The man behind the mask…

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

Dr. Geoff Pratt DDSI don’t know about you, but whenever I choose to work with a professional – whether it’s a lawyer, doctor, financial planner, insurance agent or contractor – I always like to know something about the person I’m going to be dealing with, especially if I might be using their services for a long time.

And I think it’s true when you’re choosing a dentist who’ll be poking around in your mouth a couple of times a year! You’d better like him and trust him too, right?

So here’s what you need to know about me…

I’ve been married to Janey for more than 38 years. We’re proud parents of Jocelyn and Warren. Although we’re empty-nesters now, our 4 y.o. Vizsla “puppy” (who can be pretty high-strung) keeps us busy at home.

Growing up in Montreal, I was a typical kid, into hockey, football, golf and baseball. I even taught skiing through high school and University, and one of my students went on to own and operate the largest travelling ski school in Canada – probably nothing to do with my instruction, but I like to think so:-)

I have a real passion for baseball and have coached boys and girls at all levels for over 25 years. I guess it’s my way to give back to the community.

You might have heard about dentistry being one of the most stressful careers. That’s statistically true. But after more than 36 years in practice, I still love dentistry. When I’m able to help others become healthier, more comfortable and improve their smile it make me feel great. That’s what it’s all about for me.

So thanks for reading my blog and I hope to see you in our office soon. To book an appointment, just give us a call at 250-598-2113 or use our online appointment form here:

Posted in About Dr. Pratt, General Dentistry | Leave a comment

Lasers – No freezing, no needles, very stealth!

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

Last week, Tasha (our amazing Hygienist) and I went to a seminar to learn about the potential uses of lasers in our practice.  Until now, lasers initially have been expensive, and difficult to justify in all but the very largest practices.

There are lasers that work on gums, some that work on teeth, and even lasers that work on both. Those that work on teeth are still costly, and are very slow compared to normal drilling. One advantage though, is many times they can be used without freezing, so in these cases, no needles!

The lasers that hold the most promise in our practice, are soft tissue ones that work on gums. They also reduce the need for freezing, and can be used painlessly in hygiene appointments to kill bacteria hiding in the pockets under the gumline. This can help you avoid costly and uncomfortable treatments down the road.

Laser treatment in hygiene appointments, also mean faster healing, and less pain and discomfort for our patients. They can do the same in early detection of cold sores. So if you feel a cold sore coming on, come in and we can zap it for you!

Pratt Dentistry patients can enjoy the benefits of laser treatments starting this spring.

Posted in General Dentistry | Leave a comment

Bright and White

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

You may be thinking about whitening your teeth. If so, here is some information that we feel will help you make this decision.

Our patients find that with their brighter smile, they look better and feel more confident, leading to a higher quality of life. Their tendency is also to take better care of themselves and take more pride in their teeth.

Whitening won’t lighten fillings or crowns, only enamel.  Even on enamel, there is a limit to the amount of whitening that is possible, as every person has a natural shade. As you get older, the whitening effects won’t be as great.

Prevent teeth staining by avoiding:

  • cigarettes
  • black coffee
  • tea
  • red wine
  • certain berries.

If you can’t live without your coffee, more frequent touchups will be necessary. Whitening toothpastes are a common choice, but have varying degrees of success, and can be abrasive to the enamel.

Whitening products cause temporary dehydration of teeth causing sensitivity, sometimes in the extreme. Teeth will rehydrate overtime, and desensitization agents are available to help decrease symptoms. Enamel is not lost or damaged by whitening agents, but supervised use is important, in order to monitor sensitivity, and track how you’re responding to the treatment.

With so many products on the market, it can be confusing, let us help you understand the different types of bleaching systems.

Store-bought

Store-bought products have improved over the years, and are less expensive, but have limitations. For instance, if you have receding gums or loose fitting fillings, you can get sore teeth and you risk possible nerve damage. These products tend to bleach between your teeth less effectively. Since they still cover the gums, they need to use weaker solutions, which take more time and can have fewer results.

At-home Bleaching

With trays made in the office for at home bleaching are custom-fit to your teeth, a uniform layer of gel is placed in difficult areas such as on turned or tipped teeth, making even whitening possible. A problem area like exposed roots can be protected with the help of your dental team before bleaching begins. The solutions given to you by your dentist will be stronger and can be more effective, and you still have the convenience of whitening at home.

In-office Whitening

In-office whitening is perfect for those wanting instant results. You whiten both top and bottom teeth in about an hour. This treatment is monitored by a dental team member and includes excellent gum protection, constant monitoring, and attention to detail that will ensure your comfort.

Posted in General Dentistry, Teeth Whitening | Leave a comment

Mouth Guards

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

For many years now, protective mouth guards used for contact sports have prevented injury and minimized damage.  I’ll never forget the time when playing high school hockey, two of my teammates lost all of their front teeth in the same week!  I was so happy to hear the buzzer at the end of the game.  All I could think of was to rush out of there and go buy a mouth guard to protect my own teeth.  My guard was crude and did not fit well.  It would drop down when I would shout for a pass!

Mouth guards have come a long way, including the “Do It Yourself” type, do fit better these days.  However, taking a simple impression in a professional dental office can allow you to have a custom fitted mouth guard that would fit extremely well.  You can also have it made in your team’s colors and with your name on it!

This new type of mouth guard helps to improve the athlete’s performance in strength, endurance, and reaction times by proper positioning of their lower jaw.  Visit www.jawshield.com where you can learn more about various types of mouth guards, including a new type of mouth guard that many high level and professional athletes are wearing.

Posted in Mouth Guards | Leave a comment

What you eat as a child affects your teeth as an adult

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

For those of you with young families, here an interesting way to help children learn about healthy food choices.  Remember – healthy food choices mean healthy teeth.    http://foodfun.org

Posted in General Dentistry | Leave a comment

Why the Sulcabrush is one of my favourite tools

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

In this video I show you how to use one of my favourite tools, the Sulcabrush. This very inexpensive tool can be used in a few minutes at home by anyone as part of your daily dental routine to prevent gum disease.

Posted in Flossing, General Dentistry, Gum Health | Leave a comment

What Michael Douglas and I have in common

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

The further I get from my days at McGill, the more I appreciate the University. An article this month in The McGill News, about actor Michael Douglas, is dear to my heart because the first case of oral cancer that I ever found as a dentist was on my dad’s lower lip!

The good news for my dad was that this early detection allowed for successful treatment.

Click here to read the article

Michael`s story and those like him, is the reason we have introduced the VELSCOPE into our practice. The VELSCOPE helps in the early detection of oral cancer.

Posted in Head and neck cancer | Leave a comment

How to floss your teeth (the right way)

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

I made this little video to show people the right way (and the wrong way) to floss your teeth.

Posted in Flossing, General Dentistry, Gum Health | Leave a comment

Do you pass the “bad breath test”?

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

If you think you might have bad breath then try this simple 10 second test to find out.

Posted in Flossing, General Dentistry, Gum Health | Leave a comment

Are Your Gums Receeding?

Posted on May 6, 2011 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

There’s a simply way to see if your gums are healthy. Receeding gums is a common (and preventable) problem that gets worse as you get older, especially if you don’t do anything about it. Learn why gums can receed and what you can do about it in this quick video.

Posted in Flossing, General Dentistry, Gum Health | Leave a comment

I admit it, I’m a junkie

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Dr. Geoff Pratt

OK I admit it, I’m a personal growth junkie. I love going to workshops and seminars to learn from the best in both the dentistry and personal development fields. Several times a year I attend conferences and events to upgrade my skills and learn the latest and greatest (and try to get a couple of rounds of golf in while I’m there too!)

Recently, one of my teachers had me do an insightful exercise to figure out my core values. I mean, these have nothing to do with dentistry, but everything to do with who I am as a person. And since you’ve taken the time to read this post, I’ll share them with you. OK?

  1. Personal Growth – Investing in lifelong learning, personal development and self-education. If you’re into this stuff, let’s swap ideas next time you’re in the office!
  2. Family - To me this means spending plenty quality time with Janey and the kids. That’s why I work Monday to Thursday and take a few weeks off each year. I work hard and play hard. We love to walk our crazy dog, “Foster”, go to Palm Desert to hit some balls, and spend time with our grown up kids who live in Ontario.
  3. Integrity – My beliefs and actions need to be congruent. People will tell you that my “word is law” – so if I say I’m going to do something for you, I’ll do it. In my practice it means treating people with respect and honesty. It shows up when we keep 90% of our appointments on time. If we have a 10 o’clock appointment, then we want you in the chair by 9:59!
  4. Leadership – I’ve has plenty of experience with this on the sports field as a player, coach and mentor to new coaches. Whether it’s a kid learning to pitch a baseball or a new staff member, I really enjoy offering my influence and guidance to help people succeed in life.
  5. Compassion - When I sit down with patients and lay out their options, I find myself putting myself in their shoes. What would I do if I had their dental problems, given their budget, age and other factors? That way I can give the best advice. People say I’m a bit of a “softie” but I think it really comes down to caring about people.

Like I said, I found this exercise to be enlightening. I found that it helped to get clear on my core values and get them out of my head and on to paper. So I’ve stuck them on the wall here in my office to remind myself of what matters most to me. Maybe you might want to do the same. If you want to know more about the process I used, just send me an email via my contact page here on the site.

Posted in About Dr. Pratt, General Dentistry | Leave a comment