FAQs

Yes! Simply call our office at 250-544-1566 to tell us more about your situation and how we can help.

You’ll find us at 1931 Mt. Newton X Road in Saanichton on the second floor of the Mt Newton Station building. We’re across the street from the Central Saanich Town Hall and Fire station, and down the street from Thrifty Foods.

To get to the second floor, walk through the building breezeway and pass through the glass doors of the main entrance, then take the stairs or elevator to the 2nd floor.

By Car:
22 minutes from Victoria
10 minutes from Sidney
3 minutes from Brentwood Bay

There is plenty of parking and an elevator for wheelchair access to our second floor office.
BC Transit bus 72, 745, and 81 all stop by our office at the Saanichton Exchange.

Ideally, no you shouldn’t. Certainly if you have a fever and feel generally unwell you should stay home.

Please keep in mind, however, that the earlier you notify us the better. This allows people who require urgent care an opportunity to utilize your appointment time.

Yes indeed we are.

We are on

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Please join us there!

We use these social web sites to have a two-way conversation with our followers, which allows us to respond better to the needs of those we serve.

We also have a monthly email newsletter. Subscribe here to receive your first copy. Your email information is kept confidential and you can unsubscribe any time.

Any dental insurance plan is better than none. Whether it suits your needs varies from patient to patient.

Regardless of the plan carrier, rarely do insurance plans cover all costs. We will work as a liaison between you and your insurance company to help you get the most out of your plan to which you are entitled.

Each insurance plan’s coverage is unique – even a single employer can carry different levels of coverage.

It is your responsibility to contact your employer’s human resources / benefits representative to determine specifics of your insurance plan.

We provide estimates of all treatment, and act as a liaison with your insurance company to pre-authorize most major treatment so an estimate of their contribution is known before treatment begins.

Once treatment is completed, we will provide the information needed by your insurance company to reimburse you directly for the amount to which you are entitled.

Full or partial crowns (such as onlays) are used if a tooth is structurally at risk of fracture. If there is decay, yes you can have a filling, but this only further weakens the tooth.

The definitive treatment is a crown. Think of the “staves of a barrel” holding all the pieces together.

Xerostomia (dry mouth) is caused by low salivary flow. This can originate due to medical conditions (eg. Sjogren’s Syndrome) which affects salivary gland function, and certain medications (e.g. heart meds) whose side effects include dry mouth.

It can also be caused by something as simple as inadequate hydration.

More at: www.carifree.com

Peninsula Dental carries the CariFree product line to aid those suffering from Xerostomia.

There is no current literature that proves any long term harm with standard bleaching techniques.

However, continuous bleaching or prolonged bleaching beyond recommended times may have harmful effects.

Root canals are only required if the nerve in the tooth is irreversibly inflamed or necrotic (dead).

Statistically, 6% of teeth that are crowned end up with root canals – but they are not done prophylactically or prior to having the crown done, unless the tooth is already symptomatic.

Tooth sensitivity generally results from irritation of the pulpal/nerve tissues in the tooth. It can also be irritations of the nerve in the tissue around the tooth – such as after grinding or physical trauma.

Any insult that penetrates past the enamel layer (for example – a fracture, wear, a cavity, or extreme temperature change), or is introduced in an area where there is no enamel (e.g. exposed root, a fractured or eroded tooth surface) results in fluid movement in tiny tubules in the dentin layer, which communicate directly with the nerve.

Anesthetic metabolism varies from person to person. Lower jaw anesthesia generally takes longer as a nerve “block” is required.

Typically top arch freezing comes out within an hour or two following treatment, while lower jaw freezing can last several hours.

If the tooth is vital (hasn’t had a root canal), yes, we generally numb both the tooth and gum to insert a crown.

This allow us to be thorough without causing discomfort.

“TMJ” is actually a misnomer – it stands for “temperomandibular joint”. We all have two TMJ’s. What most people mean to say is “TMD” or “temperomandibular dysfunction”.

This is a family of conditions characterized by joint and muscle pain, loss of range of motion, locking, popping, clicking, etc… of the jaw joint(s).

There are numerous researchers, clinicians, professional bodies, and consumers who have contrary positions regarding the use of amalgam as a restorative material. Given the complexity of the issue we have chosen to simplify our position as follows:

Until all concerned parties can accept a definitive answer, we treat mercury-containing materials as all other governing bodies outside of dentistry – as potentially harmful and toxic.

This does not mean we are concerned about existing, stable restorations. Simply that we choose not to place more of them.

As with any restoration, if an amalgam filling is failing, then it should be replaced. At Peninsula Dental this means choosing an alternative material.

For those interested in information on both sides of the issues, more information is available below:

Pro:
Canadian Dental Association
American Dental Association

Con:
Health Canada
DAMS

Here are some trusted associations that provide information on oral health and home care.

Canadian Dental Association (Oral Health)
Academy of General Dentistry (Know Your Teeth)
American Dental Association (Mouth Healthy)