The use of intravenous sedation in dentistry has a commendable record of safety due to the advanced training of doctors and their commitment to your overall health.  It is, however, important to advise Dr. Gillespie or Dr. Jonathan Mahn of all medications that you take as well as any changes in your health since your last visit.

A special permit is required to administer intravenous medications.  In order to qualify Dr. Gillespie and Dr. Jonathan Mahn had to provide evidence of advanced training in intravenous sedation.

The ability to handle emergency situations as well as having specific emergency medications and equipment is also mandatory.

As well as being observed throughout the procedure by both the Dentist and a Registered Nurse, various monitors are used.  These include a blood pressure cuff and a pulse oximeter which, through a light sensor, measures the oxygen content of your blood.

The staff will be closely observing you throughout and following your treatment until you are discharged to the care of a responsible adult.

With many state-of-the-art dental treatments and prevention options available in dentistry today, there are fewer reasons for having to extract (remove) teeth.  When something does go wrong with a tooth, we try to do everything possible to restore the tooth to its original function.  Removing a tooth is the last option because we know that removal may lead to severe and costly dental and cosmetic problems if the tooth is not replaced.

Losing a tooth can be a very traumatic experience and it’s very unfortunate when it does happen.  Injury, accident, fracture, severe dental decay, and gum disease are the major reasons for having to remove a tooth.  If teeth are lost due to injury or have to be removed, it is imperative that they be replaced to avoid cosmetic and dental problems in the future.

When a tooth is lost, the jaw bone that helped to support that tooth begins to atrophy, causing the teeth on either side to shift or tip into the open space of the lost tooth.  Also, the tooth above or below the open space will start to move towards the open space because there is no opposing tooth to bite on.  These movements may create problems such as decay, gum disease, excessive wear on certain teeth, and TMJ (jaw joint) problems.  These problems and movements do not result immediately, but will eventually appear, compromising your chewing abilities, the health of your bite, and the beauty of your smile.

Options for replacement of missing teeth:

Removable bridges - This type of bridge is a good solution for replacing one or more missing teeth, especially in complex dental situations where other replacement options are not possible. They are usually made of tooth-colored, artificial teeth combined with metal clasps that hook onto adjacent natural teeth. Removable bridges are the most economical option for replacing missing teeth, but may be the least aesthetically pleasing. This is because the metal clasps on the appliances are often impossible to completely conceal.

Fixed bridges - This type of bridge is generally made of porcelain or composite material and is anchored (cemented) permanently to a natural teeth adjacent to the missing tooth site. The benefit of this type of bridge is that it is fixed (not removable) and it is very sturdy. The disadvantage is that in order to create a fixed appliance, two healthy, natural teeth will have to be crowned (capped) to hold the bridge in place.

Dentures - This type of tooth replacement is used when most or all of the natural teeth are missing in one dental arch. Dentures are removable artificial teeth that are made to closely resemble the patients’ original teeth.

Implants - Are a great way to replace one or more missing teeth. They may also be great to support ill fitting dentures. A dental implant is an artificial root that is surgically placed into the jaw bone to replace a missing tooth. An artificial tooth is placed on the implant, giving the appearance and feel of a natural tooth. Implants are very stable, durable, and are the most aesthetically pleasing tooth replacement option.

If you are missing teeth, ask us if they need replacement and what options are available to you. Together we will select the best replacement option for your particular case. Prevention and early treatment is always less involved and less costly than delaying treatment and allowing a serious problem to develop.

The new Federal and Provincial Privacy Acts, do not allow insurance companies to provide us with the following information.  It is your responsibility to keep track of:

• Intervals for recalls (ie. 6 months, 9 months, 1 year)
• Annual maximums
• Policy number changes
• Calendar or fiscal year
• Dental coverage

Payment can be made by cash, debit card, Visa or Mastercard, or cheque.

If you have dental insurance, we will submit your claim electronically.

For larger amounts we offer Medicard payment plans OAC.  You must be approved by Medicard before treatment begins.  Application forms are available at our office.