Dentist near Taylor-Massey

Taylor-Massey and the office on the Danforth

Taylor-Massey takes its name from the creek that winds through the ravine on its northern edge, and from the Massey family. In the late 1800s, Walter Massey ran a model farm here called Dentonia Park, named for his wife, Susan Denton. The farm sold eggs, poultry and trout and was home to the City Dairy, which produced the first pasteurized milk in Canada. Part of that land is now Dentonia Park, and the rest became the homes, apartments and shops around Victoria Park and Danforth, including Shoppers World Danforth at 3003 Danforth Avenue.

Victoria Park Avenue marks the line between East York and Scarborough here. Our office is on the Scarborough side, about 2 km east at 3520 Danforth Avenue, Unit 107, in the building known locally as Terrace on Danforth. There is parking behind the building and the office is wheelchair accessible.

Getting here from Taylor-Massey

• By transit: from Victoria Park station or the Danforth stops near Shoppers World, ride east along Danforth toward Warden. It is about 2 km. Check the TTC trip planner for current routes.
• On foot: about 25 to 30 minutes east along Danforth Avenue.
• By car: a few minutes outside rush hour, with parking behind the building.

Care Taylor-Massey residents book

Taylor-Massey has a large share of apartment households, multi-generation families and residents who arrived in Canada recently. The visits we see most from this side of Victoria Park are:

• Canadian Dental Care Plan visits for eligible children, adults and seniors. See CDCP dentist.
• First visits for newcomers and people returning after years away from the dentist. See new patients.
• Children’s check-ups, fluoride and sealants. See children’s dentistry.
• Toothaches and swelling that need attention the same day. See emergency dentist.
• Extractions and root canals for teeth that have been hurting for a while. See root canal therapy and tooth extraction.

Saving a painful tooth or removing it

When a tooth has been aching for weeks, people often ask whether it can be saved. The answer depends on what we find on examination and X-rays:

1. Is the nerve inflamed or infected? If so, root canal therapy can often remove the infection and keep the tooth.
2. Is there enough tooth left to restore? A tooth broken below the gum may need a crown after a root canal, or may not be restorable at all.
3. Are the gums and bone healthy? Advanced gum disease can loosen a tooth so much that keeping it is not practical.
4. What are your priorities? Some people want to keep every tooth they can. Others prefer the simplest path. Both are reasonable, and we respect your choice.
5. What comes next? If a tooth is removed, we talk through replacement with an implant, a bridge or a partial denture, or leaving the space if that is acceptable.

You leave with a written estimate for each option and time to think it over, unless an infection needs treatment that day.

Everything else we offer

• Exams and cleanings, oral cancer screening and digital X-rays
• Gum care and tooth-coloured fillings
• Crowns and bridges, inlays and onlays
• Dental implants and dentures
• Invisalign and braces
• Cosmetic dentistry and whitening
• Night guards and TMJ care
• Dental care for seniors
• Gentle care for nervous patients

Coverage and estimates

We bill most insurers directly and accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan. What you pay depends on your plan and the treatment. We explain coverage first and give you a written estimate. See insurance and billing.

Helpful guides

• What type of dental exam do you need?
• Bleeding gums: what they mean
• Bad breath and mouth odour
• What a rubber dam is and why we use it
• Aging and dental health

Children, sugar and healthy habits

Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic conditions in children, and it is largely preventable. Simple habits at home matter more than anything we do in the chair:

1. No bottle or sippy cup of milk or juice in bed. Milk pooled around teeth overnight is a common cause of early decay.
2. Water as the everyday drink. Keep juice and pop for occasional treats with meals.
3. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, a rice-grain smear under age three and a pea-sized amount after that, and help children brush until about age eight.
4. Limit grazing. Snacks spread across the whole afternoon keep teeth under constant attack. Set snack times instead.
5. Ask about sealants and fluoride varnish at check-ups. Both add protection to teeth at higher risk.

School-age checklist

• A check-up and cleaning on a regular schedule set for your child
• A mouthguard for contact sports
• A bite check around age seven
• A plan for any baby teeth that are loose, late or causing pain

Children who are eligible for the Canadian Dental Care Plan can use it for many of these services. Bring their member information and we will explain what applies.

Teenagers: braces, sports and wisdom teeth

Teen years bring a new set of dental questions for Taylor-Massey families. Adult teeth are in, jaws are still growing, and schedules fill with school, sports and part-time jobs. Appointments after school are possible until 7 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and on Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm.

What we watch for in teenagers:

• Bite and alignment. Crowding or a bite that does not meet evenly is easier to guide while the jaw is still growing. Our page on Invisalign and braces explains the choices.
• Wisdom teeth. They usually start to show on x-rays in the mid to late teens. Many never cause trouble; some need removal if there is no room. We monitor them and explain the options before anything is decided.
• Sports injuries. A mouthguard protects teeth and braces in contact sports. Bring it to check-ups so we can check the fit.
• Energy drinks and snacking. Sipping sugary or acidic drinks over a long day wears enamel faster than having them with a meal.

Teens can take more charge of their own care at this age. Encourage them to ask their own questions at the visit, and see our guide on wisdom teeth for more.

Nearby neighbourhoods

See also Crescent Town, East York, Oakridge and Danforth and Warden.