Bright White Dental Hygiene Clinic

10/29/2025

Letter from Canadian Dental Care Plan

Hello,

I am writing to inform you of a recent reassessment of coverage for a small number of Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) clients due to an income calculation error.

Following a review by the Government of Canada, approximately 1% of CDCP clients were found to have incorrect coverage assessments for the 2025–2026 benefit period. A system fix has already been implemented to correct this error.

As a result, impacted CDCP clients may experience either a termination of coverage or a modification to their co-payment tier as of October 24, 2025. They will not be required to repay any co-payment differences or amounts covered by the CDCP for oral health care received before this date.

CDCP clients will be informed of the change starting October 17 through various channels, including:

a personalized letter which will be available in My Service Canada Account (MSCA);
automated calls or email notification asking clients to connect to MSCA or to call Service Canada to access important information related to a change in their CDCP coverage;
a letter sent in the priority mail for CDCP clients who do not have an email or phone number on file.
Important Information for Providers:

Providers are encouraged to ask CDCP clients if they have received a coverage update and to validate CDCP coverage and co-payment details at each visit, and before providing and billing for services or treatments.
Sun Life will be informing oral health providers via the Provider Newsletter and with an alert banner on Sun Life’s Provider Portal (Sun Life Direct) to assist both members and providers in navigating mid-treatment scenarios, linking to FAQs.
For treatments involving crowns or dentures that are mid-treatment and began prior to October 24, providers may contact the Sun Life CDCP Contact Centre at 1-888-888-8110 to inquire about potential coverage exceptions. These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed.
No other exceptions to planned treatments or coverage changes will be considered.
We appreciate your continued support in ensuring a smooth transition for impacted CDCP clients and their care providers.

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Bonjour,

Je souhaite vous informer d’une réévaluation récente de la couverture d’un petit nombre de clients du Régime canadien de soins dentaires (RCSD), en raison d’une erreur dans le calcul du revenu.

À la suite d’un examen effectué par le gouvernement du Canada, environ 1 % des clients du RCSD se sont avérés avoir reçu une évaluation incorrecte de leur couverture pour la période 2025–2026. Une correction du système a déjà été mise en œuvre pour rectifier cette erreur.

En conséquence, les clients du RCSD affectés pourraient voir leur couverture résiliée ou leur niveau de quote-part modifié à compter du 24 octobre 2025. Ils ne seront pas tenus de rembourser les différences de quote-part ou les montants couverts par le RCSD pour les soins buccodentaires reçus avant cette date.

Les clients du RCSD seront informés de ce changement à partir du 17 octobre par divers moyens, notamment :

une lettre personnalisée qui sera disponible dans Mon dossier Service Canada (MDSC);
des appels automatisés ou des notifications par courriel demandant aux clients de se connecter à MDSC ou d’appeler Service Canada pour obtenir des informations importantes liées à la modification de leur couverture en vertu du RCSD;
une lettre par la poste prioritaire pour les clients du RCSD qui n’ont pas d’adresse courriel ou de numéro de téléphone dans leurs dossiers.
Informations importantes pour les fournisseurs :

Les fournisseurs sont encouragés à demander aux clients du RCSD s’ils ont reçu une mise à jour de leur couverture et à valider les détails de la couverture et de la quote-part du RCSD à chaque visite, et avant de fournir et de facturer des services ou des traitements.
La Sun Life informera les fournisseurs de soins buccodentaires par le biais du bulletin d’information destiné aux fournisseurs, ainsi que par une bannière d’alerte sur le Portail des fournisseurs de la Sun Life (Sun Life en Direct), afin d’aider les membres et les fournisseurs à gérer les situations de traitement en cours, avec un lien vers la foire aux questions.
Pour les traitements en cours impliquant des couronnes ou des prothèses dentaires et ayant commencé avant le 24 octobre, les fournisseurs peuvent contacter le centre de contact du RCSD de la Sun Life au 1-888-888-8110 pour se renseigner sur les exceptions possibles en matière de couverture. Ces demandes seront examinées au cas par cas et ne sont pas garanties.
Aucune autre exception concernant les traitements planifiés ou les modifications de couverture ne sera envisagée.


Nous vous remercions de votre collaboration continue pour assurer une transition en douceur pour les clients du RCSD concernés et leurs fournisseurs de soins.

10/25/2025

Around 70% of children suck their thumb at some point.
It starts as a reflex — but if it continues beyond the toddler years, it can quietly reshape how teeth, jaws, and even the airway develop.

🔹 Why children suck their thumb

For some, it begins as a reflex that becomes a comfort habit — helping them relax or fall asleep.
For others, it’s an airway response — the thumb shifts the jaw and tongue forward, making breathing easier.
And in some, it acts as a neural reflex — pressure on the palate stimulates calming nerves, reinforcing the habit.

🔹 What happens inside the mouth

Normally, the tongue rests on the palate, helping widen the upper jaw and support nasal breathing.
But when a thumb replaces the tongue, it pushes the tongue down and cheeks inward — making the palate high, narrow, and constricted.
Studies show this can even reduce airway space by up to 3 mm on imaging.

🔹 How it changes teeth alignment

Front teeth stay apart → open bite
Upper teeth flare forward → overjet
Back teeth move inward → crossbite
Children with prolonged thumb sucking are 8× more likely to develop open bite and 3× more likely to develop crossbite.

🔹 The hidden facial changes

A thumb-kept-open mouth makes the lower jaw grow downward and backward instead of forward.
This leads to a long-face growth pattern, a retruded chin, and a narrow airway — early risk signs for sleep-disordered breathing.

🔹 The muscle memory effect

Thumb sucking retrains muscles the wrong way.
Low tongue posture weakens nasal breathing.
An open bite causes tongue thrust and frontal lisp.
Lips stay apart at rest, and weak muscles encourage chronic mouth breathing.

⚠️ Common signs parents might notice

– Mouth breathing and snoring
– Restless sleep or night terrors
– Bedwetting or grinding
– Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
– ADD/ADHD-like behavior
– Dry mouth and more cavities

Research links prolonged thumb sucking with higher risks of airway and sleep-related issues — because oral habits shape the airway system early in life.

💡 The good news — it’s reversible

Positive reinforcement: comfort toys, bedtime routines, reward charts.

Myofunctional therapy: retrains tongue posture, lip seal, and swallow.

Dental airway check (age 3–4): detects early issues like allergies, small jaws, or enlarged tonsils.

Early guidance can restore balance — protecting a child’s smile, breathing, and sleep for life.

🔹 Educational content only — not a substitute for professional dental advice.

10/23/2025

Research has found that inflamed gums aren’t just a mouth issue — they may signal inflammation happening throughout the body, including in the arteries of the heart.

Scientists discovered that the same bacteria found in gum disease can enter the bloodstream, trigger immune reactions, and accelerate artery plaque buildup — quietly increasing heart attack risk.

What’s shocking: patients with severe gum disease are twice as likely to suffer cardiovascular complications, even if they have no heart symptoms yet.

Regular dental cleanings and early gum treatment don’t just save teeth — they can literally protect your heart. The next check-up might be life-saving, not just smile-saving.

09/20/2025

Ever wonder what the measuring I’m doing at the end is? This is a great demonstration explaining periodontal disease and probing and how your bone is affected!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Cbw43P51r/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/16/2025

09/12/2025

Many people assume baby teeth don’t matter because “they’ll fall out anyway,” but this is one of the biggest misconceptions in dentistry. Primary teeth act as natural placeholders, guiding the proper alignment and eruption of the permanent teeth growing underneath. If these teeth are neglected—whether due to untreated cavities, trauma, or early loss—the permanent teeth can erupt in the wrong position, leading to crowding, misalignment, or even impacted teeth.

The roots of baby teeth sit very close to the developing buds of adult teeth. When infection spreads through an untreated cavity, it can travel beyond the roots and directly affect the permanent teeth beneath. This may cause discoloration, enamel defects, or malformation in the incoming tooth. In severe cases, the infection can even damage the surrounding bone, making future eruptions more complicated.

Caring for baby teeth is therefore not only about preventing pain or infection in childhood, but also about protecting the future smile. Regular dental check-ups, timely treatment of cavities, and proper home care create a healthy environment for permanent teeth to grow strong and correctly positioned. What happens in the early years leaves a lasting imprint—healthy baby teeth are the foundation for a lifetime of oral health.

09/12/2025

ORAL BACTERIA CAN TRAVEL TO THE HEART 🫀

Scientists have discovered something shocking — bacteria commonly found in dental plaque have been detected inside the arteries and even heart tissue of patients who suffered heart attacks.

How does this happen?
When gums are inflamed or diseased, bacteria can slip into the bloodstream through tiny breaks in gum tissue. Once in circulation, they may contribute to inflammation in blood vessels, accelerating cardiovascular damage.

This doesn’t mean oral bacteria directly cause heart disease, but their presence shows how strongly the mouth and heart are connected. Ignoring gum health could silently fuel risks far beyond the mouth.

Current research suggests that keeping gums healthy through regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings isn’t just about saving teeth — it could also help protect the heart.

🧠Sources:

Lockhart PB, et al. (2012). Periodontal Disease and Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: Does the Evidence Support an Independent Association? Circulation.

Tonetti MS & Van D**e TE (2013). Periodontitis and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Consensus Report. J Clin Periodontol.

09/10/2025

We have a last minute cancellation tomorrow Sept 11th at 2:00pm and 3:00pm- message or call (506)871-5868 to book your next dental cleaning or tooth whitening! www.brightwhitedh.ca

We accept all insurances including the Canadian Dental Care Plan and offer direct billing!

08/14/2025

Periodontal gum disease and cardiovascular disease have a direct link to each other! It’s important to maintain good oral practices and to visit your Dental Hygienist regularly for dental cleanings!

08/12/2025

Just like a tree, a tooth has deep roots that keep it strong — and when those roots weaken, the whole structure is at risk. 🌳🦷

The beauty of a smile begins where most people never look — beneath the gumline. A tree draws life from its roots buried deep in the soil. Similarly, your teeth are anchored by the gums and jawbone hidden beneath the surface. These unseen foundations are what keep your smile stable, functional, and healthy.

But just as a tree can slowly wither when its roots are damaged, teeth can silently lose their strength when gum disease sets in. Plaque buildup, inflammation, and untreated infections erode the supporting bone and tissue, eventually leading to tooth loss — often without pain until it’s too late.

The good news? Strong roots can be preserved for life. Daily brushing and flossing remove the “decay-causing pests,” while regular professional cleanings stop problems before they spread. Nourish your teeth’s roots with consistent care, and they’ll stand tall — just like a healthy tree in a thriving forest.

07/31/2025

Fluoride is an important part of preventative dental care! Did you know that you get more fluoride in your daily coffee or tea then you do from your toothpaste? And that it is naturally occurring in our foods and environment?

07/29/2025

A new study has found that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a key pathogen in chronic periodontitis, can travel from infected gums to the heart and cause structural changes. Researchers detected bacterial DNA in the left atrial appendage of patients undergoing heart surgery — an area critical for maintaining normal cardiac rhythm.

The presence of this oral bacteria was linked to myocardial fibrosis — the buildup of fibrous scar tissue in heart muscle. This fibrosis can interfere with electrical conduction pathways, increasing the risk of atrial fibrillation, a serious cardiac arrhythmia associated with stroke and heart failure.

This is the first time P. gingivalis has been directly associated with structural remodeling of the heart. The findings suggest that untreated periodontal disease may silently contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction by promoting chronic inflammation and microbial dissemination.

Maintaining optimal oral hygiene and early management of periodontal inflammation is not only essential for preserving oral health — it may also protect long-term cardiac function.