Saturday, December 26, 2009

Happy Holidays




We had a wonderful staff party on Saturday Dec. 19th, enjoying each others company with spouses and friends outside the office. Dinner was followed by a 'friendly' round of video games. Apparently, some of us are more competitive than is normally seen at the office and should get our aggressions out at more frequent occasions. No blood was shed and everyone showed up at work no worse for wear on Monday morning.
We wish everyone a Merry Christmas, hoping everyone has a safe and happy holiday, and a Happy New Year.
We will be closed between Dec. 24th and January 3rd inclusive.

Dr. Baksh and team























Wednesday, November 4, 2009

GO GREEN with Village Green!


Our Eco-Friendly Tote bags have arrived! Be sure to pick one up on your next visit to Village Green Dental Care.

Benefits of Eco-Friendly Bags

Using an eco-friendly bag can be good for many reasons. You will lower your carbon footprint by using less greenhouse gases with an eco-friendly reusable shopping tote You can also help the environment by using a recycled tote bag, or a biodegradable tote bag, as both of these methods will decrease the amount of materials that permanently take up space in landfills.

An eco-friendly reusable bag means you don’t end up with a drawer full of plastic shopping bags or an overflowing trash bin.


Uses for Your Cotton Tote

A tote bag is a bag large enough to carry a variety of materials. Because they are so useful and versatile, cotton totes have a wide variety of uses:
  • A tote bag is a great way to carry your groceries or other things you buy on a trip, as opposed to using paper or plastic bags the stores give you. This also means that on a shopping trip through a large mall, you can store all of your purchases in one convenient bag, rather than wrestling with a fistful of different plastic bags from different stores.
  • A tote bag can also carry everything you need to enjoy a day on the beach, from sunscreen and towel to extra clothing and a good thriller to read!
  • A cotton tote can be great for the student who needs to carry their textbooks and notes to classes and the library, but wants something lighter and more stylish than a backpack.
  • Store them in your car so you'll always them have them on hand for the grocery store, library, or farmer's market! If you have too many shopping bags already, a cotton tote can be used to store things at home, like old books or piles of paper, to help keep you organized.
  • Cotton tote bags are also perfect to carry your kids toys, baby items and much more.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Continuing Education at Village Green Dental!

We’re only half way through October and it has already been an eventful month for us.

The staff participated in two continuing education programs and before the month ends we will be participating in two more.

The first one was hosted by Dr. Sandra Chong, a periodontist whom we refer many of our patients to for gum problems.

Dr. Chong hosted a program at her office with mini seminars on various topics such as implants and laser dentistry. She also had representatives from various companies there to update us on new products. We’d like to thank Dr. Chong for including us in a very informative night which also included some great food!


The new members of our staff, Jen and Harnoop also attended an Invisalign course to reinforce and improve on the training which they have received on the job. They learned the importance of correcting spacing and crowding problems in the mouth, not only for aesthetic reasons but also for functionality. Invisalign is suitable for both adults and teenagers and it’s a proven alternative to braces. The average treatment time for Invisalgn is approximately a year depending on each individual case.

As Dr. Baksh is a certified Invisalign provider, we would be happy to provide you with a complimentary consultation to determine whether you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Healthy mouths lead to healthy minds

Send your kids back to school with a thorough check-up and these helpful tips:

Children across the province return to school this week and the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) reminds parents that they should do so with clean, healthy teeth.
"Tooth decay can impact a child's ability to focus, learn and even attend class," says ODA President Dr. Ira Kirshen. "The good news is that it is entirely preventable. Parents can help children fight off tooth decay by simply teaching them good oral health habits."

In a Special Report published last year - Tooth Decay in Ontario's Children: An Ounce of Prevention - A Pound of Cure - the ODA reported that tooth decay is a rapidly progressing disease and one of the leading causes of absences from school. It not only affects school performance, it impedes a child's ability to thrive and his or her sense of self-worth.

To emphasize the importance of prevention, the ODA offers the following tips to parents:

- When shopping for back-to-school clothes and supplies, be sure to include some new toothbrushes on your list.
A child's toothbrush should be changed every three months or immediately after an illness.

- To prevent spreading the bacteria that causes tooth decay, do not put anything in your child's mouth if it has been in yours,
such as forks, spoons or soothers.

- Pack your child's lunch with nutritious snacks like fruits, vegetables and cheeses which are also good for their teeth.
Avoid soft, sticky sweets that get stuck in your child's teeth or stay in the child's mouth for a long time, such as raisins, caramels and lollipops.

- Make sure your child brushes and flosses twice a day.

To encourage healthy habits, let your child watch you brush and floss your teeth as often as possible. Children are wonderful imitators, and there's nothing like a parent's example to teach them the way to healthy dental practices.

- Schedule regular check-ups with your dentist.

There are many things parents can do to build habits that will protect their children's teeth and lay the foundation for future health.
Make sure your child is ready for school and able to enjoy a full year's curriculum without being affected by oral health issues.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Office Closed for Holidays

Village Green Dental Care is closed for Holidays from August 14th to August 30th and will reopen at 8:00 a.m. on Monday August 31st.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Happy Canada Day!



From all of us at Village Green Dental Care!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

All the best to Kate!!

It's been about a year since Kate left on maternity leave. Kate now has a beautiful baby boy, Tanner, whom she is enjoying very much and wants to spend as much time with him as possible. As a result, she will not be returning to work with us. As parents also, we understand Kate’s need to cherish the time with her son as he goes through his precious early years. We would like to wish Kate all the best and hope she enjoys and treasures her time with Tanner.

We are excited to introduce and welcome, Jen Toone, Dental Assistant and Harnoop Sandhu, Dental Hygienist, to our team. Both Jen and Harnoop are new to Ottawa but not to the dentistry field. Jen and Harnoop come to us highly recommended. Jen is from Alberta and Harnoop from Southern Ontario.
Both Jen and Harnoops’ warm and friendly personalities are a wonderful complement to our office environment. They are sure to make you feel very comfortable and relaxed during your visit.

Jen & Harnoop- Welcome to our team!!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Thanks Carla and All the Best,

As many of you know, Carla has been with us this past year while Kate was on maternity leave. This is Carla's last week with us and we just wanted to thank her for taking care of our patient's hygiene needs over this past year. We'd also like to wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

Dr. Baksh, Rayhana and Chris

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Get Snack Smart with your kids

  • Limit the number of times a day your child eats or drinks sugars
  • Avoid sugary treats that stay in the mouth for a long time like hard candy or lollipops
  • Avoid soft, sticky sweets that get stuck in your child’s teeth
  • Serve sweets for dessert while there is still plenty of saliva in your child’s mouth to wash away the sugars
  • Serve juice and milk during or at the end of mealtime. Drink water between meals
  • Serve vegetables, cheese, nuts or seeds for snacks
  • Have your child brush her teeth at least twice a day and before going to bed

Monday, April 13, 2009

April is National Oral Health Month™

Most of us realize that diet and exercise play an important part in keeping us healthy. But did you know that a healthy mouth is also an important part of a healthy body?

5 Steps to Good Oral Health
As part of a healthy lifestyle and to help reduce the risk of oral disease, follow these 5 steps to good oral health.


1. See your dentist regularly
Regular checkups and professional cleanings are the best way to prevent problems or to stop small problems from getting worse.
Your dentist will look for signs of oral disease. Oral diseases often go unnoticed and may lead to or be a sign of serious health problems in other parts of the body.
Only your dentist has the training, skill and expertise to diagnose and treat oral health diseases and to meet all your oral health care needs.


2. Keep your mouth clean
Using a soft-bristle toothbrush, brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove plaque and bacteria that cause cavities and periodontal disease (gum disease).
Floss every day. If you don’t floss, you are missing more than a third of your tooth surface.
Your dentist may also recommend that you use a fluoride or antimicrobial mouthrinse to help prevent cavities or gum disease.
When choosing oral care products, look for the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) Seal of Recognition. Oral care products that have earned the Seal of Recognition have been reviewed by CDA and will effectively contribute to your oral health.


3. Eat, drink, but be wary
Healthy food is good for your general health and your oral health. The nutrients that come from healthy foods help you to fight cavities and gum disease.
Limit how much and how often you consume foods and beverages that contain sugar. Sugar is one of the main causes of dental problems.
Limit your consumption of foods and beverages that are high in acid. The acid may play a part in causing dental erosion.
Avoid excess sugar. It is one of the main causes of dental problems.


4. Check your mouth regularly
Look for warning signs of periodontal disease (gum disease). Gum disease is one of the main reasons why adults lose their teeth. The warning signs include:
Red, shiny, puffy, sore or sensitive gums
Bleeding when you brush or floss
Bad breath that won’t go away.
Loose or sensitive teeth.
Change in the colour of your gums
Receding gums
Look for warning signs of oral cancer. The 3 most common sites for oral cancer are the sides and bottom of your tongue and the floor of your mouth. The warning signs include:
Bleeding that you can’t explain
Open sores that don’t heal within 7 to 10 days
White or red patches
Numbness or tingling
Small lumps and thickening on the sides or bottom of your tongue, the floor or roof of your mouth, the inside of your cheeks or on your gums.
Tell your dentist if you have dry mouth, a sore mouth or burning mouth syndrome.
Report any of these warning signs to your dentist.


5. Avoid all tobacco products
Stained and missing teeth, infected gums and bad breath are just some of the ways smoking can affect your oral health. Besides ruining your smile, smoking can cause oral cancer, heart disease and a variety of other cancers, all of which can kill you.
All forms of tobacco are dangerous to your oral health and your overall health, not just cigarettes. Smokeless tobacco such as chewing tobacco, snuff and snus can cause mouth, tongue and lip cancer and can be more addictive than cigarettes.
If you use tobacco products, ask your dentist and your family doctor for advice on how to quit.
If you take care of your teeth and gums at home and visit your dentist regularly, your smile should last you a lifetime. Your oral health is good for life.

For more information, visit the Canadian Dental Association website: http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/index.asp

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter!

From all of us at Village Green Dental Care, have a Happy Easter!
Remember to brush your pearly whites after eating all the chocolate the Easter Bunny brings!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Welcome to our Blog!

We have recently revamped our website www.villagegreendental.com and we hope you like the new 'look'. Now, as we dive head first into the blogging world, we aim to achieve the following:

1. Express our thoughts and opinions.
2. Promote the products and services we offer.
3. Help other people! i.e. if we have mastered a certain procedure, we will share our story to help other dentists or a student still in dental school.
4. Connect with our patients and get their feedback on issues we can help them with, and by sharing stories, photos, videos and more.
5. Have fun! Share healthy recipes, travel tips, and more!

We hope you enjoy reading our blog and visit regularly. Follow us to have our newest blog posts sent directly to you!