A welcoming team member at the seesmile reception desk

Everyday care

Dental cleanings and check-ups in North York

A check-up and cleaning is usually one appointment.

Book a check-up and cleaning →Call (647) 474-7980

Cleanings and check-ups

A check-up is the dentist's look at the parts of your mouth you cannot see yourself: your teeth, your gums, and the soft tissues of your mouth and throat. A cleaning removes the hardened plaque (tartar) that brushing at home cannot. At seesmile, most people have both in the same visit, at our studio on Sheppard Avenue East, near Yonge and Sheppard.

Check-ups

What a check-up includes

The dentist reviews your medical history, then looks for decay, worn or cracked teeth, signs of gum disease, and early signs of mouth or throat cancer. They may also gently check your neck for swollen glands.1

X-rays are taken when they are needed, not at every visit. They can show decay between teeth or under old fillings, cracks, bone loss from gum disease, and teeth that have not come in. Dental X-rays use a very small dose of radiation, and you can always ask why one is being taken.1,2

Finding a problem early can make it simpler, and often less costly, to treat.1

Cleanings

What a cleaning involves

  • Scaling: removing plaque and tartar from the tooth surfaces and just under the gumline. Tartar can only be removed professionally.3
  • Polishing: smoothing the tooth surfaces.
  • Home-care advice: practical tips for your brushing and cleaning between your teeth.

A standard cleaning is for gums that are healthy. If your gums show signs of gum disease, you may need a deeper cleaning over more than one appointment.

Adults and children

Who it's for

Adults and children from age 6. If it has been years since your last visit, that is fine: we start with where your mouth is today, explain what we find, and agree on next steps together.

Timing

How long it takes and how often to come

A check-up and cleaning is usually one appointment. Your first visit with us may take longer, because we review your history and take any X-rays the dentist decides you need.

Many people come every six months, but there is no single right interval. The dentist recommends one based on your history of cavities and gum disease, how quickly tartar builds up, and your home care.2

Research supports this personal approach. A Cochrane review found that, for adults, six-month check-ups and intervals set by the dentist based on risk gave similar results for decay, gum health and quality of life.4 A separate Cochrane review found that routine scale-and-polish visits made little difference to gum inflammation for adults without severe gum disease, though they did slightly reduce tartar.5 This is why we set your schedule around your own needs, not a fixed calendar.

Fees

Cost and insurance

  • New patients: our $99 new-patient visit: a full exam, X-rays as the dentist decides are needed, and a standard cleaning for healthy gums. Deeper cleaning may need extra appointments and fees. See the new-patient visit.
  • We never charge more than the Ontario Dental Association (ODA) fee guide.
  • Returning patients: check-ups and cleanings are usually part of dental insurance plans. We bill your insurance directly, so in most cases you pay only the part your plan does not cover.
  • CDCP: we accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan. For covered care, you pay only your CDCP co-payment, or nothing if CDCP covers 100% of your care. We never charge the difference between the CDCP and ODA fee guides. See insurance, direct billing and CDCP.

Good to know

Limits worth knowing

A cleaning removes tartar and surface stains from food and drinks, but it does not change the natural shade of your teeth. If you want your teeth lighter, ask about teeth whitening.

A cleaning also does not replace home care. Plaque keeps forming every day, which is why brushing and cleaning between your teeth still matter.3

Aftercare

After your visit

  • Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and clean between your teeth once a day.3,6
  • If the dentist found something that needs care, you leave with a written plan and the fee before anything is booked.
  • If you notice anything unusual afterwards, call us.

Urgent problems

When to call us

Call (647) 474-7980 if you have a toothache, a broken tooth or a lost filling, gums that bleed every time you brush, or swelling in your face or gums. Don't wait for your next check-up. Call us and we'll see you at the earliest available appointment. See emergency visits.

Visiting seesmile

Visiting the studio

  • 175 Sheppard Avenue East, North York, near Yonge & Sheppard. About a 10-minute walk from Sheppard–Yonge station, with free underground parking.
  • Step-free access by elevator or ramp from the parking and the street.
  • Monday to Friday 9 am to 8 pm, Saturday 9 am to 4 pm, closed Sunday.
  • Our team speaks English, Farsi, Spanish and Tagalog.
  • Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is available for adults and children from age 6.
  • Patients come to our North York studio from across Toronto. We're a short trip on Line 1 (Yonge) and Line 4 (Sheppard).
  • Debit, credit card, cash and Interac e-Transfer.
The seesmile Dental Studio storefront, with a person at the entrance

Book a check-up and cleaning.

Book online → Call (647) 474-7980

Questions

Questions, answered.

Many people come every six months, but the right interval depends on your mouth. People with a history of gum disease may need visits more often; people with very low risk may need them less often. The dentist will recommend a schedule for you.

If your gums are inflamed, or it has been a long time since your last cleaning, some spots can feel tender. Tell us at any point, and we can slow down, pause or adjust. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is also available.

No. X-rays are taken when the dentist decides they are needed, based on your history and what they see.

A full exam, X-rays as the dentist decides are needed, and a standard cleaning for healthy gums. Deeper cleaning may need extra appointments and fees.

For new patients, the $99 new-patient visit includes a full exam, X-rays as the dentist decides are needed, and a standard cleaning for healthy gums. Deeper cleaning may need extra appointments and fees. For returning patients, our fees are never above the Ontario Dental Association fee guide, and we bill your insurance directly. With CDCP, you pay only your co-payment for covered care.

Check-ups and cleanings are usually part of dental insurance plans, but each plan differs. We bill your insurer directly and can help you check your coverage before your visit.

Yes. We are open until 8 pm on weekdays and from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturdays. Book online.

References

Sources

Related pages: Teeth whitening · New-patient visit · Insurance and CDCP · Family dentistry

  1. Canadian Dental Association. The dental exam. https://www.cda-adc.ca/for-the-public/visiting-your-dentist/exam
  2. Canadian Dental Association. Dental care FAQs. https://www.cda-adc.ca/for-the-public/faqs/dental-care-faqs
  3. Canadian Dental Association. Gingivitis. https://www.cda-adc.ca/for-the-public/understanding-your-oral-health/complications/gingivitis
  4. Fee PA, Riley P, Worthington HV, Clarkson JE, Boyers D, Beirne PV. Recall intervals for oral health in primary care patients. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020, Issue 10, CD004346.pub5. https://www.cochrane.org/CD004346/ORAL_how-often-should-you-see-your-dentist-check
  5. Lamont T, Worthington HV, Clarkson JE, Beirne PV. Routine scale and polish for periodontal health in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018, Issue 12, CD004625.pub5. https://www.cochrane.org/CD004625/ORAL_routine-scale-and-polish-periodontal-health-adults
  6. Canadian Dental Association. Teen oral health. https://www.cda-adc.ca/for-the-public/understanding-your-oral-health/teen-oral-health
Book a consultation