Dentistry@Richmond

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve Answered Common Dental Questions

Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ)

How often you go for a dental exams depends on your oral health needs. The goal is to catch small problems early. For many people, this means a dental exam every six months. Your dentist may suggest that you visit more or less often depending on how well you care for your teeth and gums, problems you have that need to be checked or treated, how fast tartar builds up on your teeth, and so on. Ask yourself the following questions: 1 – Do I floss every day? 2 – Do I brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and follow my dentist’s instructions on how to brush properly? 3 – Do I eat a well-balanced diet, including food from all food groups, and limit sweets and sticky foods? 4 – Do I smoke? 5 – Do I have a history of cavities or gum disease? 6 – Is my overall health good? The answers to these questions are all factors that affect your oral health. They will help you and your dentist decide how often you need to visit for dental exams. It’s worth noting that you should not determine your need for dental care on what your dental plan covers. Do I need x-rays at each visit? How often you need to have x-rays also depends on your oral health. A healthy adult who has not had cavities or other problems for a couple of years probably won’t need x-rays at every appointment. If your dental situation is less stable and your dentist is monitoring your progress, you may require more frequent x-rays. If you are not sure why a particular x-ray is being taken, ask your dentist. Remember that dental x-rays deliver very little radiation; they are a vital tool for your dentist to ensure that small problems don’t develop into bigger ones.

The first step in choosing a new dentist is to list your needs, which might include:

1 – Location
2 – Hours of practice
3 – Language(s) spoken
4 – Generalist or specialist practice

Ask your family and friends if they can recommend a dentist. Other members of your community, such as your doctor, may be able to offer suggestions. Some provincial dental associations have Web sites that allow you to search for a dentist in your area (see “Other Resources” below).

Yellow Pages advertising may also prove helpful. It will list each dentist’s location, and may include other details that will help you in your search.
Once you have narrowed your list to two or three names, call the dentists to see if they are accepting new patients. This initial call may also give you some sense of the office environment, but there’s nothing like the first visit to help you decide if it’s a good match for you.

How can I get my records transferred? 

Original dental records belong to the dentist who provided the treatment, and not the patient, because dentists have to keep all of their records for a period of time, as set out by their provincial dental regulatory body. Once you have selected a new dentist, you can request that a copy of your records be transferred from your former dentist.
You may be required to sign a release form from your former dental office and you may also be charged an administrative fee for having your records copied and sent to another dental office. If you have questions about the records transfer process in your province, ask your dentist or contact the provincial dental regulatory body. 

Your health is very important to your dentist. One of the ways that your dentist helps you stay healthy is by preventing the spread of germs. One of the best ways to do this is to use barrier protection such as gloves and masks.

Your dentist and other dental team members also wash their hands regularly. In addition, they sterilize equipment used in the dental office and clean the furniture and fixtures in the examining rooms. This system is referred to as “standard precautions.” It means that every patient is treated in the same way because patients don’t always know if they’re sick. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
If you would like to know how this system is carried out in your dentist’s office, ask to be shown how it’s done. Dentists welcome the opportunity to ease their patients’ concerns, rather than have them leave the office with unanswered questions. Once you see the work that goes into making the dental office a clean and safe environment, you will feel reassured.

It is worth noting that even though standard precautions are used, it is still important to tell your dentist of changes in your health. This will help your dentist suggest the right choices of treatment for you.

It’s important to get an early start on dental care, so that your child will learn that visiting the dentist is a regular part of health care. The first step is to choose a dentist for your child.

It may be your own dentist or one who specializes in treating children (called a pediatric dentist). Once you have selected a dentist, call the office to find out at what age he or she prefers to see child patients for the first time. CDA encourages the assessment of infants, by a dentist, within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth or by one year of age.

It’s important to make the first visit a positive experience for your child – one reason why it’s best to visit before a problem develops. If you think there is a problem, however, take your child to the dentist right away, no matter what age.

If you are a nervous dental patient, ask your spouse or another family member to take the child for the appointment. If your child senses that you are nervous, he or she may feel nervous too. When you talk to your child about going to the dentist, explain what will happen without adding things like “it won’t hurt” or “don’t be scared.”

Be sure to get an early start on regular dental care at home. Start cleaning your child’s mouth with a soft damp cloth before teeth come in and continue with a soft toothbrush once he or she has a first tooth. Limit the number of sugary treats you give your child, and focus on healthy food choices from the very beginning.

Dental plans, offered by many employers, are a means to help you pay for your dental treatment. Most Canadians enjoy dental plans and the insurance companies that provide them are actually benefit carriers. Carriers reimburse patients based on the level of coverage decided by the patient’s employer.

When you visit the dentist, it’s the dentist’s role to make a treatment plan based on your oral health needs. Your needs may be different from what is covered by your dental plan. It is your right to decide whether or not to go ahead with any treatment.

You should not decide based on what your plan covers. If you agree to have the treatment, it’s your responsibility to pay for it. It is the responsibility of the benefits carrier’s to reimburse you for the amount covered by your dental plan.

Many dentists are willing to contact a patient’s benefits carrier, on a patient’s behalf, to find out if a treatment is covered. The patient has to pay the portion that’s not covered and the dentist may offer a payment plan to help.

I don’t have dental insurance and can’t afford to go to the dentist. What can I do and why does dentistry cost so much anyway? If you do not have a dental plan and cannot afford to pay your entire bill at once, ask your dentist about a payment plan. If you cannot afford care, even with a payment plan, contact the nearest:

1 – Social services agency to see if you qualify for government-funded dental care

2 – Dental school where senior dental students provide treatment at a reduced cost

Dental services may seem expensive. In Canada, we don’t have to pay directly when we visit a doctor or hospital, so we may not realize the high cost of providing health services. Overhead costs are high for dentists. They have staff, equipment and other operating costs.

The good news is that you can avoid costly dental treatment by brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly for a dental exams. Regular dental exams cost money, but they are less expensive than fixing serious dental problems that stem from neglect.

Dentists have been doing what’s called “non-vital” bleaching for many years. Non-vital bleaching is done on a damaged, darkened tooth that has had root canal treatment. “Vital” bleaching is done on healthy teeth and has become more popular in recent years.

Vital bleaching, also called whitening, may be carried out in the dental office or the dentist may instruct the patient on how to do the bleaching at home. There is also a wide variety of products for sale in stores. Not all products are the same and not all give you the same results. Different products, including those used by dentists, may also have different risks and side effects. Here is an overview:

Whitening toothpastes with abrasive ingredients are really not bleaching products at all, but work on surface stain only. These products are sold in many stores. Some whitening toothpastes do contain a chemical ingredient (or “bleach”) that causes a chemical reaction to lighten teeth. Generally, they have the lowest amount of “bleach.” They may not whiten as well as stronger products, but they have less chance of side effects. These pastes are brushed onto teeth and rinsed off, like regular toothpaste.

Bleaching kits sold in stores stay on your teeth longer than toothpaste and contain stronger bleach.” These store-bought products do not come with the added safety of having your dentist monitor any side effects. They also come with a one-size-fits-all tray that holds the “bleach” and is more likely to leak the chemical into your mouth.

Dentists may use products with stronger “bleach”, but they give patients careful instructions to follow. They are also trained to spot and treat the side effects that patients sometimes report during bleaching. In addition, if a tray is needed to apply the “bleach”, dentists supply custom-made trays. Because products used by dentists are strong, they tend to produce the best results.

Patients should be aware that the long-term use of whitening or bleaching products may cause tooth sensitivity or tooth abrasion. Please consult with your dentist before using a whitening or bleaching product.

Ask questions. It sounds simple enough, but sometimes we feel embarrassed to ask simple questions. There is no need to feel that way.

You will feel much better, and be able to make a better decision, if you understand the dental procedure that is recommended to you. If you don’t say anything, your dentist may think that you already understand.
Here are some tips when asking questions. Ask:

1- If you can see any pictures of the procedure or what it looks like when it is done;

2- How many times your dentist has done this procedure in the past;

3- How much it will cost;

4- How long it will take;

5- If it will need to be redone in the future;

6- If there are alternatives to the procedure and if so, what are the pros and cons of each option.

The final decision about how and when to proceed with any treatment is yours. To help you understand what is involved in the treatment, your dentist may give you some printed material to read.
If you have already left the dental office without asking questions, call back later. Be careful about getting information from unknown sources, including sources on the Internet. Some of this information may not be reliable.
If, after all of your questions have been answered you are still uncertain, you may wish to get a second opinion from another dentist. Often, a second opinion will give you confidence that your dentist has planned the right treatment for you.

CDA is not responsible for handling complaints since we have no mandate to regulate dentists. Formal complaints concerning the professional services received in a dental office are handled by your provincial regulatory body.

Source: cda-adc.ca

Experts in medicine and dentistry examine how X-rays are used and establish safety guidelines. As few as feasible should be taken by your dentist. X-rays can occasionally be suggested by dentists to diagnose a unique issue. The use of digital X-rays now is safer and emits significantly less radiation than in the past thanks to technological advancements.

If you haven’t seen a dentist in a while, anticipate getting them during your initial exam. This aids in examining the condition of the gums and teeth. Every six months, the dentist could request photos if you have gum disease. Depending on your dentist’s plan, routine check-ups should be scheduled every two years.

Due to the changing nature of their teeth and the ease with which they develop cavities, children require more X-rays than adults.

Regular examinations assist in identifying problems early to avoid larger and more expensive treatments later.

Your teeth will first be cleaned of build-up by a dental hygienist. The dentist will then use specialised tools to probe specific areas on the surfaces and close to the gumline. 

Every six months, or more frequently if your dentist suggests it, you should have an exam. 

Find a dentist who puts you at ease and explains what to expect. The fear of visiting the dentist often gives way to a great sense of relief once the appointment is finished and a treatment plan is in place. 

If you experience any of these problems, consult a dentist right away.

  • Mouth sores
  • Jaw pain
  • Redness
  • Swollen face or gums
  • Tooth sensitivity
  • Broken teeth
  • Dry mouth
  • Bleeding gums
  • Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

Getting checked out as soon as possible helps to avoid infections and more serious issues.

Yes, we are taking on new patients of all ages. To schedule your first session, contact us today!

New patients are always welcome here! To schedule a new patient exam and cleaning, please call us or make an appointment through our contact forms.

A cavity is a small hole that develops within the tooth as a result of dental decay. Cavities develop when sugars and starches from the food you eat interact with plaque accumulation on the tooth’s surface. This causes an acid to be produced, which can erode the tooth enamel.

Untreated cavities might result in more severe issues with oral health. Remembering to brush your teeth at least twice daily and to floss between your teeth once a day will help you avoid getting cavities.

After all the dental decay has been removed, a filling is a synthetic material that dentists use to fill a cavity. 

Composites, gold, or ceramic are just a few of the materials used to create fillings. Talk to us about the best form of filling for you and your teeth if you require one.

Gum disease, sometimes referred to as periodontal disease, is primarily brought on by plaque and bacterial build-up that is not treated when it is first noticed. The use of tobacco, tooth grinding, some medications, and heredity are other factors that contribute to periodontal disease.

The early stage of gum disease is gingivitis. It is curable if discovered. If neglected, gingivitis can develop into gum disease. Advanced gum disease is a chronic condition that can eventually cause tooth and bone loss.

Gingivitis and more severe instances of periodontal disease can be avoided by brushing your teeth often and visiting our clinic every six months. Indicators of gum disease include red, irritated, bleeding, or swollen gums chronic bad breath, loose teeth, or loss of teeth, extreme tooth sensitivity, receding gum line and abscessed teeth.

We provide dental care to all members of your family regardless of age. Our dentists cater to kids of all ages and offer care to meet their dental needs at every stage of life.

We are aware that anyone can experience a dental emergency at any time. Call us right away if you have a dental emergency, and we’ll advise you on the first aid measures you should take until you can get to our dental office. In order to minimise the time it takes for you to receive emergency dental care, we will also try to make your appointment with us as quickly as possible.

We have everything we need to take care of patients with special needs. When you visit our offices, our dedicated team will look after you at every turn. For individuals who have severe anxiety, we also offer specialised sedative solutions.