June marks National Dairy Month!

In honor of June Dairy Month, our team would like to thank all of our hard working families in the Dairy Industry.

 In fact, dairy is important to your overall health! Regular consumption of dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yogurt, have been found to lower your chances of contracting periodontal disease (also known as gum disease).

 Results of the study show that adults who consume at least 55 grams of lactic acid a day are less at risk for gum disease. Eating dairy is not just healthy for building strong bones, but is essential for maintaining a strong, healthy mouth.

 Questions about which foods you should steer clear of and which you should enjoy during orthodontic treatment? Give us a call or ask us on Facebook!

Halloween TIPS from The Smile Zone

It’s that spooky time of year again! Whether you are going door-to-door trick or treating, attending a party dressed in a clever, silly or scary costume, or simply getting together with friends and family to watch scary movies, Dr. Rob Andrew and Dr. Jerome Caouette and our team want you to keep in mind the following tips from our friends at the American Dental Association to help reduce tooth-decay.

•Eat treats with meals. Saliva production increases during meals washing out food particles and helping to neutralize cavity causing plaque acid.

•Consider chewing ADA-accepted sugarless gum after meals. Certain sugarless gums have earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance for scientifically proving that chewing the gum for 20 minutes after meals helped prevent tooth decay.

•Follow the 1-2-3s of good daily oral hygiene: Floss once a day, brush twice a day and eat three balanced meals a day.

•Visit Dr. Rob Andrew and Dr. Jerome Caouette for regular checkups.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from your friends at The Smile Zone!

Who's afraid of the dentist?

Does the sound of a drill make you flinch or cringe? Do you worry about your twice-yearly dental checkup? Trust our team at The Smile Zone when we say you’re not alone! In fact, the Journal of the American Dental Association has estimated that 30 to 40 million people have a fear of visiting the dentist.

To eliminate some of that fear, we’ve put together six steps to help you or your child overcome your dental anxiety before visiting The Smile Zone office.

1. What are you most afraid of? Is it the sound of the drill? Do you have needle phobia? Have you been traumatized by previous dental visits? Write down your fears, one by one.

2. Don’t wait. The more frequently you visit our office, the less work needs to be done at any one visit. Simply having your teeth cleaned professionally twice a year—or as recommended—prevents many, if not most, problems.

3. Bring a distraction to your appointment. Bringing along an iPod is a great idea. Just plug in those earphones, close your eyes, and get lost in the music. Listening to music can also be a pain killer.

4. Relax. Inhale slowly, and count of five. Hold your breath for 10 seconds, then exhale slowly to the count of eight. Repeat. It's easier if you're not totally focused on the work going on inside your mouth.

5. Ask. Before any procedure, ask the Doctor or one of our assistants why we’re using the tools we’re using. Ask us what we're doing, what the tool is used for, and how it will benefit you during the appointment. Also, please ask about anti-anxiety medications that we may prescribe to help you relax during your appointment.

6. We are here to help you. Remember, we are health care professionals who want to improve your oral health, and will never judge you or the state of your mouth. At The Smile Zone we will do all we can to ensure a trauma-free and pain-free experience!

We hope this helps! For more on dental anxieties, we encourage you to visit this helpful article, ask us during your next visit to our convenient Edmonton office! Or, ask us on Facebook!

Meet the Doctors

Dr. Rob Andrew has been practicing dentistry since 1986. He attended the University of Stellenbosch near Cape Town, South Africa, where he received his degree in dentistry. Dr. Rob also completed a two-year postgraduate course in esthetic dentistry (cum laude) at the same University in 1998 and is experienced in all phases of general dentistry. He wrote the University Co-ordinating Council's equivalency exam at the University of Alberta in 1999 and is a registered member of the Canadian Dental Association, the Edmonton District Dental Society, The International Association for Orthodontics and Functional Jaw Orthopedics. Dr. Rob completed a two-year mini-residency program in orthodontics and TMJ disorders in 2002 and believes that advanced education keeps his clinical skills perfected for the benefit of his patients.


Dr. Jerome Caouette earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1997 from the University of Alberta after practicing for a few years as a professional engineer. He has gained extensive general dentistry experience while located in Peace River, Hinton and Edmonton including dental surgery and pediatric dental rehabilitation in hospital settings. Dr. Jerome has additional education and training to provide in-office conscious sedation via inhalation, oral and IV routes of administration. In addition to general dentistry, he also provides services such as wisdom tooth extractions, dental implants and bone augmentation procedures. Other interests include being a part-time clinical instructor at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine and Oral Health Science. Also, Dr. Jerome joined the "Kindness in Action" group in 1999 and has traveled to Honduras on several occasions to provide volunteer dentistry in remote villages. Dr. Jerome's personal interests include spending time with his family and golfing when time permits.