Routine dental care · Inside The Bow
A routine hygiene visit is planned around your current needs. It may include an oral-health assessment, scaling, polishing when appropriate, and personalised guidance. The clinic will confirm the appropriate visit type, who will provide the care, whether a separate examination is needed, and current availability.
For current pain, swelling, injury, bleeding, a broken tooth or restoration, or worsening symptoms: Call (403) 313-3000 during clinic hours for current urgent availability and review Emergency Dentistry. Call 911 for an immediate threat to life, health, or safety.
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Reasons people request care
You may be looking for ongoing preventive care, returning after a gap, or asking about buildup, surface stain, sensitivity, bleeding or tenderness, home-care technique, or cleaning around existing dental work.
These concerns can have more than one cause. You do not need to identify the cause or choose a type of cleaning before requesting care. An appropriate regulated clinician can assess what is needed for the visit.
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Depending on the findings
The plan is not identical for everyone. Depending on the visit and the findings, it may include:
Share changes you have noticed and questions about your teeth, gums, home care, or dental work.
The teeth and gums may be assessed as appropriate for the visit. Records or X-rays may be recommended when they are clinically useful.
Scaling may be used to remove calculus, also called hardened deposits, from tooth surfaces.
Polishing is a separate step that may remove plaque or some surface stain.
The visit may include discussion of home-care technique, findings that need follow-up, and the timing of future care.
None of these elements is automatic. The clinic will confirm the planned visit, provider, inclusions, and whether another examination or appointment is appropriate.
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Two separate steps
Scaling removes calculus or hardened deposits from tooth surfaces. Polishing is a separate step used when appropriate for plaque or some surface stain. Polishing does not replace scaling, and neither step is guaranteed simply because a cleaning was requested.
The type and amount of care depend on the assessment. The clinic will confirm which steps are appropriate; no particular method or result is assumed.
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Intervals and questions
There is no single cleaning interval that fits everyone. The timing of future care can change with oral-health risk and findings. A dental plan's frequency limit does not determine the appropriate clinical interval.
Questions are an invitation to assess what is happening, not a diagnosis or a product recommendation.
Source: Canadian Dental Association, Frequency of Dental Care
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The team will confirm what is planned for the first visit and whether a cleaning is booked separately. Use New-Patient Information for preparation, records transfer, examinations, clinically useful X-rays, and first-visit details.
New-Patient Information06
A different decision
Some people use "deep cleaning" to describe more involved gum care. It is not another name for every routine cleaning. Bleeding or tenderness can be a reason for assessment, but it does not by itself establish gingivitis, periodontitis, or the treatment needed.
Root planing is a distinct treatment used in some care for gum disease. It is not assumed to be part of a routine visit. The findings help determine the appropriate regulated clinician and whether another provider or referral is needed. The clinic will confirm the appropriate route after assessment.
Source: MyHealth Alberta, Gum Disease; MyHealth Alberta, Root Planing and Scaling for Gum Disease
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Insurance and fees
Fees depend on the assessed needs and the services selected. Ask the clinic for an estimate before treatment.
Your plan determines reimbursement, limits, deductibles, exclusions, and whether the insurer pays the clinic directly.
Insurance and Fees
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Who provides the care
Dr. Michael Wu is a general dentist. He works with a clinical and front-desk team. The team will confirm who is scheduled for your visit and how examination and hygiene care are coordinated.
Questions
If your question is not answered here, call the clinic and the team will answer it.
The team will confirm what is planned for the first visit and whether a cleaning is booked separately. Do not assume that an examination and cleaning occur in the same appointment.
The appointment length depends on the findings and the care planned. Request a cleaning and the team will confirm the appropriate appointment type.
No. Scaling removes plaque and hardened tartar. Polishing is a separate step that may remove some surface stain and smooth the cleaned surfaces. The visit plan depends on your needs.
Root planing may be used with scaling when findings show more significant gum disease. It removes deposits below the gumline and is not assumed to be part of every routine cleaning. An examination is needed to determine whether it is appropriate.
The recommended interval is personalised. Oral health, gum condition, buildup, home care, dental work, and other findings can affect the plan. Your insurance frequency limit may differ from the clinical recommendation.
Your plan determines coverage, frequency limits, deductibles, exclusions, and whether it pays the clinic directly. The clinic can help submit eligible claims or estimates. Review Insurance and Fees.
Submit a routine request and the clinic will contact you to confirm availability and the appropriate appointment details. A preferred date or time is not reserved until the clinic confirms it.
