Sonal Chhanabhai DMD

Upkeep of your nails - not only looks good but might also help reduce that nail biting habit!

Chewing anything other than food is considered a parafunctional (abnormal) activity. Biting your nails can:
1) introduce new bacteria/infections to your oral cavity
2) cause your enamel to wear down and chip
3) increase tooth sensitivity

People who bite their nails are also more at risk of bruxism (clenching/grinding).

To reduce the habit - find your trigger! Reduce stress, anxiety and boredom. Keep your nails shorter, with polish and treat yourself to regular manicures.

📷 💅

Blast from the past - when gooey and messy impressions were needed for braces!

Today, we have a magic wand to take your impressions! No more gagging while we hold trays in place. If you need a break, we can give you one without ruining the impression! We use our scanner for orthodontic treatment, nightguards fabrication, crowns and tracking your wear/recession!

Large cavities, large existing fillings, large areas of broken tooth structure, and having had root canal treatment make a tooth structurally compromised. If your tooth is structurally compromised, it is more prone to getting cracks and/or breaking - in the long term: a crown will be better protection!

Other reasons for crowns: they can improve your bite, enhance esthetics, and decrease the risk of future decay.

Talk to your dentist about your 🦷 👑

Every patients that comes through our doors goes through this system! It’s a comprehensive and personalized system to assess your oral health in four key areas:

1. Periodontal - Gum & Bone
2. Biomechanical - Chemistry & Environment
3. Functional - The Fit & Habits
4. Dentofacial - The Look

Come on in if you want your Risk Assessment! 🦷

New Year, same message.

Cheers to 2024! Wishing each and everyone of you good health, wealth and happiness! 🍾

Celebrating the holiday season this week and with two wonderful teams!

This year has been a pivotal one in my journey as a dentist. I am so grateful to have found a home in not one, but two, offices!

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season as you celebrate with your loved ones!

Have you ever been curious as to why our ancestors didn’t need orthodontics but in todays society it’s almost a rite of passage?

Problems such as crowding, crooked teeth, impacted wisdom teeth, and malocclusion arise from lack of jaw development. The jaw starts developing in infancy.

Historically more children were breastfed, and breastfed for a longer time. Breastfeeding (vs a bottle) requires your child to coordinate chewing and sucking which helps engage their facial muscles.

Then as your child gets older, chewing is key to muscle development. Modern diets require less chewing - we eat more puréed foods, smoothies, soups, oatmeal etc. If the muscles aren’t developing, neither is your jaw.

Why does it matter? If your jaw isn’t developed properly there can be stress on your airway. A smaller airway leads to breathing problems. In todays society, we see more mouth breathers and more sleep apnea (more to come on these later!). Early orthodontic intervention can help reduce airway stress.

Tooth tips for Halloween!

1) Eat your sweets with meals and try to avoid snacking in between meals.
2) Drink lots of water to help neutralize the sugar/acid.
3) Brush and floss!! And of course, have fun and be safe this Halloween!

It’s Negroni week! From Sept 18-24, 2023, restaurants and bars around the world are raising money for various charities. Visit NegroniWeek.com to check out participating venues near you!

This year my Negroni creation involves - fat washing Campari with coconut oil and it got me thinking about oil pulling!

“Oil pulling” is the act of swishing edible oil around the mouth for 5-20min. Coconut oil is often used and it is said to disinfect the mouth, reduce cavity causing bacteria and whiten teeth.

To date:
The American Dental Association - advises against it and to stick to brushing and flossing!
The Canadian Dental Association doesn’t have a position on it - they say it won’t do any harm, but they are not convinced there are particular benefits.

Have you tried oil pulling? Comment below to share your experience!

women in golf & dentistry.



thanks and .pattersondental for hosting this fun event!

Carbonated water - good or bad?

Many of us are well aware that pop/soda, sports drinks and juices are bad for our general and dental health. They contain high amounts of sugar and are often acidic. Sugar/acidity weakens and softens enamel. Once the enamel is damaged, the teeth quickly become susceptible to erosion, sensitivity and/or decay.

Did you know carbonated waters are acidic too? This means frequent/continuous consumption can also cause damage to your enamel!

Do not sip carbonated water throughout the day, as this keeps your oral cavity in a constant acidic environment. Try to stick to having them at meal times and drink them in moderation!

If you need something to sip on throughout the day - your best option is plain (non carbonated) water!

The new patient experience!

My new patient process can be long. It may seem tedious, but the goal is to get to know you so that I can personalize your dental care!

Why did you get a cavity? Why are your teeth sensitive? Why does your jaw hurt? Why are you wearing down your teeth? When we know “why”, we can move towards addressing the problem.

As a Kois dentist, I look at teeth from four angles. 1) gum and bone health, 2) the chemistry/environment in your mouth, 3) how your teeth fit together, and 4) how your teeth look in your face.

By looking at your teeth from multiple angles, we can start to address the “why”, determine prognoses, and create personalized treatment options!

stumbled upon this strolling through this weekend.

gentle reminder - don’t forget to floss!

plug: are a great adjunct but they don’t replace that piece of string!

artwork by: Sweet Athena Creative

Creme eggs or Mini eggs?
La Glace or Earnest Ice cream?
It’s almost Easter! Which will you choose??

Whichever treat you choose - make sure you are caring for your teeth!

After sugary foods, be sure to drink plenty of water to help neutralize your saliva! Don’t forget to wait 30-60min to brush your teeth to allow remineralization of your enamel. Brushing too soon after sugary/acidic foods can actually cause more damage to your teeth!

📷: creme eggs and mini eggs.
: custard cream, vanilla fondant swirl & pieces of salted vanilla milk chocolate.
: multicoloured, candy-coated milk chocolate egg pieces wrapped in pink strawberry cake and a layer of bright red berry jam.

It’s officially spring! Though the warmer weather is delightful, the pollen count isn’t…

During allergy season we tend to find patients suffer from increased amounts of dry mouth.

This happens through:
1. Congestion - when you are congested, there is a tendency to breathe through your mouth, instead of your nose, which dries up the saliva.
2. Anti-histamines and asthma inhalers which dry out the oral cavity.

Make sure to drink plenty of water to help stimulate saliva production throughout the day! Be sure to talk to your dentist about your unique needs.

Always a pleasure to be back at the Kois Center and to top it off it is International Women’s Day!

Couldn’t be more proud to be surrounded by strong and passionate women in my personal and professional lives. Being is truely inspiring and a reminder - there is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.

Here’s to strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.

Looking for some bedtime reading? and the introduced me to this book, and it’s a good read!

Cavity formation is commonly only associated with poor oral hygiene and high sugar consumption; however, there are many factors that contribute to cavity formation - lack of saliva, poor diet, imbalance of the biofilm, genetics and pH.

Understanding the different factors and getting a thorough patient history can help us assess your cavity (or caries) risk. This allows your dentist to create a personalized approach to your oral care.

Cavities are detected by a combination of radiographic examination, clinical appearance (discolouration) and feel (stickiness).

Pictured here is an example of cavities that have formed between two primary molars.

To prevent such cavities from forming - make sure you are mindful of your child’s diet and be sure to floss daily!

Hot Chocolate Fest is back in Vancouver - though it’s delicious, it also means that more chocolate & milk will be hitting our teeth!

📸: Red Velvet Whip & Whoopie Pie from Viva Cafe & Bakery], photo taken by

Chocolate and milk both contain sugars - these sugars combine with dental plaque to release an acid. The acid weakens your outer/tough enamel layer. The more acidic your saliva, the more enamel weakening, the more susceptible you will be to cavities.

What you need to know?
Drink hot chocolates in moderation.
Drink them one sitting/don’t sip them over hours.
Drink with a straw, if possible.
Drink water after your hot chocolate to rinse away the sugars.

And, if you have any fav hot chocolates let me know!

Welcome to the “No Cavity Club”!

One of the ways we try to motivate children to be proactive about their oral hygiene is our - “no cavity club”! If your child visits us, and is cavity-free, their name goes up on the board and they get entered in a draw for a fun prize!

Risk and susceptibility to cavity formation arises from a combination of three things: oral hygiene, diet and genetics. Unfortunately, we can’t control our genetics but we definitely can control our oral hygiene and diet!

Come visit us for more personalized tips on your/your child’s oral health.

Today is both Thanksgiving and World Mental Health Day!

As a dentist, as much as brushing and flossing is of utmost importance, so is your whole body’s health, including your mental health!

The inability to care for your mental wellness can lead to:

1. neglecting your oral hygiene - which increases your risk of gingivitis, periodontitis, and cavity formation
2. stress and anxiety - which leads to TMJ symptoms, clenching/grinding, and the possibility of cracking teeth and heightened pain sensations
3. eating disorders such as bulimia which lead to dental erosion, and a poor diet which can effect calcium levels and tooth mineralization.

Take a moment today for yourself. Make a list off what you are thankful for and show gratitude towards yourself.

Wine & Teeth!

Most people are well aware that red wine tends to stain teeth; but did you know - the acidic nature of wine can also cause damage to the outer enamel layer of your teeth. This can lead to erosion areas and an increased susceptibility to dental decay.

The key to protecting your teeth - reduce acid levels in your saliva!

You can do this by rinsing with or drinking plain water after your wine. (This also helps with staining and is key to reducing dehydration/hangover symptoms!). Only brush your teeth after you have waited sufficient time for the acidic saliva to be neutralized.

📍

One of the most common places for cavities to start is in between the teeth! This is why dentists push the importance of flossing. No matter how good you are at brushing, your toothbrush simply can’t get in the small spaces between the teeth. A waterpik is a great adjunct to oral care but - it does not replace flossing.

Routine radiographs, specifically the kind pictured above (a bitewing) help dentists in detecting cavities in between the teeth. On the radiograph, a cavity shows up as dark triangle in between the teeth. When the darkness is contained within the outer, white, enamel layer - good flossing and fluoride use can help remineralize the areas. Once the darkness has passed through the enamel, past the white border, it is a true cavity that needs to be treated.

Don’t forget to floss your teeth tonight. Your teeth, and dentist, will thank you!

It’s summer time, and you know what that means - Slurpee season is upon us!

They might be delicious and refreshing, but beware of the high sugar content!

Sugar damages teeth by combining with bacteria in dental plaque to release an acid. This acid attacks the teeth, weakens the outer enamel layer and leads to cavity formation or enamel erosion. The damage to the teeth will depend on how often you consume these beverages and how long they stay on the teeth.

Here are some tips to reduce the damage to your teeth:
1) Have Slurpees in moderations and at meal times. Try to avoid sipping over a lengthy period of time.
2) Drink lots of water to help neutralize the sugar/acid.
3) Use the straw as it helps minimize contact with your teeth.
4) Do not brush right after having your Slurpee, as you can cause more damage. Neutralize the acid first by drinking water, then brush about an hour later.

Braces aren’t just for kids!

There are many reasons why adults get braces, and with clear aligners in the market now, it’s becoming so much more convenient!

Orthodontic treatment not only improves the look of your smile, but it can also help with functional problems!

A dysfunctional bite, or occlusion, can cause an array of problems over time - these can include abnormal wear, recession, chipping of teeth, tmj symptoms, and even breathing/speaking/chewing problems.

If you are experiencing any of the above, talk to your dentist or orthodontist about treatment options!

Do you put lemon in your water?

🛑 STOP 🛑

Routinely drinking water with lemon can have a serious impact on your teeth! Acidic foods and drinks weaken and soften the enamel. Once the enamel is damaged, the teeth quickly become more susceptible to further erosion, sensitivity and/or decay.

Rule #1: drink plain, non-carbonated, water
Rule #2: after acidic foods/drinks, sip plain water to help neutralize your saliva

Do you have Amalgam, commonly known as Silver, fillings?

The main advantage of Amalgam fillings are their long-term durability. There are no proven risks of these fillings being adverse to ones health - however there is controversy surrounding them due to the fact they contain mercury.

Often I get asked if they need to be removed. In my practice, the best time to replace an amalgam filling is when it starts to deteriorate, if decay is starting around it or if cracks are noted in the tooth.

It’s common to see larger amalgam fillings that fracture or cause part of the tooth to fracture (pictured above). In some cases, if the amalgam is large or there are many cracks noted on your tooth - full crown coverage might have a better long term prognosis.

Every case is different though so talk to your dentist!

Bone loss can occur for a few different reasons - alignment of teeth, trauma, tumours, and commonly periodontal disease.

When bacteria builds up, it can “eat away” at the bone which holds your teeth in place. Pictured here is a piece of residual calculus on a tooth that caused localized bone loss. Once it occurs, it can be difficult to get it back so prevention is key!

To prevent bone loss - good oral hygiene habits are important as well as routine exams/deep cleanings with your dentist/hygienist. When these types of pockets form, it’s almost impossible for you to get to the base of them to clean with your brush/floss. This is why if you suffer from periodontal disease your dentist will likely recommend 3-4 month cleanings. If your dentist/hygienist cannot stabilize the area, you made need a referral to a periodontist for alternative procedures.

The most common advice I give in a day is - please start flossing!

Why is flossing important? Flossing allows you to clean under the gums where your toothbrush can’t reach. This helps prevent cavities in between teeth and reduces gum inflammation.

How to floss? It’s important not to just snap your floss up and down in between teeth. You must clean below the gum line by gently following the curve of the tooth in a “C” shape. Watch what you are doing and be gentle or else you can cut your gums as pictured above!

Note: a Waterpik is a good adjunct but it does NOT replace flossing.