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No Fee Dental Financing!

Being healthy is a growing concern for more and more people in Nanaimo. The hard choices usually come down to a question of affordability – especially when you have a family to take care of.

PayBright’s mission is to make life more affordable for Canadians. With our convenient payment plans, you can buy now and pay over time in affordable installments. We can help you cover a wide variety of purchases – and we use leading technology to make the process fast and easy.

How it works:

1. Apply Online

Apply with our easy online application in under a minute.

2. Get an Instant Decision

Get our instant approval decision right away, displayed on screen along with the amount of funds available to you.

3. Begin Your Treatment

Proceed to your preferred health provider to finalize your payment plan and begin your health treatment without delay.

4. Make Payments

Paybright will pay your healthcare provider directly. We will set up convenient pre-authorized monthly or semi-monthly payments from your designated bank account.

Paybright provides:

  • affordable monthly payments
  • online access to your account 24/7
  • peace of mind knowing you can start your program today!
  • No activation of annual fees
  • You can prepay or pay off early at any time, with no penalties

Ask Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group’s reception for more information on this exciting no-fee way to finance your dental health.

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Dental Health Links to Serious Disease

The concern about dental health is not only about having healthy teeth and a healthy mouth.  It’s a fact that the oral health equals overall healthbody is an inter-connected system, so it makes sense that poor dental health can spill over into poor overall health.

In fact there has been significant research links from poor dental health to:

  • Diabetes,
  • respiratory diseases
  • serious infections
  • heart disease
  • women delivering pre-term, low birth rate babies

Beyond these serious health issues there are several more common issues linked to poor oral health:

  • damage to your appearance and self-esteem,
  • sleeping problems,
  • behavioural and developmental problems in children
  • and even your ability to chew and digest food properly.

No wonder our dental team at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is so passionate about proper dental cleaning and dental maintenance!

Here’s what you need to do:

  • Brush and floss your teeth daily (yep, floss too!).
  • Use an antimicrobial mouth rinse; it can help to reduce the bacteria in your mouth. It is possible to have gum disease and not even know it. The signs of gum disease are bleeding gum, receding gum and bad breath.
  • Visit your dentist regularly to have your mouth examined and don’t wait for problems to see your dentist
  • Eat a healthy diet according to Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide.
  • Do not smoke. If you do smoke, make sure to visit your dental hygienist regularly.
  • If you are pregnant, take especial care of your diet and oral health
  • Brush your children’s teeth for them, until they are able to write (not print) their own name. They should then be able to brush their own teeth with your guidance

It’s important to note that most extended health dental plans provide coverage for regular dental check ups and cleanings –usually every 6 months for children and 9 months for adults. If you have a gum problem, you may need to visit Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group to have your teeth cleaned by hygienist every 3-4 months until your condition resolves. This small investment is worth it considering the irreparable damage gum disease can cause.

Be sure to check your policy and maximize your trips to Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group for regular hygiene and check-ups by letting our dental reception know that you’d like to receive a reminder.  We’re happy to provide any extra service that keeps you smiling.  Book an appointment today.

Here are a few more good articles to read on the subject of dental health:

The Effects of Oral Health on Overall Health

How to Brush Properly

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The Best Ways To Whiten Teeth

A lot of people don’t love their smile and will do odd things to hide it – like changing hairstyles, wearing funky teeth whitening nanaimo dental 2014clothing or cultivating a year-round tan.

Smile whitening is the quickest and cheapest way to make a huge impact on the quality of your smile – yet whitening toothpaste and drug store whitening kits have left many teeth whitening experimenters exhausted, perplexed and disappointed. Why is this?

The fact is there are many reasons for teeth staining or discoloration and there are specific dental teeth whitening approaches to each. This article provides quick facts with a link to more details about all the issues surrounding teeth whitening.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group’s dentists and dental professionals recognize that you are a unique individual and we want to help you find the best teeth whitening solution for you.

We also understand that you need to be fully informed when you make the decision to whiten your teeth and start smiling!

What Stains Teeth?

  • Surface Stains: Caused by strong discolouring agents such as coffee, tea, tobacco, blueberries, red wine
  • Soft Deposits:  Caused by plaque
  • Intrinsic Stains: Caused by medications, such as tetracycline; trauma to the tooth leading to internal bleeding; advanced decay; defective silver fillings

What are the teeth whitening treatment options?

Polishing
This is the lowest-cost form of teeth whitening used to treat minor surface stains.  Microabrasion is a more advanced form of polishing that can be used for deeper stains.

Tooth whitening
If you are happy with the shape and proportion of your teeth and want a brighter smile, teeth whitening is a relatively inexpensive and noninvasive approach.

Dental office whitening is quicker as it uses professionally dispensed stronger and freshly prepared agents under a controlled environment.

Professional home whitening is also an option that spreads the treatment period over 10 days to 2 weeks.  The downside of this is that you need to take care of the custom trays and maintain the supplies.

The third option is prefilled disposable trays also known as whitening on the go. You apply them for just 20 minutes a day and dispose of them after you are done.

Bonding
Bonding can be used to cosmetically contour teeth and mask many types of stains.  However, bonded teeth tend to stain easily and require periodic repair.  Bonding is a good teeth whitening option only if you are not a heavy smoker or coffee drinker and are willing to take extra care of your new smile.

Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain doesn’t stain so has the property of staying attractive for a much longer time as it is custom fabricated at a lab. Porcelain veneers can be very conservative and can be as thin as 0.3 millimetres but can have the added benefit of improving the shape of teeth and the bite.

Crowns
Crowns are not normally recommended for discoloured but otherwise healthy teeth.  For teeth with other functional issues, such as large fillings or excessive wear, or weak teeth due to crack and craze lines, crowns may be an option.  Like porcelain veneers, crowns provide re-shaping of teeth and are resistant to staining. Crowns provide support and protect a tooth. Better chewing ability also leads to better overall health.

For full and detailed information on the pros and cons of each teeth whitening procedure please visit the Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group website.

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Stop Snoring With the Help of Your Dentist

In North America, it is estimated that 90 million people snore or have a more serious breathing condition dental sleep appliance for sleep apneaknown as sleep apnea. In sleep apnea cases, an individual stops breathing for ten seconds or more hundreds of times each night. Sleep apnea can lead to many serious health problems and produce symptoms like sleepiness during the day and loss of ability to concentrate.

What are the causes of snoring and what can be done to correct it?

Snoring can be related to excessive weight, to sleeping on one’s back, consuming alcohol within several hours of going to bed or a genetic predisposition. A constriction of the airway occurs during sleep, which allows the vibrations that we hear as “snoring”.

Dental sleep appliances

There are a number of new dental sleep appliances that help to open the airway and reduce snoring. Dental sleep appliances can be quite tolerable and much less bulky than the earlier dental anti-snoring devices. Dental sleep appliances no longer lock the jaw into one position, leaving you free to yawn, talk and even sip water while wearing them.

Is a sleep appliance right for you?

A consultation with your dentist will let you know whether a dental sleep appliance is appropriate for you.

Your dentist will establish that you do not have sleep apnea or refer you to a physician to have this evaluated. Even when sleep apnea is diagnosed by a physician, dental sleep appliances can be a very effective treatment method.

What is the cost of dental sleep appliances?

The cost of these appliances is roughly equal to a weekend away for a couple and the benefits are significant. If you have dental insurance these appliances may even be partially covered.

Alternative ways to reduce snoring

Other ways to reduce snoring include reducing weight to an ideal level, sewing a tennis ball into the back of a pajama top to help the sleeper avoid lying on their back, and reducing alcohol consumption before bed.

If you have a snoring problem and would like to stop snoring now, book a consultation today to see if a dental sleep appliance would benefit you and help you achieve your goals.  Read more about sleep apnea on the Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group website.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

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Should You See Your Dentist for Whitening?

As people of all ages seek a whiter, healthier looking smile, teeth whitening has emerged as the single most popular cosmetic dentalteeth whitening dentist nanaimo procedure in dentistry.

With all of the new developments in whitening, from whitening toothpaste to whitening gum and mouthwash, the question is, what is the difference between over the counter teeth whitening products and professional whitening at your dental clinic?

How does whitening work?

Over the counter whitening products work in a similar way to professional whitening in a dental clinic, but there are some major differences in the planning and approach, the concentration of whitening products, cost, and safety and application.

Planning and approach

One of the biggest challenges with whitening is that not all teeth stains and discoloration respond to the traditional bleaching approach.  Additionally, the look of your smile is effected by a number of other factors including the appearance of the gum-line, the straightness of your teeth and even the shape of the teeth.

Your dentist is trained to help you get the best results by selecting the right treatment method based on your situation. Your dentist may recommend teeth whitening alone or in combination with other cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as Invisalign orthodontics, dental crowns or porcelain veneers.

In the end you will always have the final say in which treatments work best for your based on your time and budget, but you will avoid the frustration of one-size-fits-all treatments that may not be right for you.

Concentration of whitening gel

If you’ve tried over the counter whitening products, you know that you have to be consistent with their use and really patient if you want to see results.  One of the reasons why great results are often not achieved by over the counter products is that people do not stick with the process – which can be cumbersome, time consuming and uncomfortable.

Whitening at your dental clinic offers nearly immediate results. The primary reason for this is that a dentist is permitted to use a high concentration of bleaching gel to get whitening results that show immediately.

Over the counter whitening products cannot compete with the dramatic results achieved through high concentration, in-clinic whitening.

Safety and application

Another challenge with over the counter whitening products is the application.  Even if you take the time to read and carefully follow the directions, it can seem impossible to make the process smooth and comfortable.  Perhaps the trays or strips do not fit properly, or some of the whitening gel ends up on your tongue or gums.  All of this can make it hard to stick to the plan!

In clinic teeth whitening is done with customized applications to make sure that they fit and protect you.  Precautions are built in to the whitening process to make sure that whitening gel does not stay in contact with the gums, tongue or cheeks.

Tooth sensitivity is another common complaint when whitening.  Your dentist has the tools and knowledge to reduce tooth sensitivity and discomfort while you whiten.

Costs

In clinic teeth whitening services average in range from $300 – $500 while over the counter whitening products typically range from $40 – $120.  In the end, however, it is up to you to weigh the pros and cons of each option.

If you are looking for fantastic results in the shortest amount of time, your dentist is your best bet.  If you’re not sure if teeth whitening is for you, your dentist can also review your plans and discuss other options and factors that you may not have even considered. As a bonus, professional whitening usually includes some home maintenance products to help you keep your new, whiter smile even longer.

 

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Chipped Front Teeth

At the age of 16 one of our patients was involved in a biking accident and the front teeth were broken and part of the teeth lost.  Now 18 years old, the patient came to Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group to repair his chipped front teeth and restore his smile.

Besides the chipping of the front teeth, the patient also has some crowding which has left some teeth crooked.  Invisalign treatment is recommended as the ideal option to straighten the teeth.  Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment method which uses a series of removable invisible aligners to move the teeth back into a correct and straight position.

In the meantime, the patient was given a couple of options for repairing the chipped front teeth.  The ideal treatment recommended was porcelain veneers to correct the problem and create the most natural looking and long lasting solution possible.  Modern porcelain veneers are durable and have physical properties which match very closely with natural teeth.  This is due to the translucency of porcelain which reflects light in a similar way to natural teeth.

A second, short term option presented to the patient was to restore the shape of the front teeth using a bonding technique with composite materials.  Bonding produces a very nice result, but on the downside has a tendency to show discolouration over time.  It is a great short term solution however.

The patient, in this case, decided to go with the bonding with composite material option and is very happy with the result.

The patient is now considering Invisalign treatment and will consider porcelain veneers as a more permanent solution to his smile makeover once his teeth have been straightened.

Dr. Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group specializes in cosmetic dentistry and Invisalign treatments to help you achieve both a healthy mouth and a smile that you are proud to let shine.  Read more about having a smile make over or Invisalign treatment at our Nanaimo dental clinic and contact us today to book a consultation.  We look forward to serving you.

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Smile Makeover Part 2

It’s been a brief eight weeks since Vina’s initial smile makeover consultation with Dr. Mahara, a trained cosmetic dentist, at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group.

“Vina was a perfect candidate for a smile make over,” explains Dr. Mahara, “because she had several failing restorations on her front teeth.”

Since the smile make over consultation, Vina has passed the first major check point of the process and had all 8 teeth  in her visible smile line prepped for her new crowns – at which point she received an instant smile makeover with Dr. Mahara’s amazingly realistic temporary crowns.

“The temporaries are very comfortable,” says Vina.  “They’re not as brilliantly white as the actual crowns are going to be, but still I’ve had a lot of compliments on my new smile.  It would be impossible for anyone to tell that these are temporaries.”

Since Vina’s previous restorations were failing, Dr. Mahara wasn’t sure what to expect when he removed the old restorations and he had to be prepared for various scenarios.

“Vina’s case was complicated.  Unfortunately, one of the teeth had decayed significantly under the old restoration and had to be removed.  Since bone grafting was needed to make sure the bone mass did not recede too much during the healing process, this will delay the placement of the new crowns by a few weeks.  We will ensure that the bridge sits flush with the gumline and the tooth looks natural,” explains Dr. Mahara.

Vina is thrilled that she made the decision to have the smile makeover done.

“My teeth were discoloured and uneven along the gumline,” she say, “I was never satisfied with my smile – and I admit that I sometimes tried to hide my smile.”

Who is a good candidate for a smile makeover?

“Anyone who is unhappy with their smile,” explains Dr. Mahara, “especially people with several old restorations, discoloured teeth that cannot be corrected through whitening, or with crooked teeth – for people who don’t want to have braces for an extended period of time.”

For those considering a smile makeover, the first step in the process is to book a smile makeover consultation with Dr. Mahara.  During this consultation, your unique smile will be considered and treatment options outlined clearly for you.

Read more about Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group’s smile make over process and stay tuned for Part 3 of Vina’s smile makeover, “After the Smile Makeover”.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

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8 New Reasons to Smile

Vina will soon have 8 new reasons to smile.  Each of the 8 teeth that are visible when she smiles will be included in her extreme smile makeover treatment plan by trained cosmetic dentist, Dr. San Mahara at Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group.

“I’ve been having trouble with my front teeth for several years now, and when I smile I’m careful not to smile too big” says Vina.  The crowns have fallen and created an uneven gum line and a dark space between the gums and the crowns.  “I know this looks like something is stuck there –even though there isn’t,” Vina adds.

Vina has already had an initial smile makeover consultation with Dr. Mahara where Dr. Mahara explained the treatment plan options.  At a second appointment, impressions were taken to have the waxed up models of the new crowns constructed by a master lab technician. Part of Dr. Mahara’s smile makeover process includes using highly trained lab technicians to make the crowns.

“The crowns need to fit the patient perfectly –their face, mouth and even their personality are considered.  These teeth will look life-like,” says Dr. Mahara.

Meanwhile Vina is seeing the waxed up models of her new teeth for the first time today.  She describes them as, “beautiful,” and her excitement is evident.

“The wax up modelling process is excellent,” says Dr. Mahara, “it allows the patient to see what the crowns will look like and give us feedback that we can incorporate in the final product.”

Dr. Mahara studied and mastered the smile make over treatment process at the world famous post-doctoral dental school, the Las Vegas Institute.

“Patients tend to continually repair their teeth not knowing their options,” says Dr. Mahara.  “I also give my patients the option for a smile makeover which addresses the root causes of the problems and at the same time significantly improves the appearance of their smile,” he adds.  Dr. Mahara’s cosmetic dentistry training gives him the vision and the tools to do this.

For Vina, the smile makeover means new freedom and renewed confidence.  “I’m going to have a big smile on my face every day,” says Vina.  In her work as an Esthetician and Spa Technician, her smile makeover will go a long way to show her confidence and inspire confidence in her service.

If you’re considering a smile makeover, please read more about Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group’s smile makeover process and book your smile makeover consultation today.

Stay tuned for a post in December following Vina’s smile makeover to see her results.

Downtown Nanaimo Dental Group is proud to serve your complete dental health needs in Nanaimo.  Our Nanaimo dentists and dental hygienists believe in continuous learning to bring you the latest technology in dental medicine and our team of dental professionals aspire to the highest level of patient care.  At each visit to our office we treat you with the respect, honesty and dignity that you deserve.

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