Frequently Asked Questions

Not necessarily — the right interval depends on your mouth, not a universal rule. If you floss daily, brush with fluoride toothpaste, eat well, don't smoke and haven't had recent cavities, you may safely stretch longer. Patients with gum disease or high cavity risk need shorter intervals. The goal is simple: catch small problems while they're small. We'll recommend an interval based on your actual risk.

No. A healthy adult without recent cavities or problems generally doesn't need x-rays at every visit. Frequency depends on how stable your dental health is and what we're monitoring — and our digital x-rays use significantly less radiation than traditional film when they are needed.

The Canadian Dental Association encourages assessment within 6 months of the first tooth erupting, or by age one. Early visits build comfort before anything hurts. Schedule before problems develop, keep the buildup casual, and if you're dental-anxious yourself, consider having another family member bring them — kids borrow our feelings. Our pediatric specialist makes first visits genuinely fun.

Original dental records belong to the dentist who provided treatment, but you're entitled to copies. Typically you'll sign a release form, and the previous office may charge a reasonable administrative fee for copying and transfer. Tell us where you were treated and we'll help coordinate — our dental history form has a checkbox for exactly this.

We do — wherever your plan allows assignment of benefits, we bill your insurer directly and you pay only your co-portion. The deeper point: dental plans reimburse based on the coverage level your employer purchased, while your treatment plan is based on what your mouth needs. When those differ, we'll show you the gap in writing before treatment, with options to manage it.

First, check your CDCP eligibility — the federal plan covers many Canadians without workplace insurance. Beyond that: transparent written pricing, payment plans through our financing partner, and honest prioritization of what needs doing now versus later. Regular preventive care costs far less than fixing problems that grow from neglect.

No. Our rigorous sterilization protocols and protective equipment are simply part of the care — there's no added infection-control fee on your bill.

Ask questions — every question, without embarrassment. Good ones: Can you show me the problem on the x-ray? How many of these have you done? What does it cost? How long does it last? What are the alternatives — including doing nothing? The final decision about any treatment is always yours, and if you're still unsure, a second opinion is reasonable — we provide honest ones regularly. (Skip the internet rabbit hole; unreliable sources cause more anxiety than clarity.)

Whitening toothpastes mostly scrub surface stains; store kits use weaker bleach in loose one-size trays that leak. Professional whitening pairs stronger gel with custom-fitted trays and dentist supervision — which is why it produces the best results. One caution that applies to everything: long-term overuse of bleaching products can cause sensitivity or abrasion, so supervised is smarter. More on whitening →

We follow standard precautions with every patient: gloves, masks, hand hygiene and full instrument sterilization between patients, with sterilizer performance routinely verified. Have concerns? Ask for a demonstration — genuinely, we're happy to show you the sterilization area.

Consider location, hours, languages spoken, and whether you need a generalist or specialist. Recommendations from family, friends and physicians count for a lot, as do provincial dental association directories. Then call the offices on your shortlist — how the phone is answered tells you plenty. (Naturally, we'd love to be on that shortlist: here's our new patient page.)

Formal complaints about professional dental services are handled by your provincial regulatory body — in Ontario, the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO). The Canadian Dental Association doesn't handle complaints, as it has no regulatory mandate.

During office hours, call us at (613) 491-3300 — we hold same-day emergency appointments for new and existing patients. After hours, the Ottawa Dental Society Emergency Service is at 613-523-4185. For swelling affecting breathing or swallowing, uncontrolled bleeding or possible jaw fracture, go to the ER or call 911. Full emergency guide →