Dental Exams in Orillia, ON
Dental exams at Georgian Dental Orillia are routine clinical checkups that look at your teeth, gums, bite, and mouth soft tissues to catch problems early. At our Orillia dental office, every exam ends with a plain-language review of what we see and a clear next step if anything needs attention. We accept Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) benefits.
What Is a Dental Exam?
A dental exam at Georgian Dental Orillia is a full check of your mouth that covers your teeth, gums, bite, jaw, and the soft tissues of your cheeks, tongue, and throat. We do this both to look for problems you can’t feel yet (early decay, small cracks, soft-tissue changes, early gum inflammation) and to keep a record of your baseline oral health so we can spot changes over time.
How often you personally need an exam is something we work out with you based on your risk level and your own goals for your smile.
During the exam we typically check:
Imaging (X-rays) may be part of the visit, depending on how recent your last set is and what we see clinically.
Is a Dental Exam Right for You?
Most adults and children benefit from routine dental exams. You’re likely due for one if:
An exam can be postponed briefly in specific situations (immediately after certain surgeries, during an active contagious illness), but those cases are rare. If you’re unsure whether now’s the right time, we can talk it through on the phone.
Your Dental Exam Team
At Georgian Dental Orillia, our general dentists (Dr. Adam Tan, DMD FAGD and Dr. Aydin Jodery, DMD) provide dental exams and preventive care for patients of every age. Both dentists see all ages, from children through older adults, and they build each exam around your current oral health.
Dr. Tan is the founder of our Orillia practice and a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD), a designation earned through substantial continuing-education commitment in general dentistry, which is the same area of care exams fall under. Dr. Jodery practices general dentistry alongside Dr. Tan and sees patients for recall exams and first-time visits alike. Learn more about each dentist on our Meet the Professionals pageThis link leads to Professionals’ page.
What to Expect at Your Dental Exam
A dental exam visit at Georgian Dental Orillia typically takes between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on whether imaging is needed and whether we pair the exam with a cleaning at the same appointment.
Here’s the usual flow:
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Health history review
We go over any medical updates, medications, and dental concerns since your last visit. If you’re a new patient, our New Patients pageThis link leads to New Patients page covers the forms and info to bring.
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Visual and tactile exam
We check each tooth, your gums, and your bite using a mirror, a probe, and a gentle sense of touch. You’re in the chair the whole time, and we can stop and explain at any point.
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Oral cancer screening
We check the soft tissues of your mouth, tongue, and throat for anything unusual. It adds only a minute or two but is part of every exam.
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Imaging if needed
If X-rays are due or something specific needs investigation, we take a digital image and review it with you on screen.
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Cleaning (when paired)
If a hygiene appointment is part of your visit, our hygienist removes plaque and tartar the toothbrush can’t reach.
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Findings and next steps
Before you leave, we walk you through the findings together. If something needs attention now, we talk through options and give you a written plan. If something can wait, we note it and check it again at your next visit.
Benefits of Regular Dental Exams
We see patients regularly for exams at Georgian Dental Orillia because most of what goes wrong in a mouth is easier, cheaper, and less invasive to treat when caught early, which is why the Canadian Dental Association encourages routine checkups as part of ongoing oral health care.
Routine exams typically help in several ways:
For families, regular exams also build a pattern for kids: early positive experiences at the dentist often carry into adulthood. Our children’s dentistry pageThis link leads to Children’s Dentistry page has more on how we handle first visits and kid-specific care.
Why Choose Georgian Dental Orillia for Your Dental Exam
Choosing a dentist for routine exams often comes down to a few practical things. Here’s what Georgian Dental Orillia offers at our Orillia office:
Dental Exam Cost and CDCP Coverage
Cost for a dental exam at Georgian Dental Orillia depends on what’s included at the visit and what coverage you have. The main cost drivers are:
We accept Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) benefits and most private dental insurance. You can read more about how CDCP works at our practice on our CDCP pageThis link leads to CDCP page. At your visit, we explain what’s covered by your plan and what’s out of pocket before anything is added to your treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I need a dental exam?
For most adults and children, a checkup every six months is a common interval, though some patients with stable oral health may go a bit longer, and some with higher risk (active gum disease, high cavity risk, dry mouth from medication) may need more frequent visits. At your exam, we’ll recommend a personal recall interval based on what we see.
What's the difference between a dental exam and a dental cleaning?
An exam is the dentist’s clinical check of your teeth, gums, bite, and soft tissues. A cleaning, also called a hygiene appointment, is performed by a registered dental hygienist to remove plaque and tartar. Most recall visits combine both in one appointment, but they can be booked separately if that works better for your schedule.
Do you see new patients?
Yes, we regularly see new patients at our Orillia office. You can complete new-patient forms ahead of time from our New Patients pageThis link leads to New Patients page, which makes your first visit smoother. If you have records or X-rays from a previous dentist, bring them or have them sent over ahead of time.
Can children have exams at Georgian Dental Orillia?
Yes. We see children alongside the rest of the family, and first dental visits are something we handle regularly. Our children’s dentistry pageThis link leads to Childrens’ Dentistry page has more on how we approach kids’ exams, from a baby’s first look to school-age recalls.
Will my dental exam include X-rays?
Not always. We take X-rays when they’re clinically needed, typically when it’s been a year or more since your last set or when we need to check something we can’t see on the visual exam. We discuss the reason before taking any image.
What happens if the exam shows I need treatment?
We explain what we found and give you a written treatment plan with an estimate. We don’t book any treatment without your go-ahead. If the issue is urgent (a broken tooth, an active infection), we talk about immediate next steps. If it can wait, we outline a realistic timeline so you can plan.
I'm nervous about dental visits. What should I know before coming in?
Feeling uneasy about the dentist is common, especially for patients who haven’t been in a while or have had a rough experience in the past. Let our team know when you book and again when you arrive. We build exams around your pace, so you can ask questions or take a break at any point. For patients who want more support, we can discuss sedation optionsThis link leads to Sedation Dentistry page at a separate consultation.
Do you see dental emergencies?
Yes. If you’re in pain or dealing with a broken tooth or a lost filling, call us as soon as you can. Our emergency dentistry pageThis link leads to Emergency Dentistry page covers what qualifies as a dental emergency and what to do next.
