Spring has sprung! Are you cleaning your house and updating your closets? Have you thought about spring cleaning for your smile?
Why April is the Best Time for a "Smile Audit"
Spring is a great time for a smile reassessment. Especially if you're getting ready for some fun summer activities like graduations and vacations that you'd like your smile to be camera-ready for. If you decide to move forward with any cosmetic treatments or smile updates, doing it in the spring gives you the time you'll need to be ready for the summer.
Here are some possibilities for cosmetic treatments you might complete over the next couple of months:
- Professional teeth whitening: At Alta Dental Studio, we offer two convenient options for professional teeth whitening with in-office and custom take-home whitening kits. Most patients can achieve great results in a single appointment or with a couple of weeks of at-home whitening.
- Dental bonding: A great option for eliminating small cosmetic flaws, like chipped or worn teeth, or tooth size or shape discrepancies. We can complete a bonding procedure in a single visit to our dental clinic.
- Porcelain veneers: Looking for a complete smile transformation? Porcelain veneers are your solution! It takes two visits and two to three weeks to complete a new smile with porcelain veneers.
- BOTOX®: BOTOX removes fine lines, crows' feet, and frown lines with comfortable injections delivered during one visit to our dental clinic. The effects will last all summer!
Updates to 2026 Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) Guidelines: What East Vancouver Residents Need to Know
If you're renewing your CDCP benefits in East Vancouver, the time is now. Renewals for the 2026-2027 benefit year are currently open and will close on June 1st. If you don't renew your benefits by June 30th, they will end. If you're applying for CDCP benefits for the first time for the 2026-2027 benefit year, applications will open on June 2nd. Don't forget to renew your coverage to avoid any gaps in your benefits and care.
CDCP Updates
The CDCP has introduced service and preauthorization updates effective April 1st, 2026:
- Preauthorization is now required for all desensitization services.
- There are new standardized frequency rules for complete dentures.
- There is no coverage within 24 months of a reline or rebase on an existing denture for new dentures.
- Sedation requests are no longer mandated to have radiographs.
The Smile Spring Cleaning Checklist: 3 Steps to Refresh Your Routine
If you've never thought about spring cleaning for your smile, you might not even know where to start! Besides updating your smile with your dentist, here are a few more things to consider that may improve your oral health at home:
- Swap the Brush: Have you switched to an electric toothbrush? If not, you might consider upgrading your tools, as an electric toothbrush does a lot of the heavy lifting for you.
- Technique Check: Are you using proper brushing and flossing techniques? If you're unsure, a visit with your dental hygienist for a demo might help. (This is also where an electric toothbrush is helpful)
- The Dietary Shift: Moving from the starchy comfort foods of winter to the fruits, greens, and vegetables of summer can give your smile a boost.
Talk with Our Team
We invite you to reach out to our East Vancouver dental team at (236) 200-0762 to book your next consultation.