Willow Dental Care

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  • Sedation and Family Dentistry

    Sedation and Family Dentistry

    Wouldn’t it be wonderful to never dread the dentist again? That’s only one of the many benefits of  sedation dentistry at Willow Dental Care. And if it’s been awhile since your last dental visit, sedation dentistry can correct any resulting damage or decay, usually in just one or two visits.

    Whether you need a cavity filled, dentures fitted, treatment for sore gums – or even cosmetic procedures to whiten your teeth or fix a chipped tooth – you’ll float through it all. Ask us about conscious sedation to help relieve the stress of some cosmetic dentistry procedures. We also provide cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening.

    If you are struggling with a dental phobia, why wait another moment? Choose one of our clinics in the area you live from the menu and complete our simple online form to schedule a consultation. We’re dedicated to providing you with affordable, top-quality dental care.

    IV (Intravenous) Conscious Sedation

    IV conscious sedation is performed by administering a strong sedative using an IV so you’ll feel completely relaxed and calm throughout the procedure—and quite often you will not recall anything about the process after completion. This type of sedation brings you into a “twilight” condition where you can still respond to questions and suggestions — for example, you will be able to verbally tell the dentist whether or not you are feeling pain or you can turn your head slightly if the dentist needs you to and you will be completely relaxed during the process. If you choose IV conscious sedation, you will have to make arrangements for a ride home afterwards, and you will need to go lightly on activities for about 24 hours after the anesthetic is completely gone from your system.

    Oral Conscious Sedation

    Oral conscious sedation is performed using an oral sedative that you take before your appointment. This will relax you while you are in the waiting room. Nitrous oxide commonly known as laughing gas may be used as well to boost the oral sedative’s sedation effects. You will feel comfortable throughout the process and we will keep close watch on your vital signs to make adjustments when necessary.

    General Anesthesia

    We realize some people are very anxious to the point of being terrified about seeing a dentist. If this is you—or if a lot of dental work needs to be done at one time—we can offer sedation “sleep dentistry” which is done with general anesthesia.

    Depending on your specific needs, Willow Dental will interview you to discuss all 3 methods so you can make the best choice in sedation dentistry.

  • Where Do You Look?

    Every six months you go to the dentist. You take good care of your teeth.
    Usually it’s not a very stressful experience, until you’re sitting in the chair and the hygienist has started working away and where do you look?
    The TV above you is on, but it feels weird to stare past the hygienist while she’s working. Do you look at the hygienist? Do you try to pretend you’re somewhere else and daydream?
    Honestly this is one of those common awkward situations that happens to everyone!
    1. Close your eyes and count your breaths. This is a meditation technique and completely blocks out the question of where to look!
    2. Find a relaxing show on the TV and focus solely there. It’s not rude and the hygienist is used to it.
    3. Try relaxation techniques like closing your eyes and starting with your toes imagining them melting into the chair. Then mentally scan up through your body slowly. As you move up you’ll notice an overall relaxation and time will speed by.
    4.  Most of our Willow offices offer sunglasses.  This is useful for the water that splashes around and generally protects your eyes from flying debris.  The most useful bonus of sunglasses is that you can hide behind the glasses and really meditate.
    Overall the best tip is to mention it to your hygienist. All our staff prides themselves on our ability to put your comfort first. No reason to feel awkward. It’s an awkward situation and we do our best to make you feel good in our dental chair.

     

  • How to Buy an Electric Toothbrush

    With everything you do, is there really time to research how to buy the right electric toothbrush for you? No and you shouldn’t  have to. Toothbrush Confidential has packaged for you an easy list of the how’s and why’s of which electric toothbrush will be perfect for you.
    First of all when we mention electric toothbrushes we mean the plug-in kind. Not the disposable battery operated version. These can be an ok option but usually do not offer the quality cleaning an electric toothbrush does. Honestly a battery operated toothbrush is simply more expensive than a manual toothbrush without actually offering a better clean.
    Why do you want an electric toothbrush? Ideally for the best plaque removal you should brush for a full two minutes. Have you ever timed yourself?  Two minutes are a very long time when you are using a manual brush.  The truth is the amount of plaque you  remove  with  an electric toothbrush  in less time is far superior  than the a good 2 minute clean with a manual toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes often come with timers and they are just easier to use.  The time just passes.

    Why do electric toothbrushes do such a great clean? No matter what area of your mouth you are brushing, the electric heads keep up consistent perfect gentle rotation.   There is less damage on the gums.  Majority of receding gum lines are a result of aggressive brushing.   Manually there are areas in your mouth that you just cannot reach well.   Those hard to reach areas will gather more plaque and therefore more cavities or gum inflammation. How do you pick which on is right for you?

    You might want to touch base on Sonic tooth brushes vs rotary.
    Sonic use a sweeping motion with tons of vibration…some find it too much with lots of splatter. Others love the feeling. Less dexterity is needed with this one..just a 45 degree angle at the gum line.
    The alternate model is the rotary head which has a circular head that counter rotates…it is nice and small. This one requires a little more dexterity though; it has to be pivoted  and placed along the gum line.
    The one I always tell people to go with is an Oral B mid priced electric ($30-40). This way they are able to test drive before the bigger price tag of the full size Oral B.  There are both types (sonic and rotary) by Oral B in this $ range.  The full size Oral B has an excellent battery life.  I find it runs many months before I realize it is running down.   Travelling for a couple months on one charge is simple.   I suggest that you disconnect the lower charger from the brush head for travel.  I did open my suitcase once to find my electric toothbrush was completely discharged because the jostling in the luggage left it on for the entire trip.Tips
    It is very important to let the electric toothbrush do the work..no additional scrubbing or movement by the operator-this can be abrasive on the gums. For this reason the cheaper “spin brushes”are not a good choice.  Also check your info as  the brush head at 1 inch is an ideal size.

    Look for:

    • 2 minute timer
    • Head size. For most adults 1 inch tall and 1/2 inch wide will work perfectly.
    • Soft bristles – with rounded tips
    • Look for the ADA American Dental Association Seal of Approval
    • Do you like it? If you don’t like it you won’t use it. Make certain the brush isn’t too loud or uncomfortable to hold if you have arthritis.

    from Heidi
    Hygienist for Willow Dental Care

  • No Sedation Fee? Incredible!

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    Have you heard our radio ad? Check it out here!

    Book your appointment today!

    Willow Dental Care Chilliwack
    25 – 46030 Yale Road West, Chilliwack, BC V2P7V2                                                                604-792-6999           chilliwackinfo@willowdentalcare.com

    Willow Dental Care Garrison
    Unit 6 45540 Market Way, Chilliwack, BC V2R 0M5                                                                604-846-1150          garrisoninfo@willowdentalcare.com

    Willow Dental Care Langley
    438 – 19705 Fraser Highway, Langley, BC V3A 7E9                                                                 604-534-7200         info@willowdentallangley.com

     

  • Morning Breath: Embarrassing? Or a Health Concern?

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    Everyone awakes with some level of morning breath. For most people a good brush and floss after breakfast will take care of the smell and they can get on with their day. But if morning breath persists, you might want to investigate. The culprits of bad morning breath are diet, oral hygiene habits or sometimes it can be a sign of imbalance in the body.

    Why do we wake up with morning breath? Our Hygienist Elena wants to tell you that the biggest culprit is bacteria on the tongue.  If you consistently wake up with a coated white tongue, go and get a tongue scrapper from a drug store.  This inexpensive and easy tool can resolve bad breath. Dry mouth is also a common cause.  Saliva is the mouth’s cleansing agent.  Since saliva production decreases while you sleep, whatever bacteria left in your mouth is left unchecked.  As we have mentioned in other blogs, bacteria will doubt over 24 hours.   A by product of bacteria is a sulphur gas build up, ergo  morning breath. This should motivate you to do a really good job brushing and flossing before bed.However what if your morning breath is particularly toxic or sticks around throughout the day?   You might have gum disease, tooth decay or other health concerns. Elena also tells us that gum disease makes the gums recede away from the teeth and these bigger pockets around the teeth traps plaque or bacteria  and again produces the bad breathe syndrome.  Smell your dental floss after not flossing for a few days!!

    How to Win the War Against Morning Breath
    1) Always brush and floss well before bed or simply as often as possible to move the bacteria out.
    2) Drink a glass of water before going to bed and upon waking up. Water helps wake up your organs and digestive system, so it’s a healthy idea all round.
    3)  Buy a tongue scrapper
    Your oral health is important to us!  Book an appointment with us as soon as possible.
    It makes us proud to be apart of your wellness journey. If you have any other dental health questions, let us know in the comments below!

  • No Dental Insurance? No Problem!

    You know the importance of good dental health, but due to work circumstances you haven’t had access to dental insurance.

    All dentists  base their fees on the BC Dental Fee Guide set by the College of Dental Surgeons, which is good to know and even with dental insurance, sometimes with larger treatment there are still some out-of-pocket expenses. As usual Willow Dental Care has your back.  When you need the treatment and some financing would take the pressure off,  we work with a company called Medicard.

    Medicard is a Canadian company that funds medical and dental treatments.  They will pay your dental bills and set you up with easy monthly payments. It’s much easier and less expensive than the stress of going to the bank and negotiating a loan.  There’s no down payment, no collateral required, competitive interest rates, high approval and no early payment penalty.
    It’s easy and fast.  You apply for financing online via the Medicard website, by fax or even by phone.  You determine how much money you’d like to finance. They will cover the complete bill or just a portion. You decide. Medicard is flexible. They can pre-approve a determined amount. This allows you the flexibility to confirm  your treatment with the comfort of knowing financing has been confirmed. You choose the terms that work for you, anywhere from  6 months to 5 years.
    You can submit your completed application securely online from the comfort of your own home. Within a very short few days, Medicard will contact you directly by phone regarding the credit decision. Payment is then handled directly between the dental office and Medicard with no hassle for you. For  more details check out the Medicard website.

     

    If avoiding the dentist isn’t financial, instead it’s more fear based check out our Keep Calm and Get Educated post. Willow Dental Care will do our best to take care of you, whether you need a kind word, information regarding financial options or sedation during your dental visit.

  • Parents! Summer is the Best Time For Your Kids to See the Dentist

    Summer is a great time for both school age and post secondary kids to see the dentist.

    If you have school age kids, booking them a summer time dental appointment will save you the headache of missing school.  A dental visit could possibly be partnered up with another fun adventure.  Late teens and early twenties is the prime time for wisdom teeth to erupt and cause problems. So check your plan and get things taken care of while they are covered!

    Are your kids still covered by your dental insurance? If your kids have just graduated from high school you’ll want to check your insurance coverage.  Every policy is different. For instance if you have an 18-year-old who has just graduated from high school, they can still be covered under your dental plan.  It is all based on what the Employer negotiates.  Some plans cover your children until 21. Some plans cover until your children are 25 years old, if they go to post secondary education as long as they prove full-time registration. You will want to look into the details of your dental insurance.

    It’s also a great reminder during the lazy hazy days of summer that dental health is important!  Ice cream and candy floss makes for memorable days.  Just put brushing and flossing into the program more frequently.  Since sugar bugs can double in 24 hours, even a quick teeth brushing during the day helps to disrupt that multiplication.

  • The Art of Effective Communication

    Do you often  feel you are not heard, or just not connecting to the other person? The art of effective communication often falls by the way side in contemporary life. The interesting thing is if you employ the art of effective listening, you ensure understanding, resolve conflicts, and improve accuracy.  Listening builds friendships and may even save marriages.

    At Willow Dental Care we believe that effective listening is key to truly connecting with our patients and helping them have a great dentist visit.  It’s this method of velvet touch interaction that we teach each one of our Willow Dental Care employees.  Here’s how we empower our people with the art of effective listening:
    The important thing is to be attentive. The dictionary says that to “attend” another person means to:
    • be present
    • give attention
    • apply or direct yourself
    • pay attention
    • remain ready to serve

    1.  Listen without judging the other person or mentally criticizing the things she/he tells you.

    2.  Listen without jumping to conclusions. Remember that the speaker is using language to represent the thoughts and feelings inside her/his brain. You don’t know what those thoughts and feelings are and the only way you’ll find out is by listening. 

    3. Pay attention to what isn’t said. Nonverbal cues or body language embody over 80% of communication.

    4. Don’t interrupt and don’t impose your “solutions.”  Summarize, Summarize, Summarize!

    5.  Ask questions only to ensure understanding.

    6. Try to feel what the speaker is feeling. If you feel sad when the person with whom you are talking expresses sadness, joyful when she expresses joy, fearful when she describes her fears—and convey those feelings through your facial expressions and words—then your effectiveness as a listener is assured. Empathy is the heart and soul of good listening.

    To experience empathy, you have to put yourself in the other person’s place and allow yourself to feel what it is like to be her/him at that moment. This is not an easy thing to do. It takes energy and concentration. But it is a generous and helpful thing to do, and for high fear patients it is the difference between trust and non trust.
  • Over 1 Million People Have Straightened their Teeth Without Braces

    Over 1 Million People Have Straightened their Teeth Without Braces

    Invisalign® uses 3-D computer imaging technology to depict the complete treatment plan from the initial position to the final desired position from which a series of custom-made aligners are produced. Each aligner moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.

    Aligners are made of clear, strong medical grade plastic that is virtually invisible when worn. They look similar to clear tooth-whitening trays, but are custom-made for a better fit to move teeth. Some orthodontists and dentists have referred to them as “contact lenses for teeth.”
    For a limited time, receive $1000 off your invisalign treatment.

    Book your Complimentary Consultation today!

    Contact one of our locations.

     

    Terms & Conditions

    $1000 price reduction offer valid for Invisalign or Invisalign Teen treatment only. A $500 price reduction offer will be available for Invisalign Express treatment.

    Offer valid for treatment initiated during the period of June 15, 2013 to August 31, 2013 at participating Willow Dental Care clinics listed above.

    Patients require a New Patient Exam and X-rays to determine suitability for treatment.

    Offer not valid with any other offers.

    Offer subject to modification or termination without notice at the sole discretion of Willow Dental Care.

  • No Toothbrush? Quick! What Do You Do?

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    Other than purchasing a new toothbrush what do you do in a pinch when you need to scrub off those sugar bugs and plaque? Well the wellness warriors at Willow Dental Care have your back! 4 simple steps to a clean mouth without a toothbrush.

    1. Wet a paper towel or a soft clean wash cloth and apply a bit of toothpaste.
    2. Wrap the paper towel or wash cloth around your index finger and rub your teeth as like you had a toothbrush. Make certain to be gentle but firm.
    3. Rinse thoroughly.
    4. Floss and mouth wash if you have them!

    What do you do when you don’t have toothpaste either?

    No worries here are 5 simple steps to carry you over until you are reunited with your oral health kit.

    1. Wash and rinse your hands thoroughly. You want clean hands but all the soaped rinsed off too. DO NOT DRY.
    2. Using your wet index finger rub across your teeth and gums in one section, like upper right.
    3. Rinse your finger and repeat in the other four quadrants.
    4. Wet a clean washcloth or paper towel and rub it over your teeth.
    5. Rinse thoroughly.

    What about snacks that can be helpful in cleaning your teeth when you’re on the go?

    Raw carrots, apples and celery work as natural toothbrushes cleaning your teeth. There is sugar in apples and carrots that will feed the bacteria in your mouth which causes cavities, but in a fix these snacks are a good way to go.

    Drink lots of water. Not only does it hydrate you so your saliva can kill the bacteria in your mouth, it will wash away some of the bacteria as you drink.

    Now nothing is standing in the way of your dental health!