Questions patients actually ask
If your question is not here, phone the front desk on (416) 744-6323 and ask. Nobody minds.
Filter questions by topic
Every question is listed below, grouped by topic.
Visiting us
Getting here, hours, and what to expect from the practice.
Where is Grace Dental Clinic?
We are at Unit C, 3005 Islington Avenue, North York, Ontario M9L 2K9. The contact page has a map and directions.
Is there parking?
Call the front desk before your visit if you want to check parking and the exact way in to Unit C. They will talk you through it so you are not hunting for it on the day.
Can you accommodate a wheelchair or a walker?
Tell us when you book if you use a wheelchair, a walker or another mobility aid. We will set the appointment up around it and tell you what to expect at the entrance.
What are your opening hours?
Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Hours can change on Ontario statutory holidays.
Are you open on Sundays?
Yes. We are open on Sunday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and every other day of the week as well.
Can I come after work?
We are open until 9:00 pm from Monday to Friday. Ask the front desk for a late slot when you book, because those go first.
What languages do you speak?
Appointments run in English. You are welcome to bring a family member or an interpreter with you, and it helps if you tell the front desk in advance.
What should I bring to my first visit?
Your health card, your insurance or program card, a list of your medications, and the questions you want to ask. For a child, bring the parent or guardian who can consent to treatment.
I am nervous about the dentist. What can you do?
Say so when you book, and again when you sit down. We can allow more time, explain each step before we do it, or agree a hand signal that stops us.
Can my child and I be seen on the same day?
Often yes. Ask the front desk for appointments side by side and they will look for two slots together.
How old should a child be for a first visit?
Bring them once the first teeth are through. Early visits are short and are mostly about getting used to the chair.
Do you look after older patients?
Yes. Seniors are a large part of this practice. We can book longer, slower appointments, check denture fit, and talk through dry mouth and root decay, which both become more common with age.
About treatment
What we do, how often, and what a particular treatment involves.
What services do you offer?
General dentistry, fillings and root canals, crowns bridges and implants, surgical dentistry, orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, and emergency care.
How often should I have a checkup?
Most people come every six months. If you have gum disease, a dry mouth or a history of decay, we may suggest coming more often, and we will explain why.
Do I need X-rays?
Only when there is a reason for them, such as checking between teeth or under an existing filling. They are digital and each one takes a few seconds.
Do you take out wisdom teeth?
Yes. We assess them first with an image, so we can see the position, the roots and the nerve, then talk through whether removal is the right call.
Do you offer clear aligners?
Yes, we offer clear aligners including Invisalign, as well as fixed braces and expanders. Which one fits depends on what needs moving.
Do you place dental implants?
Yes. Implant treatment starts with an assessment of the gum and the bone, and it is staged over several months while the bone heals around the implant.
I wear dentures. Will you check them?
Yes. Bring them to your appointment. Jaws change shape over time, so a denture that fitted well a few years ago may need a reline or an adjustment.
Do you do teeth whitening?
Yes, both in the clinic and with custom take home trays. We check the teeth and gums first, because whitening does not lift every kind of discolouration.
My gums bleed when I brush. Does that matter?
It is worth getting looked at. Bleeding often means inflammation at the gum line, which is treatable, and it is easier to deal with early than late.
Is it better to save a tooth or take it out?
It depends on how much healthy tooth is left, the state of the root, and your general health. We show you what we can see and go through both options before you decide.
Insurance, programs and paying
Coverage, direct billing and the ways you can pay.
Do you accept dental insurance?
Yes. We accept private insurance from all providers, and we direct bill where your plan allows it. Bring your policy details to your first visit.
Which government programs do you accept?
The Canadian Dental Care Plan, Healthy Smiles Ontario, Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program, and the Interim Federal Health Program.
Do you accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
Yes. Bring your CDCP member number and photo identification, and the front desk will confirm your coverage with the plan before treatment starts.
How much of my treatment will be covered?
We cannot tell you that until your coverage has been checked with your plan or program, and we will not guess. The front desk confirms it and tells you before treatment starts.
How can I pay?
Cash, credit card, Interac e-Transfer, or through your dental insurance. The front desk tells you what is due at the end of the appointment.
Do you offer payment plans?
For longer treatment we can spread payment across the stages of the work. Ask the front desk before treatment begins so it can be arranged in writing.
I have no insurance at all. Can I still be seen?
Yes. Plenty of our patients pay for their own care. You will be told what the treatment involves and what it costs before anything starts.
I am covered by two plans. Does that help?
Bring the details of both. The front desk will work out the order the claims go in and tell you what that means for you before treatment starts.
Booking and appointments
Making an appointment, changing one, and what happens if plans change.
How do I book an appointment?
Book online through this site, or call the clinic on (416) 744-6323. If it is urgent, call rather than booking online, so we can fit you in properly.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly with us for any of our services. If your case needs a specialist we do not have here, we will tell you and help arrange the referral.
How do I cancel or change an appointment?
Call the clinic, or use the patient portal if your appointment is more than forty eight hours away. Inside forty eight hours, please call, so we can offer the slot to someone else.
What happens if I am late?
Call and tell us. We will see whether the appointment still fits the day. Sometimes we shorten it, and sometimes it is kinder to everyone to move it.
What if I miss an appointment without calling?
Let us know as soon as you can and we will rebook you. Repeated missed appointments make it harder to hold slots, so a quick call always helps.
How long is a first appointment?
Allow about an hour for a new patient exam. Arrive a few minutes early, or fill in your health history through the portal beforehand and save yourself the time.
Can I book for my parent or my child?
Yes. For a child, the parent or guardian who can consent should come to the appointment. For an adult, we will need their consent to discuss their care with you.
Can I get in sooner if something opens up?
Ask the front desk to add you to the cancellation list. If a slot that matches your appointment type comes free, we offer it out, and the first person to accept takes it.
Emergencies
Pain, swelling, broken teeth, and when a hospital is the right call.
Can I be seen today if I am in pain?
Often yes. We hold same day slots for urgent problems. Call the clinic and the front desk will ask a few questions and tell you what time we can see you.
What do I do about a knocked out tooth after hours?
Pick the tooth up by the crown, not the root. Keep it moist in milk or saliva, do not scrub it, and get to a dentist or an emergency department as soon as you can. Call us the moment we open.
When should I go to a hospital instead of the clinic?
If facial swelling is affecting your breathing or your swallowing, or if bleeding will not stop, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not wait for the clinic to open.
My filling has come out. Is that an emergency?
Usually not, unless the tooth is painful or sharp. Call us and we will book you in. Avoid chewing on that side until we have seen it.
I have a toothache and you are closed. What now?
Leave a message with your name, your number and what is happening, and we will call you back when we open. If there is swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, treat it as an emergency and call 911.
My child has knocked a tooth loose. What should I do?
Call us straight away and tell the front desk what happened, so we know how urgently to see them. Keep the area clean, and do not try to push a loose tooth back into place yourself.
Are you open twenty four hours?
No. We are open seven days a week, with long evenings on weekdays, but we are not a twenty four hour clinic. The hours are on the contact page, and there is after hours guidance on the emergency page.
The patient portal
The account where your appointments, forms and documents live.
What is the patient portal?
It is a secure account where you can see your appointments, fill in your forms before you come in, read your treatment plans, and message the front desk.
How do I get a portal account?
You sign up with your email address and confirm it before any of your health information is shown. The front desk can walk you through it if you would rather do it with someone.
Can I reschedule through the portal?
Yes, if your appointment is more than forty eight hours away. Inside that window the portal shows you the number to call instead.
Can I manage my child appointments in the portal?
Yes. A guardian account can be linked to a child record, so you see and manage their appointments from your own login rather than sharing one.
Is my information safe in the portal?
Your record is stored in Canada, it is visible only to you and to the staff who need it, and every access is logged. The privacy page explains what is kept and for how long.
Do I have to fill in forms in the portal?
No, you can still fill them in at the front desk. Doing them at home just means less time in the waiting room and more time to read them properly.
Still not answered?
Phone the front desk and ask a person. If it is about coverage, have your insurance card or your program card with you when you call.
Open seven days a week, evenings until 9:00 pm on weekdays.