My staff and I are pleased to welcome you to our website.  As a specialist in prosthodontics and prosthetic dentistry, my goal is to improve your quality of life by restoring your mouth to its optimum state of health, comfort, chewing ability and appearance.The specialty of prosthodontics includes implant dentistry, complete and partial removable dentures, fixed crowns and bridges and cosmetic dentistry.  I also provide expertise in the highly specialized fields of prosthetic reconstruction of facial and oral defects caused by clefts, trauma, or cancer, and the management of snoring, sleep apnea and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) bite and disorders.You probably have questions about what to expect when first seeing a specialist.  This website is designed to give you an introduction and tour to my office and an idea of how I can help you.  In my office your needs come first. All that is good begins with a SMILE. When you visit our office, your smile is our top priority.  Our entire team is dedicated to providing you with the personalized, gentle care that you deserve. Part of our commitment to serving our patients involves providing information that helps them to make more informed decisions about their oral health needs.  This website is a resource we hope you’ll find both useful and interesting. Providing excellence in dental care has been a long-standing tradition in the Kaukinen family.  Dr. Kaukinen's grandfather was the first Finnish Canadian dentist to graduate from the University of Toronto.  Dr. Kaukinen's introduction to dentistry and prosthodontics was in his grandfather's dental office and prosthetic laboratory where he worked throughout high-school and university.He completed his Dr. of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Toronto and his Master of Science degree in Prosthodontics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.  He received academic, clinical and research awards from the University of Toronto,  the University of Michigan and the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics.  Dr. Kaukinen's specialty training, credentials and expertise have been recognised by the College of Dental Surgeons of BC, and the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.Dr. Kaukinen is a member and lecturer in leading international, national, and local dental societies and study groups.  He is also a consultant to the British Columbia Cancer Agency in prosthodontics and maxillofacial prosthetics.  Dr. Kaukinen regularly teaches other dentists in several study clubs, has published articles in leading dental journals, and lectures extensively throughout Canada and the United States on prosthodontics and implant dentistry.