How to Find the Right Vancouver Dentist Choosing a dentist is an important task.You want a dentist you can talk to, learn from and feel good about visiting. It is a partnership in healthcare and you want to use the same dentist for years to come. How do you go about finding the right dentist? The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) offers several suggestions: Recommendations – Ask Friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors, other group members, your physician or your pharmacist and see who they use as their Vancouver Dentist Referral – See if your current dentist can suggest someone in your new area. Professional listings – Contact your provincial or territorial regulatory authority or dental association. Many association websites have a dentist locator or dentist directory. Good oral health care requires a good relationship between you, your dentist, and the dental team. You may want to call or visit more than one dental practice before making your final decision. To help we’ve come up with a list of the top 10 things to consider when looking for a new Vancouver Dentist : 1. Does the dental office submit claims to all insurances? Ask if they submit claims to all insurance providers of if you have to do that yourself and pay first. Most dental offices do submit claims and they may even send in an estimate claim before you get any work done. It is worth asking as you don't want to be caught off guard at the end of your dental visit 2. What payment options are available? and if you are not insured what do they offer non-insured patients? Dental insurance is a big deal and you want to know what your plan is. If you don’t have insurance asking your new dental office about a big consideration financing options is important. Some practices what payment upfront and others offer payment plans. It is always good to know what you are getting into before you decide on a dentist. 3. Where is the office located and What are the office hours? The Location of the Dentist office. Is the location convenient? How long does it take to get an appointment? What are the office hours? are they open on weekends? A big part of getting to the dentist is convenience. To maintain a healthy set of chompers you must be able to make your biannual appointments. Convenience is key when choosing a dentist. 4. Does the Dental office offer specials or do anything to show appreciation for current patients? Introductory offers and referral programs are common in dental practices. Some practices even have promotions to show their appreciation for existing patients. This might be something to consider when looking for a dentist. 5. How does the Dentist help make patients comfortable. Not many people asks this question but it is important to know. What do the dentist do to make sure you are comfortable. If you have anxiety some dentists will offer you anti anxiety medication. Knowing what your dentist does and what the dentist’s approach to helping patients is a key component to feeling safe and comfortable when getting treated. 6. Continued Training & Education Does the dentist continually educate themselves on current information. Are they part of any groups or ongoing educational programs? Dentists that are up to date on current practices and dental advancements will make your overall all dental experience better 7. In an emergency what can you expect? It is always good to know what to do in case of an emergency. Many dentists will have an informational message as their outgoing message to help patients know what do when an emergency happens. Ask your new dentist if they have emergency hours or what they should do in case of an emergency. It is always good to be prepared. 8. Do they discuss treatment plans and give cost estimates? Your treatment plan is going to be personalized. Having a discussing about your treatment is important. Ask questions about if procedures are covered under your insurance plan. Ask what you should expence and how do do your aftercare. A dental office should detail everything that will happen so you know what to expect, how many visits you might need, how much it will cost. 9. What is the office like? You will be visiting the dentist office at least twice a year. Make sure you are comfortable. Things to consider are cleanliness and friendliness. Is this a place where you can see yourself visiting Choosing a new dentist is an important decision. It is a partnership and mos likely a long term relationship. Hopefully these tips above will help you find the perfect practice. If you are looking for a new dentist, give us a call (604) 408-2408 to set up an appointment to make a visit and meet the doctors. Our office is in the heart of Yaletown steps away from the skytrain
Do you still have Mercury fillings in your teeth? Heavy metals–like mercury are toxic to our bodies. High levels of mercury can contribute to chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle pain, twitches, insomnia and anxiety to name a few. In the past 100 years Mercury levels have dramatically increased in the environment. Industrialization was a major contributing factor. Mercury is lipophilic, which means that it concentrates in fatty tissues. As the brain is mostly fatty tissue Mercury seems to concentrate there. Inorganic mercury from dental fillings (amalgams) can affect and does affect the body once this mercury is in your body; it is primarily distributed in the kidneys and brain. Although mercury can be dispelled from the body, it has an affinity for sulfur-containing molecules and can bind to them causing a build up in the fatty tissue. Mercury from silver dental fillings (amalgam) is constantly absorbed into your body from chewing, brushing, grinding, and even slows corrosion. There is a large question about these silver fillings causing toxic levels of mercury in our bodies. Mercury has a long half life and sticks around for up to 18 years after the fillings have been removed from the body. The American Dental Association states that the use of amalgam fillings is safe.However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) believes old mercury fillings (removed from the body) are toxic waste and therefore has to be disposed of in such a way as not to contaminate landfills. So mercury fillings in our mouths are still considered a normal practice, but they cannot be thrown in the garbage due to safety concerns. That doesn't seem to make sense. Research forces us to question the safety of certain types of fillings. Silver filling can be removed safely and effectively if done by a trained dentist. Have you asked your doctor about your mercury fillings and if so, what was their response? References (i) Lindh U. Removal of dental amalgam and other metal alloys supported by antioxidant therapy alleviates symptoms and improves quality of life in patients with amalgam-associated all health. Neuroendocrinology Letters 2002; 23(5/6):459-482. (iv) Prochazkova, J., et al. The beneficial effect of amalgam replacement on health in patients with autoimmunity. Neuroendocrinology Letters. 2004; 25(3): 211-218. (v) Stejskal, J. and Stejskal, V. The role of metals in autoimmunity and the link to neuroendocrinology.Neuroendocrinology Letters.1999; 20: 351-364.
As adults we know the value of taking care of our teeth. As children we have to be taught not only about our teeth but why taking care of them is so important. If we were to ask people how many teeth they have many may not be able to answer without counting. This let us to believe that we should share what we know about the tooth. As adults the average amount of teeth we have is 32. Children have less and begin to lose them at about age six. Losing our baby teeth is a rite of passage and the first sign of growing up. Parents coo over this by saving teeth and pretending to be the tooth fairy. We continue to lose our baby teeth into our teens. Our permanent adult teeth replace all those baby teeth we lost plus some. As adults we have 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars, these include our 4 wisdom teeth. Our teeth our the first step in the digestive process. We use all parts of our mouth to chew, cut up and begin to digest our food. Our teeth help us break apart the food and our saliva begins the process of digesting that food. Our teeth are located in our upper and lower jaw bones and are supported by gingival tissues (better known as gums). A tooth is similar to a plant; some parts you can see and some parts you can't. The part of the tooth that can be seen is called the 'crown.' It would be similar to the flower and stem of the plant. It is the viable portion of the tooth. The neck is the section between the tooth and root, it is small and located where your gums are. The root area is the remaining part of the tooth, and is the buried part of the tooth, much like a plant’s root systems. A tooth’s root system extends past the gums and into the jaw bone. We call these root systems or roots the 'dental root.' Along with these parts of the tooth the tooth is also made up of various layers. We will go from outside in. The outer part of the crown (the part of the tooth you can see) is covered by enamel. That Enamel is a very hard substance rather like a crystal. This enamel helps protect our teeth from daily wear and tear. Just below the enamel is a layer that is softer called ‘Dentin.’ Dentin is much like bone and makes up most of our tooth. It is what gives our teeth their colour. At the core of the tooth you will find what we call ‘Pulp.’ Inside the the pulp chamber (where the pulp is located) blood vessels and nerves enter the tooth and become part of the pulp. These nerves feed the tooth nutrients which keep it alive. The last part of the tooth to mention is called ‘Apical Foramen.’ The Apical Foramen is a small opening at the top of each root which allows the nerves and blood vessels into the tooth. We at Homer Dental believe that taking care of your teeth is a process. And the first step in that process is understanding your teeth. Homer Dental Center - Professional Vancouver dentists
As summer ends and school starts up again, it is time to catch up on your to-do list. Visiting the dentist for your bi-annual cleaning and checkup is a great way to check on your overall health as well as maintaining your smile and oral health. Technology is at the center of how your dentist makes your visit comfortable and quick. Long gone are the days of pulling teeth to fix your toothache. Dentistry continues to evolve every year so that adults barely recognize the dentist's office from their youth. Improvements in preventative care, sedation, pain relief, cosmetics and restorations revolutionize nearly every procedure so that more reliable and safer than ever imagined. Even visiting 123 Dentist clinics has improved from check-in to transferring your files. Your Teeth before Retirement The easiest way to have good oral health in the future is to take care of them now. Flossing once a blue moon and skipping brushing once a day are habits that you need to change now. Taking care of them presently means they will be within your twilight years. Watch out more damaging, your enamel, keeping gum disease in check, and keeping receding gums in check. Dry Mouth: Lack of saliva can be a factor of any medical conditions such as diabetes and cancer treatments. It is also normal to lose saliva as you age which can cause other dental issues Darkened teeth: A lifetime of staining food and drink will show their effects over time and change the dentin. Diminished taste: Medications, diseases, and other effects of aging can change your taste. Root Decay: While not a new problem, it becomes more difficult to manage as you aged. This is especially if you did not take care of your teeth when you were younger. Gum Disease: Plaque build-up means decay and receding gums. This can lead to loose teeth with means. Tooth Loss: Take care of them or lose them. It is that simple. Oral Health for Seniors: Your Teeth beyond Retirement Getting older is something we all experience and people are living longer than ever. This means you need to keep your teeth maintenance more rigorous to keep your oral health up through your longer and fuller life. For the most part, dental health is slowly increasing vigilance rather than an abrupt change at any particular age. Just like diet and exercise, oral health is important to have healthy and rich life.
The adoption of the Canadian Health Act in 1984 meant Canadians across the country were given access to basic health services. There were some notable exemptions against the vast array of services offered most especially dental. Canadians either pay out of pocket for dental services or contribute to a health plan. These plans are acquired through a group plan from employers or personally. According to the latest Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS), 62% of Canadian have private dental insurance. This means that a third of Canadians do NOT have dental insurance. For families in the lower income brackets in British Columbia, who qualify for MSP premium assistance, they have access to the Healthy Kids program which covers $1400 of basic dental services every two years. Shifting towards private health insurance options, Pacific Blue Cross has a stand-alone dental insurance that lower cost monthly but only covers 60% of cost for the first year. Though this coverage increases to 80% by the third year. The rate starts at $29 for a single person to $96 for a family. Comparing insurance quotes is not the focus of this article. There is no one-size-fits-all approach since everyone is in a unique situation. Each family needs to evaluate how their budget can fit the plan as well as emergencies. Comparing the monthly cost to the coverage stated in the plan will help families decide. Some plans may be more expensive monthly but have no wait time before they are enacted which may be helpful depending on the circumstances. Thankfully insurances websites make it easy to have multiple quotes open so families can quickly compare and find the best plan for them.
Teeth, the 32 white vital body parts we carry in our mouth that perform the vital work of eating and chewing our food have great use in our life and as per the drill goes using a thing brings about damage to it. The damage done to our teeth causes a certain type pain in our teeth known as Toothache which is sometimes extreme or mild depending upon the damage done. That damage caused to our teeth could have a number of reasons and number of cures as well. But now I'll be discussing the causes of toothache- Cavities A cavity is a little hole in your tooth caused basically by the germs which produce a slick and slimy substance that causes a cavity in your tooth thus leading to toothache. the cavities caused should be taken care of as soon as possible because if not taken care of will grow in size thus creating more problems for your teeth. Abscessed Tooth An Abscessed Tooth is related to a cavity itself, an untreated cavity causes the damage to spread deeper into out tooth thus effecting the nerve of the tooth which if also called dental pulp that is now infected causing severe toothache. Dental injuries Dental injuries are of many types and are caused by different reasons causing severe toothache depending upon the reason. A dental injury is caused by a blow to your mouth either by a fall or any other major accident causing a tooth to chip away or many teeth broken at a time causing severe toothache Gum diseases Gum disease is a kind of chronic inflammation and infection of the gums and the tissue surrounding it. It is the major cause of tooth loss in 80% of the adults affecting 3 out of 4 people at a point. The common kind of gum diseases is gingivitis & periodontitis. Damaged filling The filling is done for a cracked tooth. When a tooth is cracked it is treated by filling up the crack to prevent the tooth from further damage. Over the time, the filling withers away or is damaged which can be a major cause for toothache and should be taken care of immediately which otherwise can be a cause of severe and unbearable toothache. These are the major factors causing toothache mainly in adults. So to have healthy gum and teeth, we should avoid such circumstances and if in any case any problem appears anyway immediately take care of it to avoid further damage.
Nobody thinks of going to the orthodontist as a fun activity. But here are a few fun facts that could make your next visit a little more exciting! All orthodontists are dentists That’s right. Every orthodontist had to go to dental school first. But then they decided to go further and complete a postgraduate orthodontics program. Some dentists say they can straighten your teeth. Perhaps they can, but if your case gets complicated, they’ll probably refer you to an orthodontist. Dentists do a lot of other good things for the condition of your mouth and teeth, but it’s best to leave the teeth-straightening to the specialist--your local, friendly orthodontist. NASA helped develop braces. At least, they developed the nickel titanium that goes in some braces. This is a heat-activated alloy that remembers its shape. So, NASA does more than develop space shuttles. They also benefit thousands of people every day. Nickel titanium wires are flexible at room temperature, making it easy for an orthodontist to thread them through the brackets. The wires then become inflexible when they warm to the temperature in your mouth. This then creates the pressure that causes your teeth to move. When you feel that tooth pressure, just remember that the same substance that causes solar panels in orbiting spacecrafts to activate is also making your teeth straight. Braces started in 1728. They weren’t called braces though. The teeth-straightening device back then was called a Bandeau. It was introduced by a French dentist, Pierre Fauchard. It was horseshoe-shaped and made of precious metals. Imagine having that in your mouth! Lots of adults wear braces. That’s anyone over 18. About 1.2 million American adults are wearing braces. So, if you think you’re too old for braces, guess again. Even 60 and 70 year olds are getting them! Because bones stop growing in the teens or early twenties, adults may have more complications with braces than children and teens. However, you may be one of the lucky ones that has a successful treatment with few problems. Hollywood stars wear braces. It doesn’t take long to discover that there are quite a few celebrities that wore (or are wearing) braces in the middle of their stardom. Tom Cruise wore them at age 40, Faith Hill wore them at age 45, and the rest of the lineup includes Prince Harry, Justin Bieber, Drew Barrymore, Emma Watson, Katy Perry, Gwen Stefani, and Dakota Fanning! Some even turn them into a fashion statement. Now that’s an idea. Invisalign was designed by non-orthodontists. Align Technology emerged with the Invisalign technology in 1997. Interestingly, none of the original founders or partners were orthodontists. Invisalign came about when one of the founders, Zia Chishti, was trying to solve a problem with his own retainers and realized it could be used for much more. Since Invisalign’s debut in 1997, over two million people have used it to straighten their teeth. People caught the vision quickly--especially since Invisalign made it possible for them to eat and attend meetings and events without having metal in their mouth. Now that you’ve got the facts, you can enjoy your next visit to the orthodontist. Besides that, he’s dedicated to making your smile better. That alone makes your life more fun.
By Homer Dental Centre At our downtown dental clinic we often see people with cavities after the holidays. We thought we would share some tips to help you take care of your teeth during the sweet season. It is that wonderful time of year where we often let ourselves enjoy the lovely taste of sweets and hard candies. Sharing chocolates, cookies and hard candies at work is common. Receiving candy as gifts is synonymous of this time of year. How do we enjoy our sweets, save our precious smile, and continue to be cavity free over the holidays. These tips will ensure you keep your teeth in top notch condition over holidays. We love see our patients at our downtown vancouver dental clinic however we also want to make sure you enjoy the holidays without needing a dental visit. Only have a bit of Candy. With Shortbread, gingerbread, candy canes, chocolate, and so much more we often fill our bellies with things we normally wouldn't touch. No one wants to skip the holiday treats. It is important to be aware of what and how much candy you are eating. Hard candies and toffees can have the worst impact. Brush your teeth often. After eating candy it is always a good idea to get that sugary substance off your teeth. If you do brush right after you have a crunchy or sugary candy your teeth will thank you and your smile won’t be damaged once the holidays are done. This simple act will reduce the risk of tooth decay. Keep a Routine: The holidays often change routines as we jet here and there to see loved ones. It is important to keep brushing twice a day. And if eating candy brush more often. Be Prepared: put that toothbrush and a mini toothpaste in your purse or bag for those just in case moments. If you do find yourself without a toothbrush while enjoying the festive season get some sugarless gum. Chewing helps stir up saliva which can help get rid of food debris. Flossing: We all know we should floss but this is the time of year where it is most essential. This little act twice a day or more could save you a dentist visit in the coming months. We at Homer Dental Centre, your downtown Vancouver dentist hope you have a wonderful holiday season. We wish you and your pearly whites the best. Keep Brushing Yours Truly Homer Dental Centre
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Everyone likes white teeth.Everybody loves a bright, white smile, and there are a variety of ways to achieve it.We all start out having sparkling white teeth because of the porcelain-like surface of enamel. But over time, the enamel wears gone and then sustains micro cracks due to chewing and gnashing, exposing the yellowish colour of dentin, which is underneath your tooth’s enamel. Dirt and debris enter through these cracks, and combined with the porous plane of teeth, makes an perfect playground for bacteria that contribute to the discoloration of your teeth. 1. Lemon Juice Paste and Baking Soda Baking Soda isn’t a shocker here. Sodium bicarbonate (its official name) is mildly abrasive; gently scrub away surface stain to return teeth to a whiter shade. It’s also very alkaline so I would think if you have an extremely acidic mouth or eat a lot of acidic food, it could help balance out the Ph rate, which would be helpful as acid breaks down enamel-this is strictly speculation on my part. 2. Using Powered charcoal. Get a good covering of charcoal over the toothbrush; you will need sufficient to cover all of your teeth. It may help to pour a little amount into a cup. This way you can avoid getting water in the important bottle of charcoal. Make sure to use a separate toothbrush for brushing usually and brushing with charcoal. 3. Coconut Oil Pulling I know this sounds completely mad but rinsing your mouth with coconut oil is a unique, old, remedy that people swear by to help to make the teeth Wight. It doesn’t feel like the most pleasant thing in the world, but I actually don’t mind the taste, and I think it does make a difference in the colour of your teeth. 4. Orange or Lemon Peels There have been reports that orange or lemon peels will also do the trick of whitening your teeth. Guess you don’t know until you try. Then again, these food products are very healthy and good for your health but the acid content might eventually wear away the enamel on the teeth. So if you try to use lemon or orange peel always rinse afterwards to be on the safe side. 5.Whitening kits There are many whitening kits available, including paint-on whiteners and strips. How effective these are depending on the amount of whitening agent they have. Regulations on the sale of these vary from country to country and a number of of the products on the market are not successful. Always ask your dental team for advice before trying to whiten your teeth at home. Apart from all these there is easy step always. You can find teeth whitening professional to clean your teeth.