Tooth Talk Newsletter Spring 2023
Steveston Smiles Scholarship
ANNOUNCING THE 2023 STEVESTON SMILES SCHOLARSHIP! We are offering two scholarships for graduating high school seniors in our community! DETAILS: Submit a one-page essay to info@stevestonsmiles.com answering the questions “Why is oral health important?”. Subject Line: Steveston Smiles Scholarship. Include in the body of your email: First and last Name Phone number High school you are graduating from. Essay should be an attachment to the email (Not in the body of the email). At the beginning of your essay attachment please also include: First and last Name Phone number High school you are graduating from. Must be graduating from a high school in Richmond, BC All entries must be received by Friday, June 23rd at 11:59pm. Our first place ($1000) and second place ($500) winners will be announced on Friday [...]
Steveston Smiles Scholarship
ANNOUNCING THE STEVESTON SMILES SCHOLARSHIP! We are offering two scholarships for graduating high school seniors in our community! DETAILS: Submit a one-page essay to info@stevestonsmiles.com answering the questions “Why is oral health important?”. Subject Line: Steveston Smiles Scholarship. Include in the body of your email: First and last Name Phone number High school you are graduating from. Essay should be an attachment to the email (Not in the body of the email). At the beginning of your essay attachment please also include: First and last Name Phone number High school you are graduating from. Must be graduating from a high school in Richmond, BC All entries must be received by Monday June 13th at 11:59pm. Our first place ($1000) and second place ($500) winners will be announced on Monday June [...]
A Message From Dr. Doug
A Message From Dr. Doug To My Patients, It is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement on May 18, 2022. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for the honour and privilege of being your dentist. I was thrilled to open my acceptance letter from UBC Dentistry in 1968, as being a dentist had always been my lifelong dream; it truly changed the course of my life. Since graduating in 1972, opening the Steveston Dental building with Dr. Bob in 1973 and having my daughter, Dr. Michele, join the practice 20 years ago, I have so many fond memories and cherished friendships. I’ve watched your kids grow up; I’ve shared your pain when going through difficult times; and [...]
COVID-19 OFFICE PROTOCOLS AND UPDATES
COVID protocols - Last updated Sept 2021 The following protocols to help protect our community, patients and staff: Pre-screening of all patients is required to attend your scheduled appointment. If this Pre-screening form is not completed at minimum of 48 hours prior to your visit, your appointment will be cancelled. For everyone’s safety, staff will now wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE) in compliance with the CDSBC, PHO, BCCDC and WorkSafe BC.which can include masks, face shields and gowns for some procedures. Your clinical provider will now be entering the treatment room dressed in the appropriate PPE but rest assured, we are still the same caring team underneath it all. Daily symptom and temperature checks of all staff members. Masks are required inside the office. If you have one, please wear [...]
Common Toothbrush Mistakes To Avoid
MAINTAINING GOOD DENTAL health isn’t just about the quantity of your brushing — it’s also about the quality. There are several mistakes many of us make when brushing our teeth, whether because we’re using the wrong tools or because we’re using the right tools the wrong way. 1. Keeping A Toothbrush Too Long How long has it been since you got a new toothbrush? The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush at least three times a year, because broken, frayed bristles can’t do as good of a job of keeping your teeth clean. 2. Racing Through Your Brushing The average time people spend brushing their teeth is 45 seconds, which obviously falls far short of the full two minutes recommended. If you’re having trouble making it through two whole minutes, try [...]
What Are Those White Spots On My Teeth?
THERE ARE A LOT of things that can leave stains on our teeth, and stains can come in many different colors. You could see yellow stains, brown stains, or even the temporary stain from eating brightly colored candy, but what about when the stain is white? Where do those white spots come from, and is there anything we can do about it? White Spots From Fluorosis Surface stains that affect the tooth enamel sometimes appear on a tooth that is otherwise healthy. One cause of this kind of stain is fluorosis. Fluorosis occurs when developing adult teeth are exposed to too much fluoride. It doesn’t damage the teeth, but it does unevenly bleach them, leaving white spots on them before they even grow in. To avoid white spots from fluorosis, make sure [...]
Pacifiers, Thumb Sucking, And Baby’s Teeth
IT’S NOT ALWAYS easy to know the best thing to do as a parent. Every child is different and there isn’t a handy instruction manual. One question on many new parents’ minds is when to start discouraging a child from sucking their thumbs or using pacifiers. We might not be able to answer all of your parenting questions, but we have this one covered. Babies And Toddlers Benefit From These Habits Sucking on anything and everything is a natural reflex for babies. It’s soothing and comforting for them, especially when they’re teething. There’s no reason to discourage thumb sucking or pacifier use for babies and young toddlers. It will help them sleep, stay calm when separated from you, and even reduce the risk of SIDS. When Should Thumb Sucking Stop? Many parents are anxious [...]
Repeat After Us: Teeth Are Not Tools
OUR TEETH ARE pretty amazing, and there’s a lot they can do. They chew our food, they provide structural support for the lower third of our faces, they help us speak clearly, and they give us our beautiful smiles. However, many people also find other uses for their teeth, which can be very dangerous. Teeth are not tools, and shouldn’t be used in place of them. Teeth Are Not Bottle-Openers Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, so it might seem like that makes teeth perfect to use when you don’t have a bottle opener handy, right? Wrong. Tooth enamel isn’t just hard, it’s brittle,and it is not designed to win a fight against materials like metal and glass. Using your teeth as a bottle opener can easily chip, [...]