With over two decades of experience as a doctor of dental surgery (DDS), James Frizzell is the Niagara Falls, Ontario-based Frizzell Dental owner. Offering various services such as family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and infection prevention and control in Niagara Falls, James Frizzell, DDS, has at least four dental hygienists on his staff who ensure patients receive optimum care.

Dental hygienists, also known as oral health therapists, work closely with the dentist, and their primary focus is on preventative dental care. As highly-trained dental practitioners, dental hygienists focus on techniques that help prevent dental diseases such as active periodontitis, dental caries, and gingivitis. Below are some of the roles and responsibilities of dental hygienists.

Treating patients: Some dental hygienists' treatments include applying sealants to damaged and cracked teeth, removing tartar and plaque build-up from teeth, root planing and scaling, and giving patients fluoride treatments for weak teeth. They also perform regular teeth cleaning and conduct a thorough examination on new and existing patients to provide the dentists with insight on the type of treatment required.

Educating and counseling patients: Dental hygienists are also responsible for educating patients on how to care for their teeth between appointments. They are expected to make patients feel comfortable regardless of the condition of their teeth when they come in for treatment. They also instruct patients on what to do after they receive treatments such as root planing and scaling to treat gingivitis.

X-rays and impressions: Dental hygienists are also responsible for taking full series x-ray images or impressions of individual teeth or a group of teeth for making oral appliances such as dentures and implants.​

Based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Dr. James Frizzell, who has a DDS (doctor of dental surgery), has worked as a dentist in the area for more than 25 years. A member of multiple professional organizations, James Frizzell, DDS, of Niagara, participates in the Ontario Dental Association (ODA). The ODA offers professional development to dentists in the area while educating the public on the importance of dental hygiene.

The ODA is part of the Canadian Dental Association and was founded in 1868. In January of that year, dentists in Ontario proposed a bill to the legislature regarding the self-regulation of dentists. In March of the same year, the bill became law, the first self-regulation law for dentists in the world.

Alongside its professional development opportunities for its 10,000 members, the ODA also publishes on multiple platforms to educate the public and advocate for pro-oral health policy. Your Oral Health, the ODA’s print-only magazine published twice per year, informs patients about what to expect from their dentist during their appointment among other things. In addition, the Ontario Dentist Journal, published 10 times per year, contains medical and non-medical information about local dental practice, and every practicing dentist and dental student in Ontario receives a copy.

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.

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.