General Dentist in Toronto

On your first visit as a new patient Dr. Alavi will conduct our signature comprehensive dental exam during which he will use modern technology, such as dental x-rays and a DSLR camera, to take images of your mouth to show you if anything needs to be addressed. He then carefully examines your bite, jaw, and gums for any signs of joint problems or decay. This also assists him during your oral cancer screening to identify any abnormalities.

After your initial exam visiting the dentist every six months is essential to keep your teeth healthy and looking great. Regular exams are important to prevent dental problems from developing, which could cost you time and money. By being proactive, we can work together to keep your oral health and total body health in the best condition possible.

Taking proper care of your teeth is the only way to keep them healthy and strong. An appointment with a dental hygienist for teeth cleaning is part of every six-month visit. The dental hygiene service includes scaling, cleaning, and any demonstrations or information you may need about taking care of your teeth at home.

No treatment will work unless you follow it up with routine care. We recommend brushing and flossing after every meal – or at least twice a day. But it’s not enough to do it regularly; you have to do it right. Here’s how:

Flossing: Wind the floss around both of your index fingers and push it between your teeth. Move it upwards, downwards and sideways to remove food particles or plaque that may be lodged between your teeth or under your gums.

Brushing: Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth and rotate the bristles across your teeth and under your gums with a backward and forward motion. Don’t forget the top surfaces where you chew, and pay particular attention to the inside surfaces of your teeth with the same rotating motion.

Fluoride toothpaste: Fluoride helps harden enamel, prevents cavities and reduces bacteria. It can even reverse the formation of smaller cavities. Antibacterial rinses can also help to reduce bacteria.

Oral cancer is a disease resulting from abnormal cell growth in the mouth, lips, tongue or throat. In 2003, an estimated 3,100 new cases of oral cancers were identified in Canada, and about 1,090 deaths occurred as a result of the disease.

People over the age of 45 are most at risk. The good news is that oral cancer can be treated successfully if caught early enough.

Your dentist, Dr. Alavi has the expert skill and training to detect early signs of the disease and can help you to understand your risks. If there are signs of possible issues Dr. Alavi will do a biopsy (surgical removal and microscopic examination) of suspicious area for further examination. 

In order to help prevent and early detection of oral cancer make sure to see a dentist who screens for oral cancer regularly. 

Some dental emergencies can be avoided by visiting your dentist regularly. You should also be careful when eating foods that can damage your teeth, such as popcorn, caramels, and hard candies. But some emergencies occur without warning.

What should you do if you break a tooth after a trip and fall or get a tooth knocked out while playing sports?

The best thing to do is see your dentist as soon as possible. Add your dental care provider to your cell phone contacts, so his address and phone number are ready when you need them!

• If you have a broken or chipped tooth, rinse out your mouth with warm water, and try to keep the tooth if possible. Put an ice-pack on the tooth while on your way to the dentist.
• If the tooth is completely out they should rinse the mouth with (saline) saltwater apply ice to the area and keep the tooth in solutions that have similar viscosity to blood. Ideally IV fluid, but saline (saltwater), Gatorade or even milk can help but never use water!
• Place the tooth into a small container or plastic wrap and add some milk or saline to keep the root from drying out. Milk is a good medium for storing knocked-out teeth because cells from the root surface don’t swell up and burst as they do when placed in water.
• If a tooth is loose but didn’t get knocked out, take some over-the-counter painkillers, put some ice on it, and get to the dentist as soon as possible.

By working in conjunction with your downtown Toronto emergency dentist, your smile will soon be pain-free and looking amazing again!

If you don’t treat cavities early, the decay will spread. Eventually, it will enter your nerve canal, resulting in your need for a filling. You may also need new fillings to replace old ones, to replace a chipped tooth, or fill natural pockets in your teeth that are hard to clean.

Instead of using metal fillings, we usually recommend tooth-colored and natural looking composite fillings – we match them as closely as possible to your tooth color, making them virtually undetectable to the eye. Made of durable polymer and ceramic particles, they bond solidly to the tooth and look great once they’re in place.

The process is pretty simple. After the decay in your tooth has been cleaned out, we apply a cleansing gel to the area. The next step is applying a bonding solution, followed by the composite filling material. This is then hardened for a few seconds using a high-intensity blue light. The filling is shaped to ensure comfort, and you’re done!

Benefits of Removing your Wisdom Teeth at Dentistry on King

1. If you are worried and anxious about wisdom tooth extraction pain then we would be happy to offer Sedation Dentistry so you can be at ease during your procedure.
2. Utilizing the power of CBCT (three-dimensional x-ray) we are equipped to prevent the possible complication of nerve injury during the extraction procedure resulting in an uneventful post-operative recovery.
3. We also offer PRF procedure (Injecting affected area with Platelet-rich fibrin) which allows for a very smooth post-operation recovery with minimal pain and swelling.

A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap permanently cemented over a tooth to restore its strength, shape, size, and overall appearance. It covers the visible portion of the tooth above and right at the gum line. Crowns hold weak, broken or cracked teeth together to avoid further fracture. They’re also used to support large fillings, attach a bridge, cover discolored or deformed teeth, and are placed over dental implants.

With CEREC® Same-day crowns, Dr. Alavi can design, create, and fit your new crown in one visit. First, Dr. Alavi shapes the tooth to fit the crown. Then, he makes a digital impression and uses the CEREC® 3D software to design the tooth. This data is then transferred to our in-house milling machine where your new, custom crown is created. Dr. Alavi will ensure the crown fits correctly and then cements the permanent crown onto the tooth.

Crowns are long-lasting if cared for with good oral hygiene. Avoid biting your nails, chewing ice, or grinding your teeth; otherwise, you can damage it.

A dental bridge replaces one or more missing teeth. Your caring doctor creates a natural-looking artificial tooth (crown), which he then cements to the teeth around it, creating a “bridge” across the gap.

Putting in a bridge usually takes two or more visits. On your first appointment, he will prepare the supporting teeth (typically the ones on either side of the missing tooth), make an impression for the lab, and then places a temporary bridge. On the second visit, he will place the permanent bridge, ensure proper fit and function, and cement it into place.

Are you missing some teeth? Can’t smile because of a gap left by a lost tooth? Having teeth missing can be hard on your self-esteem and overall look. It can also cause some significant oral health problems because the other teeth around this gap shift and the bone underneath can start to deteriorate. Dental implants could be the answer you’ve been looking for. This procedure can replace one tooth or a mouthful of teeth for a more solid, healthy, and confidence-boosting smile.

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that’s an anchor for a replacement tooth. It is shaped like a screw, and is surgically placed into the jawbone to secure an artificial tooth or a bridge.

How Do Implants Work?

Feel safe in the knowledge that implants are stable and long-lasting. Unlike bridges, they do not rely on surrounding teeth for support but rather are placed into your jawbone by a qualified Toronto dentist like Dr Alavi.

The bone then connects with the artificial post and bonds it into place for a stronger, more durable restoration. The dental implant is then topped with a crown to complete your natural-looking smile.

Dental Implants Procedure

If you’re missing teeth, or have been living with dentures that don’t fit right, a new set of expertly fitted dentures can make a big difference in your life. We start off by making a mould of your upper and lower arches to determine your natural bite and send it off to the lab. On your next visit, Dr. Alavi will help you choose the gum and tooth colours that suit your mouth. Once you have your preliminary dentures, we will adjust your bite, test your speech, and check overall appearance and functionality. Then, when we have a good fit, we send it back to the lab for fabrication of the final product. After delivery, we’ll adjust your dentures and make any adjustments needed.

Types of Denture

• Implant-supported dentures: These are becoming more and more popular because of their natural look and stability. We start by placing implants, then we make dentures you can lock into place.
• Immediate dentures: These are dentures that are placed in your mouth immediately after your teeth have been removed. It makes the transition to regular dentures less noticeable and allows you to eat normally while you wait for your mouth to heal.
• Partial dentures: A great solution if you’ve lost one or more teeth, these attach to your existing teeth. Implant-supported partials are a popular option. Valplast dentures are more aesthetically pleasing; they don’t use metal as their base and, instead, feature comfortable hooks made of flexible plastic.
• Stayplate (temporary denture): A stayplate replaces the missing tooth (or teeth) and can help you with chewing and speaking until a more permanent solution is achieved. It can also help maintain your appearance and keep your remaining teeth from shifting.

Whether you grind your teeth while sleeping, or participate in sports, your teeth are at risk of damage. Wearing a mouth guard either at night or while practicing or playing a game helps protect them from trauma and lowers your risk of other problems. At Dentistry on King, Dr. Mahan Alavi offers night guards and sports guards for children and adults in Downtown Toronto.

There are different types of mouthguards that you can get. The over-the-counter mouthguards are a quick and cheap solution. There is also custom mouthguards that are made for your by your dentist. This type of mouthguard offers the best fit and are generally more durable than the off-the-shelf types.

If you’d like to learn more if you need a mouth guard to protect your teeth from daytime and night time grinding then we suggest you book an appointment with Dr. Alavi to see if getting a mouthguard is good option for you.

When the nerve tissue inside a tooth degenerates due to deep decay or trauma, an endodontics treatment (Root Canal) can clear out the infection, save your tooth, and ensure the tissue around the root stays healthy.

Without treatment, the infection in the tooth pulp can result in an abscess, which can damage the jawbone beneath. If a tooth is causing you pain, has become extra-sensitive to heat and cold, appears discoloured, or the gums around it feel tender and swollen, then you may need a root canal.

Root Canal Procedure:

1. After studying the x-ray of the tooth, Dr. Alavi administers a local anesthetic. He’ll remove the inflamed nerve tissue and clean the root canal to ensure no debris or bacteria gets left behind.
2. He seals off the cleaned root canal cavity to prevent fluids and bacteria from entering.
3. He fills the root canal with a polymer and adhesive cement mixture.
4. He places a crown on the sealed tooth so it can function normally.

You may experience slight discomfort after the procedure, but this can be easily managed with mild over the counter pain medications.

A Sleep Apnea Dentist can help diagnose and treat your sleep problem. If your partner complains about your snoring, or you end up waking up as tired as you were when you went to bed, sleep apnea may be the reason. People with sleep apnea stop breathing for short periods of time. It happens when your tongue and the muscles in your throat relax, blocking the air passage for seconds at a time. It’s more than just an annoyance; it’s a serious condition that can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, congestive heart failure, erectile dysfunction, mood swings, and extreme tiredness that can lead to injuries and accidents.

Sleep Apnea Treatment

If you have sleep apnea, we can start by fitting you with a custom-fitted snore guard – a simple device you wear in your mouth to keep your airway open. We can also recommend diagnostic testing or a sleep study where you’re monitored in a sleep lab overnight.

Other treatment options may include medication, behavioural changes, dental appliances, and/or a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.

It’s not just adults who are affected by sleep apnea – children can get it too. They can be hyperactive, high-strung, aggressive, and prone to bedwetting.

Have you started to notice receding gums but are afraid to see the dentist about it? Maybe the horror stories you’ve heard about gum grafting keeps you from halting the progression of your gum disease. Now’s the time to reconsider your decision and get gum rejuvenation that works!

What Causes Gum Recession?

• Gum disease. If left untreated, you could be facing more extensive, painful, and invasive dental procedures. Gum disease causes serious oral health issues such as infection, tooth loss, and jawbone damage.
• Your oral hygiene routine. Inadequate or overly aggressive brushing of your teeth over time can cause gums to recede.
• Certain medications.
• Orthodontics or use of retainers.

Whatever the cause of your gum recession, Dr. Alavi has the training to provide the solution you’ve been waiting for—the Pinhole Surgical Technique™.

What is the Pinhole Surgical Technique™?

Initially developed by John Chao, D.D.S., the procedure involves making a small hole in your gum and adding collagen material to stabilize the area of gum recession. This innovative technique is simple, suture-free, and minimally invasive.

What is the Tunnel Technique?

Like the “pinhole” method, the tunnelling technique is also an incision-free operation. Dr. Alavi starts by cleaning the exposed root surfaces that have appeared due to gum recession with a doxycycline solution in order to detoxify the surface of the root and prevent the spread of infections. Next, he will tunnel underneath the gums with a special tool to create space between tooth and gum. Once the skin graft is inserted, the gum tissue is raised to cover the exposed roots and held in place with a suture.

Dental anxiety is as old as the practice of dentistry itself. It knows no age limits and can stem from a host of other fears, such as an unpleasant dental experience, sensitive teeth, or even a fear of needles

Are you avoiding the dentist because of fear and anxiety? Sedation dentistry offered at Dentistry on King in Downtown Toronto keeps you relaxed and aware during an appointment. No pain, no stress, just better oral health.

Types of Sedation:

1. Inhalation Sedation: Mild nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) is combined with a local anesthetic to numb pain and keep you feeling relaxed.
2. Oral Sedation: You take a pill before your appointment and enter a state of complete relaxation during treatment. (This is usually combined with a local anesthetic.)
3. IV Sedation: Administered intravenously, this option offers the deepest level of sedation without general anesthesia.

If you choose oral or IV sedation, a responsible companion must accompany you to and from the visit, and stay with you for a few hours after you get home. You’ll have time to recover from the effects of the sedation before leaving the office, and you can resume normal activities within 12-24 hours.