Crosstown Dental Clinic ★10

The practice people come back to after years away

Crosstown Dental is one of the youngest practices in central Vancouver — Dr. Philip Chang opened it in 2016 — and one of the smallest: two general dentists to three registered hygienists. That ratio shows in what patients write: they name the hygienist before the dentist, and many begin by admitting how long it had been since their last appointment.

Treatments

Checkups and cleanings, sealants, oral cancer screening, digital X-rays and an intraoral camera. Fillings, root canal treatment, crowns and bridges, extractions and wisdom teeth, implants and full-mouth restoration. Cosmetic work runs to whitening, bonding, veneers, gum sculpting and Botox for a gummy smile. Night and sports guards, plus sleep apnea appliances. Emergencies are seen the same day; after hours a message reaches the dentist directly.

Two aligner systems, not one

Most offices carry a single brand. Crosstown carries Invisalign and SureSmile both — the second planned from a 3D scan and cut from clear Essix Ace plastic, with smooth edges that spare the cheek irritation brackets cause. Crowding, gaps, overbite and underbite are the cases they take. For whitening the practice site carries a virtual try-on that previews the shade before anyone books.

The dentists

Dr. Philip Chang grew up in Regina, took his doctorate at the University of Saskatchewan and came to Vancouver in 1999, practising in the West End for years before opening his own door. Fillings, crowns and bridges and implants are his ground; away from the chair he studies Japanese, plays electric guitar and works as a stunt performer in film. Dr. Katherine Thomas is a Lower Mainland native with a UBC degree in microbiology and immunology and a UBC dental doctorate, awarded the British Columbia Dental Association Award for leadership and academic standing; cosmetic dentistry is her strongest suit.

Who it suits

Anyone who has let a decade slide and dreads the lecture. People who want the same hygienist every visit. Adults weighing aligners who would rather compare two systems than be handed one.

Frequently asked questions

I have not been in years — what happens first? An examination with digital X-rays and an intraoral camera, then the findings and a plan, talked through before treatment starts.

Can I be sedated? Oral sedation is a pill taken beforehand — no needles, no IV line. You stay awake, and someone else drives you home.

SureSmile or Invisalign? Both are near-invisible removable trays; the dentist matches the system to how far the teeth have to move.

Are children seen? Yes — family dentistry is a declared direction here, from a first checkup through to dentures.

Opening hours