A) Good oral hygiene starts at home, though it needs to be supplemented by regular visits to our cosmetic or general dentistry practice. Steps you can take to prevent tooth decay and gum disease include:

Thorough brushing

Brush at least twice daily using a soft-bristle toothbrush and an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. This helps prevent tooth decay, gum disease, and the need for costly cosmetic or restorative dentistry in the future. Replace your brush every two to three months.

Proper flossing

Flossing is crucial to the health of your teeth and gums and the prevention of gum disease. When flossing, use an 18-inch strand of floss. Ease the floss between each tooth; then, sweep it up and down several times while curving around the tooth at the gum line. Don’t forget to floss behind your last tooth and to floss bridges and artificial teeth with the aid of a floss threader.

Regular dental visits

At every regularly-scheduled dental appointment at Sierra, one of our dentists will carefully check your teeth, gums, mouth, and throat. A checkup at our office includes:

• A head and neck examination: This includes a cancer exam, facial exam, palpation of chewing muscles, palpation of lymph nodes, and an exam of the temporomandibular (jaw) joint.
• A clinical dental examination: This includes a periodontal exam and examinations of the mobility of teeth, the mucous membranes, saliva, occlusion (bite), removable appliances, and contact between teeth. If we detect tooth decay or broken fillings, we will discuss appropriate action with you.
• A full set of digital X rays.
• A dental cleaning (prophylaxis): This includes scaling plaque, polishing teeth, flossing, assessing your mouth’s cleanliness, and providing oral hygiene instructions. If you wish to learn more about proper brushing and flossing techniques, ask your dentist about it at this stage of the visit.

Following the clinical dental exam, your dentist will discuss a detailed treatment plan, if necessary. One of our friendly receptionists will schedule a follow-up visit for you.

Regular dental visits, along with a thorough home care regimen, are key to a lifetime of good oral health. General dentistry of this type can prevent the need for cosmetic or restorative dentistry later in life.

A) Fluoride helps reverse and prevent tooth decay in three ways:

1. Promoting Tooth Remineralization

Acids can demineralize a tooth — that is, create a weak spot that develops into a cavity. Fluoride helps promote the opposite process, called remineralization, which can reverse the very early stages of tooth decay.

2. Helping Teeth Become More Resistant to Tooth Decay

Fluoride actually strengthens teeth, giving them natural protection against future tooth decay.

3. Inhibiting Oral Bacteria’s Ability to Create Tooth-Attacking Acids

Fluoride disrupts bacteria’s ability to metabolize sugars, the process that leads to the attack of tooth enamel.

A) Gum disease has several stages. The initial stage is called gingivitis and is an infection of the gingival (gum tissue). In this stage, gums become red, swollen, and prone to bleeding. The underlying bone is unaffected. In later stages, however, gum disease can lead to bone loss and the loosening or even loss of teeth.

Gum disease treatment varies according to the stage of the disease. At its mildest stages, gingivitis can be treated by clearing plaque and tartar deposits from the gum pockets. Severe gum disease, on the other hand, might require treatment that includes bone and gum grafts from a Periodontist.

A) Sensitive teeth can be caused by a range of factors. The porous part of the tooth, called dentin, is the region that registers pain, and dentin can become exposed due to:

• Fractured or chipped teeth
• Teeth injured by clenching or grinding
• Receding gums caused by gum disease or improper brushing

A) Pain from sensitive teeth often comes and goes, but if you experience constant pain, you may have a more serious problem.

There are many effective treatments for sensitive teeth, including:

• A soft-bristle toothbrush to prevent gum irritation
• Toothpaste designed to insulate the nerve that registers pain
• A fluoride rinse or gel, available during your hygiene visit
• A custom designed, neuromuscular mouth guard to reduce clenching and grinding

A) Once the cause or causes of bruxism are determined, your dentist can develop a course of treatment. Treatment methods may include:

• Relaxation techniques if stress is at the root of the problem
• Physical therapy
• Muscle relaxants
• A plastic mouth guard to wear at night during sleep

Bruxism can cause serious pain and headaches, as well as dangerous wear on the teeth. In severe cases, restorative dentistry techniques such as inlays or porcelain crowns are needed to rebuild teeth damaged by bruxism. Therefore, it is crucial to seek treatment for bruxism early to avoid waking up with headaches or jaw pain.

A) YES! We are always accepting new patients. Sierra's philosophy is one that works to get our clients healthy so that they don’t need us all of the time.

A) Absolutely!! We are suited to take all emergencies and we can usually get you booked within a few hours. One of our doctors has earned his master’s degree in Oral Surgery and his PhD in Oral Health Sciences and is able to perform extremely specialized surgeries.

Please call us as soon as your dental needs occur to book an appointment. IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREME DENTAL PAIN AFTER HOURS, AND NEED TO SPEAK WITH THE DOCTOR ON CALL, call (403) 297-9600 and PRESS 1

Our Hours at either the Centre (403) 297-9600 or Studio (403) 297-9606 location are:

CENTRE LOCATION:

MONDAY – THURSDAY	7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
FRIDAYS	7:00 AM – 4:00 PM
SATURDAY	8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

STUDIO LOCATION:

MONDAY	9:30 AM – 7:30 PM
TUESDAY	8:00 AM – 6:30 PM
WEDNESDAY – THURS	7:00 AM – 3:30 PM
FRIDAYS (hygiene only)	7:00 AM – 3:30 PM

YES!  We are located in the Signal Hill Centre so not only is there tones of parking, there are stores to shop at if your child is being seen. Parking is always FREE.

At Sierra we work hard to ensure that your dental needs are met in the timeliest fashion. Appointments are available to patients daily. We understand that we need to be available for you at your convenience. For this reason we offer early morning late evening as well as Saturday appointments. If you are in a rush please inform us you would like to be on a wait list for cancelations and you may have an opportunity to come in on short notice.

Absolutely! We have a special children’s program offered at the Centre location across from the library. The children’s program staff are wonderful and we have even had birthday party requests! Working with children for over 12 years and we are confident that your child is in great hands at Sierra!

YES! Here at Sierra we only do white fillings. Please speak to your doctor if you have questions concerning your fillings.

NO! All staff at Sierra are concerned with your entire oral health, not just hygiene but if you choose to skip the consult then we respect your wishes. Your hygiene will be able to tell you if there are concerns that she feels need to be addressed further. In your appointment she will give you an opportunity to view your mouth through the use of intraoral camera and other technology that helps us diagnose dis-ease in your mouth and body. If at that time you choose to book a consult with a doctor to review concerns, we will be happy to book you a follow-up appointment.

YES! We accept all types of insurance! Sierra works with both the client and their Insurance plan to get the maximum benefits for them and their family.

If you find this process confusing, simply bring in your Insurance benefit booklet and one of our insurance experts can help you decipher your allowance, and manage your family’s plan. We are able to process most insurance claims electronically. This allows us an immediate response as to what your coverage will be. If this is not possible, we will still help you fill out and submit your hard copy documents. Once the claim is submitted you should hear from your insurance company (generally within 1 week).

If you have a unique financial situation, be sure to communicate with your doctor to make him/her aware that you need assistance managing the cost of your care. If your plan is at its maximum and dental work can wait until the following year with no serious health repercussions we can suggest this option.  Delaying treatment until the following year allows clients to budget and not pay out of pocket unless they wish do to so. Alternatively, we can keep a credit card on file for your convenience and bill any remaining balance to your card. Of course we will need permission for this option. We will also give you a courtesy call you to let you know what has been charged. This allows you the convenience and security of knowing that your health needs are being looked after.

Our goal is to make sure each guest is as happy, healthy and well as they want to be. Insurance is simply another tool we use to serve you better.

Each individual in our hygiene chair has different needs therefore we bill according to the level of care necessary in your mouth. Hygiene appointments range from $150-210 per visit. You will be given the option of additional services such as floride treatments.

If additional services are required during your appointment, your hygienist will explain the need for the procedure and the cost. This way, patients are educated, aware and there are no surprises at check out.

Your appointment will be approximately one hour and ten minutes. In order to maintain daily scheduling, we will book you a follow up appointment if your hygenist or doctor see anything that requires more time. If you have children in our chair, there are plenty of shops right across the parking lot to peruse if you wish.

Absolutely! We would prefer it. Scheduling your family allows for a regular cleaning and maintenance, important for optimal health and disease prevention.

YES! Dentalcard is a company who supplies coverage for people who own their own business and therefore may not have a plan in place. Please visit our Frequently Asked Financing Questions page to find out more.

A) YES! We can set up a custom payment plan to suit your individual needs OR we also work with a finance company that is a wonderful way to make low, easy monthly payments to pay for your dental care. Click here to apply on line immediately!

Will I always see the same hygienist? At Sierra we do our best to keep your primary care givers consistent so that they get to know you and your history and health very well. There are some cases where your regular hygienist may be on holidays etc during the time you wish to come in but for the most part if you like who you are with we will do our best to keep things consistent.

A) At the Sierra Centre for Dental Wellness we accept Debit, Cash, Cheque, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. We also accept Interac Money Transfers (click to learn more).

A) Yes we can arrange for Monthly Payment Plans and Financing is available through Dentalcard.

A) Dentalcard is a simple and affordable way to finance a procedure or to make a purchase.

A) You can either apply online by clicking here or you can download the form and bring it in to our office during your next appointment.

Below are some of Dentalcard's financing benefits:

• Simple - Applying for financing is as simple as filling out a short application form.
• Fast - With Dentalcard, the financing transaction is over as soon as it starts! Just complete the short online application form and approval can be confirmed in minutes.
• Convenient - Dentalcard's professional and experienced staff are committed to helping you obtain financing for dental treatments. Contact us if you have any questions or if we can be of assistance.
• Flexible - You can request financing for a portion or Dentalcard will finance the full amount.
• Friendly - Dentalcard's professional and experienced staff are committed to helping you obtain financing for dental procedures.

A) It can be used all accross Canada for many different kinds of procedures:

• General Dentistry
• Dental Surgery
• Porcelain Veneers
• Teeth Whitening
• Orthodontics
• Implants
• Crowns
• Dental Products
• Cleaning
• and more!

A) There are many benefits such as:

• No down payment
• No collateral
• High approval
• Competitive interest rates
• Low monthly payments
• and more!

A) An Interac Email Money Transfer is a fast and convenient way to transfer funds to anyone with an email address from within the security of your online banking service. It's a great alternative to cheques and cash. It uses email for fast notification to the recipient that a transfer has been initiated, while the participating financial institutions transfer the funds using established and secure banking procedures.

A) Simply click the image below to view interactive presentation of the transfer process...