Is it time for a dental exam?

Problems found while they are small

The exam looks for decay, cracks, worn or broken fillings, and the state of the gums and the bone around the teeth. A cavity found now is usually a filling. The same tooth left another year can need root canal treatment instead, and that gets referred to an endodontist.

What the gum check is for

Plaque that sits under the gumline can inflame the gums. Inflammation left alone can turn into periodontitis, the form of gum disease that affects the bone holding the teeth. The hygienist measures the gums, cleans above and below the gumline, and shows you which tools suit your mouth.

Surface stains come off

Polishing lifts the surface stains that coffee, tea and red wine leave behind, and it happens at the end of the cleaning when the hygienist judges it is called for. Not every visit needs it. What polishing cannot do is change the colour of the tooth itself. That is whitening, and it is a different treatment.

How often is often enough?

There is no one schedule that suits every patient. The right interval depends on the state of your gums, how fast plaque and tartar build up, your risk of decay, whether you smoke, and what your medical history says. The dentist or the hygienist recommends yours from what they find, and tells you why.

If you are a student

Plans from colleges and universities across Ontario are accepted here and billed directly, and eligible plan holders often pay $0 for the exam and cleaning. Whether yours does depends on the plan, so the desk checks it before you book and tells you the number first.

We are minutes from both downtown campuses, with hours that fit between classes. Book a complete exam and cleaning as a new patient and you also take home an electric toothbrush or a disposable home whitening kit, whichever of the two you pick at the desk.