Dentist FAQs

Insurance coverage varies and is dependent on the benefits contract with each individual company. For this reason, insurance inquiries are best answered in person. We make every effort to maximize your insurance coverage and are happy to help you understand your individual coverage provided by the insurer. It is important to keep in mind that your insurance coverage is your responsibility and that you are responsible for the payment of all services rendered.

It depends on your specific needs. The goal is to catch small problems early.

Dr. Bis may suggest that you visit more or less often depending on various factors, including your home care, existing conditions or genetic predisposition to disease, as well as your risk factors which include your medical status (diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, sleep apnea) or habits such as smoking or tobacco use.

Please note that we are not here to change your habits unless you want to change them, and want to work with you in order to make your mouth and body healthier on your terms.

Yes, we have BPA free materials for those patients that have concerns with BPA and choose to avoid it. Let us know your preference if this is a concern for you.

We ask as a courtesy to our staff and other patients that you provide at least 48 hours’ notice (2 business days) for cancellations or rescheduling. If you are not able to provide 48 hours’ notice, a service charge valued at 50% of your scheduled appointment will be charged to your account.

X-rays are a common concern and question from many of our patients.

How often you need to have X-rays taken depends on many factors. We take X-rays for numerous reasons including looking for decay, infections and bone loss, but there are also X-rays that we take in order to ensure you don’t have some other hidden issues like cysts, tumours, or cancer. These can lie silent and have no symptoms until it’s too late. We want to make sure we take X-rays in order to catch these silent killers early so we can treat them when they are small and not impact your life or everyday living.

If you have any concerns about X-rays, check out some of our blogs that discuss these concerns or talk to Dr. Bis so you can determine the best course of action for you.

Gum disease is probably the most common dental problem facing Canadians today. It can progress quite painlessly until you have a serious problem, like loss of teeth or impact on medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and pregnancy.

Even though you may brush and floss regularly, regular visits to the dentist will help detect gum disease in the early stages.

There are many studies that show a correlation between gum disease and its impact on worsening heart disease and diabetes symptoms.  In many cases of diabetes, treating gum disease resulted in decreased diabetes results and a decrease in medication dosage. Gum disease is also linked to loss of a pregnancy or negatively impacting baby weight, and infertility.

For more information on this topic, check out our blogs.

Genetic predisposition to decay, or cavities, is a huge factor in whether or not you get cavities. Home care is important but catching cavities early is key to ensuring a lifetime of good oral health. By coming in for your check-ups as prescribed by Dr. Bis, we can catch problems early and treat them when they are small and simple rather than waiting till they blow up into invasive and expensive procedures later. I often hear patients say: “it’s not bothering me so why fix it”. In dentistry, if it’s “bothering” you, it’s no longer a simple cavity. If you wait until you have symptoms, you are almost guaranteeing a large problem such as root canals, crowns, or loss of teeth. Make sure you fix things when they are small and asymptomatic; don’t wait till they are “bothering” you.

Ideal age is around 3 unless you see problems earlier on. Don’t hesitate to bring your child earlier if there is anything you are concerned about. The earlier you start, the more comfortable your children will be. We plan your child’s visit based on the information you give us. Some kids are absolutely fine to hop right up in the chair and get a cleaning right from the get-go. Others are a little more hesitant and need us to take baby steps to work up to a full cleaning. Let’s see how your child does and we can discuss what is right for them on their first visit.

We understand that some people have anxiety and fear about visiting the Dentist. If that is the case, we invite you to come in for a consultation to discuss your fears and how to best move forward.