As many of you have heard either from the news or our emails that have been sent out, the Alberta Dental Association and College has mandated that all dental clinics in Alberta suspend non-emergency dental treatment and services. This is a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We are still available to see patients on an emergency basis. Dr. Carey: 587-917-2532 Dr. Harbison: 403-807-8508 Patients will be screened by phone prior to being seen in the clinic to determine the need for treatment. We … [Read more...] about Open for Emergencies
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The Alberta Dental Fee Guide
West Peaks Dental Suite is very happy to announce that we are following the Alberta Dental Fee Guide in 2020 for all basic procedures! Below are some common questions regarding the Fee Guide. What is the Alberta Dental Fee Guide? The Fee Guide is produced by the Alberta Dental Association and College with the aim of increasing transparency of dental costs and procedures. It is not mandatory for dental offices to follow the guide, it is meant to offer guidelines for dental offices to set their … [Read more...] about The Alberta Dental Fee Guide
Activated Charcoal – Worth the Hype?
By this point in time the hype surrounding activated charcoal has died down some, but I still occasionally see Instagram posts showing amazing before and after pictures. So is activated charcoal worth all the hype? Can you get that million-dollar smile just by brushing twice a day with it? Hopefully, I’ll be able to shed some light on that here. Using activated charcoal as toothpaste has exploded over the last 5 years. Research on the subject actually dates back many years, with some studies being published in the … [Read more...] about Activated Charcoal – Worth the Hype?
They’ll Just Fall Out
I love talking dentistry. When a patient asks me a question I enjoy taking the time to answer. People being more educated about their mouths ultimately makes my job easier (and I just like talking about teeth). However, there are some conversations I have so many times that I think it would be easier to just have my responses ready to go on a card to hand people. “Well Ms. Jones, it looks like John has cavities on two of his baby teeth. The good news is that we caught them early and they just need two small … [Read more...] about They’ll Just Fall Out
The Best Patient
“I hate dentists.” It’s something any dentist probably hears weekly. I often get asked by friends if this bothers me or gets to me. And it honestly doesn’t, but it is definitely and attitude I strive to change. I love my profession and would like to help other people see it in a new light, or at the very least hate it a little less. Not only would this have fewer people telling me they hate me, but it would also create a population of people who are comfortable coming to me with their problems and concerns, instead of … [Read more...] about The Best Patient
Words We Never Say
When I was living in New York, I spent 6 months working at a hospital in downtown Manhattan. We mostly did regular dentistry there, nothing very exciting. But occasionally, we would be asked to work with oral surgeons, either to assist, help take out teeth, or to shadow and gain experience. There was one surgeon who I would sometimes work with who had a thing about pain. Not causing it, but saying it. Anytime anyone said the word “pain” there would be glove thrown at you, or some reminder to not say that word. It took … [Read more...] about Words We Never Say
The Price of a Crown
So you’ve just broken a tooth. Or just had a root canal on one of your molars. Or maybe have a large cavity that hasn’t been treated yet but is covering most of the tooth. You come see us and we take a look. At this point I usually give you 3 options: we leave the tooth as it is and do nothing (which I rarely will recommend), we place a large filling, or we do a crown. This is a fairly common scenario. A discussion I probably have once a week with patients. I go through the risks and benefits of each option and what I … [Read more...] about The Price of a Crown
What Do You Do All Day?
Growing up I had no idea what my dentist did when he wasn’t seeing me for a check-up. Or why sometimes I’d have to sit in the chair waiting for a while before he would come in. I just assumed he had other check-ups to do and was making his way down the line of hygienists to me. I’d get my teeth cleaned, wait a few minutes, have him take a look, and call it a day. Most of the adults I talk with or see as patients have the same perception of the dentist as I did. Chances are if you’ve ever wondered what the dentist does … [Read more...] about What Do You Do All Day?