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Our Great
Staff & Services
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Trudy Raffan, Receptionist/Manager
Trudy
comes to us with over 25 years experience. She began her dental
career assisting in general dentistry and oral surgery. She expanded
her career by designing and teaching the dental reception program
at Vancouver School Board. As a result, her knowledge of treatment
procedures is excellent. It is a very complicated job dealing with
hundreds of different insurance plans, and Trudy will work with
you to ensure that you receive all the benefits to which you are
entitled.
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Lee Morris, Certified Dental Assistant. Lee has been a CDA for 29 years and has worked with Dr Drance on and off for over 22 years. Dr Drance counts on her loyalty and support and values her esthetic eye and artistic ability. She has also been a goldsmith and jewelry designer for the past 18years. We are thrilled to have her back full time.
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Julie Harrison, Dental Hygienist.
Julie, our gentle hygienist is passionate about her work in helping patients achieve optimum health. She has been a hygienist for over 6 years and a chair side assistant for 10 years before that. Julie began working with us five years ago, took time off to have a baby, and we are now happy that she is willing to make the trip from Squamish to take care of our patients.
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Doreen de Freitas, Receptionist.
Doreen graduated from the BCIT dental reception course at the top of her class in August 2002 after completing the Office Administration Program at Vancouver Community College. She has been with our team since then and her administrative knowledge is an asset to our office.
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Danja Semenowycz, Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
Dr. Drance relies upon Danja’s expertise. She has worked with us for the past 8 years and has been a CDA for 12 years. Danja enjoys helping improve people’s smiles and their self- confidence: as she often says, that is the best part of her job. When she isn't working, she is spending time with her husband and 2 children. |
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Inder Sangha, Certified Dental Assistant (CDA)
Inder's warm and caring approach as our certified dental assistant allows our patients to have a comfortable and relaxing experience. She was born and raised on Vancouver Island and graduated 13 years ago from Malaspina University College. She enjoys helping patients improve their smiles and seeing them achieve great results. When she isn't working hard, she is spending time with her husband and 2 children and enjoying their new home.
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Our
Services
General dentistry
We provide a lot of this type of treatment, which includes keeping the gums and tooth-supporting
bones healthy: we want you to keep your teeth for a lifetime. With
our help, and some effort on your part at home, this is an achievable
goal. Teeth require maintenance and when your older fillings break
down, teeth fracture or wear down: we can restore their function and
appearance. Utilizing all of the materials, equipment and techniques
available today, Dr. Drance can make dental treatment a pleasant experience. Learn
more about your initial visit...
Cosmetic Dentistry
Dr. Drance has been interviewed on
television and in magazines about his work in cosmetic dentistry.
The happiest patients we have are those who have decided to improve
their smiles. We know that many people hate their teeth, but are completely
unaware how we might give them a new, beautiful smile. You might
have seen the TV show “Extreme
Makeover". Dr. Drance can give you that same smile right here in Vancouver.
We use a combination of porcelain veneers, crowns, teeth whitening, orthodontics,
and laser gum recontouring: the results are incredible! This is truly a life-changing
experience and we have seen the difference it makes in people’s
lives many times. It is the most rewarding gift you can give yourself.
Come in and we will give you an idea of what is possible. Learn more about cosmetic
dentistry...
No
Mercury fillings!
Dr. Drance has not used the mercury containing fillings for over twenty years, long before some of the health questions about
mercury were being raised. While still an area of debate, the use of
mercury has been banned by many countries and Health Canada has recommended
limiting the number of fillings that contain mercury in children and
pregnant women. The tooth-coloured fillings are much more difficult
and more expensive to place, but Dr. Drance uses techniques developed over that time to make them very successful. The added benefit is that
the tooth-coloured fillings help to strengthen the tooth.
Teeth
Whitening
Dr. Drance has been whitening
teeth for 20 years and has discovered the most favourable laser-bleaching
technique called "Deep Bleaching™" we also offer the conventional
custom take home trays which work well, but this new technique is
superior. If you are perfectly happy with the size and shape of your
teeth, but would like to see them whiter, this is the answer. Learn
more about Teeth Whitening...
Treatment
of Chronic Headaches, Migraines and Facial Pain (TMJ symptoms)
Most
facial pain and headaches are muscular in nature. It has been discovered
that most headache sufferers clench and grind their teeth at nighttime
while they are sleeping. Dr. Drance was the first in Vancouver
to use the elegant and small NTI device that has been successful in
eliminating many people’s
suffering. We have been able to help about 80% of those clients
who suffer from migraine headaches, which are difficult to treat, by
reducing their symptoms. You might have seen Dr. Drance on Canada AM
being interviewed about his use of this NTI device.
In some cases, reconstructing worn teeth, or replacing missing teeth
can also help headache patients.
Dental
treatment of Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Snoring
is a huge problem for many people. Various treatments, including
laser surgery, have had some success. Snoring is a result of the vibration
of the soft tissues in the back of the throat. At night, when the
jaw and tongue drop back, the airway is reduced and vibration occurs.
Utilizing a dental appliance that keeps the jaw forward, many people
have found a great reduction in their snoring. Some people who suffer
from snoring also have sleep apnea, which usually goes undiagnosed.
If you are a poor sleeper, do not wake up feeling refreshed, and often
feel tired during the day, this could be your problem. Sleep apnea
has been called “the
silent killer,” as
fatigue can result in many accidents. Dr. Drance has specific training
in the diagnosis and appliance fabrication for these conditions. Learn
more about Snoring or Sleep Apnea
Sedation Dentistry
Many people are
very apprehensive about having dental treatment. Dr. Drance recognizes
this fact, and offers a pill that alleviates anxiety, which is taken
before your appointment. Many patients find that they are sufficiently
relaxed to fall asleep during their treatment. Please let us know if
you feel that sedation dentistry might help you.
Our High-Tech Equipment
We are proud to use the new technology available in
dentistry today. This equipment allows us to work more efficiently
and comfortably than ever before! Some of the latest additions include:
Digital x-rays – Up to 90%
less radiation than before (which was already very low). No more
miniature x-rays -- you can easily view them on our monitor -- and
no more waiting for them to develop.
Intra-oral cameras -- Now you can see the condition
of your teeth the way we do. It is otherwise difficult for you
to know what we are talking about. This camera allows you to be a
more active participant in your own dental health.
Laser Cavity detection – This
equipment enables us to find small cavities substantially earlier than
with older methods of detection and means that we can often do very
small fillings, often without anesthetic, to avoid the necessity of
a larger filling.
Laser Gum therapy – Gum
disease is likely the most common chronic infection in our body. Incorporating
Laser Gum therapy into our therapy can reduce the need for
costly and uncomfortable gum surgery.
The Wand – This computer-controlled
anesthetic delivery system allows us to isolate and numb the
tooth we are working on, and prevent you from suffering the full tongue
numbness that makes it difficult to talk and eat after your
appointment.
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