Downtown Dental Courtenay Downtown Dental Courtenay Downtown Dental Courtenay
Downtown Dental Courtenay
Office: 250.338.6633
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Office: 250.338.6633

FAQs

New Patient

What type of questions should I ask my dentist? Anything. Literally ask us anything. We believe you need to have 100% trust in your dentist and their abilities. Our job is to make you comfortable and explain all of your options. Dentistry can be complex and it’s our job to ensure you are comfortable, safe and well informed.

How can I get my records transferred? Easy – simply call our office and let us know where you previously received dental care. We’ll take care of the rest!

What forms of payment do you accept? We take Cash, Cheque, Visa, Mastercard, Debit.

Which insurance companies do you work with? Do you bill direct? We currently work with all major insurance companies. We bill directly to your insurance company and work with them as much as possible; however, we ask that you are aware of your own insurance coverage.

What are your hours? Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8am – 4:30pm.

General Care

How often should I visit the dentist?

This is a tough question to answer as every patient is different. In general, for children, we suggest ‘happy’ visits as soon as the first teeth erupt. This gives your child the opportunity to meet the dentist, our staff and become comfortable with the office. We then suggest more ‘happy visits’ until we feel your child is ready for their first real cleaning.

For adults, once again every patient is different. In general, we prefer hygiene appointments every 3-6 months. This ensures that we are able to properly evaluate your teeth, maintain your periodontal health and perform a thorough head and neck exam on a regular basis.

Do I really have to go to the dentist every six months?

The honest answer is no. Every patient is different and although we recommend coming in every 3-6 months for our hygiene appointments, some patients prefer to come once a year, while some request every 3 months. We give each patient our professional recommendation and then it is up to you to determine what works best.

How often do I need Xrays?

I personally believe in the principle of ALARA, which stands for ‘as low as reasonably achievable’. What this means is that we only take x-rays when we believe they are necessary. If you are in pain and we need to evaluate a specific tooth or area, we will take an x-ray. If you haven’t had x-rays for a few years and we notice something, we will take x-rays. Our digital x-rays emit the lowest radiation possible, so even if you do need an x-ray we can assure you it is as safe as possible.

Emergency

What is a dental emergency?

If there are any changes in your oral cavity that are causing you discomfort, we would consider that a dental emergency. This can range from a simple chipped tooth that is rubbing against your tongue, to a large abscess that is keeping you up at night. Our job is to ensure the health and well-being of all of our patients. Therefore, if you feel you need to see us – CALL! We will do our best to fit you in our schedule ASAP. We’re here to help – it’s what we do.

What should I do in a dental emergency?

Call us! If our office is open, our dental receptionists will determine the extent of your emergency and book you accordingly. If it is after hours, we have an emergency number that you can call.

How do I know if I have an abscess?

A dental abscess will often present as a painful swelling. There might also be exudate (pus) present or even a bad taste in your mouth. Sometimes though, a dental abscess can go symptomless for long periods of time. Therefore, if any of your teeth or gums feels ‘off’ we would like you to make an appointment to ensure everything is healthy.

What should I do if my child chips a tooth or knocks out permanent teeth?

If your child chips their tooth, call our office to book an appointment. We will evaluate the chip and provide treatment options as necessary. If your child knocks out a permanent tooth, quickly place the tooth in milk and head straight over! We’ll make room for you in the schedule and do everything we can to save the tooth.

What can I do about a broken tooth?

I suggest avoiding chewing on that tooth until we can evaluate its strength. Please call the office and we will see you as quickly as possible. After we’ve done our evaluation we will recommend the best course of treatment.

What can I do to relieve pain and swelling of a toothache?

We always recommend booking an appointment so we can properly evaluate the cause of the pain and/or swelling. We can then prescribe the proper pain medications/antibiotics until treatment is performed. Since every patient is different, there is rarely ‘one solution’ to fixing tooth pain and/or swelling.

Childhood Oral Care

When should I bring my child for the first dental visit?

We recommend your child come for their first visit when the first teeth begin to erupt.

When will my baby start getting teeth?

Once again, every child is different. However, children often get their first baby teeth around the age of 6-12 months.

When should I start brushing my baby’s teeth?

We suggest brushing your child’s teeth as soon as possible, ideally when the first teeth arrive between the ages of 6-12 months.

When should I floss my child’s teeth?

We recommend you floss your child’s teeth twice a day. We understand this is not easy to do, but it is one of the most important ways to prevent your child from getting cavities.