Haven't Been to the Dentist in Years? What to Expect Next
Yes, you can go back, and going a year or more without a visit is not unusual: Statistics Canada's Canadian Oral Health Survey (November 2023 to March 2024) found that 28% of Canadians aged 12 and older reported they had not visited an oral health professional in the previous 12 months.
Dr. Kyle Lesko
The quick version
If you haven't been to the dentist in years, you can go back. As of October 2026, Statistics Canada reports that 28% of Canadians aged 12 and older had not visited an oral health professional in the previous 12 months, so going a year or more without a visit is not unusual. That figure covers 12 months, not years.
To start, call TLC at 780.980.5115 or book online. The first appointment takes about 60 minutes and includes an exam, a quick intraoral scan, low dose digital X-rays and a conversation about your goals.
The Canadian Dental Association says the need for diagnostic imaging (including X-rays) should be decided on an individual basis for each patient, not on a routine basis. Your dentist decides which X-rays you need.
The Canadian Dental Association says your dentist makes the treatment plan, and the final decision about how and when to proceed is yours.
For tooth or gum pain, MyHealth Alberta says to call your dentist, doctor or nurse advice line now, or seek immediate medical care, if you have signs of infection, such as increased pain, swelling, warmth, redness or a fever. It also says to call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care, for example if you have trouble breathing.
Yes, you can go back, and going a year or more without a visit is not unusual: Statistics Canada's Canadian Oral Health Survey (November 2023 to March 2024) found that 28% of Canadians aged 12 and older reported they had not visited an oral health professional in the previous 12 months.
That figure covers the previous 12 months, so it cannot say how many people have been away for years. Below is a plain look at a first visit back, based on Canadian health sources as of October 2026. Dr. Kyle Lesko and the team at TLC Family Dental Centre welcome new patients from Leduc and the greater Edmonton area.
Is it okay to go back to the dentist after years away?
Yes, it is okay to book a visit. As of October 2026, Statistics Canada reports that 28% of Canadians aged 12 and older said they had not visited an oral health professional in the previous 12 months, so going a year or more without a visit is not unusual.
Statistics Canada released these results on February 12, 2025. Its note to readers says the figure covers people aged 12 and older living in the provinces. It leaves out the territories, reserves and other Indigenous settlements in the provinces, and people living in institutions. The figure covers 12 months, not years.
Why check in if nothing hurts? The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) says gum disease often develops slowly and without causing any pain, and that it can be turned around in its early stages. See early signs of gum disease and signs of a cavity for more.
What happens at your first visit back?
At TLC, the first appointment takes about 60 minutes. It includes low dose digital X-rays, a quick intraoral scan, an exam with Dr. Lesko and a conversation about your goals. Our page on what to expect as a new patient has the details.
What to bring and what to tell your dentist
TLC suggests you bring:
Your insurance or Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) details
A list of your medications and medical conditions
A note of anything that has been bothering you
The CDA also suggests telling your dentist about any new medical conditions or medications since your last visit, and any changes you've noticed in your gums, such as bleeding when you brush or floss. See also what a checkup and cleaning involve.
What will the dentist say about the time away?
No article can promise what one dentist will say about a long gap. What the Canadian Dental Association does describe is the exam: your dentist may explain what is happening and give you a summary of the findings. If not, it says to ask, and it calls you a full partner in your oral health care.
The CDA also encourages you to ask questions, and says there is no need to feel embarrassed about asking simple ones. If it helps, bring a few questions of your own:
What did you find, and what does it mean in plain words?
Which findings need treatment right away, and which can be monitored?
Will you need X-rays?
Your dentist decides which X-rays you need. The Canadian Dental Association says the need for diagnostic imaging (including X-rays) should be decided on an individual basis for each patient, from medical and dental history, clinical findings and risk assessment, not on a routine basis. TLC's new patient page lists low dose digital X-rays in the first appointment.
As of October 2026, Health Canada's Safety Code 30 (2022 edition) says a request for a dental X-ray examination should be based on the patient's history and clinical evaluation, and that the possibility of performing non-radiographic examinations (examinations without X-rays) should first be considered.
The CDA also says to ask your dentist if you are not sure why a particular X-ray is being taken.
How is care usually planned after a long gap?
It depends on what your exam finds. The Canadian Dental Association says it is the dentist's role to make a treatment plan based on your oral health needs, and that the final decision about how and when to proceed with any treatment is yours. Ask your dentist to explain the next steps.
The CDA gives two examples of how a finding is handled:
Cavities: the CDA says a small cavity that seems not to progress rapidly may be monitored, while a bigger one, or one showing signs of progression, should be filled right away.
Early gum disease: the CDA says it is treated with a cleaning by your dentist or dental hygienist to remove built-up tartar.
At TLC, the first appointment includes an exam with Dr. Lesko and a conversation about your goals, so that is a good time to ask what the next steps are.
What if you feel anxious or embarrassed?
You are in good company: MyHealth Alberta says many people worry about going to the dentist, and it lists being embarrassed about the condition of your teeth as one reason. Its advice includes telling your dentist that you are nervous and trying to explain why. There is nothing to be ashamed of in either feeling.
MyHealth Alberta also suggests a few practical steps:
Agree on hand signals to communicate pain, discomfort or the need for a break
Ask your dentist what is going to happen and why
Book a time when you are not rushed or under pressure
Oral sedation at TLC
TLC offers oral sedation: a prescribed calming pill taken before the appointment. You stay awake and able to respond, and Dr. Lesko reviews your health history and medications first to confirm it is a safe fit. Read about oral sedation for anxious patients or whether oral sedation is right for you, then ask the office when you book.
How do you take the first step?
To take the first step, call TLC at 780.980.5115 or book online. At TLC, as of October 2026, most new patients are seen within a week of calling. When you book, mention anything that has been bothering you and ask any questions you have.
For questions about insurance or CDCP billing, see our insurance and direct billing page.
Signs that need care sooner
The CDA says it is time to see your dentist if you have any of these warning signs, and to see your dentist right away for some of them, as marked below:
Bleeding that you can't explain (see your dentist right away)
Gums that bleed almost every time you brush or floss
Bad breath that doesn't go away
A loose tooth (see your dentist as soon as possible)
Mouth sores that don't heal in 7 to 10 days (see your dentist right away)
White or red patches in your mouth (see your dentist right away)
Feeling numb or sore inside your mouth (see your dentist right away)
Sensitivity to hot, cold, sweetness or pressure
For tooth or gum pain, MyHealth Alberta says to call your dentist, doctor or nurse advice line now, or seek immediate medical care, if you have signs of infection, such as increased pain, swelling, warmth, redness or a fever. It also says to call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care, for example if you have trouble breathing.
When you call TLC, tell the office about any of these signs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to agree to everything at once?
That is up to you. The Canadian Dental Association says your dentist makes the treatment plan from your oral health needs, but the final decision about how and when to proceed is yours. Ask which findings need treatment right away and which can be monitored.
Are dental X-rays safe?
The Canadian Dental Association says dental X-rays deliver very little radiation. MyHealth Alberta says digital X-rays need less radiation than standard dental X-rays, and that the chance of damage from dental X-rays is extremely low and is not a reason to avoid the test.
How often should I see the dentist once I am back?
The Canadian Dental Association says how often you go for dental exams depends on your oral health needs, and that for many people this means an exam every six months. The CDA lists a discussion of how often to return as part of a typical checkup.
Should I bring old dental records or X-rays?
At TLC, past X-rays help but are not required, so bring any you have. If you had a dentist before, the CDA says you can ask for a copy of your records to be transferred from your former dentist once you have chosen a new one.
Talk it through with Dr. Kyle Lesko in Leduc
If it has been a while, we'd be glad to hear from you. Book online or call us at 780.980.5115, and bring a note of anything that has been bothering you. Your first appointment of about 60 minutes includes an exam with Dr. Kyle Lesko and a conversation about your goals. You will find our office at 5209 Discovery Way #4 in Leduc, and we welcome patients from Leduc and the greater Edmonton area.
Sources
Checked in October 2026. Coverage rules and recommendations change, so confirm current details with the organisations below.
Study: Cost-related avoidance of oral health services, Statistics Canada (The Daily)
Cost-related avoidance of oral health services, Statistics Canada (Insights on Canadian Society)
The Dental Exam, Canadian Dental Association
Regular Dental Checkups, Canadian Dental Association
Dental Care FAQs, Canadian Dental Association
Gum Disease, Canadian Dental Association
Cavities, Canadian Dental Association
How to Spot Trouble, Canadian Dental Association
Dentistry List of Tests and Treatments to Question, Canadian Dental Association
Radiation Protection in Dentistry: Safety Code 30 (2022), Health Canada
Dental X-Rays, MyHealth.Alberta.ca
Dental Anxiety, MyHealth.Alberta.ca
Tooth and Gum Pain: Care Instructions, MyHealth.Alberta.ca
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