There’s many reasons to go to the dentist, but if you haven’t been for some time, you’ll likely be surprised at how things have changed.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your overall dental health, even out your bite, enhance your smile, get back on a regular hygiene routine, or even receive advice about snoring, today’s dental professionals have more tools at their disposal than ever to help your appointment go smoothly.
Dentist Dr. Anthony Chan at Dover View Dental in Nanaimo says previous unpleasant experiences, such as a painful root canal or a long, drawn-out crown procedure, may have left you reluctant to return or to ask about modern alternatives.
“They may not be aware of what’s available in terms of treatments,” he says of new equipment and techniques, which help keep patients more comfortable than in the past. “Sometimes it’s a very simple solution and many times there’s other options or ways to fix your teeth.”
Here’s other things to consider about your family’s dental care
- Consider having an adult “look-see” Dr. Chan, who began his career working in smaller B.C. towns, including Qualicum Beach, says fear of going to the dentist is universal, but it doesn’t have to be. He encourages you to make an appointment for a checkup, where you can ask about some of the new techniques that have made dentistry less stressful from a patient’s perspective.
- Start your young patient early Getting children used to going to the dentist at a young age can help allay any future fears, Dr. Chan says. “That first visit usually goes fairly well. We call it a ‘look-see;’ we count their teeth and away they go. We don’t try to do too much unless there is a problem. For serious dental phobic kids, there’s pediatric options we can recommend.”
- Learn while you’re in the dental office Getting a crown used to be a multi-appointment affair. Today, technological advances allow that process to happen in two to three hours, Dr. Chan says. The creation of the crown from a block of ceramic material happens right in the office at Dover View Dental. “Once a tooth is designed on the computer, the patient is sitting up and watching the whole thing,” he says. “It’s quite the process.”
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Dr. Chan, part of the new generation of professionals, actively keeps up with new ideas in dentistry, as do the rest of the team. That includes the availability of state-of-the-art equipment that not only assists dental professionals in their diagnoses, it often makes your experience better. To find out more about what’s available, book an appointment at doverviewdental.com, email info@doverviewdental.com or call 250-390-9227. You can also follow the clinic on Facebook.
