215-9764 Fifth Street Sidney , British Columbia V8L 2X2
During a new patient examination information is collected to determine what your chief complaints are and how to best solve them. This visit includes:
This information is then integrated to provide you with a diagnosis and treatment plan, as well as alternative treatment options. Then, in consultation with you, we can determine the treatment path to embark upon.
Before any treatment begins we prefer to give you an overall estimate for the proposed procedures. If you have dental insurance, we will predetermine the treatment coverage and accept assignment of your insurance payment on your behalf.
Our office is equipped with the latest technology available to make your dental experience faster, easier and more comfortable.
Using new digital technology we are able to reduce radiation exposure by 95% in our office, and no longer need any messy developing chemicals. The radiographic images are projected onto computer monitors attached to our dental chairs, where we can enlarge them to allow you to see what in the past was only visible to the dentist. Most people appreciate understanding exactly why a certain procedure is prescribed.
We have digital intra-oral cameras that allow us to take pictures of anything in your mouth and project it onto the computer screen. These images allow you to see what we are seeing and, thereby, allow you to better understand the need for treatment. It also gives us another piece of evidence to relay to the insurance company in order to gain predetermination acceptance for treatment.
CD and DVD players
You can watch a DVD or listen to a CD during your appointment! These play through our in-operatory computers, positioned so you can see it while having treatment done. We have an office collection, however you are welcome to bring your favorites as well! Kids love this option, and are often disappointed when the appointment is finished..... they want to watch the end of the movie!
Nobody likes the idea of having a root canal. But with air-driven rotary equipment (as opposed to hand driven) root canals are completed faster, and with less post-treatment discomfort. Please see our RESOURCES page for further information.
There are many advertised methods of whitening teeth, but not all of them are equal. Over the counter products, such as whitening toothpastes and white strips give a degree of whitening, but most people expect results which can not be delivered by these products. The best methods for whitening teeth are either professionally prescribed white strips, custom-tray methods or in-office procedures. We offer all of these methods and help you choose the one which best fits your lifestyle. The in-office product we use is ZOOM by Discus Dental which most people have seen on the ABC show Extreme Makeover. The ZOOM technique allows us to whiten your teeth in 1 hour. Please see the ZOOM website for further information at the follow address: http://www.discusdental.com/whitening/zoom/rc.htm
We offer all aspects of cosmetic dentistry including bleaching, white composite resin fillings, crowns, fixed bridges, anterior veneers and implants. Further information can be found in our RESOURCES page.
Your gums play a huge role in your overall oral health. They are part of the foundation which supports your teeth and are important in the esthetics of your smile. Unhealthy gums give an unhealthy smile, can result in tooth loss and have been linked to heart and stroke problems. Regular appointments with our hygienist are recommended to remove plaque and calculus and to monitor gum health. They will also evaluate your oral hygiene techniques and give you tips on ways to do a more thorough job. For more information see our RESOURCES page.
We offer multiple alternatives when selecting a filling material to allow patients a choice in terms of material composition, cost and longevity. These alternatives include composite fillings (white fillings), amalgams (silver fillings), gold or porcelain inlays / onlays, and glass ionomers. Please see our RESOURCES page for information on each of these alternatives.
Veneers are lab processed restorations used to improve the esthetics of teeth. They only cover the surface of the tooth which is visible in your smile so that minimal tooth structure is lost.
Crowns are used to help stabilize a tooth which is otherwise prone to breaking due to a large filling, root canal or fracture. They are also useful for improving the esthetics of teeth which can not be improved by veneers or fillings.
Bridges are used to replace missing teeth. The teeth on either side of a space are altered to fit crowns and a pontic (false tooth) is attached between the crowns to span the gap. More and more people are opting for implants in these situations because an implant is easier to keep clean and it doesn't involve the crowning of neighboring teeth.
Please see our resources page for more information.
An implant is a titanium post which becomes fused to your bone and functions as the root would in a natural tooth. If a single tooth is missing, a crown is then fabricated and secured to this titanium post and the unit functions similar to any other tooth. This is advantageous since no other teeth have to be touched to replace this missing tooth! If multiple teeth are missing, multiple implants can be placed, or a denture can be made which attaches to the implants, resulting in a huge increase in stability and retention of the denture. No more dancing teeth!
Please see our RESOURCES page for more information.
A root canal is required when the nerve and blood system within a tooth are disturbed by trauma or bacterial infection. The small canals which allow blood and nerves to enter the teeth must be thoroughly cleaned and filled so that the infection is eradicated and prevented from returning. Many teeth have more than one root canal so each canal must be individually cleaned to prevent further infection. A root canaled tooth is more prone to fracture, so a crown is recommended to stabilize the tooth.
For more information please see our RESOURCES page.
Complete and partial upper and lower dentures are a removable option for replacing multiple missing teeth. Often they are stabilized by anchoring them to implants. This help to eradicate "dancing teeth".
Please see our RESOURCES page for further information.
Children are fun to treat, especially when we can make the experience fun and send them off with a smile. We achieve this by proceeding slowly, explaining each step and empowering them with the ability to let us know when they are uncomfortable or concerned. One tool which has become very popular with the younger crowd is the ability to play a DVD while treatment is being done. We have a selection of child-friendly DVD's in the office or you can bring your own! We recommend your child have a dental visit by age 3.
Removing a tooth is always our last option, but in many instances it is our only option. We also offer intravenous sedation for those who are anxious and prefer to be unaware of their surroundings, done by an anestheologist in our office.
Many people have had negative dental experiences which make them afraid to seek treatment. We have a wide range of options to help make your appointment more comfortable: