Last Fall, we moved into our new location in White Rock (/South Surrey). While it’s not far from where we once were, the office space was excellent.
For too long, a visit with the dentist was considered a chore. Children were terrified of this person with a mask operating on their teeth. From waiting in a room straight through until the exit, it was not the most fun time for any child in their younger years.
But things are changing - and at Peace Arch Dental, we’re actively revolutionizing the way dental practices look and feel. Case in point - our new office. When you come in, you’ll know that the whole dental experience is extremely important to us - just by looking around and being in our office. We want every patient to feel like going to the dentist is easy and relaxing - and our new office has a bunch of different amenities to make that happen.
Believe me when I say that we’re going to pamper you well when you come to our new dental office for anything from a regular check-up to an extensive procedure.
So let’s take you through a short tour of our new office in White Rock!
Who doesn’t love a warm smile? Come into our office and you’ll receive a friendly smile and greeting. Alright - that’s no different from before! But at least you’ll know that even with a new office setup, your dental experience will always start with hearing from our friendly staff.
At the front counter, you’ll find some freshmints that you are free to take - perhaps a nice refreshment for when you’re about to leave.
Whether you’re getting your teeth cleaned or having dental implants put in, it’ll be done at the fancy new, reclining leather chairs you see below. Now, these aren’t any ordinary leather chairs - they have one pretty incredible feature: They lightly massage your back! Yes, the reclining chairs that you sit on while your dentist or dental hygienist is working on your teeth does double as a light massage chair.
But don’t worry, it’s faint enough that it won’t affect the performance of the work being done on your teeth! Your dental experience in South Surrey just got more comfortable.
So we’re all used to getting our teeth cleaned in the aforementioned reclining dental chairs. We’re also used to brushing our teeth and flossing in our washrooms at home. And now, you can brush your teeth and floss in our washroom! Granted, you probably won’t ever need to do that. Yet, if you use our washrooms, we hope you’ll be happy to see some complimentary toothbrushes and floss that you are more than free to take.
If we have to meet in private to discuss something, we’ve got a cozy, unique private meeting room for that purpose. It’s in the general waiting area, away from where we conduct all cleanings and procedures.
We want you to be part of the experience! The use of miniature intraoral cameras and the velscope oral cancer lights are some of the many ways we use technology to show you what’s going on. And of course, all are viewable in the palm of your hand or on our flat screen TVs.
You may have read our earlier blog post on ‘Dental Crowns In A Day’ where we detail the process of getting your crowns and any laboratory work done in a single day. Well, new to the office is the CEREC machine that gets the job done - the one you see in the picture on the right. See the process how the crown is made in our CEREC Mill by viewing the video below.
Our new dental office in White Rock has already attracted a large amount of new patients - and the feedback we get about the office is incredible. People enjoy the fact that we have so many of these different amenities in the office. The dental experience at too many dental clinics has become dull and uncomfortable for many. We’re trying to change that - and we think you’ll have a wonderful time at our office. From the moment you walk in to the final good-bye and thank you, our goal is to make sure that your teeth are healthy and that have an unbelievable experience.
So come on down to office #205 at 1538 Foster Street in White Rock and we’ll give you and your family the best dental experience possible. You deserve it.
In the west, wearing braces is not considered cool, while in Asia, it’s the latest fashion trend. Status is very important in Asia and no more is this more evident than among the youth. Teenagers are purchasing faux braces for $100 from black market non-orthodontic professionals. These imitation dental braces are being funded by vanity-driven youth culture regardless of the health costs.
The faux Do It Yourself Braces orthodontic market is prevalent in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. Cultural icons like Hello Kitty and Sailor Moon are not the only must have accessories - the cool factor has branched out to orthodontics. Braces are sold at open air markets that can be found in many major cities and towns. Mickey Mouse and Hello Kitty are two of the more popular brands being purchased. This trend is also encouraged by the celebrities Earn the Star, a Thai pop singer and the icon Gwen Stefani who was photographed with them in the late 1990’s. The non-orthodontic trend is now catching on with teens and preteens in the western world.
Are you considering Do It Yourself braces (DIY) instead of professional orthodontic braces? You may want to think twice. Adolescents that embrace popular trends among their peer group do not stop long enough to consider the inherent health risks. Wearing braces in countries like Thailand and the Philippines is a sign of wealth and prosperity among teenagers because of the initial expensive cost.
The axiom do it yourself successful surgery should be followed by a picture with someone standing in the corner with a “Dunce cap”. This applies to people who think that watching a few YouTube videos on how to beautify your smile or straighten your teeth, is more effective than consulting with a professional who has had 10 years of medical school.
Do It Yourself braces use some of the following non sterile medical materials:
There are a myriad of reasons to reconsider this non-orthodontic treatment. Before going any further lets review the oral prescribed dental apparatuses that are currently used to correct malocclusions and other abnormalities.
The Philippine Dental Association released the following PDA statement:
NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Thai authorities have also clamped down on sellers of illegal braces, the punishment is up to six months in prison and $1,300 or 42,439 Thai Baht fine.
Even though selling fashion braces is illegal, black market sellers have branched out by selling them online. The internet is a big place and tracking down and shutting down every site is a monumental task. Black market goods are not regulated and sellers don’t care about the buyer just the profit that can be made.
"Some people put the fashion (braces) on by themselves, which is dangerous because they could come loose and slip into the throat," said Rasamee Vistaveth, secretary-general of the Consumer Protection Board, which is under the prime minister's office. - CBS News report
It has been reported that 2 teenagers in Thailand have already died resulting from infections related to fashion braces. DIY braces that are glued onto the teeth using superglue or other adhesive can be toxic to the human body. The metal used in blackmarket DIY braces has also been found to contain lead which is also toxic to the bloodstream. Other health concerns are people who experience sores in the mouth from the wires.
Brief summary of possible health issues related to lead poisoning
Medical grade orthodontic braces are fitted by a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or dentist to ensure the correct alignment of the upper and lower teeth. DIY braces don’t have a proper arch wire and they are not fitted by a professional, the brackets are not positioned properly to put the right amount of pressure on the teeth. Purchasing black market DIY braces at the market does not come with the luxury of having them adjusted by a dental professional. Wearing these braces can result in the misalignment of perfectly straight teeth. Fashion braces do more harm than good. This is one fashion trend you may want to reconsider.
As you can see even under the care of a dental professional there are many risks inherent in orthodontic braces. The above list is just a sample of possible problems experienced by authentic brace wearers. Subjecting your oral health to a passing trend will jeopardize your existing and future dental health. There are many health variables to consider even with the monitoring of a board certified dentist. Purchasing DIY braces from the open markets prevalent in Southeast Asia and from black market websites offers no health guarantees. Fashion brace wearers risk infection and the possibility of misaligned teeth.
Conclusion
Do It Yourself braces is like the blind leading the blind. Saving money for teeth that require professional orthodontic therapy is a sensible course of action. Attempting to save a few thousands dollars for professional orthodontic treatment for a temporary aesthetic fix that doesn’t correct the underlying issues is a recipe for disaster.
Putting your oral health at risk for gum disease and the possibility of misaligned and losing your existing teeth is not worth it. For any oral corrections always consult a dental profession. YouTube and Google are not viable sources of information for amateurs without any medical expertise when it comes to teeth adjustments. Does it make sense to follow a trend that will have dire negative consequences which will have to be corrected by a Doctor of Dental Surgery at a later time? The question of should a person get DIY braces because they can not afford the genuine article should be deliberated on. If finances are an issue investigate dental programs or a monthly finance program with a professional dentist whose work is reputable.
According to the British Dental Journal nearly 30,000 children a year attend hospital for tooth extraction due to tooth decay. Children from impoverished areas were the most susceptible to having poor dental care compared to their more affluent counterparts. Detailed research data revealed between 1997 and 2006 there were 517,885 individual courses of dental treatment in NHS hospitals for children up to the age of 17 years old. Dental visit admissions involved 80 percent of children requiring tooth extraction all because of tooth decay.
So thus begins the discussion of who should be responsible for a child’s dental care. The easy answer is that it’s a parental responsibility. But recently, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence of England suggested that schools ought to step in to tackle the growing trend of tooth decay amongst children. This brings up the broader and more local question - should Surrey Schools and the Ministry of Education step up to the plate on youth dental education?
Children should be checked as young as 18 months for early signs of childhood tooth decay. Unrestricted diets full of refined sugars has led to an epidemic in childhood dental diseases. The most common signs of tooth decay are the appearance of dark spots on the teeth. Discoloration of teeth is the first major sign of tooth decay. Parents should also be aware of dull white spots on the teeth. The next sign parents should be on the lookout for is the appearance of the gum tissue.
Gum disease can be present in children as young as toddlers. This common oral disease begins with the appearance of hard and soft deposits on the teeth, left over from inadequate brushing. Over an undisclosed period of time a bacteria builds up called plaque. The plaque collects at the gum line and eventually hardens into a calcium deposit called tartar. The calcium deposit tartar is identified by its unsightly brown or yellow colour it leaves on the teeth.
Poor oral care leads to inflammation of the gums called gingivitis, which can penetrate below the gum line. If immediate intervention by a dental specialist is not performed the bacteria can infect the underlying bone. Periodontal disease is usually associated with adults but this disease doesn’t discriminate based on age. Aggressive forms of periodontal disease can affect children putting them at risk for destruction of supportive periodontal tissue in the oral cavity. Additional signs of gum disease are red and swollen gums. Parents with children that experience bleeding gums when they brush or floss their teeth should consult a dentist immediately. One of the easiest signs to detect tooth decay and possible gum disease would be children who have chronic halitosis or bad breath.
Fluoride has long been advocated by the dental community as a method to combat tooth decay in the general population. People are usually confused as to the difference between fluoride and fluorine. The element fluorine is an element, fluoride is a compound that contains the fluoride ion in it.
“It is a tragedy that social class remains such an accurate predictor of oral health. Water fluoridation, as the long-standing scheme in the West Midlands illustrates, has great potential to address this divide.”- Peter Bateman, chairman of the British Dental Association’s dental committee.
The American Dental Association (ADA) has long been an advocate of water fluoridation. Today dentists use fluoride in the form of gels and varnishes.
An old proverb goes something like this, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Applying simple common sense steps like ensuring your child brushes and flosses their teeth in the morning and after every meal will save you time and money. The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) was launched in 2007 and in 2010 Health Canada released a report based on income level and dental care visits.
The study revealed the following details:
The good news is that tooth decay and gum disease are easily preventable. A regular dental care regimen in addition to regular dental check ups are all that is necessary for your child’s oral health.
Recommendation 1
Avoid all energy drinks and carbonated beverages made with high fructose corn syrup.
Recommendation 2
Decrease or eliminate milk chocolate and pastries. Substitute with natural dark chocolate or desserts made with natural sweeteners like stevia instead of refined white sugar.
Recommendation 3
Instead of drinking juice made from concentrate substitute with real juice made from a juice machine. Substitute by juicing green smoothies sweetened with blueberries and frozen bananas. The sugars that are naturally contained in fruits are less corrosive to the teeth compared to the refined and GMO sweeteners found in many store bought items.
Recommendation 4
Drink water as much as possible. Tooth decay issues in children were not as prevalent in the past compared to this present fast food generation. When all else fails go back to eating and drinking natural.
Should Surrey Schools check whether kids have brushed their teeth? Let us examine this argument from a common sense and financial standpoint. We have already outlined how simple it is for conscientious parents to safeguard their children against tooth decay. Both tooth decay and gum disease among children are health issues that can be prevented.
Who should determine if children in the school system have adequately brushed their teeth? Should the school board hire an oncall dental hygienist for every school? According to PayScale a dental hygienist earns on average $35.13 per hour. Where would the funds come from for a Surrey Schools dental health care program? In addition to funding dental care check ups for children, what would be the follow up for children who were found to have cavities and other dental issues? Additional funds would have to be allocated by Surrey Schools and the Ministry of Education to deal with cavities and gum disease.
There’s no question that this is an investment that could be well worth it. Proper dental care and dental education is extremely important at a young age and is in the best interests of the Surrey School District. At the same time, you can see the question of if Surrey Schools should be responsible for students dental health, leads to more questions. The simple course of action is to instill in children from a young age the benefits of regular brushing and the benefits of oral health. If the parents aren’t doing it, perhaps the schools should help.
Dr. Michael Layton (DDS) is the dentist for Peace Arch Dental, a dental office in the South Surrey/White Rock, B.C. area. He has been in the dental industry for the last decade and received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington. He takes pride in providing positive and caring dental solutions and experiences for people of all ages in the South Surrey/White Rock area. You can follow him on Google+.
