Opening of the dental office during COVID-19

Our patient’s safety is top priority. Adhering to strict Infection Prevention and Control has always been our standards. During this time, we have increased our safety protocols and are implementing polices and procedures to protect staff and patients in accordance to Public Health such as wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during all dental treatments. Additionally, all patients and staff will be screened and temperature checks taken for everyone who comes into the office.

Anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 will be sent home to self isolate and be encouraged to contact the public health department.

We will be scheduling appointments with focus on minimizing contact with others by staggering appointment times. You will have limited contact with other patients and the number of staff in the office has been reduced. We ask all patients to wait outside (preferably in their car) instead of entering the waiting reception area. 

You will be asked to complete a COVID-19 pre-screening questionnaire and asked to call the office upon your arrival. Staff members will advise you when it is safe to enter. 

Upon entry, your temperature will be taken and afterwards you will be immediately seated in the operatory for treatment.

 It is not yet known how long the virus causing COVID-19 lives on surfaces however, we are being very diligent in the frequent cleaning and sanitation of all our public areas. Door handles, counters, chairs, rails, light switches and all areas that are likely to be frequently touched with hands will be frequently cleaned with a surface disinfectant. All reading materials, toys, remotes and other objects that may be touched by other patients have been removed from the reception area and all operatory. Additionally, we have strategically placed hand sanitizers in the office and hand washing guidelines where possible and have further implemented additional steps not only to ensure clean air exchange and flow throughout the office, but added air purification units with HEPA filtration within each operatory. 

Health officials and the CDC have recommended wearing face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with either alcohol-based sanitizers or soap and water. You will be asked to sanitize your hands as soon as you enter the office for your scheduled appointment and therefore asked to remove all facial coverings and gloves for proper disposal. Facial masks or gloves worn outside could potentially be exposed to the virus. Thus, it's essential that these items be removed and properly discarded or put away. It is extremely important to follow proper safety guidelines when removing your Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth when removing your mask and washing your hands immediately after removal.

Teledentistry enables the remote provision of “non-essential” (I.E., non-emergency and non-urgent) care to patients while ensuring ongoing social distancing. A dental consultation over the phone or video with the hygienist is available and can be arranged if you are not ready to visit the office.

If you are scheduled for an upcoming appointment and haven’t heard from us, contact the office to determine the status of your appointment.

Its extremely important to maintain proper oral hygiene by eating a healthy diet, brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily.

The procedure is similar to placing an orthodontic bracket (braces) on a tooth. There is no drilling involved and the procedure is completely painless.

The application procedure takes approximately 20 minutes.

A tooth jewellery applied professionally on a natural tooth will stay on until you decide to have it removed by a professional hygienist.

Swarovski Crystals are small in diameter. Initially you will feel a slight raised crystal on your tooth, but within a few days after the application you will get used to the new feeling.

Both. Children under the age of 16 should have parental consent.

A professional hygienist must remove the tooth gem. The procedure is the same as when orthodontic bracket (braces) are removed. The tooth will be buffed and polished to remove any remaining bonding material.

Currently, Wicked White Whitening Gel’s active ingredient is 35 – 44% carbamide peroxide. As the peroxide is broken down by the patient’s saliva, water and gingival crevicular fluids, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin, bleaching coloured substances white, leaving the structure of the tooth unchanged. The product is designed to be used with any full-spectrum (white) or blue-coloured bleaching lamp. Certain wavelengths of light emitted from the lamp, aids in activating the peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth. Wicked White contains a micro-encapsulated photo-initiator that acts as an interface between the light and the peroxide. The pH of wicked white is 7.0. 

The true essence of the Wicked White technology is that its composition is contained within a convenient, cost-efficient single chamber delivery system in gel form having dispersed therein pressure-sensitive or hydration-sensitive microcapsules containing a light-activated photo-initiator of a peroxyl-containing teeth whitening composition that are liberated upon mechanical manipulation of the microcapsules or by exposure of the photo-initiator microcapsules to water of other oral fluids. 

After the initial recommended oral exam, the complete procedure should be completed in one office visit. Depending on the clients expected outcome, this procedure may need to be repeated. The procedure begins with a preparation period(wetting of teeth and isolation of tissue) typically followed by three, 15 minute sessions of bleaching with an optional fourth, 15 minute session to be dispensed at the discretion of the dental professional or licensed operator.