Patient Resources Courtesy of Coast Dental Centre
Some further patient resources about payment options and complex dental treatments that our patients often ask us about.
Financial Policy
For your convenience, we accept debit, Visa, MasterCard, Amex, cash or cheque.
Our staff can help make payment arrangements with the HEALTH SMART CREDIT PROGRAM, before extensive procedures if you wish to break up your payments over a while.
Please remember that you are fully responsible for all fees charged by this office regardless of your insurance reimbursement. We will send you an updated monthly statement following reimbursement from your insurance company.
Any balance remaining following insurance payment is your responsibility. Prompt remittance would be appreciated.
Dental Fees & Insurance
We have direct billing set up with most dental insurance companies. As a complimentary service, we will take care of all the paperwork for you. Patients are responsible for any deductible, co-payment or any amount not covered by their plan.
If you are collecting points on your credit card, you may choose to pay by credit card and to get reimbursed by your insurance company. We also deal with third-party companies that offer payment plans for your dental treatments.
Ask us for more details.
Patient Education
A dental implant is an excellent treatment for replacing missing teeth. A root-form implant is the most common kind of dental implant. It is a small, titanium post that replaces the roots of a missing tooth. A custom-fitted artificial tooth, called a restoration, is secured to the implant, which holds the restoration firmly in place.
The Benefits:
An implant has several benefits. Like the roots of natural teeth, it stimulates the jawbone when you chew. This preserves the jawbone and keeps it healthy. An implant is strong, comfortable, and secure. When the restoration is in place, the implant looks and feels much like natural teeth.
With careful home care and regular checkups and cleanings here in our office, an implant can be an excellent long-term solution for missing teeth.
How is an Implant Used?
An implant can support a variety of restorations, such as a single crown, multi-unit bridges, and full arch dentures. Some restorations, like a single crown and most bridges, are not removable. Others, like many full-arch dentures, can be removed for sleeping and cleaning.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Depending on the situation, placing an implant involves several phases, and treatment times can widely vary. First, we determine if an implant is right for you. We discuss your health history and treatment goals and perform a comprehensive examination to check the health of your gums and jawbone. We determine if you need any additional procedures, such as bone grafting or gum surgery.
To begin the procedure, a channel is shaped in the jawbone, and then the implant is placed into the prepared space. At this point, it may be possible to place a temporary restoration. Over the next few months, the implant will become securely fused to the bone. The last step is to attach your beautiful final restoration to the implant.
Three-unit Bridge
When a tooth is missing, a three-unit bridge can be a good choice for replacing it. In a three-unit bridge, an artificial tooth is connected on each end to crowns. The crowns are placed over the neighbouring teeth to hold the bridge in place. A three-unit bridge can be made of gold, porcelain, or porcelain fused-to-metal.
Placing a Three-Unit Bridge
A three-unit bridge is custom-made for you in a dental laboratory, so it may take two or more appointments to complete your bridge. On your first visit, we numb the area to keep you comfortable. We may also use a rubber dam to protect your mouth and throat while we work. We use the handpiece to remove any decay and shape the teeth that will support the bridge. Then we take an impression of your teeth. A model of your mouth is made from this impression, and then the lab uses the model to create a bridge that precisely fits your teeth and bite. In the meantime, we often place a temporary bridge.
On your next visit, we remove the temporary bridge and begin a series of steps to confirm the fit of your new bridge. We try in the final bridge and check the fit and your bite. When everything is right, we cement or bond the bridge in place.
Three-unit bridges have several advantages.
Replace teeth for biting and chewing.
Assist in clear speech.
Help prevent teeth from shifting.
Are supported by crowns that can serve as restorations for neighbouring teeth that have damage or decay.
When you need to replace a missing tooth, a three-unit bridge can be a functional, pleasant-looking solution.
Root Canal Diagnosis/Root Canal Therapy
When the pulp of a tooth becomes infected or dies, root canal therapy is necessary to save the tooth. It is generally a comfortable treatment that can save your tooth and keep your mouth healthy.
Symptoms of Infection
You may realize that you have an infected tooth when:
The tooth is sensitive to hot or cold.
The tooth hurts with biting or pressure.
There is throbbing, severe tooth pain.
The area is swollen.
You have a bad taste in your mouth.
You may also be unaware of the problem because there are no symptoms at all.
Causes of Infection
The pulp becomes infected when bacteria invade the inner layers of the tooth. The tooth pulp is a soft tissue made up of nerves and blood vessels. It is contained in the pulp chamber that extends from the middle of the tooth down through the tooth roots.
Infection occurs most commonly through a deep cavity that allows bacteria through the enamel and dentin layers and into the pulp. Sometimes the pulp simply dies due to a fracture or a blow to the tooth.
Diagnosis & Treatment
To determine if your tooth has an infected pulp, we do a thorough examination. The exam often includes X-rays and sometimes includes checking the health of the pulp with a pulp tester. We may also apply heat or cold, tap lightly on the tooth to see if it is sensitive, look for changes in the tooth’s colour, or press gently on the gums next to the tooth to check for pain.
If we determine that you have an infected tooth, we talk with you about root canal therapy to remove the infection and save the tooth. It is important to treat an infected tooth to prevent the infection from travelling through the root tips and causing a painful abscess in the jawbone.
Considering Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Extraction wisdom teeth
For many people, the best treatment for wisdom teeth is to remove them.
This treatment helps prevent future dental problems and maintain a healthy mouth and smile.
Wisdom Teeth can cause problems
Your last molars called the third molars or wisdom teeth, typically begin to come in (erupt) during the late teens or early twenties. When they don’t have room to grow in properly, they are considered impacted—causing serious problems.
Diagnosis & Treatment
To determine if extracting wisdom teeth is right for your situation, we’ll do a thorough examination, which typically includes X-rays. It’s often better to remove wisdom teeth early, while their roots are still small, even before the teeth have come in through the gums. This allows for easier removal, fewer complications, and faster healing.
Extractions
A very painful infection, called pericoronitis, can affect a partially erupted wisdom tooth and the surrounding gums. This infection can spread into the face and jaw.
When a wisdom tooth tries to erupt at an angle, it can cause decay in the neighbouring tooth. This happens because wisdom teeth are nearly impossible to keep free of plaque, and the area between the two teeth becomes a trap for the bacteria in plaque that cause tooth decay. Additional bacteria in plaque cause periodontal (gum) disease, which may start near the wisdom teeth and spread throughout the mouth.
A fluid-filled sac called a cyst may develop around an impacted tooth. A cyst can destroy a great deal of bone in the jaw before it’s noticed.
If you have any questions, concerns, or you want to make an appointment, contact us today