What To Expect

We take a proactive approach to your health by providing a high standard of care. Standard of care is a set of current standards we have established in our practice based on the recommendations of the Canadian and American Dental Associations. We have set this standard to ensure thorough diagnosis and optimal, consistent treatment for every patient. Your health and well-being are the top priority of our practice.

Dr. Exam estimated length of appointment: 90 min

Checking your teeth for tooth decay is just one part of a thorough dental examination. Your overall new patient Doctor visit will include:

• Looking at the tissues inside of your mouth.
• Examining your tongue.
• Checking your bite.
• Looking for visual evidence of tooth decay. An intra-oral video camera will be used for photos.
• Checking for loose teeth.
• Checking for broken teeth.
• Checking for damaged fillings.
• Evaluating any dental appliance you might have.
• Checking the contact between your teeth.
• Examine your mouth for any indications of cancer, diabetes or vitamin deficiencies. You will be having an Oral cancer screening using the Velscope system. The Velscope system is the first oral cancer-screening device to incorporate fluorescence visualization technology to help detect abnormal tissue, including cancer and pre-cancer. It is one of the best oral cancer detection devices but it is not a diagnostic device. A surgical biopsy is required before a diagnosis can be made.
• The Head And Neck Examination. Your dentist may also examine your face, neck, check your lymph nodes, saliva and movement of your lower jaw joints (TMJs).
• Taking X-rays. A panoramic x-ray as well as a Full Mouth Series x-rays will be taken. X-rays are an essential part of your dental care. Most of the times, bacteria and other microbes that are present in the mouth causing a variety of infections, are not visible and therefore cannot be easily detected. Most microbes hide between the teeth and the gum tissues in order to remain undetectable. It is for this reason that dental X-rays remain the best way to diagnose oral problems or dental anomalies.

Hygiene estimated length of appointment: 60 min

Regular dental cleanings are very important for good oral health.  On your first visit with your Hygienist, you’ll receive a comprehensive examination to accurately assess the health of your teeth and gums.

From this initial examination, we will develop a plan to help you maintain your oral health for the rest of your life. Solace Dental Care’s unique oral hygiene Periologix program complement and enhance the Canadian Dental Association’s recommendations to help your beautiful smile last a lifetime.

Expect a full Periodontal exam assessing the health of your gums. Eighty percent of the entire adult population is afflicted by periodontal disease. It is a silent, serious infection of the gums. There is currently no cure for this disease, but there are protocols that have been developed to gain control. Evaluating and educating patients about their clinical situation and presenting them with therapeutic options to prevent, correct or manage disease are best.

Early diagnosis and treatment are important to controlling periodontal disease. Bleeding gums are usually the first sign of a problem, but we have other ways to diagnose the disease including: 

Periodontal maintenance – This type of cleaning is performed at two, three or four-month intervals following the completion of scaling and root planning visits. These cleanings help manage periodontal disease and may include site-specific scaling and root planning, irrigation, localized antibiotics, fluoride application, polishing and hygiene instructions.  Patients with periodontal disease will always require a periodontal maintenance cleaning to control disease progression.

Probing Depth – We gently place a tiny measuring stick called a periodontal probe under the free edge of the gum to determine pocket depth. In a healthy condition, numbers measure from one to three millimetres. Anything over four millimetres is usually not considered healthy.  Bigger numbers usually indicate pockets of infection that must be treated. Recording the numbers helps us determine how many sites of infection a patient has as well as the severity of the disease.

Scaling & root planning – Scaling and root planning is a non-surgical approach to treating periodontal disease by removing plaque and calculus beneath the gum line down to the bottom of the periodontal pocket. Your Hygienist will smooth the tooth’s root surfaces, allowing the gum tissue to heal and making it more difficult for plaque to reaccumulate along the roots. This procedure may also include irrigation, localized antibiotics and hygiene instructions.  Scaling and root planning may be performed in phases and require multiple visits.

Your Hygienist will plan your personal treatment options. The type of cleaning you need and how often you need cleanings or periodontal therapy is determined by your periodontal health and should not be limited by your insurance coverage.