What age groups do you cater to?

We provide services for children 3 years and adults up to 50.

Do you accept dental referrals?

Yes, We receive referrals from all over the island. Referral forms can be downloaded from this website.

What sedation/options can you provide?

We are a specialty practice and provide general anesthetic services for dentistry for pediatric, teen, and adult patients who need to be fully asleep for the procedure.

Where is your practice located?

We are located in Dunan, Vancouver Island. Please see the contact page for more information.

Can parents stay in the OR during treatment?

As in hospital operating rooms (OR), a parent is welcome to be present to help put the child off to sleep but once this is done, we kindly request the parent wait in the reception area. Parental presence in the OR re-directs the attention from your child to the parent, lengthens the treatment time and this cumulates in greater unnecessary risk. 

Do you accept patients on the Healthy Kids program?

We are fortunate to be community partners with the PHSA. Eligible patients on the Healthy Kids program have their entire anesthetic fee covered by the program.

Is anesthesia safe?

Our surgical center has one doctor who provides the anesthetic while a separate dentist provides the treatment.  Therefore, each doctor can focus on their respective tasks. Our office is inspected and compliant for general anesthesia by the BCCOHP.

 In terms of morbidity and mortality in ambulatory dental surgery centers: Nkansah et al reported a mortality rate of 1.4 deaths per 1 million anesthetics. El-Mowafy et al (Results presented at the American Association of Dental Research (AADR) Annual Meeting & Exhibition in Fort Lauderdale FL March 22, 2018, manuscript in preparation) reported a mortality rate of 0.8 deaths per 1 million anesthetics and a serious morbidity rate of 0.25 events per 1 million anesthetics. Cumulatively, this represents a mortality of approximately 1 death per 1 million anesthetics over approximately 40 years. which is an enviable safety record for anesthesia administration in any healthcare setting. (As a reference: Schiff et al examined mortality and morbidity of ASA I and II patients in hospital-based settings over an approximately ten-year period from 1999-2010. This study estimated 7 deaths per 1 million anesthetics attributed to anesthesia administration. ) Private surgical centers provide a patient-friendly environment away from MRSA and other nasty bugs that can be contracted in hospitals, to ensure an experience for the patient that is far more pleasant and personalized than any hospital OR.

What are the neurocognitive effects of anesthesia??

The neurocognitive effects of anesthesia are currently being investigated and prospective trials are underway. Although emerging studies are encouraging (data from the GAS trial demonstrated strong evidence that a single anesthetic before the age of 2 did not adversely affect neurodevelopment outcomes at age 5) and do not reflect the same response seen in animal studies, more data is required.  The greatest risk seems to be very young patients, less than 2 years old, who require multiple anesthetics. Our dental anesthetics are performed on children aged 3 years and up, which puts us outside the highest risk window. Additionally, dentistry is a short procedure and is minimally invasive, therefore the dosages of the medication required to keep the patient asleep are at an absolute minimum. Neurodevelopment is a complex process, therefore, the impact of the underlying disease on neurodevelopment must be weighed against the impact of the anesthetic itself.