Instructions before your appointment

All the information gathered or received in this office is confidential. Please complete and return all forms that were emailed to you prior to your initial appointment.

Bring a list of all your prescribed and over the counter medications along with the dosage and reason for usage to your initial appointment. Please let us know ahead of time if you have artificial heart valves, had organ transplants or are immunocompromised as you may require an antibiotic prior to your appointment. Please keep us informed and updated of any new changes in your medication or medical status at each appointment.

Bring your partial denture(s), bite guard or orthodontic retainer(s) with you.

Payments are due in full at the end of each appointment.

We accept Interac, Visa and MasterCard (no cash or cheques). We will complete and submit your claim forms and estimates electronically if at all possible. Your insurance company will reimburse you directly according to the terms of your dental plan. Certain procedures may not be covered, some plans have yearly maximums, some plans only cover general dentist fees and not full specialist fees, certain procedures may not be covered and some plans only cover a certain percentage or may have a deductible. We do not render our services on the basis that insurance companies will pay our fees. The patient is responsible to pay for services rendered at the end of each appointment.

Appointments are a contract of reserved time.

We make every effort to limit any waiting to a minimum and expect the same courtesy from our patients. Should you be unable to attend, a minimum of 48 hours or 2 business days is required by telephone, otherwise a fee for lost time will be charged. You cannot cancel or reschedule an appointment through text or email. We are closed Saturdays and Sundays. Our answering machine is on at all times. You will get a text or email notification to confirm your appointment date and time.

If you are having surgery, please eat prior to your appointment. You will not be sedated and therefore can drive yourself.  If you are uncomfortable with this, have a driver pick you up at the end of the scheduled appointment. Please note: bring indoor footwear (slippers, socks, shoes)

We want your first appointment and all others to be as pleasant as possible. Our team is comprised of caring and dedicated professionals that can take care of all your needs, be it patient related or administrative.  Feel free to contact our office before your appointment should you have any questions or concerns. 

We look forward to meeting you. Il nous fera plaisir de vous servir en français.

Instructions after your appointment (post-op instructions)

General Post-operative Instructions after Surgery

DISCOMFORT:

Take the recommended pain medication, before the anesthetic wears off. Mild discomfort is readily controlled with 1 or 2 Tylenol Extra Strength tablets (500mg) or ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) 200mg or 400mg every 4 hours. Use the prescription given for the first day or for more severe pain. If your pain is severe during the evening, set your alarm in the middle of the night to take your medication at the prescribed interval. Please contact the office if severe pain persists or if pain increases on the third or fourth day.

BLEEDING:

Keep head elevated the day of the surgery. Occasionally, the saliva may be tainted with blood for up to 24 hours after a procedure and is to be expected. If there is considerable bleeding, locate the exact source and press over it with a folded, wet paper towel / gauze or a tea bag moistened in cold water. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding still persists, call the office. 

If you smoke, you may have problems with healing. Avoid smoking, especially during the first two hours or more after a surgery. You may follow your regular daily activities but avoid excessive exertion of any type, i.e.: climbing stairs quickly, bending over, working out at the gym or elevating your heart rate. etc.

SWELLING and DISCOLORATION:

Some swelling and discoloration of the face may occur, reaching a maximum at 48 or 72 hours after the surgery. Swelling is usually more pronounced in the morning on awakening. This can largely be avoided by the application of ice packs to the face 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off for the first two days only. Don’t wait until the swelling starts. Start icing on the first evening!

DRESSING AND SUTURES:

When a dressing is used, it helps protect the area. It will fall off on its own but… it could stay in place until your next appointment. Occasionally, some particles may break off or the dressing may fall off completely. If there is no sensitivity in the area, it will not require replacement. Avoid eating on the side of the dressing or exposing it to hot foods or fluids. Sutures, if used, are self-dissolving.

RINSING:

If prescribed, start swishing with one tablespoon of Chlorhexidine in the morning and at bedtime the day before the surgery, after brushing your teeth. No vigorous rinsing for the first 24 hours after surgery. The day after surgery, resume the disinfectant rinses. Swish gently for about one minute then spit out. Try to make the Chlorhexidine last 2 to 3 weeks. Save the rest of the bottle for future surgeries if more are planned. After meals, rinse gently with warm salt water, starting the day after the surgery. 

HOME-CARE:

Any surface without a dressing should be gently brushed, massaged and kept clean despite possible bleeding. Proper healing demands a very clean area. You may want to pour some of the Chlorhexidine in a cup and use a cotton swab to gently swab the surgical site or dressing. The rest of the mouth must receive regular and proper oral hygiene as instructed, using a toothbrush, floss or rubber tip.

DIET:

For the first 2 days, have plenty of fluids and soft, nutritious food. Slowly resume your regular diet as tolerated. It will feel more comfortable chewing on the opposite side of the surgical area.