 Many of us may have experienced this before…an annoying, nagging pain that wakes us in the middle of the night and just won’t stop? No, I’m not talking about a toothache, I’m referring to our children likely asking us for yet another snack. We as parents are now expected to be teachers, caregivers, nutritionists, psychologists, housekeepers and now dentists! In today’s world, a routine trip to the dental office is something we do not have the luxury of experiencing. The high rate of aerosols distributing respiratory droplets into the air poses a health concern for the spread of COVID-19, therefore, it is best to limit the exposure during this time. I hope to clarify how to best care for your children’s teeth to prevent problems and how to deal with them if they arise.
The best way to avoid difficulties with our teeth is to prevent them. This has always been our practise philosophy and holds true now more than ever. Here are some tips to keep your family’s teeth in top shape for your next check-up. Remember that we are our children’s teachers – it is our role to model healthy habits.
The Royal of College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario has limited us to treating only true dental emergencies until the state of emergency in the province has been lifted. Therefore, it is important to identify which situations are emergencies, and which can be managed best from home. Dental Concerns that are NOT emergencies:
Dental Concerns that are emergencies:
Please contact us so that we can provide advice based on your specific symptoms and dental history. The goal is to prevent problems from arising and to manage mild conditions from home until it is safe to treat them. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have questions and require advice, we are always here for you! You are doing a fantastic job with your children and please don’t forget to take care of yourselves (and your teeth 😊)! We hope to see you all again very soon, Jessica Temple
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 Who could have imagined one year ago that a microscopic creation could have taken such a tremendous hold on the entire world? We have all been greatly affected by the spread of Covid-19 and are now working together worldwide to put an end to it.
Dentistry is one of the closest connected professions affected by this new Pandemic as the virus is spread through the saliva and can be contracted by coming in contact with an infected person. As a precaution, our governments have introduced the measures of isolation and social distancing in order to “flatten the curve” alongside promoting research towards medications to control and to prevent. Dentistry is considered an essential service, however, due to the transmissibility of this virus, extra precautions are being taken by our governing councils to prevent risk of transmission. The government has implemented a “state of emergency” and our college, which mandates our profession has stated that dentists and specialists are limited to only treating what they define as “true emergencies”. They define emergencies, as “trauma, significant infection, and prolonged bleeding or pain that can’t be managed by over the counter medications”. Most “emergencies” that we see in our office on a daily basis, thankfully, don’t fall into these painful categories. Many people come in with some mild sensitivity, or a chipped tooth, or a sore area in the gums or jaw. Compared to the listed emergencies from the college, these seem mild, but when you are the one who is experiencing the discomfort, it is not so easy to hold off for an indeterminate period of time. So, the question becomes, what do we do? First, we hope that we are able to return to open our offices as soon as we can. But we don’t have a crystal ball. In the meantime, we have made sure that our office is always staffed to receive calls from patients. In some cases, an explanation or a conversation with the dentist by phone can help to alleviate the issue. Some dental problems are temporal, meaning that they come and go, either from something that happened related to the gums, or trauma to the teeth. In these cases, we can monitor the problem over the phone and follow through until there is a resolution. In other cases, some attention is required. One common issue that arises is a chipped tooth. This can pose either a cosmetic or a discomfort issue as it scratches the side of the tongue. We have to gauge the seriousness of the issue on an individual basis. Some cases can be helped by simply smoothing the tooth with an emery board to remove the sharp spot. In the case of ‘serious’ emergencies such as those listed by the college, our office triages patients over the phone and works closely with specialists who are able to remain open to treat them, in order to stabilize the patient until further treatment can be undertaken. Our goals are to keep close communication with our patients during this unprecedented time and ensure that there are protocols in place to treat and relieve emergencies while following the guidelines presented to us. As soon as we are allowed to resume our practice, we will ensure that all precautions are in place for us to deliver dentistry to the highest level of infection control and protection. Our pledge at Gasner Dental is to help all of our patients manage their dental issues during this time and to ensure continued care, management and support. You can reach Gail or one of the Dentists by contacting the office. Wishing everyone continued health and safety. - Dr. John Gasner  Dr. Jon Gasner is a graduate of the University of Toronto. Graduating with Honors, he received the
Pediatric Dentistry Award from U of T and then went on to complete a General Practice Residency at the Mount Sinai Hospital. He worked as Acting Chief of Dentistry at Baycrest Hospital for several years. In December 2013, Dr. Gasner was awarded the “Heritage of Healing Award” by Aish Toronto at a Gala dinner for his service to the community. Dr. Gasner established Gasner Dental Associates in 1993 and has taken special pride in developing a dental team that focuses on community based dentistry for the whole family in a warm, caring environment. Dr. Gasner takes special measures to prepare young children for lifelong positive experiences in the dental office. He enjoys spending time schmoozing with patients both in the chair and in the waiting room, and has guided the practice to develop a warm ‘family’ atmosphere. His wife Ellise, spends time in the office helping to guide the smooth running of the practice. Together, they have 8 children, 5 of whom are married, 1 grandson and the cutest dog, Lucy. Dr. Gasner enjoys being involved in many community activities and spending time trying to keep up with the family. His hobbies include, piano, swimming, hiking, calligraphy and creative writing.  Dr. Jordan Klimitz graduated from the University
of Toronto in 2000 with an Honours Bachelor of Science, and then completed a Masters of Environmental Studies in 2002 from York University. He graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Manitoba in 2002, while receiving awards in Academic Achievement, Periodontology, and the Alpha Omega of Canada Award. Dr. Klimitz enjoys providing high quality comprehensive oral care and has been an Instructor at George Brown College since 2006, as well as being an Associate in Dentistry at the University of Toronto. He is married with three children and enjoys baseball, hockey and spending time with his family. Dr. Klimitz is known for entertaining children in the office with magic tricks. He provides a gentle approach to oral care, building confidence and positive experiences while offering the highest level of dental treatment possible.  Dr. Jessica Temple graduated in 2009 from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University
of Western Ontario where she won the award in Oral Radiology. Over the past 11 years, she has completed additional training in sedation dentistry, orthodontics and Invisalign, implants and restorative dentistry. Having three young children of her own, she takes a special interest working with the paediatric community and providing preventive care for the entire family. She strives to help her patients establish healthy habits from an early age and focuses on providing a warm and nurturing dental home. Jessica has been with the Gasner Dental team since 2019 and continues to enjoy forming relationships and providing dental care to this wonderful community. Outside the office, Jessica takes part in numerous charity and fundraising initiatives, and enjoys spending time with her husband and children.  Dr. Aaron Yaffe joined the Gasner Dental Associates
Clinic as an Associate Dentist in September 2019. He earned his DDS at University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and completed a one-year General Practice Residency at the University of British Columbia. Prior to his dental training, Aaron completed a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Manitoba. Aaron’s goals are to provide a safe, comprehensive, and rewarding dental experience for all of his patients. He understands that every patient is unique and requires individualized care. Given his background in Nursing and hospital-based dental care, Aaron has gained valuable experience in working with medically complex patients and understands the importance of excellent communication. Aaron believes in a holistic approach to care, emphasizing positive chair-side manner in his treatment of people of all ages and needs. Aaron grew up in Winnipeg, where he continues to visit his family and friends. His hobbies include fitness, video editing, and exploring the great outdoors with his partner, Alexa.  Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Dr. Debra
Walters came to Toronto to complete her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto in zoology. She then followed in her father’s footsteps and pursued a career in dentistry, graduating with Honours from Western University in London, Ontario in 1986. She settled in Toronto with her husband, Gary, and raised her three children while practising general family dentistry beginning in Aurora, and ultimately joining Dr. Jon Gasner about twenty five years ago. Debra is passionate about providing high quality care in a warm and comforting environment while forging good relations with her patients to make them feel at ease in the dental chair. Her retirement is approaching which is very bittersweet as she will miss her patients and colleagues very much while she pursues her next career: part time Muskoka resident, on call grandmother, and her other hobbies which are waiting for more time and attention. |
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Dental Gasner Associates.
3521 Bathurst Street
North York, ON
M6A 2C7
(416) - 785 - 0100
3521 Bathurst Street
North York, ON
M6A 2C7
(416) - 785 - 0100
Sunday 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Monday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Winter) , 3:00 PM (Summer)
Saturday Closed
Monday 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Winter) , 3:00 PM (Summer)
Saturday Closed