We are happy to answer questions about our services and procedures.

These are a selection of some common questions that patients have. If your question isn’t answered here, please contact our office. It’s important to us that our patients understand their dental care.

Cleanings & Examinations

Coming in for regular cleanings with one of our excellent dental hygienists will help keep your gums in great shape, but what you do at home matters as well. Brush twice daily and floss every evening. Our hygienists will be happy to show you good brushing and flossing technique.

Other steps you can take to prevent gum disease include:

  • Don’t smoke.
  • Eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Use an antiseptic mouthwash. We’ll be happy to recommend one.
  • If you have a health condition that can affect your dental health such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, please let us know so that we can take extra steps to help keep your gums healthy.

Emergency Dental Care

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

The goal of an emergency dental appointment is to address the immediate need, resolve your problem, and relieve your pain. If we believe further care is needed, we will schedule a regular appointment for you to follow up so we can plan appropriate treatment to prevent future problems.

Periodontal Disease Prevention & Treatment

Coming in for regular cleanings with one of our excellent dental hygienists will help keep your gums in great shape, but what you do at home matters as well. Brush twice daily and floss every evening. Our hygienists will be happy to show you good brushing and flossing technique.

Other steps you can take to prevent gum disease include:

  • Don’t smoke.
  • Eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Use an antiseptic mouthwash. We’ll be happy to recommend one.
  • If you have a health condition that can affect your dental health such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, please let us know so that we can take extra steps to help keep your gums healthy.

Root Canal Therapy

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Understanding the process can often remove a great deal of the fear surrounding dental procedures. During a root canal, the goals of treatment are to stop the infection, prevent further damage, and relieve your pain.

We begin by making sure that you are numb and comfortable. The next step is to open your tooth. We then use special instruments to carefully and thoroughly clean out the infection from your tooth and remove the infected or damaged nerve. If necessary, we may place an antibiotic treatment to prevent re-infection.

The cavity in your tooth will be filled and sealed, and a crown may be placed. You may experience some soreness following the procedure as part of your body’s natural reaction to any type of perceived injury, but this will soon fade and you will feel much better.

General Questions

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

A dental bridge is a dental restoration that usually includes two dental crowns and a replacement tooth (pontic) that fills the empty space left by a missing tooth. The dental crowns are secured to adjacent teeth on either side of the empty space and provide support for the artificial tooth.

Yes. When you first get your dentures, you will need to start with soft foods and slowly introduce harder foods as you get used to biting and chewing with the dentures in. Chew gently and take smaller bites to avoid loosening the dentures as you eat.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

When the interior of your tooth is infected, it can cause a lot of pain and is likely to damage the nerve. If left untreated, the infection could spread to other teeth. Root canal therapy removes the infection and relieves the pain, restoring the tooth and allowing us to save it.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

We provide a number of different services that are designed to address your unique dental needs. Our dedicated team of professionals will work with you to develop a treatment plan that ensures your continued oral health and leaves you with a beautiful smile you can be proud of.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Sometimes, a simple teeth whitening procedure is all it takes to put the sparkle back into your smile.

If your staining or discolouration is resistant to whitening, however, we have other ways of improving the appearance of your teeth using cosmetic dentistry procedures such as veneersbonding, or porcelain crowns. Call us to find out which of our services is right for you.

We welcome all ages in our office! We are happy to discuss your scheduling needs, so just give us a call and speak with our friendly front desk staff!

Small dental flaws, such as gaps between your teeth, can sometimes be fixed with cosmetic dental bonding. Bonding is both non-invasive and effective.

To determine if your particular problem can be solved with dental bonding, call our office to schedule an exam.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Modern dental materials and technology have dramatically improved the appearance of dental crowns and bridges. The porcelain used in today’s crowns and bridges can be colour-matched to blend perfectly with the shade of your natural teeth. With proper placement, your dental restoration should be virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

It will take your mouth some time to get used to the feel of dentures.

After a few weeks, however, you will feel comfortable eating and talking with your dentures in and experience little to no soreness or discomfort. If you ever do experience soreness or your dentures aren’t fitting right, please let us know.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Dental implants are intended to blend in among your natural teeth.

One of the advantages of this is that you can brush and floss them the same as you would with your regular teeth. While implants never get cavities (and never need root canals!), you still want to continue brushing and flossing to keep your natural teeth and your gums healthy.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

The techniques used to perform root canals have advanced considerably, making this routine procedure no more uncomfortable or inconvenient than a filling.

Many people who need a root canal are currently in pain, and a root canal will help to relieve your pain and save your tooth. After your procedure, you may experience some swelling and discomfort, but this will soon go away as you heal.

X-rays are a dentist’s most important diagnostic tool. Often, problems start inside your teeth or beneath the gumline. By the time the problem is visible to the naked eye, it can be painful and more difficult to treat. Using x-rays taken on a regular basis, we can catch problems early and treat them quickly and comfortably.

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and are having trouble tolerating CPAP therapy, call our office for an evaluation to find out if an oral appliance is right for you.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Composite fillings bond directly to your tooth, which results in less healthy tooth removal. Amalgam (metal) fillings require additional preparation to provide anchors for the solid amalgam.

Composite fillings are not as hard and inflexible as amalgam fillings, which means stresses caused by biting and chewing can be distributed more naturally and reduce the risk of your tooth cracking.

Even with excellent hygiene habits, it’s easy to miss small areas of your teeth. Over time, the missed plaque will harden into tartar, which can only be removed with a dental hygienist’s tools. When tartar accumulates beneath the gumline, the end result is red, puffy, inflamed gums — the beginnings of periodontal diseae.

Examinations are an important opportunity for us to check in with you, see how you are doing, and make sure that your teeth are healthy. We want to catch problems when they are small and can be treated easily.

Unfortunately, by the time you are in pain, simple measures are usually no longer effective. Regular examinations allow us to nip this situation in the bud and keep your teeth healthy and beautiful.

We know that convenience is important for today’s busy families. That is why we offer dentistry for the whole family including your children. We begin seeing kids at a young age to make sure they have a healthy dental foundation.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

We offer a range of cosmetic dentistry services such as veneers, porcelain crowns, bonding using tooth-coloured composite, and even Invisalign.

All our of dentistry is done with an eye toward esthetics. We know that it’s important that your teeth are both healthy and attractive.

If you’d like to find out which of our services can help you meet your goals, call our office to schedule your consultation.

We recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice daily using good technique. Our skilled dental hygienists will be happy to review your technique with you and give you pointers to help you improve to get the most out of your home-care routine.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Dental crowns are designed to be durable and to function much like your own teeth. You need to use common sense, however, and avoid biting down directly on foods like hard candy or nuts. A broken crown not only requires replacement, but you may also damage underlying healthy tooth structure.

Drugstore whitening kits are designed to be “one size fits all” which often translates to “one size fits none”.

The strength of the whitening product is much lower than what you can get in a professional kit, meaning that you must use the product for a longer period of time and are still unlikely to get the results you can find in a professional product. Additionally, your results are not being monitored by the dentist you know and trust.

One of the most well-known treatments for sleep apnea is CPAP therapy which uses a machine to keep air moving through your airway while you are sleeping. While this treatment is effective, many people fail it for a variety of reasons.

Another effective treatment is an oral appliance that is worn while you sleep. This device is customised to fit your mouth and holds your airway open so that you can continue breathing while you sleep.

Having headaches can be a symptom of TMJ disorders. To determine whether that is the case, we will need to evaluate you. If your symptoms are due to TMJ, we will provide treatment options to help.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Unlike metal fillings, tooth-coloured fillings are a custom-mixed resin composite. The composite mixture is matched to your tooth colour and bonded directly to the tooth. This usually results in a filling that is nearly indistinguishable from your natural tooth.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

The appropriate treatment for your gum disease will vary depending on how far your disease has progressed and any contributing factors such as hygiene and other health conditions. Some of the treatments recommended for gum disease include:

An increased dedication to excellent oral hygiene
Antimicrobial rinses and other products
An antibiotic medication that is placed in the gum pockets
Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing)
Laser therapy
Gum surgery
We will discuss your situation with you and recommend the treatment that we believe will be the most appropriate for your unique needs.

Yes. A child who has a tough time sitting still will need additional support in getting used to the dental office. We can help them become familiar with the surroundings so that when it is time for their dental cleaning, they will be used to our office and the environment.

Symptoms for TMJ disorders can vary dramatically from one person to the next and can include facial pain, neck pain, headaches, sensitive teeth, clicking or popping joints, locking jaw joints, and your teeth not coming together correctly.

If you experience any of these symptoms, call our office and we will schedule an exam to determine if you have a TMJ disorder.

Teeth staining can have several different causes. Some of the most common culprits we see include:

  • Smoking
  • Drinking staining beverages such as coffee, tea, and red wine.
  • Eating staining foods like berries and curry
  • Inadequate dental hygiene
  • Certain health conditions
  • Genetics

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

The goal of an emergency dental appointment is to address the immediate need, resolve your problem, and relieve your pain. If we believe further care is needed, we will schedule a regular appointment for you to follow up so we can plan appropriate treatment to prevent future problems.

Coming in for regular cleanings with one of our excellent dental hygienists will help keep your gums in great shape, but what you do at home matters as well. Brush twice daily and floss every evening. Our hygienists will be happy to show you good brushing and flossing technique.

Other steps you can take to prevent gum disease include:

  • Don’t smoke.
  • Eat a healthy diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Use an antiseptic mouthwash. We’ll be happy to recommend one.
  • If you have a health condition that can affect your dental health such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, please let us know so that we can take extra steps to help keep your gums healthy.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Understanding the process can often remove a great deal of the fear surrounding dental procedures. During a root canal, the goals of treatment are to stop the infection, prevent further damage, and relieve your pain.

We begin by making sure that you are numb and comfortable. The next step is to open your tooth. We then use special instruments to carefully and thoroughly clean out the infection from your tooth and remove the infected or damaged nerve. If necessary, we may place an antibiotic treatment to prevent re-infection.

The cavity in your tooth will be filled and sealed, and a crown may be placed. You may experience some soreness following the procedure as part of your body’s natural reaction to any type of perceived injury, but this will soon fade and you will feel much better.

It shouldn’t.

Most professional whitening products contain an added desensitising ingredient that protects even sensitive teeth and keeps you comfortable during the process. Additionally, the customisable nature of professional whitening treatments prevents the product from coming into contact with soft tissues like your gums, lips, and tongue.

If your teeth are very sensitive, please talk to us so that we can help you determine whether whitening is appropriate for you.

While teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is very common among adults, it can cause serious damage to your teeth and jaw joints. If you wake up with sore muscles or you have noticed that you clench or grind your teeth, we can make a night guard to help protect your teeth.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

It is not possible to change the shade of any restorative dental material with teeth whitening. If you are interested in having your natural teeth whitened, this should be done before veneers are placed. Your veneers can then be matched to the shade of your whitened teeth.

We will determine the type of preventive care necessary for your child based on your child’s unique needs. If you have concerns about certain types of treatment, call our office; we will be happy to discuss those with you.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Porcelain veneers are considered to be a permanent restoration since they are bonded to the surface of your teeth. They are made of porcelain, a very strong material, so it is rare for them to chip or fall off. In the unlikely event that this does happen, however, the veneer can be repaired and bonded back into place.

Excluding nitrous oxide, most forms of sedation dentistry will leave you drowsy and groggy for several hours after your procedure. For this reason, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. We recommend that you do not return to work until the next day.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

In its earliest stages, we can reverse gum disease by improving your hygiene routine and adding in an antimicrobial treatment. Once gum disease has progressed past a certain point, however, the disease is not reversible. We can still provide treatment that will stop the disease in its tracks and prevent further deterioration of your gum and bone tissue.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

You are never too old to have a beautiful smile.

Call us to find out what we can do to help you. 

For most patients, we recommend twice-yearly visits for cleanings and examinations. If you are currently being treated for a particular concern, we may recommend that you visit us more often. 

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

If you are looking for solutions that address the health and wholeness of your smile, the answer is yes! Treatments like crowns, bridges, and dental implants enhance your appearance while protecting your oral health.

Certain dental health problems can also affect your overall wellness, so it is important to work with your dentist to decide the best way to maintain a smile that is both healthy and beautiful.

Snoring can sometimes be a symptom of a serious condition called sleep apnea. If you snore and also notice that you have trouble with daytime fatigue or drowsiness, mood swings, and headaches, call your physician to be evaluated for sleep apnea.

We can provide you with a comfortable mouth piece that will open up your airway while you sleep. More oxygen is allowed to enter the bloodstream, and both you and your significant other will rest easier.

At first, your dentist may recommend that you wear your dentures to sleep. This will speed up your mouth’s adjustment to the dentures and allow you to quickly detect and correct any spots where the fit is uncomfortable. After your mouth has adjusted to the dentures, they may be worn throughout the day and removed while you sleep.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

We will do our very best to get you in the same day for dental emergencies. If this is not possible, we will schedule an appointment so you can be seen as soon as possible.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

If you are in pain, then you are having a dental emergency. Call us so that we can examine you, diagnose the problem, and create a treatment plan. Other signs that indicate the need for an emergency appointment include:

  • A pimple-like lesion on your gum
  • A broken or cracked tooth
  • A foreign object lodged between your teeth
  • Swelling in the gum
  • A broken or lost dental restoration such as a filling or a crown

If the chip in your tooth is small and located in the right place, we may be able to repair it using dental bonding. Our doctor will perform an exam to determine if dental bonding can benefit you.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Dental implants have several advantages over other tooth replacement options:

  • Dental implants appear the most life-like and natural.
  • The actual implant piece of the dental implant is made of titanium, a biocompatible metal.
  • Dental implants are the most secure and stable.
  • Dental implants prevent bone loss, keeping your jaw tissue healthy and preventing changes in the shape of your face.
  • With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime.