How often you need x-rays depends on your oral health. A healthy adult who has not had cavities or other problems for a couple of years probably won't need x-rays at every appointment. If your dental situation is less stable and your dentist is monitoring your progress, you may require more frequent x-rays.

If you are unsure why a particular x-ray is being taken, ask your dentist. Remember that dental x-rays deliver very little radiation; they are a vital tool for your dentist to ensure that small problems don't develop into bigger ones.

Dental x-rays have come a long way and with the current technology in digital x-rays, patients are exposed to up to 70% less radiation than regular x-rays, hence they are increasingly safer. Your dentist's decision to take x-rays always considers the risks and is patient specific.

Some of the early signs that your teeth and gums are unhealthy are soreness and pain in the gums, bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity, bad breath or dry mouth. It's best to see Dr. Amin Salmasi as soon as possible if you experience anything similar.

It is very important to choose a dentist that you feel comfortable with and who can relate and talk to you about your concerns. Some things to consider are:

• Is it easy to schedule an appointment and do they work with your schedule too?
• Is the office conveniently located?
• Is the office clean and neat?
• Are you comfortable and relaxed in the dental office?
• Is the dentist willing to engage with you and answer your questions?

Ask questions. It sounds simple enough, but sometimes we feel embarrassed to ask simple questions. There is no need to feel that way.

You will feel much better, and be able to make a better decision, if you understand the dental procedure that is recommended to you. If you don't say anything, your dentist may think that you already understand.

Here are some tips when asking questions. Ask:

1. If you can see any pictures of the procedure or what it looks like when it is done;
2. How much it will cost;
3. How long it will take;
4. If it will need to be redone in the future;
5. If there are alternatives to the procedure and if so, what are the pros and cons of each option.

The final decision about how and when to proceed with any treatment is yours. To help you understand what is involved in the treatment, your dentist may give you some printed material to read.

If you have already left the dental office without asking questions, call us back later. Be careful about getting information from unknown sources (some of this information from the internet may not be reliable).

How often you go for a dental exams depends on your oral health needs. The goal is to catch small problems early. For many people, this means a dental exam every six months.

Dr. Amin Salmasi may suggest that you visit more or less often depending on how well you care for your teeth and gums, problems you have that need to be checked or treated, how fast tartar builds up on your teeth, and so on.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do I floss every day?
2. Do I brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and follow my dentist's instructions on how to brush properly?
3. Do I eat a well-balanced diet, including food from all food groups, and limit sweets and sticky foods?
4. Do I smoke?
5. Do I have a history of cavities or gum disease?
6. Is my overall health good?

The answers to these questions are all factors that affect your oral health. They will help you and Dr. Amin Salmasi to decide how often you need to visit for dental exams. It's worth noting that you should not determine your need for dental care on what your dental plan covers.

When you visit Smile Buddy, it's Dr. Amin Salmasi's role to make a treatment plan based on your oral health needs. Your needs may be different from what is covered by your dental plan. It is your right to decide whether or not to go ahead with any treatment.

You should not decide based on what your plan covers. If you agree to have the treatment, it's your responsibility to pay for it. It is the responsibility of the benefits carrier's to reimburse you for the amount covered by your dental plan.

We at Smile Buddy, are willing to contact your benefits carrier, to find out if a treatment is covered. You have to pay the portion that's not covered.

I don't have dental insurance and can't afford to go to the dentist.

If you do not have a dental plan and cannot afford to pay your entire bill at once, ask the staff at Smile Buddy about a payment plan. If you cannot afford care, even with a payment plan, contact the nearest:

1. Social services agency to see if you qualify for government-funded dental care;
2. Dental school where senior dental students provide treatment at a reduced cost.

Dental services may seem expensive. In Canada, we don't have to pay directly when we visit a doctor or hospital, so we may not realize the high cost of providing health services. Overhead costs are high for dentists. They have staff, equipment and other operating costs.

The good news is that you can avoid costly dental treatment by brushing, flossing and visiting Dr. Amin Salmasi regularly for a dental exams. Regular dental exams cost money, but they are less expensive than fixing serious dental problems that stem from neglect.

It's important to get an early start on dental care, so that your child will learn that visiting Smile Buddy is a regular part of health care.

The dental association encourages the assessment of infants, by a dentist, within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth or by one year of age.

It's important to make the first visit a positive experience for your child - one reason why it's best to visit before a problem develops. If you think there is a problem, however, take your child to see Dr. Amin Salmasi right away, no matter what age.

If you are a nervous dental patient, ask your spouse or another family member to take the child for the appointment. If your child senses that you are nervous, he or she may feel nervous too. When you talk to your child about going to the dentist, explain what will happen without adding things like "it won't hurt" or "don't be scared."

Be sure to get an early start on regular dental care at home. Start cleaning your child's mouth with a soft damp cloth before teeth come in and continue with a soft toothbrush once he or she has a first tooth. Limit the number of sugary treats you give your child, and focus on healthy food choices from the very beginning.

For us at Smile Buddy, your health is very important. Our dental professionals helps you stay healthy by preventing the spread of germs. One of the best ways to do this is to use barrier protection such as gloves and masks.

We sterilize equipment used in the dental office and clean the furniture and fixtures in the examining rooms after every patient. This system is referred to as standard precautions, every patient is treated in the same way.

If you would like to know how the sterilization is carried out at Smile Buddy, ask us to show you how it's done. We welcome the opportunity to ease your concerns, rather than have you leave the office with unanswered questions. Once you see the work that goes into making the dental office a clean and safe environment, you will feel reassured.

Tell Dr. Amin Salmasi of changes in your health. This will help Dr. Amin Salmasi to suggest the right choices of treatment for you.

As a patient, you have the right to get copies of any or all of your dental records. If you and/or your authorized representative requests a copy of your complete file from your dentist (chart records, x-ray images, referral slips, study models, photographs, correspondence), this information can be provided.

Original dental records belong to the dental office who provided the treatment, and not the patient, because the dentists have to keep all of their records for a period of time, as set out by their provincial dental regulatory body. You can request that a copy of your records be transferred from your previous dentist.

You may be required to sign a release form from your former dental office and you may also be charged an administrative fee for having your records copied and sent to another dental office. If you have questions about the records transfer process (in or out), ask us at Smile Buddy and we're happy to help.