe blue light, the VELscope VX handpiece is directed into the oral cavity, where it detects natural tissue fluorescence. This is enabled by fluorophore chemical compounds, which when engaged by light in a wavelength such as blue respond through emitting a longer wavelength light such as green.

The importance of detecting abnormal fluorescence patterns centers on being able to observe unhealthy mucosal tissue that might not be detectable with the naked eye. The causes of this degraded tissue can be varied and include cancer-related issues such as premalignant dysplasia. Allowing real-time visualization and analysis, the VELscope screening approach is also useful in enabling surgeons to evaluate the appropriate surgical excision margins.

Porcelain Crowns Help Protect and Beautify Teeth

11/5/2019

A dentist practicing in Niagara Falls, Ontario, James Frizzell, DDS, offers comprehensive and compassionate services in his dental office. Frequently performing pro bono and volunteer work, he provides general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. Among the restorative procedures, James Frizzell, DDS, is experienced in placing porcelain crowns.

Porcelain crowns have several benefits for patients. They can restore a natural appearance when a tooth is damaged by accident or when its enamel is badly eroded by tooth decay or other causes. They are also used when grinding has compromised the integrity of a tooth. Crowns cover a defective or unsightly tooth from the tips to the gum line, taking the place of old fillings and matching the tooth’s original color.

Being fitted with a crown requires multiple visits to a dental office. It takes time for laboratories to make them, so dentists fit patients with a temporary crown.

Porcelain crowns do have some drawbacks. Some patients report sensitivity to hot and cold foods. Although crowns are durable, natural teeth are more flexible, and patients may have to avoid certain foods. A mouth guard may be necessary to preserve the porcelain from pressure by those who grind their teeth or clench their jaws during sleep.

Dental Issues Associated with Persistent Thumb Sucking

10/25/2019

Based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, James Frizzell, DDS, offers patients of all ages quality restorative and cosmetic dental care. Dr. James Frizzell’s work as a dentist includes engaging with Niagara Falls families to ensure that their children have the brightest, healthiest smiles possible.

Young children may develop oral health issues stemming from the common habit of thumb sucking. This behavior can begin in the womb and provides infants with a sense of security and relaxation. Indeed, many young children fall asleep with their thumbs still in their mouths. During the ages of 2-4, most children outgrow the thumb-sucking habit, but it can persist into elementary school.

As the permanent teeth come in, thumb sucking can affect both the mouth’s growth and teeth alignment. It can also alter the contours of the roof of the mouth. Intensity of sucking is a key factor, with aggressive thumb suckers more likely to develop baby teeth issues.

If thumb sucking persists as the primary teeth erupt, parents should try to break the habit by either praising the child when he or she stops or addressing the underlying sense of anxiety that may be causing the habit to persist. Consulting with a dentist or pediatrician is also an option, as these professionals can recommend thumb and mouth appliances, as well as bitter medicines that coat the thumb.

University of Toronto’s Ulife Website

12/14/2018

James Frizzell, DDS, serves as a dentist in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Before opening his Niagara office, Dr. James Frizzell received his DDS from the University of Toronto. Outside of academics, students at U of T have access to a broad array of enrichment opportunities and can use Ulife as an online portal to get involved.

Ulife is a website hub for campus organizations, opportunities, and awards benefiting individual students looking for ways to get involved as well as student clubs and faculty trying to advertise various events. Run by the St. George campus’ Office of Student Life, the Scarborough campus’ Department of Student Life, and the Mississauga campus’ Student Affairs Office, Ulife hosts thousands of entries across all three campuses.

Students can find information about sports teams, drop-in classes, social activism, and research opportunities. They also can learn about open leadership positions and campus-wide social events. Students are able to browse Ulife at random or search using a specific key word to find opportunities.

Uses and Indications of Dental Sealants

12/9/2018

As head of Frizzell Dental in Niagara Falls, Ontario, James Frizzell, DDS, provides preventive care and treatment for adults, children, and teenagers. An experienced dentist, James Frizzell, DDS, offers sealants to many of his Niagara Falls patients as a decay prevention measure.

Used to prevent fissure and pit cavities, dental sealants cover the tooth in a hard plastic material. They are most commonly applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, where food tends to gather in natural grooves and crevices. The bristles of a toothbrush are often not quite long enough to reach the depths of these areas, and decay can develop as a result. Dental sealants protect these areas and create a smoother surface that the patient can more easily clean.

As part of the Human Services Healthy People 2020 initiative, the United States Department of Health and Human Services recommended an increase in the use of dental sealants for children and adolescents. Dental sealants are particularly useful for patients between the ages of 6 and 14, as these years tend to see a particularly high incidence of cavities in the permanent teeth. Some younger children may also be candidates for the procedure, particularly if baby teeth present with deep grooves that would be difficult to clean. Similarly, older adolescents and adults may benefit from sealants on deeply grooved teeth, provided that those teeth do not have pre-existing decay or fillings.

Preventing Oral Health Problems - Fluoride Applications

10/26/2017

James Frizzell, DDS, owns a private dental clinic serving people in the Niagara Falls, Ontario, region. A full service Niagara Falls-based dentist, Dr. James Frizzell performs a wide variety of procedures, including those that prevent tooth decay from arising in the first place.

When dentists recommend fluoride applications, it’s because fluoride can play a key role in strengthening teeth and preventing tooth decay. Some people get enough fluoride from municipal water systems that add a small amount of it to the water in the interest of public health.

Fluoride, a mineral found naturally in food and water, works by preventing tooth enamel breakdown that can occur when teeth are exposed to sugar or to the acids that some oral bacteria secrete. Generally, fluoride fortifies the enamel as the mineral is absorbed into it.

However, in the cases where people rely on non-fluoridated well water or live in places where the public water supply is not fluoridated, dentists may suggest in-office fluoride applications. The procedure, during which a dental professional applies a fluoride-rich gel or foam to the teeth, is simple and noninvasive.

Author

James Frizzell, DDS, has operated a Niagara Falls, Ontario, dental practice for the past 18 years, offering patients courteous and dependable oral healthcare.

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