Tips for Maintaining Healthy Teeth in St. John’s

Your child's first teeth typically emerge around 6 months of age. To proactively prevent dental issues, we recommend your child's first dentist visit at the age of 1 year. This initial visit helps your child become familiar with our office, establish a rapport with the dentist and staff, and allows us to educate you on proper child dental care.

Scheduling teeth cleanings every 6 months is the most effective way to prevent tooth decay, plaque buildup, and other dental problems. During your dental checkups, you'll also undergo X-rays and screenings for specific conditions to ensure your overall oral health remains optimal.

During your initial checkup with us, we'll conduct a comprehensive examination. We'll assess any indicators of health issues related to your overall oral health, including gum disease, cavities, failing restorations, tooth fractures, and oral infections. Our goal is to identify and address minor problems before they escalate.

Your checkup may encompass:

• Updating dental and medical history to address any oral or general health concerns.

• Examinations and potential treatment.

• Dental X-rays.

• Cleaning to make your teeth and fillings smoother, reducing plaque buildup. Plaque is a clear, sticky substance that accumulates on your teeth daily and hardens into tartar (calculus) if not removed. Tartar can contribute to gum disease. A cleaning can also eliminate stains, enhancing the appearance of your teeth.

Remember to bring your insurance card if applicable and a list of any medications you are taking.

For children aged 12 and under, MCP covers:

• Examinations every 6 months.

• Cleanings every 12 months.

• Fluoride applications for children aged 6-12 at 12-month intervals.

• X-rays.

• Routine fillings and extractions.

• Sealants.

• Coverage for children aged 13-17 in families receiving income support, or eligible low-income families presenting an eligibility letter (with the correct date range) and their MCP card can receive:

• Examinations every 24 months.

• Limited X-rays (once every two years).

• Coverage for routine fillings and extractions.

• A dollar cap of $300 per calendar year (April 1st-March 31st).

For adult recipients of income support, access plan, or the 65+ senior plan who present an eligibility letter or MCP monthly stub (with the correct date range) and their MCP card can receive:

• Routine fillings.

• Extractions (excluding impacted teeth).

• Exams (every 3 years).

• Limited X-rays (once every 3 years).

• Cleanings are not covered, and there is a dollar cap of $300 per calendar year (April 1st-March 31st).

Regrettably, we do not maintain such records. As we serve a wide range of patients with over 50 different insurance policies, we rely on information provided by you directly. We do not have access to benefits carriers regarding coverage or maximums. If your coverage changes, please inform us at your next appointment.

If you are concerned about exceeding your annual benefits, kindly contact your insurance carrier before your appointment to confirm adequate coverage for your treatment.

We offer direct billing with most insurance companies. To submit a claim to your insurance carrier, we require your insurance card with your policy and certificate number before your appointment. Some insurance policies may not permit direct billing. In such cases, you will be responsible for the entire amount, and we can provide a claim form for reimbursement from your insurance.

CAD/CAM stands for computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. In 2004, Dental Care 101 became the first dental office in Newfoundland to introduce this remarkable technology to our patients.

Traditional mercury fillings had become controversial, and we no longer felt comfortable placing them in our patients' mouths. We wanted to offer the best restoration, strengthen teeth, and provide it in a single visit. Our search led us to CAD/CAM ceramic restorations, the dental industry's closest attempt to mimic natural tooth enamel.

With CAD/CAM, we not only deliver stronger restorations but also conserve tooth structure, extending the life of your teeth. This technology streamlines a typical three-visit appointment into a single, convenient visit. Here's how it works: After numbing the tooth, we remove the old mercury filling or reshape a broken tooth. Then, we use a specialized camera to capture an image of the tooth, generating a 3D model. We design a ceramic restoration specifically for you and use our milling unit to craft it from a solid block of ceramic. After verification and fitting, the restoration is bonded in place and ready to use, all in one visit.