Common questions
Questions Patients Ask Us
The things people most often want to know before they call — answered briefly here, with a link to the full detail wherever it helps. If your question isn’t below, phone us and ask. Nobody minds.
New patients
New patients and first visits
- Are you accepting new patients?
- Yes, patients of every age, including patients covered by the Canadian Dental Care Plan. There is no waiting list to join the practice. What to expect as a new patient.
- Will I see the same dentist at every visit?
- Yes. Dr. Ravi sees every patient personally, from a first checkup through to reconstructive work, so you are not passed between associates. Meet the team.
- Do you see children?
- Yes. Dr. Ravi is a general and family dentist who cares for children of all ages, so a whole family can be seen at one practice. He is not a pediatric specialist; if a child ever needs specialist care, we say so and help arrange it. Children’s dentistry.
- What should I bring to my first appointment?
- A piece of ID, your dental insurance details if you have coverage, and your CDCP information if you are enrolled. Recent x-rays or records from a previous dentist are useful, though we can take fresh images. Mostly, bring your questions.
- It has been years since I saw a dentist. Is that a problem?
- No, and there is no lecture waiting for you. A lot of people come to us after a long gap. We look, explain what we find in plain language, and agree a pace that works for you.
Appointments
Booking, changes and emergencies
- Can I book an appointment online?
- Not instantly, and we would rather say so than pretend otherwise. You can send us an appointment request through the request form or by phone, and a member of the team confirms a real time with you. It means a person checks the schedule rather than a form guessing at it.
- I think I have a dental emergency. What should I do?
- Call us first on (905) 855-2622. We keep room in the day for urgent problems and can often see you the same day. If there is trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling spreading toward the eye or neck, uncontrolled bleeding, or a serious facial injury, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room. Emergency dental care.
- What happens if I contact you outside office hours?
- Send your request through the contact form, or use the assistant in the corner of this page. Either way your details reach the front desk and someone calls you back when the office reopens. Nothing you send is left unread.
- How do I change or cancel an appointment?
- Call the office on (905) 855-2622. If we are closed, leave your name, your number, and roughly when your appointment is, and the front desk will sort it out and call you back to confirm.
Cost & coverage
Cost, insurance and the CDCP
- Do you bill my insurance directly?
- Yes, we offer direct insurance billing and accept most dental plans. Bring your details to your first visit and the front desk will confirm how your specific plan works.
- Do you accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)?
- Yes. What the plan covers depends on your particular situation, so bring your CDCP information and we will go through what applies before anything is agreed.
- Will I know what treatment costs before it starts?
- Yes. After Dr. Ravi has looked, you get a written estimate covering what is recommended, what your coverage is likely to contribute, and what is left. Nothing begins until you have seen it, and there is no pressure to decide on the spot.
Comfort
Nervous patients, comfort and sedation
- I am anxious about the dentist. Can you help?
- Yes, and it is more common than people assume. Tell us when you book. We go slower, explain each step before it happens, and stop whenever you ask. For some people that is enough on its own; for others, sedation is the answer.
- What sedation options do you offer?
- Nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation, and for certain cases general anesthesia or deep sedation with a visiting anesthesiologist. Which one suits you depends on the treatment and your health history, and Dr. Ravi goes through it with you beforehand. Sedation and anesthesia.
Treatments
Treatments and technology
- What treatments do you handle in-house?
- Everyday family care, cosmetic work, orthodontics, and reconstructive treatment including implants — under one roof, with the same dentist throughout. See all services.
- How often should I come in for a checkup?
- For most people, twice a year. If your gums need closer attention, or if it has been a long time, we may suggest more often for a while and then settle back. Exams and cleanings.
- Can I really get a crown in a single visit?
- In many cases, yes. We design and mill ceramic crowns in the office using CEREC, so there is no temporary crown and no second appointment. Some situations still call for a lab crown, and we will tell you which yours is. Same-day crowns.
- What are my options for a missing tooth?
- Usually an implant, a bridge, or a denture, depending on the tooth, the bone underneath, and what you want to spend time and money on. We lay out all three rather than steering you. Dental implants · Dentures.
- Do I need a root canal, or should the tooth just come out?
- That depends on how much healthy tooth is left, and it is not something to decide from a description. Saving a natural tooth is usually worth it when the tooth can support the work. Dr. Ravi will show you what he sees and explain both paths. Root canal treatment.
- What if several teeth need work at once?
- It gets planned as one sequence rather than a series of unrelated appointments, so the bite, the function, and the look end up working together. It can be staged over time to suit your budget. Full-mouth restoration.
- Do you offer braces or clear aligners?
- Yes. Dr. Ravi is a general dentist who provides orthodontic treatment — Invisalign clear aligners, traditional braces, and early-intervention appliances for children. Cases that need a specialist are referred. Clarkson Smiles orthodontics.
- Can you improve how my smile looks?
- Yes, and it often takes less than people expect — sometimes whitening, sometimes veneers, sometimes replacing old fillings that have stained. We start by asking what specifically bothers you. Cosmetic dentistry · Teeth whitening · Veneers.
- Do you use 3D imaging?
- Yes, we have a cone-beam CT scanner in the office. It is used where a flat x-ray is not enough — implant planning, difficult root canals, wisdom teeth — not as a routine scan for everybody. 3D dental imaging.
Visiting us
Finding us and opening hours
- Where are you, and is there parking?
- We are at 1098 Clarkson Road North, Mississauga, ON L5J 2V9, in the heart of Clarkson Village. There is parking close to the door, so you are not circling for a spot before an appointment. Directions and contact details.
- Is the office wheelchair accessible?
- There is a wheelchair ramp at the entrance and parking close to the door. The entrance door is not automatic, so if it would help to have someone meet you and hold it open, call ahead and we will arrange it. Tell us about anything else you need when you book. More on accessibility.
- What are your opening hours?
- Monday 8–5, Tuesday 8–6, Wednesday 8–5, Thursday 9–6, and Friday 8–3. Saturdays are by appointment only, and we are closed Sundays.
- Which areas do you serve?
- Most of our patients come from Clarkson and the surrounding parts of south-west Mississauga, and a good number travel in from Oakville. Clarkson · Lorne Park · Port Credit · Lakeview & Mineola · Erin Mills · Oakville.
Still looking
Can’t find your question?
Every treatment we offer has its own page with a fuller set of questions and answers — start from our services. Or just call the office on (905) 855-2622 and ask a person.
Next step
Ready when you are.
Send us a request and a member of the team will call you back to confirm a time that actually works.