How often you go for 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. Your dentist 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.
This information is courtesy of the the Canadian Dental Associate. Read their FAQs to know more.

It’s important to get an early start on dental care, so that your child will learn that visiting the dentist is a regular part of health care. The first step is to choose a dentist for your child.
It may be your own dentist or one who specializes in treating children (called a pediatric dentist). Once you have selected a dentist, call the office to find out at what age he or she prefers to see child patients for the first time. CDA 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 the dentist right away, no matter what age.
This information is courtesy of the the Canadian Dental Associate. Read their FAQs to know more.

How often you need to have x-rays also 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 not sure 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.
This information is courtesy of the the Canadian Dental Associate. Read their FAQs to know more.

Original dental records belong to the dentist who provided the treatment, and not the patient, because dentists have to keep all of their records for a period of time, as set out by their provincial dental regulatory body. Once you have selected a new dentist, you can request that a copy of your records be transferred from your former 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 your province, ask your dentist or contact the provincial dental regulatory body.
This information is courtesy of the the Canadian Dental Associate. Read their FAQs to know more.

“Dental insurance” is not insurance as it is really a prepaid dental benefit plan and are a means to help patients pay for some of their dental treatment. Many Albertans have prepaid dental plans through their employers. Many people refer to these plans as “dental insurance” but they are actually a prepaid dental plan. This means that an employer will determine how much money will be available for dental procedures. Some may, or may not, have restrictions or limitations. What is meant by that is Company A may say spend the prepaid amount on whatever procedures you want throughout the year, Company B may say, of this money, you are only entitled to one dental examination throughout the year. It is extremely important to note that you should understand your prepaid dental plan (dental insurance), prior to visiting the dentist. You can contact your employer or dental plan company to clarify the extent of their coverage.
This information is courtesy of the the Alberta Dental Association and College. Read their FAQs to know more.