Editor’s Note: This story was updated Jan. 12 to include the address and contact information of Afifa Eidher for purposes of dental care.
A new health-care service is now available in Sun Peaks, as local resident and longtime dental hygiene practitioner Afifa Eidher launches an independent dental hygiene practice aimed at improving access to preventive oral care in the mountain community.
Eidher, who has nearly 30 years of experience in dental hygiene, moved to Sun Peaks four years ago and currently works as the program and innovation manager for the B.C. Dental Hygienists’ Association.
Alongside her provincial role and contracts providing care in long-term care facilities in Kamloops, she is now offering dental hygiene services one day a week on Thursdays in Sun Peaks.
Rather than operating out of the local health centre, Eidher is renting clinical space from Down the Road Wellness, in the village level lobby near Century 21, allowing her to provide care when the massage clinic is not in use. To schedule an appointment, residents should contact Eidher via at info@enteradentalhygiene.com.
“I was hoping to collaborate more closely within the health centre, but when that wasn’t possible, the community really stepped up,” Eidher said. “This arrangement allows me to provide an important service locally and I’m grateful for the support.”
Access to preventive oral health care is often limited in small and resort communities, despite its close connection to overall health Eidher said, but oral heath plays a key role in total health.
“What happens in your mouth doesn’t stay in your mouth,” Eidher said. “Bacteria can travel through the bloodstream and impact the rest of your body. Preventive care is about much more than clean teeth, it’s about protecting your overall health.”
Eidher’s services include professional cleanings, oral health assessments, gum-health monitoring, low-radiation digital X-rays, oral cancer screenings and personalized preventive care. Eidher also noted gum disease often develops without pain, meaning people may not seek care until problems become more serious.
“Prevention beats repair,” she said. “Oral cancer screenings are part of every appointment. If no one is checking, people may not realize something is wrong.”
Eidher hopes the addition of dental hygiene services will complement the existing health-care offerings in Sun Peaks, which already include pharmacy services, physiotherapy and massage therapy.
“Healthy gums help keep you smiling, active and enjoying mountain life,” Eidher said. Residents interested in learning more about the service or booking an appointment are encouraged to reach out directly for details and availability.
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