Frequently Asked Questions

The goal of anaesthesia is to provide the comfort you need to get your work done. Patients with special needs or unable to tolerate being sedated may choose sleep dentistry. During your consultation your options will be given and together we can find the best match for you.

Anaesthesia can be provided in various levels: minimal, moderate, deep and general anaesthesia. Minimal sedation typically given as nitrous oxide; you remain awake but have a “relaxed” feeling. Moderate sedation you remain awake but in a “twilight” state. You may or may not remember your experience. Deep sedation deep sedation you are asleep but may react to pain. Usually pain can be alleviated with administration of local anaesthesia (freezing). During General Anaesthesia you are asleep and will not respond to any stimulation including pain.

The type of anesthetic you or your child will have will be determined during the consultation. We will go over the risks and benefits of each type of anesthetic and you will be able to decide what is best for you or your child. We always look for the most minimal amount of sedation needed to complete our work so that everyone is comfortable and work can be done in the best possible conditions.

For dental treatment provided by Dr. Toong, we customize our fees based on the current General Practitioner and Specialist fee guide published by the Ontario Dental Association. The anesthetic fee is determined based on time, complexity, and any special considerations. If another dentist is providing dental treatment in our office a facility fee is added to the anesthetic fee.

Every insurance policy is different. It is important that you know your coverage and what benefits your employer has provided for you. We are happy to assist you in determining your insurance coverage. Be aware that insurance companies have privacy policies that do not allow them to discuss your coverage. When you receive statements from your insurance company, please share them with us so we can help you understand your coverage and your responsibility for payment.

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Debit, and cash only. If you are part of a government assistance program, such as HSO or ODSP, you will need to bring proof of eligibility to every appointment otherwise you will be responsible for payment on that day. Please let us know if you need financial assistance. Any exceptions to normal payment arrangements, must be discussed and approved by your Dentist prior to any appointments.

General anesthesia is extremely safe and reliable. Hundreds of thousands of general anesthetics are administered successfully every year in Canada. The risk of death from an anesthetic in a healthy person is 1:700,000 in the dental office. To put this in perspective, the risk of death from driving a car is 1:6000 (if you drive 15,000 km per year). We make your safety our highest priority!

While this is possible, it is extremely rare. The media occasionally reports on a story of a life threatening problem at a dental office using anesthesia. In reality modern anesthesia is extremely safe. It is because it is so safe, with millions of uncomplicated anesthetics administered every year that such problems are considered news at all. Unlike most dental offices, our facility is hospital grade and equipped with emergency equipment and drugs similar to a hospital. Our nurses have years of experience in emergency medicine and within the ICU and have training not only in CPR, but Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). We make every precaution to make safety our top priority.

Regardless of the type of anaesthesia you receive, there are certain risks that you need to be aware of. Although we cannot guarantee that nothing adverse can happen, we do take every precaution to ensure that you have a pleasant and safe experience during and after the administration of anaesthesia.

Less Serious complications include,
• Asthma
• Mild allergic reaction
• Nausea and vomiting
• Hoarseness and sore throat
• Bleeding
• Bruising at the IV site

Some risks can be serious but happen very infrequently. These Include,
• Unplanned hospitalization
• Aspiration
• Severe allergic reaction
• Respiratory complications
• Malignant hypothermia
• Brain damage
• Death

Before the day of the appointment: Make appropriate arrangements so that you will be free to rest and recover for the whole day. Prepare to be in the office for up to 4 to 6 hours. You may receive special instructions on how you or your child is to take their medication on or before the day of treatment. Please follow these instructions carefully. Make sure you have appropriate arrangements for transportation to and from the office. Public transit is not acceptable.

Morning of Appointment: Be aware of the following food and drink restrictions: Nothing to eat or drink for 8 hours prior to your appointment. Dress in loose, comfortable clothing. Pajamas are fine. A T-shirt top is best.

You should contact us before the appointment:

• If you have any questions or concerns
• If you have a fever, cough runny nose, vomiting, diarrhoea, or other ailments within 14 days of your scheduled appointment.

You should contact us after the appointment if you have:

• Persistent, repetitive vomiting
• Difficulty breathing, croup
• Persistent coughing or unusual snoring
• If you have concerns

The answer depends on the treatment that needs to be done. In some occasions your work can be completed in one appointment. Many procedures like crowns, bridges, dentures, veneers, and implants can take two or more visits since a laboratory is needed to fabricate your prosthesis. Some treatment plans can be lengthy and must be broken up into several appointments. In general, we will always try to complete work in one appointment.

A typical consultation is about 1 hour long. It is an opportunity to discuss your needs and concerns, to fully understand what will happen on the day of your appointment. Typically when a thorough consultation is done everyone is prepared and the likelihood of complications is reduced. Therefore, we find that it is critical that every patient comes for a consultation. If a new patient exam is done concurrently, the consultation fee is waived.