FAQ's at Sidney by the Sea Dental

If you choose a porcelain or zirconia crown, they are custom-shaded and shaped to match your surrounding teeth, so the result blends in with your natural smile. If we are working on a tooth in the very back that you can't see, it may be a better option to do a metal or gold crown instead!

Dental crowns typically last 5-10 years, and often longer with proper care and regular checkups. We have a patient with a 35-year old gold crown!

Your first visit typically includes a review of your dental history, a gentle cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, polishing, and a discussion of any areas that need extra attention at home.

Common signs include persistent tooth pain, sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers, swelling or tenderness in the gums, or a darkening of the tooth. A dental exam and X-ray can confirm whether a root canal is needed.

Modern composite fillings typically last 7 to 10 years with good oral hygiene, though this varies based on the size of the filling and daily wear. It also depends on how complicated the filling is, and where the filling is placed. Fillings along the gumline or fillings that go below the gumline may need to be completed with a different material (because composite is moisture sensitive) and these areas are harder for your toothbrush to reach. Larger fillings can mean there is less natural tooth structure available, which means the remaining tooth is more likely to break in the future. A longer term solution for a tooth that needs a very large filling is to place a crown, which is like a protective armored shell for a tooth.

Yes, we're currently welcoming new patients at our Sidney, BC dental clinic. You can book online or call our office to get started.

We do our best to accommodate urgent dental issues — call our office directly and let us know you're dealing with a dental emergency so we can find you the earliest available appointment.

Our mobile dentistry service is designed for seniors, patients with mobility challenges, and anyone unable to travel to a traditional dental office — we bring the equipment and care to you.

Initial healing takes about 7 to 10 days, though the socket continues healing fully over several weeks. We'll give you specific aftercare instructions based on the extraction.

Yes — you can book directly with one of our dental hygienists for a cleaning without a separate dentist exam, though we'll always flag anything that needs a dentist's attention. Many of our patients prefer to see their regular dentist for checkups and come to us for cleanings because our office is calmer and the schedule is more accessible.

Treatment length varies by case, but most patients complete Invisalign in Sidney within 6 to 18 months, depending on the complexity of the alignment needed.

Yes, we direct bill most major insurance providers, so you typically only pay the portion not covered by your plan.

Yes, we accept CDCP and offer direct billing for eligible patients, so you won't need to pay upfront and claim it back yourself.

Whitening lightens the natural shade of your existing teeth, while veneers are thin porcelain shells that cover the front of your teeth to change their shape, size, or color — veneers are a better option if you're dealing with chips, gaps, or permanent staining.

With local anesthesia, the extraction itself shouldn't hurt — you may feel pressure, but not sharp pain. Some soreness afterward is normal and manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. At Sidney By The Sea Dental, we provide you with thorough before/after care instructions, so you'll know what to expect and how to take care of yourself afterward.

Root canals have a reputation for being painful, but with modern anesthesia the procedure itself is generally no more uncomfortable than getting a filling. The pain people associate with root canals is usually from the infection that made the procedure necessary in the first place.

We mostly use tooth-colored composite fillings, which blend naturally with your teeth and avoid the dark appearance of older metal amalgam fillings; however, in some cases it is actually better to use an amalgam filling, because they are not sensitive to moisture.

Please bring your dental insurance information and a list of any medications you're currently taking.

A filling repairs a small area of tooth damage or decay, while a crown covers the entire visible portion of a tooth — it's typically used when too much structure is lost for a filling to hold up, or after procedures like a root canal.

After treatment, the tooth is typically restored with a filling or crown to protect it going forward. Most patients return to normal activities the same day, with some tenderness for a few days.

Professional whitening results typically last 6 months to 2 years, depending on your diet and oral hygiene habits — coffee, red wine, and smoking can shorten that window. Some people's enamel is more responsive to whitening than others. Ultimately, professional trays produce far better results than over the counter.

Yes — Invisalign is popular with adult patients specifically because the clear aligners are far less noticeable than traditional braces, making it easier to wear during work and social settings.

Most crowns require two visits — one to prepare the tooth and take an impression, and a second to place the finished crown once it's been made by the lab. If you're getting multiple crowns at once, or if you are getting crowns on your front teeth, we may require an additional visit to ensure the esthetics are perfect (we do a try-in to allow the lab to make adjustments before the final placement.)

Extraction is usually recommended when a tooth is too damaged, decayed, or infected to be saved with a filling, crown, or root canal, or in cases like severe crowding or wisdom teeth causing problems.

Many patients benefit from a professional cleaning at least every six months, though many more people with gum disease, a higher risk of cavities, or simply a faster rate of tartar buildup may need visits every three to four months. Often as we age, our mouths become dryer, which leads to higher rate of cavities and tartar buildup. Our dental hygienists in Sidney can recommend a schedule based on your specific oral health.

The honest answer is that there really isn't a difference between the two. Our experienced hygienists ensure that you receive a thorough cleaning, whether the tartar is built up above the gumline or below. "Deep Cleaning" is a bit of a buzzword and sometimes refers to when the hygienist uses manual tools to scrape the tartar off the root surface of a tooth. Wherever the tartar is stuck, it is necessary to remove.

Invisalign requires that you diligently wear your trays, clean them, and brush your teeth after eating/drinking anything before putting them back in. Children and teens can sometimes find compliance difficult, so it's often better to use traditional braces instead.