Receive Dental Information Through Our FAQs

You may browse our FAQs to find out answers to commonly asked questions.

I have new dental insurance. Is there any information I can provide prior to my visit?

Yes, we recommend you pre-fill out our patient insurance form. Feel free to call our friendly staff if you have any questions.

Is your clinic wheelchair accessible?

No, unfortunately not. You must be able to walk up a flight of stairs.

What are the types of false teeth you get right at the time of extractions?

Immediate denture is the term used in the dental industry to describe dentures that are designed to be placed immediately over the oral tissues at the time the natural teeth are extracted. This differs from a standard denture, which is designed after the extractions when the tissues have fully healed. For many people who have reached the point where full mouth extractions are required, waiting to heal is not an option given work or social circumstances. For those patients, an immediate denture is worth considering. On the upside of immediate dentures, the day your natural teeth come out your new denture goes in. This has the advantage of acting like a bandage and to minimizing some swelling. Immediate dentures are more expensive than standard dentures.

Given that immediate dentures are designed on an assumption of what your mouth will look like after extractions, accuracy can be compromised. Most people will require adjustments and temporary relines within the first few months. After all of the healing, about 6-9 months after the extractions, the dentures may need a permanent reline. The reline is a separate procedure and is not included in the cost of the immediate complete upper denture.

Are silver fillings safe?

Yes. Please see the link on the Canadian Dental Association’s website.

What are your thoughts on pain relief medication?

For mild discomfort following treatment, 400-600mg of Ibuprofen (2 or 3 Advil®, Motrin®) is usually adequate (or if you are unable to take Ibuprofen, 500-1000mg of acetaminophen (1 or 2 Extra Strength Tylenol®). If you are experiencing moderate to severe pain, we suggest you take 600mg of Ibuprofen and 1000mg of acetaminophen at the same time.

Tylenol, containing the active ingredient acetaminophen, and Ibuprofen, sold under various trade names, such as Advil® and Motrin®, can be used safely in combination to relieve pain and fever for short periods of time. Because the 2 over-the-counter pain relievers work in different ways in the body, they neither compete with each other's treatments, nor compound each other's potential for side effects. Managing pain with Ibuprofen and Tylenol in combination may provide longer-lasting and more complete pain relief than from using either medication alone.

While most people typically take Ibuprofen and acetaminophen separately, they can effectively be used together for pain medication in adults as well. In fact, for dental pain, these 2 drugs have been shown to work better than many of the opioid-containing pain medications like Vicodin.

Acetaminophen is cleared by the liver while Ibuprofen is cleared by the kidneys. Each medication works differently and they are broken down differently so there is minimal concern about combining them for pain relief.

WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO SEE THE DENTIST, IF I JUST WANT MY TEETH CLEANED?

The dental exam is critical to your ongoing oral health—and only your dentist can perform this. The dentist looks in your mouth for things that can affect your oral—and your overall—health. Many of these are things you can't see on your own. Here is some of what your dentist is looking for during a dental exam, such as:

The dental exam can catch problems early—before you see or feel them—when they are much easier and less expensive to treat.

What age should I bring my child for his/her first dental visit?

Any time between the ages of 1-3 years. Regular dental examinations support good health. The earlier your child visits the dentist, the better the chance of preventing a problem, such as decay. This can also increase your child's comfort with the experience. The dentist will: