Patient Info

We promise to talk with you in a straightforward manner about potential problems, necessary treatments and our recommendations. We will also ensure that you have all the information you need to make informed dental treatment decisions.

Common Concerns

Getting Started

Download our patient registration forms (pdf: 1.2mb). Filling them out ahead of your first appointment and bringing them with you to our office will help speed up your initial check up and exam.
Preventative Care

The best kind of dental care is preventative dental care, which is why it’s so important to brush, floss and use mouthwash daily. In addition to your home dental care routine, it’s important to have a regular checkup and cleaning every six months.

These appointments prevent tartar and plaque from building up on your teeth, which in turn, helps prevent cavities and more serious dental procedures in the future.
Dental Anxiety

Let’s face it. The mouth is one of the most personal parts of the human body and having a professional poke and scrape at your teeth isn’t something most people look forward to. It’s no surprise that millions of people in North America avoid the dentist because of fear and anxiety.

A previous bad experience with dentists is one of the most common reasons why patients never return. However, dental care has dramatically changed over the past few decades. Drills have been replaced with more efficient water- and laser-based technologies. Due to advancements in sedation, our procedures are pain-free.

Helpful Tips

If you have a fear of gagging, injections, loss of control and pain—of if you are embarrassed about the condition of your teeth or generally afraid of dentists and dentistry, here are some techniques that might help keep your next visit worry-free:

1) Tell your dentist how you feel

More specifically, tell them what you’re nervous about and why. During the treatment, get your self-involved by having the dentist show you the tools, where the problem is located and how it will be treated. The more you know, the more comfortable you are going to feel.

2) Establish a signal

It could be a raised hand or a tapping of your fingers. This will help you maintain control if you are not able to speak or are uncomfortable.

3) Bring something familiar from home

Whether it’s a portable music player full of music that will help keep your mind calm or a hand mirror so you can watch the procedures yourself, these are great techniques to reduce anxiety.

4) Stopping gag reflex

Before your appointment, try using a numbing throat spray – like Vicks® or another over the counter brand. These will help keep your gag reflex under control.

5) Sedation

Speak to your dentist about sedation techniques to help you cope during the treatment. It’s an excellent option for many people.

Dental Insurance

Patients need to understand that their dental coverage is a contract that was negotiated between the employer and the insurance company for their benefit. Because we want to provide the very best patient service possible, we want to inform you about dental insurance.

We encourage our patients to know their plan in order to eliminate disappointments with payment and reimbursement. Knowing your plan includes being aware of any limitations ie. time unit limits or financial limits set by insurance company. These limits may be reached through treatment at other offices. It is up to the patient to monitor their plan.

• Dental benefits are changing rapidly with many reductions in your coverage.
• Insurance companies do not inform dental offices of changes to your policy.
• Benefit coverage is a contract between the patient, the insurance company and your employer, not the dentist.
• Ultimately the patient is responsible for paying the dentist, if the payment is insufficient to cover the services rendered, the patient pays the difference.
• Some companies are basing their coverage on outdated fee guides, this would mean a difference owing from you each visit even if coverage 100%.
• Ours fees are based on the College of Dental Surgeons fee guide.
• Our goal, as an office is to diagnose the conditions of your mouth, and offer a treatment plan that will best suit your needs.
• Ultimately we want our patients to maintain their oral health based on diagnosis from the dentist, not compromised by dental insurance limitations.

Your First Visit

Download our patient registration forms (pdf: 1.2mb). Filling them out ahead of your first appointment and bringing them with you to our office will help speed up your initial check up and exam.

Our professional staff is committed to providing you with the very best dental care possible and we believe that good oral hygiene begins with honest communication.

We promise to talk with you in a straightforward manner about potential problems, necessary treatments and our recommendations. We will also ensure that you have all the information you need to make informed dental treatment decisions.

We welcome new patients, and would like to thank you for referring family and friends to our practice. Working together, we can achieve a true partnership, with one common goal – keeping your smile beautiful and healthy!

At your first visit:

• A comprehensive oral examination will be performed by Dr. Tim Ayers.
• As well, a full assessment of teeth and previous restorations, head and neck screening, and hard and soft tissue evaluation.
• Radiographs (x-rays), study models and photographs are ordered to properly assess your conditions.
• A cleaning done by one of our very experienced and knowledgeable hygienist.
• A consultation appointment is then scheduled to review findings, discuss treatment and address questions you might have prior to starting any dentistry.
• A copy of your treatment plan and all related cost will be provided for your convenience.

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your first appointment to fill out a medical history form or if you prefer, print our online forms, fill them in at your leisure and bring them with you. If you have questions regarding any of these forms, please don’t hesitate to call us at 604-536-7606 ext 4

Cancellation Policy

Two working days notice is required to change your previously reserved appointment or a fee will be charged according to the amount of time booked for your appointment. Failure to attend appointments or provide adequate notice deprives other patients of access to treatment (some of which may be urgent in nature) and adds significantly to the cost of everyone’s dental care.