Regular dental examinations are your first line of defense against tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. At Dental Sedation Ottawa, we make comprehensive dental check-ups comfortable and stress-free through sedation options—from gentle relaxation to complete sleep—so you can receive the thorough examination you need without fear or anxiety.
A comprehensive dental examination is much more than just checking for cavities. Think of it as a complete health assessment for your entire mouth, teeth, gums, and surrounding structures. During your exam, your dentist evaluates every aspect of your oral health, identifies problems in their earliest stages, and creates a personalized treatment plan to keep your smile healthy.
Most adults and children should have dental exams every six months. However, patients with gum disease, high cavity risk, diabetes, heart disease, or weakened immune systems may need more frequent visits—typically every three to four months. These regular check-ups catch problems when they're small, treatable, and far less expensive to fix.
For patients who've avoided the dentist due to anxiety, past trauma, or fear, our sedation-supported examinations remove those barriers. You can finally get the comprehensive assessment you need in complete comfort, without stress or judgment about the condition of your teeth.
At our Ottawa dental clinic, we understand that dental anxiety often prevents people from getting essential preventive care. Whether you need a routine six-month check-up or a comprehensive new patient examination after years away from the dentist, we make comfort our top priority.
Mild relaxation for patients with minimal anxiety. You stay fully awake and aware, breathe normally, and effects wear off within minutes. Perfect for routine check-ups. Learn more about nitrous oxide
Medication taken before your appointment creates drowsiness and significantly reduces anxiety. Great for moderate dental fear or patients who haven't been to the dentist in years. You'll remember little of the examination. Explore oral sedation
Deeper sedation for high anxiety, severe dental phobia, or comprehensive examinations requiring extended time. Continuous monitoring throughout with most patients having no memory of the appointment. Discover IV sedation
Complete sleep with zero awareness, administered by board-certified medical anesthesiologists (Dr. Hesham Talab, MD MSc PhD FRCPC FASE and Dr. Asad Mirghassemi, MD MSc FRCPC). Best for extreme dental phobia, special needs patients, or those requiring extensive evaluation and treatment planning. Hospital-grade safety right in our clinic. Learn about general anesthesia
With appropriate sedation, we can complete your thorough examination, digital X-rays, oral cancer screening, gum disease evaluation, and discuss treatment recommendations—all in one anxiety-free appointment.
Questions? We're here to help.
Our detailed dental examinations evaluate every aspect of your oral health to provide a complete picture of your dental condition and identify any concerns requiring attention.
Check each tooth individually for cavities, cracks, wear patterns, and structural problems
Measure gum pocket depths, check for inflammation, bleeding, or signs of periodontal disease
Examine all soft tissues—tongue, cheeks, lips, throat, neck—for abnormalities or suspicious lesions
Evaluate how teeth fit together, check for grinding damage, assess jaw joint (TMJ) function
Reveal problems invisible during visual exam—cavities between teeth, bone loss, infections, impacted teeth
Assess condition of previous fillings, crowns, bridges, and other restorations
Review home care effectiveness and provide personalized improvement recommendations
For new patients or those returning after extended absence, we perform a comprehensive examination covering all these areas in depth. Regular six-month check-ups focus on monitoring changes since your last visit and catching new problems early.
We provide several types of dental examinations tailored to specific patient needs and circumstances.
Thorough baseline assessment for first-time patients or those returning after years. Includes full mouth X-rays, detailed health history review, cancer screening, and complete treatment planning (60-90 minutes).
Standard six-month check-up for established patients maintaining regular care. Focuses on monitoring existing conditions and detecting new problems (30-45 minutes).
Targeted evaluation of a specific tooth or area causing pain, sensitivity, or concern. Common for dental emergencies (15-30 minutes).
Specialized assessment for bite problems, crowding, or alignment issues requiring orthodontic treatment or referral.
Detailed planning assessment before dentures, bridges, or dental implants to ensure optimal outcomes.
Independent evaluation and treatment recommendations for patients seeking alternative perspectives on proposed treatment.
Each examination type can be performed with your choice of sedation for maximum comfort and anxiety control.
Research consistently demonstrates that patients who maintain regular dental examinations experience significantly better oral health outcomes and lower lifetime dental costs compared to those who only visit dentists when problems arise.
Key Benefits:
The American Dental Association and Canadian Dental Association recommend exams every six months for most patients. Your dentist may suggest more or less frequent visits based on your individual risk factors.
Before your first exam, we'll gather your complete medical and dental history, current medications, allergies, and any concerns you want addressed. We discuss your anxiety level and sedation preferences to ensure a comfortable experience.
During Your Exam:
Your appointment begins with your chosen sedation option if desired. Once you're comfortable and relaxed (or peacefully asleep for general anesthesia), we begin your comprehensive evaluation.
The dentist systematically examines every tooth using specialized instruments and lighting. A small mirror helps visualize hard-to-see areas. Gentle probing checks for cavities and evaluates tooth structure. The hygienist or dentist measures gum pocket depths around each tooth to assess periodontal health.
Digital X-rays are taken using modern low-radiation equipment. These images reveal problems between teeth, beneath existing fillings, in tooth roots, and in surrounding bone that aren't visible during visual examination. We review X-rays with you on a large screen, pointing out any concerns.
The oral cancer screening examines all soft tissues—tongue, floor of mouth, cheeks, lips, palate, throat, and neck lymph nodes. We look for unusual colors, textures, bumps, or sores that require further evaluation.
Throughout your exam, we explain findings, answer questions, and involve you in decisions about your care. At the end, we provide a clear summary of your oral health status and recommendations for any needed treatment.
Time Required: Comprehensive new patient exam takes 60-90 minutes. Routine six-month check-up takes 30-45 minutes. Emergency limited exams take 15-30 minutes.
Ready to take the next step? Our team is here for you.
Following your examination, we'll discuss our findings in clear, understandable terms without confusing dental jargon. You'll receive:
If your exam reveals problems requiring treatment, we'll explain all options, expected outcomes, and consequences of delaying care. Our goal is informed decision-making, not pressure.
For exams performed under sedation, plan for 30-60 minutes recovery time before discharge. You'll need someone to drive you home after oral sedation, IV sedation, or general anesthesia.
Dental examination costs vary by type and complexity:
Most dental insurance plans cover preventive examinations at 80-100%. We provide direct billing to major insurers and accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) for eligible patients.
Regular exams represent an excellent investment—catching problems early saves significant money, time, and discomfort compared to treating advanced dental disease.
Our patients consistently rate us 5 stars for gentle, anxiety-free care. Read verified patient experiences on Google.
View All Reviews on GoogleDentist Referrals Welcome: We collaborate with referring dentists throughout Ottawa and Eastern Ontario for dental sedation cases.
