Services

Before your appointment we’ll send you a blank chart and medical history form. To shorten your first visit, we ask that you complete both sides of the medical history (yellow form), the general chart sections (white form) about your personal/contact information, relevant financial information and past dental history beforehand. Please bring these completed documents with you to your first appointment.

If you are eligible for benefits from a dental insurance plan, we ask that you bring all your policy information and forms with you. If you have a booklet explaining your benefits, yearly maximums and limitations, we ask that you also bring it, and we will photocopy the applicable sections to keep them on file for future reference.

Your first visit will involve a comprehensive new patient examination to assess all of your oral health needs. That examination will include:

• Radiographs (x-rays) to assess the condition of the teeth, supporting bone, temperomandibular joints and facial structures not easily visualized otherwise.
• A head and neck exam to evaluate the muscles, tissues and surrounding structures for any abnormalities.
• A soft tissue exam and oral-cancer screening to evaluate the health of the gums, cheeks, tongue and other soft tissues in the mouth.
• A hard tissue exam to check the condition of the teeth and surrounding bone as well as the positioning/alignment of your bite.
• Photographs of the teeth and soft tissues with our intra-oral camera to allow us to really show you any pertinent findings and better explain your treatment plan.
• A consultation to discuss your treatment needs and various treatment options, allowing you to make educated decisions regarding your oral health care.

Depending on scheduling, you may book your examination in conjunction with an oral hygiene assessment and treatment (a cleaning) by our hygienist.

Dental Hygiene Therapy (Teeth Cleanings)

• Assessment of the health of the head, neck, and mouth (teeth, gums, etc.) area, including screening for oral cancers and the detection of periodontal or gum diseases.
• Planning a personalized dental hygiene care plan, which may include, but is not limited to:
• Removal of soft plaque/biofilm and hard tartar deposits from the teeth
• Stain removal
• Prevention of decay through application of fluorides and other anti-cavity measures
• Reduction of tooth sensitivity
• Personalized home self-care planning
• Evaluation of the care provided and determining the appropriate length of time between dental hygiene appointments
• Infant and toddler mouth checks, starting at 12 months of age

Children’s Dentistry

Children’s treatments at our office include (but are not limited to):

• Kid-friendly check-ups
• Dental hygiene therapy
• Fluoride treatments for kids
• Pit and fissure sealants – a thin plastic coating placed on the chewing surface of adult teeth to make them less likely to trap food and cavity-producing bacteria.
• Restorative treatment (fillings)
• Monitoring dental growth and development

When should I take my child for their first dentist appointment?

Splint Therapy

One of the most common ways to protect against the harmful effects of clenching or grinding is to wear an occlusal splint (also called a splint). This custom-made, acrylic dental appliance fits over the teeth (either top or bottom) to reduce and redistribute the forces exerted on the head, neck and oral structures by the grinding habit.

Athletic Mouthguards

Custom mouthguards fabricated by a dental office have the best fit, meaning better comfort and protection. Although more expensive than store-bought mouthguards, the cost of treating a dental injury resulting from insufficient protection is significantly higher. Fabricating a custom mouthguard involves taking an impression (mold) of your teeth using a putty-like material. A dental laboratory makes your mouthguard to fit this mold precisely. Once fabricated, your dental professional test fits the mouthguard and makes any necessary adjustments to ensure optimum protection.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Wisdom teeth, sometimes known as 3rd Molars, are the last adult teeth in the mouth to erupt, usually around age 18. Often there is not enough space for these teeth, even after the completion of bone growth and development. As a result, they may become partially or fully impacted within the bone.

Over time these trapped teeth can develop problems and affect other teeth and tissues in the mouth. Some people may never experience problems with their wisdom teeth, while others will require that they be removed.

Invisalign

Invisalign has been praised as a welcome alternative to braces because it’s nearly invisible, comfortable to wear, removable, and the average treatment time is only one year. Unlike braces, Invisalign is removable, so you can brush, floss and eat normally without having to avoid any foods. The treatment can be used on patients of all ages, but can be an especially attractive option for adults who want straight teeth without the process of adult braces.

Tooth Whitening

Different types of staining require different treatments. Dental professionals recommend that all whitening be done under the supervision of a dental office to ensure optimal results are achieved while minimizing side effects such as tooth sensitivity.

Whitening involves the fabrication of personalized, thin plastic trays to hold a whitening agent in close contact with your teeth. Following the initial in-office whitening, patients are provided with their custom trays, whitening gel and the appropriate instructions to continue the process at home.

Veneers

A veneer is a permanent dental restoration often used to enhance the look (esthetics) of a single tooth or several teeth. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are cemented to the lip or cheek surfaces of the teeth.

Veneers can correct mild to moderate chipping, staining and/or unevenness, contour oddly shaped teeth and close small to medium sized gaps between teeth.

Crowns

A crown or cap is a permanent dental restoration that completely encircles or “caps” a tooth. A crown is used to restore the anatomy, function and esthetics of a tooth. Generally, crowns are recommended to reinforce and protect teeth that have root canals, large fillings or to fix teeth that have been broken, malformed or heavily stained.

Crowns can be fabricated from porcelain, various metals (e.g. gold), or a combination of porcelain fused to the outside of the metal form, depending on the situation and location of the tooth/teeth.

Crowns involve two dental appointments. The first appointment involves the removal of a small amount of tooth structure equal to the amount of material in the crown, followed by taking a mold or impression of the remaining structure, which is used by our dental laboratory to create the crown. The second appointment, two weeks later, is when the crown is permanently cemented in place.

Bridges

A bridge is a permanent dental restoration that is used to replace one or more missing teeth that have resulted in a gap between remaining teeth. In addition to replacing missing teeth, bridges also prevent the teeth adjacent to the gap from drifting or moving out of position, which could cause changes in the bite along with other issues.

A bridge is a grouping of interconnected crowns cemented to the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. Like crowns, a bridge can be fabricated from various metals or a combination of porcelain fused to the outside of metal.

Preparation for the bridge involves the removal of a small amount of tooth structure from the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. A mold or impression of the gap and remaining tooth structure is then made and used by our dental laboratory to create the bridge.

Fabricating and fitting a bridge requires two appointments.

Fillings

When a tooth is broken, cracked or has an area of decay, a filling can repair it.

There are different types of filling materials that can be used; we mainly use tooth-colored fillings and metal fillings. The type of filling material used is dependent on the conditions present and your preference. We will discuss the options with you prior to proceeding.

Root Canals

Located in the centre core (or canal) of each tooth is living tissue (pulp tissue) consisting of nerves, blood vessels and cellular components. (If a tooth were a carrot, the pulp would occupy the central core of the vegetable.) This pulp tissue is what provides the tooth with the ability to feel sensations such as temperature.

The main goal of root canal therapy is to remove the diseased pulp tissue, which will in turn reduce and eliminate existing discomfort. To gain access into the inner pulp chamber, a small hole is created in the chewing surface of the tooth. The pulp tissue is removed, and the tooth’s entire inner core, all the way down to the end of the root, is cleaned and disinfected. The empty canal is filled with a material that seals the tooth from bacteria and a restoration (filling or crown) is completed.

Partial & Complete Dentures

Dentures are removable prostheses (appliances) supported by the surrounding hard and soft tissues in the mouth.

A partial denture (also referred to as a partial) is made when an individual is missing some, but not all, of the teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Designed to be custom fit to your mouth, a partial is made of acrylic and metal with clasps that fit around the remaining teeth to help keep it in place.

A complete denture is made when an individual is missing all of the teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw. Like a partial denture, a complete denture is designed to be custom fit to the tissue it will rest on. However, a complete denture is made entirely of acrylic. Because there are no teeth to help hold the denture in place, it must rely primarily on the surrounding soft tissue for support and retention.

Implant Treatment Planning

An implant is a permanent reconstruction consisting of a titanium post that is placed into the bone to act as an artificial root. It supports replacement teeth like crowns, bridge or dentures do.

Implant therapy is a two-stage process. The first stage is surgical, during which a titanium post is placed into the bone. After a healing period of several months during which bone bonds with the implant, the second stage begins. In this stage, the replacement crown(s), bridge or denture are designed, fabricated and attached to the implant, which now acts as an anchor to keep everything in place.

Planning for an implant can be a complex process. The bone, soft tissue and remaining teeth must be evaluated to make sure the mouth is healthy and that there is enough space and support for the implant. When this is not the case, additional procedures may be necessary to augment and/or prepare the area.

We assess and develop a treatment plan for implants. We then refer patients to a specialist with additional surgical training for placement of the implant. After healing has occurred, we design and insert the final prosthesis (replacement teeth). Follow-up involves regular check-ups and dental hygiene therapy to help you maintain your implant(s) and the rest of your natural teeth.

Soft Tissue Grafting

Gum recession is a common problem and occurs for a number of reasons including gum disease, tissue trauma (e.g. aggressive tooth brushing) or abnormal position of teeth. In some individuals, the gum tissue is just naturally thin and more prone to receding.

As gums recede, they expose the tooth’s root, compromising the look of the tooth as well as making it more prone to sensitivity and decay. To help prevent the progression of gum recession, a soft-tissue graft may be recommended. This procedure involves taking a small piece of gum tissue from another region of the mouth and attaching it in the area of recession. This transplanted tissue thickens the remaining gum tissue, helping to prevent further recession and the resulting side effects.