The Cleaning Your Smile Deserves
A professional cleaning at Smile Studio Dental is more than a polish — it's a full assessment of your teeth and gums, delivered with the feather-light touch Lisa, our hygienist of three decades, is known for.
- 30+ years of hygiene experience
- Periodontist on staff
- CDCP billed directly · claims help
The most important appointment you'll book all year
Almost every dental problem we treat — cavities, gum disease, failing restorations — is cheaper, easier, and more comfortable to prevent than to fix. Regular professional cleanings remove the hardened tartar your toothbrush can't, and give us a chance to catch small problems while they're still small.
Every hygiene visit here ends with a dentist's exam, and because an entire specialist team works under this roof, anything the cleaning uncovers — from a suspicious spot to early gum disease — is handled in the same clinic.
Lisa Petrinec, RDH
Lisa has been caring for smiles for more than three decades — dental assisting certification from Seneca College, dental hygiene licensure from George Brown College, and a reputation built one gentle appointment at a time. Patients describe her technique as a "feather-light touch": thorough where it counts, easy on your gums, and never rushed.
Outside the clinic, Lisa has played violin with the York Symphony Orchestra since 1992 — precision and a steady hand run through everything she does.
- 30+ years of clinical hygiene experience
- Known for gentle care with nervous patients
- Most hygiene patients see Lisa at every visit
What happens during your cleaning
Health review & assessment
We review your medical history and medications, then examine your teeth, gums, and existing dental work — the cleaning is planned around what we find, not a one-size routine.
Gum measurements
Lisa measures the small pockets around your teeth. These numbers are the earliest warning system for gum disease — tracked visit to visit, they tell us if anything is changing.
Scaling
Plaque and hardened tartar are removed above and below the gumline using ultrasonic and fine hand instruments, adjusted to your comfort and sensitivity.
Polish & fluoride
A professional polish lifts surface stains from coffee, tea, and wine, and fluoride is offered where it will help protect against decay.
Honest home-care coaching
No lectures — just one or two specific things that will make the biggest difference for your mouth, based on what Lisa actually saw.
Dentist's exam
One of our dentists reviews the findings and examines your teeth, so nothing brewing goes unnoticed — and you leave knowing exactly where you stand.
How often should you come in?
Every 6 months
The standard for healthy mouths — enough to stay ahead of tartar and catch problems early.
Every 4 months
For patients prone to heavy tartar, gum inflammation, or with a history of gum disease.
Every 3 months
Active maintenance after periodontal therapy, or for patients managing conditions like diabetes that affect gum health.
There's no universal answer — your recall interval is a recommendation we make based on your gum measurements, your history, and your risk factors, and we'll explain the reasoning.
Gum disease is quiet — until it isn't
Nearly half of adults have some form of gum disease, and it rarely hurts in the early stages. Watch for the quiet signs: gums that bleed when you brush or floss, puffiness or redness, persistent bad breath, gums pulling away from teeth, or new sensitivity near the gumline.
It's worth taking seriously beyond your mouth, too — gum disease has been linked to heart disease, diabetes control, and other systemic conditions. The good news: caught early, it's very manageable.
Here's what makes us different: if your measurements suggest more than a routine cleaning is needed, our periodontist, Dr. Leonard Schwartz, is in this clinic — assessment, deep cleaning, and periodontal therapy all happen in one place, with your file walking down the hall to the right specialist.
Already have dental work? Cleanings matter more, not less
Implants, crowns, bridges, and veneers all last dramatically longer with professional maintenance. Implants in particular depend on healthy gums — peri-implant disease is the leading cause of implant failure, and it's largely preventable with regular hygiene care. Lisa cleans around restorations with instruments and techniques suited to each material, so your dental work is protected, not scratched.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a dental cleaning hurt?
It shouldn't. Lisa is known for her feather-light touch, and she adjusts her approach to your comfort and sensitivity throughout the visit. If your gums are inflamed, the first cleaning after a long gap can feel tender — tell us, and we'll slow down, use topical numbing, or talk about other comfort options.
How long does a cleaning appointment take?
Plan for about an hour for a typical cleaning with assessment. If it's been years since your last visit, your first appointment may be longer or split over two visits so nothing gets rushed.
I haven't seen a dentist in years — is that okay?
Completely. It's one of the most common things we hear, and you will not get a lecture. We'll assess where things stand, deal with anything urgent first, and build a realistic plan to get you back on track.
My gums bleed when I brush — should I still come in?
Yes — sooner rather than later. Bleeding gums are usually a sign of gingivitis or early gum disease, and a professional cleaning is exactly how it gets addressed. And because our periodontist, Dr. Leonard Schwartz, practices here, anything beyond a routine cleaning is handled in the same clinic.
Will a cleaning remove coffee and tea stains?
Surface stains from coffee, tea, and red wine polish away nicely during a cleaning. Deeper discolouration inside the tooth doesn't — that's where professional whitening comes in, and we can talk through whether it's right for you.
Can I book with Lisa every time?
Yes — most of our hygiene patients see Lisa on a regular schedule. Book your next visit before you leave and we'll keep you with the hygienist who knows your mouth.
Do you accept the CDCP for cleanings?
Yes. Cleanings and preventive care are covered services under the Canadian Dental Care Plan, and we bill the plan directly. We accept all private insurance plans as well and can tell you what your plan covers before your visit.
I'm anxious about dental visits — can you help?
Very much so. Beyond Lisa's gentle approach, we offer sedation options up to and including sleep dentistry with our physician anaesthesiologist. Tell us when you book, and we'll plan a visit that feels manageable.
Due — or overdue — for a cleaning?
Either way, you'll be in gentle hands. Book online or call 905-771-1611 — new patients and CDCP welcome.
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