Blog - James Frizzell DDS (Niagara) - Weebly

The Ontario Dental Association Advocates for Oral Health

10/20/2021

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.

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.

Home Dental Care for Babies and Toddlers

10/10/2017

As the owner of Frizzell Dental in Niagara Falls, Ontario, James Frizzell, DDS, leads his practice in offering prevention and treatment of oral health issues to patients of all ages. As a dentist, Dr. James Frizzell upholds a commitment to educating families about proper dental care for their young children.

For most children, teeth begin to erupt at approximately the age of 6 months. Experts recommend that parents take their child to visit a dentist no more than 6 months after the first tooth has erupted or before the child's first birthday, whichever occurs first. This visit may occur earlier if the child's pediatrician believes him or her to be at risk of dental problems.

Home dental care, however, begins long before the child first enters the dental office. Days after birth, a parent can begin to clean the child's gums with a soft, clean cloth. When teeth begin to erupt, the parent may graduate to a soft toothbrush. After the child's third birthday, the parent can begin to use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, though paste use may be advisable before age 3 if a dentist so advises.

Once the child is 3 years old, he or she can start learning to brush his or her own teeth. The parent should continue to supervise, however, both to ensure thoroughness and to help prevent the child from swallowing the toothpaste. Parents can also coach children in good brushing techniques and, as soon as the teeth touch, in the proper way to floss.

Using Sealants to Prevent Tooth Decay

9/18/2017

In practice as a dentist for over 20 years, James Frizzell, DDS, treats patients for procedures ranging from cleanings to root canals. Based in Niagara Falls, Ontario, he provides services in his office as well as outside locations on humanitarian trips. Younger patients who visit James Frizzell, DDS, in Niagara Falls can benefit from the use of chemical sealants to ward off tooth decay.

Dr. Frizzell uses sealants mostly on children whose premolars and molars are coming in. Placed on the grooves of these back teeth that are hard to reach with brushing and flossing, sealants help prevent tooth decay during the vulnerable ages of six to 14. Adults without cavities on their molars may also be good candidates.

The painless procedure begins with a thorough cleaning. After each tooth is dried, the dentist places an acid solution on the chewing portions to roughen up the surface. This enables better absorption of the sealing agent. The teeth are rinsed and dried again, then the dentist paints the sealant onto the enamel, sometimes uses a curing light to bond the sealant.

Sealants are effective for as long as 10 years. At regular cleanings, dentists inspect the sealant for chipping or wearing, and teeth may be resealed if necessary during that time.

Benefits of Membership with the Ontario Dental Association

2/24/2017

James Frizzell, DDS, is a Niagara Falls, Ontario dentist, and the owner of Niagara’s Frizzell Family Dental. A graduate of the University of Toronto, James Frizzell, DDS, is a member of both the Ontario and Canadian Dental Associations.

The Ontario Dental Association (ODA) was formed in 1867, the same year Canada became a country. Numerous benefits are available to dentists who become members of the ODA. Among these are:

1. Practice management tools that guide dentistry students and practicing dentists through their profession. These tools include a call center, brochures and posters aimed at patient education, and the journal Ontario Dentist, which is published 10 times each year.

2. Promotional efforts by the ODA help spread awareness of oral health. Campaigns are launched regularly through the media, and the association liaisons with the media itself to share current information on the industry.

3. Continuing education resources are made available to members at informative annual meetings and specialized seminars sponsored by the association.

4. Health and finance information can be accessed by all members in the interest of helping dentists maintain a balanced lifestyle. Health care plans, as well as financial planning advice specific to the profession, are available to doctors and their families.

Caring for a Baby's First Teeth

1/19/2017

James Frizzell, DDS, welcomes patients of all ages to his practice in Niagara Falls, Ontario. As a family dentist, James Frizzell, DDS, of Niagara Falls offers support for children's oral health.

Infant dental care begins even before the first tooth emerges. By cleaning gums with a moist washcloth or gauze a minimum of once per day, parents help their children acclimate to the feeling of having their teeth cleaned. This process also serves to remove bacteria from the gum line before it can become plaque, which poses a decay risk to emerging teeth.

When a baby begins to teethe, the parent can begin using a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head and long handle. Experts recommend only an extremely small amount of toothpaste in the first three years of life, though water is acceptable if the child cannot tolerate the sensation or taste of toothpaste.

Parents should take care to clean all surfaces of the baby's teeth, including the back, and should continue to perform the brushing until the child has the fine motor control to do so him or herself. This typically occurs around the age of 3 years old. However, the child is likely to need adult supervision until around the age of 6 years old, when he or she develops the ability to rinse and spit independently.

An Overview of Dental Sealant Application

1/9/2017

For nearly 23 years, James Frizzell, DDS, has managed his own Niagara, Ontario, dental practice. In this position, James Frizzell, DDS, provides patients a number of preventive and cosmetic procedures, such as applying dental sealants.

Dentists prevent tooth decay using a number of tools and procedures, including dental sealants. These thin, plastic coverings are applied to the chewing surfaces of a patient’s back teeth. The materials used in the dental sealants harden over time, protecting the teeth from future decay, which can result in complex and costly drilling and filling procedures.

The painless application of dental sealants is done in six steps. First, the dentist begins by cleaning any teeth to be sealed. After cleaning, the teeth are dried and swathed in cotton in order to keep them dry throughout the application. During the third phase, the dentist applies a primer solution. After the primer has been placed, the teeth are rinsed and dried once more. Next, the dentist applies the liquid sealant. The sealant hardens within seconds, and the process is finished.

Fluoride - How and Why It Works

12/22/2016

James Frizzell, DDS, has led Frizzell Dental of Niagara Falls, Ontario, for more than 22 years. As a dentist, Dr. James Frizzell offers fluoride treatments and other preventive measures to help his Niagara-area patients maintain good oral health.

Dental enamel undergoes a continuing process of demineralization and remineralization. Sugars and bacteria in the mouth combine to form an acid plaque, which dissolves the phosphate and calcium that are the building blocks of the enamel itself. Some of this phosphate and calcium returns to the teeth when the plaque acid neutralizes, or through the ingestion of food and liquids that contain such substances.

When the teeth come into contact with too much sugar, however, the balance between demineralization and remineralization shifts. Teeth can no longer replenish enamel, which then weakens and decays. External applications of fluoride help to facilitate remineralization, while also strengthening the new enamel crystals and inhibiting the process by which acid forms from bacteria.

Because it strengthens enamel while also preventing decay, fluoride is most crucial for patients under the age of 16. During this phase of life, the adult teeth are coming in and developing their adult strength. Fluoride remains beneficial even for fully grown adults, however, and is particularly important for those with dental appliances, gum disease, or frequent cavities.

Necessary Steps for Maintaining a Healthy Mouth

11/21/2016

A DDS graduate of the University of Toronto and resident of the Niagara Falls area, Dr. James Frizzell is a member of the Ontario and Canadian dental associations. Operating the Niagara Falls-based Frizzell Family Dental since 1993, James Frizzell, DDS, and his team provide a variety of services, ranging from general dentistry to restorative dentistry.

Like the rest of the body, maintaining a healthy mouth requires that individuals take a few necessary steps to help prevent serious dental hygiene concerns. In addition to brushing at least twice daily for two minutes per brushing, individuals should floss at least once daily (or more, as needed) and use mouth rinse as recommended by a dentist.

While home dental care is important, regular visits to the dentist are, as well. Visiting the dentist for regular cleanings will help fight back tartar buildup that individuals cannot remove through brushing alone.

These recommendations come from sources such as the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). While most dentists agree that brushing twice and flossing once daily represent a good pattern, recommendations for rinsing, checkups, and cleanings vary. Concerning rinsing, the CDA does not make a specific brand recommendation. There are different types of rinses - for example, an antiseptic mouthwash and a fluoride mouthwash, so a dentist can make a recommendation about which one to use as well as how often and how long.

The frequency with which a person should receive checkups and cleanings will vary based on individual circumstances. For example, individuals with periodontal disease or who are considered high-risk due to smoking or other causes may require a higher frequency of visits.