Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice, and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable.
Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the Alberta Dental Association and College (ADA&C), Health Canada and the Canadian Centre For Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).
We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.
To ensure the health and well-being of our patients and team members, we have installed 2 different types of air purifiers at our dental office. Both of these are manufactured by the Canadian company, Surgically Clean Air.
CASCADE WHITE - The Cascade White is the first unit you will see when you enter our office. We have placed this in the waiting area because this is the largest room in our office. The Cascade White is able to filter up to 576 cubic feet per minute.
The Cascade White filter has 6 stages of filtration including UV sterilization, plus two additional negative ion chambers to ensure the air is as fresh as possible. These six filters capture 99.998% of dust particles, pollen, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), mold, allergens, viruses, odors (like formaldehyde and smoke), bio-aerosols, laughing gas, and many other pollutants that are found in the inside air. The negative ion generator makes the indoor environment feel more pure, clean, and energized.
JADE - The Jade filter is what you will find in each of our operatories. The Jade filters still have the same 6 stage filtering system and will move 383 cubic feet per minute. This means the Jade will filter all the air in a 10 x 10 room in about 2 minutes.
Both of these filters perform their duties without being loud, (an industry-leading low level of about 55DB) or creating a “breeze” that can be uncomfortable for our patients.
Some additional changes you may also see when it is time for your next appointment. For example:
Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office. We will not allow patients to enter our office who have symptoms or have traveled outside of Canada in the last 2 weeks.
We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
In the interest of physical distancing, we are advising all adult patients to attend the office alone to prevent crowding.
Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
For our safety and yours, we currently cannot accept walk-ins.
We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (403) 382‑2273.
So come on in to get your dental work done and enjoy Surgically Clean Air!
Veneers are extra-thin covers bonded to the front surface of the teeth to improve their appearance. We’re happy to offer porcelain veneers in our Lethbridge dental office.
Porcelain veneers can be made to match your natural teeth color. They’re also stain-resistant and highly durable. Your porcelain veneers can last for years with proper care and regular dental checkups.
When Are Porcelain Veneers Used?
We may recommend dental veneers if:
You have a chipped or cracked tooth.
You want to mask stains on your teeth.
Your teeth appear uneven.
You want to close gaps between your teeth.
Your teeth are in good condition - no signs of cavities or gum disease, and your enamel is intact.
On the other hand, we may recommend an alternative treatment if:
There’s tooth decay which needs to be addressed first.
We design your smile according to your aesthetic goals and requirements. The procedure is irreversible since a portion of your enamel is removed so you need to be committed once you decide to proceed. To help you, we simulate the look of your teeth with veneers.
Getting porcelain veneers usually takes two dental visits within a month to complete. First, we remove a small amount of enamel from your teeth for the veneers to fit in. Then we take impressions of your teeth. We also attach temporary veneers to protect the prepared teeth until your final veneers are ready.
Once we receive your final veneers, we’ll contact you to come in for your second visit. We’ll see how your new veneers look and fit. Once you’re happy with them, we bond them into place.
Things to Know About Porcelain Dental Veneers
While porcelain veneers can resist stains, stains or cavities can still build up under them.
Your veneers need to be replaced once stains or cavities form under them.
Dental veneers need to be cleaned, brushed, and flossed daily.
Veneers can chip when biting into hard objects.
Once veneers are placed, you can’t revert to your natural tooth.
Since they’re a cosmetic treatment, veneers might not be covered by your dental insurance. We can verify this on your behalf.
Veneers aren't for everyone. We need to see whether it’s the right treatment for you, depending on the condition of your teeth and your cosmetic goals.
Getting Porcelain Veneers in Lethbridge
Interested in porcelain veneers? Book an initial consultation with our General Dentist, Dr. Lachman to learn more about dental veneers. Call us today at (403) 382-2273.