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Opalescence Tooth Whitening

Posted on June 8, 2020 by Robin Mak

Opalescence Tooth Whitening in Vancouver

 Kits Family Dental offers Opalescence Tooth Whitening in Kitsilano, Vancouver.

Get dramatically Whiter Teeth in Under an Hour

We are proud to offer this option for tooth whitening at Kits Family Dental: Opalescence Tooth Whitening Systems – Opalescence Boost.

It is performed in the office. The appointment is scheduled for 1 and a half hours, as the product must stay on the teeth for 1 full hour for an optimal change in color.

From the Opalescence Tooth Whitening Systems Website

“Professional results—in about an hour.

For a brighter, whiter smile without the wait, choose Opalescence Boost, an in-office, chemically activated whitening treatment that offers results in less than an hour. It’s ideal for people who want instant whitening gratification or those who have that special event coming up that requires a bright, white smile.

Opalescence tooth whitening gel contains PF (potassium nitrate and fluoride)

Chemically activated, so no hot, uncomfortable light is needed

Dentist-applied treatment

Provides dramatic results in less than one hour.”

Book Opalescence Tooth Whitening in Vancouver

Contact us for more info or to schedule your appointment. Suites 207 & 209 – 2223 West Broadway | 604-738-1816 | info@kitsfamilydental.com

About Kits Family Dental

The dentists at this office are Dr. Robin Mak, Dr. Sakura Iwagami, Dr. Courtney Butler and Dr. Ann Lu.

We offer flexible morning, evening, and weekend hours to easily accommodate your entire family. We treat patients of all ages, from babies starting at 6 months old to people well into their retirement years.

Our goal is to provide high-quality, preventive dentistry to all our patients and our focus and commitment is towards patient education.

More of our posts on teeth whitening

Read our post on the cost of teeth whitening.

POLANIGHT & POLADAY Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening – Fast Facts to Your Most Common Questions

Professional Teeth Whitening – Pola Day and Pola Night

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How do you know if you need to see an emergency dentist? Kits Family Dental answers!

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Robin Mak
emergency dentist vancouver bc

Most dental problems can be dealt with during regular dental office hours. However, if you have any of the symptoms listed below, you may need more immediate treatment, and can contact our emergency dentist Vancouver BC after regular office hours.

You may need an emergency dentist if you have any of the following:

  • A traumatic injury to your mouth, jaw or teeth
  • Severe pain that you cannot control with over-the-counter pain medication
  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Severe swelling in your mouth, face or neck

NOTE: if you have trouble breathing or your mouth continuously fills with blood, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Dental Emergency in Vancouver During Coronavirus COVID-19

If you have a dental emergency, please call your dentist first. They will ask you questions and instruct you on what to do next.

Our Precautions during COVID-19 include:

  • Pre-appointment Covid screening questionnaires for every patient.
  • Temperature checks for every staff member and patient that enters the clinic.
  • A dedicated staff member that disinfects high touch surfaces and the waiting room (chairs, tables, doors) between patients.
  • Renovations Adding plexiglass and glass barriers and doors to section off treatment areas. 
  • Installation of commercial air filters in all treatment rooms and patient and staff areas. 
  • Enhanced the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
  • Limited the number of patients in the waiting room at one time to allow for social distancing
  • We are asking patients with regular appointments to wait in the car until we are ready for them and are allowing for extra time in between appointments for thorough disinfecting.

Kits Family Dental is monitoring and following the safety protocols recommended by our public health authorities and regulators and will continue following all of their recommendations on how to screen and manage patients during the outbreak.

Dental Emergency Vancouver – Call Kits Family Dental Now

604-738-1816

Suites 207 & 209 – 2223 West Broadway

Links – More information about dental emergencies

B.C. Dental Association

College of Dental Surgeons of BC

Canadian Dental Association

Our top priority is the health and safety of our patients, staff and our whole community. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we all work together during this challenging time.

Patients can also contact HealthLink BC by visiting www.HealthLinkBC.ca online or by phoning 8-1-1. This is a 24-hour service that gives you easy access to non-emergency health and dental information and services. You will be able to speak to a registered nurse about your symptoms, get more details about your condition or speak to a pharmacist about your medical questions. Further information can be found in this document.

Is your dental emergency a knocked-out tooth? The video below has some helpful tips!

Save

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Kits Family Dental has an Odyssey Navigator – Laser Dentistry Vancouver

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Robin Mak

laser dentistry vancouver

Have you heard of the Odyssey Navigator? It’s not the name of a space shuttle – it’s the name of the soft tissue diode laser we have at Kits Family Dental!

Benefits of Laser-Assisted Dentistry

Using laser-assisted dentistry, we can provide services that were previously referred outside of our office. We can now perform minor surgical procedures, such as frenectomies with minimal anesthesia. Frenectomies involve the removal of a frenum, the attachment between two tissues, such as the one that connects your lip to your upper jaw or the band of tissue underneath your tongue. This is done in some cases to allow for more freedom of movement.

The Odyssey Navigator can also help us help take away the pain of a canker sore or cold sore and speed the healing time. If treatment is started early enough (during the tingling stage) it may even prevent the eruption of the cold sore.

We can use it to help speed the healing time of other mouth wounds or trauma because the heat of the lazer brings blood and immune cells to the site.

Laser Dentistry for Preventative Care

It is also helpful in providing preventative care such as sterilizing deep pockets around teeth to kill bacteria that causes chronic bleeding gums and gum inflammation.

Laser dentistry (also known as laser-assisted dentistry) lowers the chances of infection and post-operative complications because it results in quicker healing, meaning less opportunities for bacteria to cause problems. In addition, sutures are rarely needed for procedures performed with a laser.

Lasers for Restorative Dentistry

Lasers can be used with restorative dentistry when preparing teeth for a crown.  It is used to ensure impressions are clear, allowing a better fit of the crown, and also to prevent the gums from bleeding, again which makes fitting and cementing the crown easier and quicker

The Odyssey Navigator allows us to do some things that could already be done in our office, but we can do them faster, and with less pain.

For more information on laser dentistry Vancouver, please contact us.

604-738-1816 | info@kitsfamilydental.com

Proudly offering laser dentistry Vancouver – Kits Family Dental in Kitsilano.

Read more on the Odyssey® Diode Laser.

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Do I Need a Retainer After Invisalign?

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Robin Mak
retainer after invialign

Patients regularly ask if they can use their last Invisalign aligner or if they need a retainer after Invisalign. This is a great question!

Retainers after Invisalign – a great idea

Your dentist may recommend a retainer after Invisalign. If so, retainers are available by Vivera. These retainers are clear, discreet and made to go with Invisalign. They are perfect to keep that new smile looking it’s best.

Vivera retainers are:

  • Clear and virtually invisible.
  • Custom made for you.
  • Made with the same state-of-the-art technology used to make Invisalign® clear aligners
  • Less likely to crack or break than other clear retainers

Book Today! Phone: (604) 738-1816 or (604)-731-8646, email: info@kitsfamilydental.com

Why is a Retainer Necessary After Invisalign?

After Invisalign treatment, a retainer is needed to prevent your teeth from shifting back into their original positions. After all your hard work of wearing Invisalign, you want to keep you teeth nice and straight.

How Long is a Retainer Required?

How frequently and for how long you wear your retainer after treatment is dependent on the individual and the treatment. It is often recommended that you wear a retainer for about six months every night. After that, a few times a week at night time. Your orthodontist may recommend that you wear your retainer more than this. The retainer may even be recommended to wear every night, for life. As mentioned, it is very individualized.

This may seem like a lot, but retainers aren’t invasive and can actually protect your teeth from wear and tear from grinding. Also, you only need to wear the retainer at night, not during the daytime.

How to Clean Your Retainer

Keep your retainer nice and clean and bacteria-free by scrubbing with a toothbrush and warm, soapy water. Never use toothpaste though, it’s too abrasive.

There are also tablets you can buy to add to water and soak your retainer clean. The retainer needs to remain submerged for at least 20-30 minutes but it’s ok if it is left in the solution for the whole day.

More posts on Invisalign:

Cost of Invisalign in Vancouver, BC.

Learn more about Invisalign, offered at our Kitsilano, Vancouver office.

Is Invisalign for Teens or just for Adults?

View Vivera retainers on the Invisalign site.

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Is Chewing Gum Good for Teeth?

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Robin Mak
Is chewing gum good for teeth? A dentist in Vancouver, BC answers.

Short answer – yes, it’s great for teeth!

You probably already know this, but we thought we’d revisit this “interesting, low-effort” form of tooth care.

If anyone else is still struggling to get back into the routine and ramp up after a relaxing winter break, this will be welcome news.

  • Chewing sugarless gum is a great way to clean the mouth. Chewing gum produces saliva which, in effect, washes the mouth. This is great after a meal or snack to remove sugars or food particles that can cause decay.
  • Chewing gum is non-abrasive. Think about chewing some gum after eating an orange or having a glass of lemonade. The environment in the mouth will be acidic after these items and brushing right after can potentially harm your tooth enamel. Gum is not a bad choice. Drinking a glass of water after is also a great method for washing the mouth.
  • If no toothbrush available, chew gum. There are many instances where people eat food but don’t have a toothbrush in easy reach. Chewing gum can be very appropriate. You might want to keep the chewing noise to a minimum in some situations, such as the library, at work, on the bus, the theater. You can also pack a toothbrush with you if you’re a very keen brusher.
  • Here’s a biggie: kids probably won’t protest chewing some gum! Even if they’re tired, out and about or feeling cranky, children are usually happy to pop a stick of gum in their mouths. Actually, the same rings true for adults!

The science backs this up: ‘Health Canada has concluded that scientific evidence exists to support a claim about sugar-free chewing gum and dental caries risk reduction.’

Contact us, we’d love to hear from you!

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Denture Care 101

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Robin Mak

Many of the principles for denture care are the same as those for dental care. Such as keep them clean and avoid cracks. It’s also important to avoid bacteria and abrasion.

Best Denture care:

  • Store dentures in denture cleaning solution when not in use. This will prevent them from drying and cracking.
  • Clean your mouth and rinse with fresh water before placing your dentures in your mouth.
  • Take care when handling your dentures. When they are out of the mouth they can be pretty easily cracked or chipped.
  • Regular dental check ups are still important! Come see us, we look forward to it :-).
  • See the dentist right away if dentures have any damage.
  • Clean your dentures with proper denture cleaning solution. Note that mild hand soap or mild dish soap can be ok too.
  • It’s a big N.O. to toothpaste, bleach, hot water, whitening treatments or anything abrasive.

Interested in more?

See our blog post on Partial and Full Dentures.

The post aims to answer questions we occasionally get about dentures.

Some of the questions revolve around things like how much do dentures cost, what different types of dentures are available, questions about full dentures and partial dentures, and also how many visits will it take.

If you have any questions, please contact us at Kits Family Dental. We supply partial and full dentures in Kitsilano, Vancouver BC.

Visit us for Vancouver denture care!

Evening and weekend appointments available.

Phone: (604) 738-1816 or (604)-731-8646

Email: info@kitsfamilydental.com

207-2223 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6K 2E4
(one block west of Arbutus)

We are Wheelchair Accessible

Our dentist office is wheelchair accessible via the elevator. Patients can access the elevator from the entrance on West Broadway. Visit us for wheelchair accessible Vancouver denture care.

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Fillings in Baby Teeth

Posted on January 28, 2020 by Robin Mak
Cavities in baby teeth - Dentist Vancouver

Preventing Fillings in Baby Teeth

To prevent cavities, we recommend flouride toothpaste and rinse for young children. And we recommend you help them brush until they are 6 years old. Healthy diet and regular dental appointments are key as well.

Note that, a neat trick is if there is just the beginnings of a cavity, but not enough for a filling to be needed, a parent can use a Q-Tip to gently apply flouride mouthwash directly to the area!

Treatment of Fillings in Baby Teeth

Baby teeth sometimes get cavities that need restorative work. Aka “fillings”.

Not to worry, Dr. Robin Mak and the team at Kits Family Dental are experienced in patient, gentle, caring ways of distracting, explaining and treating even the youngest patients.

Often, the distraction is enough so that the little patient will be more interested in the singing of a song or other distraction than in the treatment – super!

The team will explain what is going to happen to the young patient to the degree that is helpful. For parents too.

We are happy to talk to you as much as necessary and answer all questions to get you to the point where you are comfortable, before, during or after your child’s treatment.

Here is a video of Dr. Mak and the team filling a cavity for a four year old:

Book a dental appointment with Kits Family Dental in Kitsilano, Vancouver, BC

We are a kids and general family dentistry office located in Kitsilano, one block west of Arbutus on Broadway. We have 4 female dentists, a fantastic team of hygienists, amazing staff, and more. It’s fun here! 

2223 West Broadway, Suites 207 & 209 (Check-in with reception at Suite 207!)
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6K 2E4

Phone: (604) 738-1816 or (604)-731-8646

Email: info@kitsfamilydental.com

HOURS:

Monday  9am – 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am – 6pm
Wednesday 11am – 7pm
Thursday 10am – 6pm
Friday 9:30am – 3pm
Saturday open 9am – 5pm on these says in 2020: Jan 11, 25, Feb 8, Feb 22, March 14, March 28, April 14, April 28, May 9, May 23)
Sunday CLOSED

Book Online (you can call too!)

PARKING

  • There is an underground parking lot which charges $2.00/hour. Enter the parking lot from Yew Street. See map to the right.
  • There is metered parking on Broadway.
  • You may be able to find free parking on Vine Street, Yew Street or 7th Avenue.

ACCESSIBILITY

Our dentist office is wheelchair accessible via elevator. Patients can access the elevator from the entrance on West Broadway.

OTHER POSTS ON FILLINGS IN BABY TEETH VANCOUVER

Read our post from 2012 – What’s the point of fixing baby teeth? Cavities in Baby Teeth.

Our post from 2015 – How to Prevent Cavities in Baby Teeth.

Read what the Government of Canada has to say about cavities in babies.

Watch more on Kits Family Dental on Youtube.

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Dental Filling Cost Vancouver

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Robin Mak

We often receive calls requesting information on the cost of fillings, so we thought this would be a great topic to cover.

There is a fairly large price range for fillings because it depends on several factors such as the size of the filling, which tooth and what material is used. For example, white fillings cost more than silver fillings. The price difference may or may not be covered by dental insurance in molar teeth, in which case the patient can make up the difference if they choose to.

Keep in mind that if you have dental insurance, they will cover part or all of the payment depending on your plan details.

Dental Filling Cost on Primary (Children’s) Teeth

Dental filling cost on primary teeth ranges from $107 – $309.

Dental Filling Cost on Adult Teeth

Dental filling cost on adults ranges from $123 – $418.

Here are some quick facts on White and Silver fillings

Silver fillings:

One of the safest, most durable and least expensive materials used to a fill a cavity.

White Fillings:

Advantages

  • They will be the same colour as your teeth.
  • Less costly than gold fillings.
  • These are direct fillings, so they can be done in one appointment, in most cases.

Disadvantages

  • These fillings can break more easily than amalgam or gold fillings, and may not last as long.
  • These fillings cost more than silver fillings.
  • Recurrent decay is more of a problem than with silver or gold fillings.

To recap, at Kits Family Dental in Vancouver, BC, a filling will range from $107 – $418. Kits Family Dental follows the BCDA’s suggested fee guide. Find out more about how we set our costs here.

Contact us today!

Phone: 1-604-738-1816 or 1-847-731-8646

Email: info@kitsfamilydental.com

Read some amazing reviews from our happy customers:

Dental filling cost Vancouver BC, How much does a filling cost in Vancouver

Book Online with Kits Family Dental
Photo by Michael Dam on Unsplash
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How Does Dental Health Affect Overall Health?

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Robin Mak

Just as good dental health can affect you positively, poor dental health can have negative effects.

How Poor Dental Health Impacts Your Overall Health

Watch out for aging – As people age, dental health can deteriorate a bit. Fillings can turn into crowns that turn into root canals that eventually need tooth extraction. This is not something most people think about or perhaps even know about when they are young.

Painful or missing teeth can affect what you eat, which of course can affect overall health. At our office, we do see adults, including seniors, who have had tooth extractions and as you can imagine, that can really affect chewing and as a result food selection.

Capped or filled front teeth can also limit food selection. If there is a filling on the top surface of your front teeth, biting into an apple or cob of corn could compromise the filling.

Preventative Dental Care Improves Health

So, while it can be challenging at times to fit in appointments for preventative dental care, when some of the alternatives are considered, it is worth it a thousand times over. Take care of your teeth so you don’t have to suffer pain, tooth extraction, or infection.

Same goes for flossing. Maybe try to fit it in in the morning or during the day if you’re often too tired at night.

Brushing is usually something our patients don’t have trouble fitting in to their schedules.

Additionally, a fluoride rinse can be of great benefit that people often don’t think to include.

If You Have Neglected Your Teeth

It’s never too late. We would love to help you achieve the best dental health possible. We would also be happy to continue the discussion with your regarding how does dental health affect overall health. Contact us:

Dental Clinic Vancouver – Kits Family Dental

207 – 2223 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6K 2E4 (one block west of Arbutus)

Phone: (604) 738-1816 or (604)-731-8646

Email: info@kitsfamilydental.com

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Dark Chocolate Can be Good for Your Teeth!

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Robin Mak

Is dark chocolate good for your teeth? Short answer, yes, it can be. Suffice it to say, we are happy about this. 🙂 Read on…

Not only does dark chocolate provide some nice benefits for your overall health, it also helps protect your teeth against cavities! According to the Texas A&M Health Science Center, dark chocolate contains high amounts of tannins, another ingredient present in cocoa beans.

Tannins can actually help prevent cavities by interfering with the bacteria that causes them. Think of them as scarecrows for bacteria. They don’t always prevail, but isn’t it nice to have them there?

Chocolate is Smooth Never Sticky

Unlike many popular candies, dark chocolate is less likely to stick in the crevices of your teeth.

Chewy, gooey sweets are more likely to hang around in your mouth for longer periods of time, which means they raise the odds of your harbouring cavity-creating bacteria.

While some dark chocolates have additives like caramel or marshmallow, it’s best to opt for the plain varieties, which are just as delicious. If you’re feeling festive, though, a dark chocolate with caramel is still better than a milk chocolate with caramel, so that’s the way to go!

While dark chocolate has some pretty sweet benefits, the most important thing to remember is that moderation is key.

This post was inspired by New York City dentist Kaye Dentistry. Read the full post on their website>>.

Contact Kits Family Dental in Vancouver, BC

Phone: (604) 738-1816 or (604)-731-8646

Email: info@kitsfamilydental.com

PARKING

  • There is an underground parking lot which charges $2.00/hour. Enter the parking lot from Yew Street. See map to the right.
  • There is metered parking on Broadway.
  • You may be able to find free parking on Vine Street, Yew Street or 7th Avenue.

ACCESSIBILITY

Our dentist office is wheelchair accessible via elevator. Patients can access the elevator from the entrance on West Broadway.

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