Hygiene recall
Maintain a bright, healthy smile and prevent complex dental issues with routine hygiene recall visits. Luminara Dental provides thorough, gentle dental cleanings and comprehensive exams for patients across Stittsville, Kanata, and West Ottawa.
The foundation of a lifelong healthy smile
Even with the most diligent at-home brushing and flossing routine, plaque and tartar can accumulate in hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. A hygiene recall visit—often referred to as a routine dental cleaning and checkup—is the most critical preventative step you can take to protect your oral health.
At Luminara Dental, our Stittsville team focuses on early detection and conservative care. These regular visits allow us to carefully monitor your teeth and gums, catch potential issues before they cause pain, and keep your smile looking its absolute best.
Why are regular hygiene visits so important?
Attending your scheduled hygiene appointments provides benefits that extend far beyond a polished smile:
- Prevents tooth decay: We remove the stubborn plaque and hardened tartar that lead to cavities, helping you avoid the need for fillings or crowns.
- Halts gum disease: Routine cleanings are the primary defense against gingivitis and periodontitis. If you have a history of gum disease, these visits prevent the infection from returning after scaling and root planing.
- Early detection: We utilize high-resolution digital x-rays and intraoral cameras to spot microscopic changes in your enamel or bone density long before they become visible to the naked eye.
- Protects overall health: A healthy mouth reduces the amount of harmful bacteria entering your bloodstream, which is proven to lower your risk of systemic issues like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
What to expect during your appointment
Your hygiene visit at our West Ottawa clinic is a comprehensive, comfortable experience tailored to your specific needs:
- Thorough Examination: We perform a complete visual inspection of your teeth, gums, and existing dental work to ensure everything is stable and healthy.
- Professional Cleaning: Our gentle hygienists carefully scale away tartar build-up from above and slightly below the gum line, followed by a high-gloss polish to remove surface stains and smooth the enamel.
- Oral Cancer Screening: We conduct a swift, painless screening of your lips, tongue, throat, and neck tissues to check for any abnormalities.
- Preventative Add-ons: Depending on your cavity risk, we may apply sealants to protect your molars or administer a professional fluoride treatment to remineralize your enamel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How often should I schedule a hygiene recall visit?
For most patients, we recommend a hygiene visit every six months. However, if you are prone to cavities, wear orthodontic appliances, or have a history of periodontal disease, we may recommend you visit our Stittsville clinic every three to four months to maintain optimal gum health.
Will my dental cleaning hurt?
Our hygienists are highly trained to be as gentle as they are thorough. While you will feel some pressure and vibration during the scaling and polishing process, it should not be painful. If you have sensitive teeth or dental anxiety, please let us know so we can adjust our techniques to ensure you remain completely comfortable.
What happens if you find a cavity during my exam?
If we detect early signs of decay, we will show you exactly what we see using our digital imaging. We always take a conservative approach, and we will work with you to schedule a quick, comfortable repair using a tooth-colored composite resin filling before the cavity can spread.
Due for your next professional cleaning and exam? Book an appointment with our Stittsville preventative dental team today to keep your smile in perfect condition.
Check other dental care treatments
Maintenance
The quiet, preventive work that keeps dentistry simple — steady hygiene and protection over time.
Repair
Restoring form, comfort and strength when a tooth has been worn, decayed, fractured or lost.
Transformation
Cosmetic dentistry shaped around your face and proportions — natural first, always.
Ready to Meet Our Team?
Book your appointment today and experience the Greely Family Dental Care difference.
Asked and answered.
The things people ask on the phone before they book — written out properly, so you don't have to ask them.
Are you accepting new patients?
Yes — new patients of every age are welcome, and we're taking bookings now. Call (613) 836-1333 or email the office and we'll find you a time, usually within the same week.
What should I bring to my first visit?
- Your insurance details, if you have coverage
- A list of any medications and supplements you take
- Recent x-rays from a previous dentist, if you can get them sent over
- Anything you've been worrying about, written down — people forget once they're in the chair
If you don't have any of it, come anyway. We'll sort it out from here.
How long does a first appointment take?
Plan for about an hour. That covers a full exam, any x-rays we need, a periodontal check, an oral cancer screening, and time to actually talk through what we found. If a cleaning fits the same day, we'll do it — otherwise we'll book it close by.
Do you see children?
We do, and we're glad to book families together. A first visit for a young child is short and mostly about them getting comfortable in the room — counting teeth, looking at the tools, sitting in the chair. Nothing happens that we haven't explained to them first.
Do you accept my insurance?
We accept most traditional insurance plans — call the office and we'll confirm yours specifically. Our staff verifies your coverage, submits pre-estimates where it's useful to know the number in advance, and files your claims so you're reimbursed.One thing worth understanding: your policy is a contract between you and your insurer, not between us and them. We'll do everything we can to maximise what you get back, but the terms are theirs.
Will I know the cost before treatment starts?
Always. You get the options and the costs in writing, with your insurance portion estimated, before anything begins. If we find something unexpected mid-treatment, we stop and talk to you rather than carrying on and adding it to the bill.
How can I pay?
Cheque, cash, or major credit cards. You can also call the office to make a payment or to talk through your options if the timing is difficult — it's a conversation we have often and there's no awkwardness in it.
What if I have no insurance at all?
You're just as welcome. We'll give you the full cost up front and, where there's more than one clinically sound way to treat something, we'll tell you what each one costs and let you decide. Plenty of our patients pay out of pocket.