April 07, 2026
Spring is in the air, and we have some exciting news at Okanagan Dentistry. We have a new associate joining our practice this June, Dr. Ethan Urban.
Dr. Urban, a graduate of Western University (Honours BMSc; DDS), brings experience across restorative, prosthodontic, endodontic, and cosmetic dentistry, with a strong focus on clear communication and long-term patient outcomes.
From the moment we met Dr. Urban, it was clear he was a perfect fit for our team. He shares our belief that dentistry is about so much more than teeth — it’s about building trust, improving lives, and creating meaningful relationships with the people we care for. His commitment to lifelong learning and patient-first approach reflects the values we live every day at Okanagan Dentistry.
When he’s not in the clinic, you’ll likely find him trail running, hiking around the Okanagan, or hitting the ski slopes in the winter. We’re excited to welcome him to the team and know our patients will be too!
To celebrate Dr. Urban’s joining our practice, we are offering an exciting opportunity for our existing patients to win a two night stay at Sparkling Hill. Every existing patient who refers a new patient who attends a new patient examination will get entered into a draw. Contest Ends June 30th, 2026.
This is a friendly reminder to all our patients who are covered under the CDCP that the roll-over date is the end of June. That means, any treatment that was deemed to be covered for the 2024-2025 taxation year may not be covered after June 30th if your CDCP coverage changes. Please book any treatment to be done before the end of June, or wait until you have confirmation of coverage through CDCP for the 2025-2026 taxation year.
You may have noticed some new technology at Okanagan Dentistry—digital X-ray sensors. These advanced sensors provide clearer images, faster capture times, and significantly lower radiation compared to traditional film X-rays. In fact, radiation levels are now so low that current guidelines no longer require the routine use of a lead apron for most dental X-rays.
We have been seeing a lot of children lately who need some work on their tooth brushing, and we often get asked if they are able to brush their teeth on their own. Children typically don’t have the coordination to do an effective job on their own until around ages 6–8. Until then, brushing should be supervised, with a parent helping or finishing the job to ensure all surfaces are properly cleaned—especially before bedtime. Brushing should take a full two minutes! A helpful guideline is that if a child can’t yet tie their own shoes, they likely still need assistance with brushing. Encouraging independence while maintaining supervision helps build good habits and keeps their smiles healthy.
Polishing teeth prior to scaling is a technique used to enhance the efficiency of dental hygiene treatment. By removing the soft, sticky layer of bacterial biofilm (plaque) and extrinsic stains at the beginning of the appointment, the hygienist gains a much clearer view of the tooth surfaces. This improved visibility allows for more precise identification of hard, mineralized calculus that requires scaling.
Beyond visibility, this approach can also improve patient comfort. By eliminating the majority of soft deposits using a rubber cup and prophy paste, as well as air-abrasion technology such as airflow, the need for extensive manual or ultrasonic scaling is reduced. This can help minimize sensitivity during treatment while also preserving the integrity of the enamel. Please note that when air abrasion is used to polish teeth we may call it a “polish” but may not use a traditional rubber cup to polish.
This method represents a modern advancement in dental hygiene care, focused on both clinical effectiveness and patient comfort.