New Patients

Your First Visit

Welcome to Richlea Dental. Whether it’s been 10 years since you’ve seen a dentist, have an emergency or are simply transferring from another office, rest assured that we can help.

EMERGENCIES

If you are having an emergency, we will make every effort to accommodate you with the next available appointment. Please call us at 604-271-5522.

YOUR FIRST CLEANING

Your first visit is a chance for us to get to know one another. Please bring with you any questions you might have and we would be happy to talk about them at your first appointment.

During your first cleaning, you will receive a complete dental exam, which includes checking your teeth, your soft tissue,  examining your jaw and bite, and checking any specific concerns you might have. We will also take radiographs to complete our examination.

After your dental exam, we will do a thorough cleaning, removing any plaque and tartar buildup. We will also polish your teeth so they look their shiny best. At the very end, you will have the option of an application of fluoride to further protect your teeth.

Depending on the amount of cleaning that needs to be done, we may require more than one appointment. This can be easily arranged at your convenience.

TRANSFERRING FROM ANOTHER DENTIST

Please inform us ahead of time if you are transferring from another office and would like us to assist you in transferring your records. With your permission, we will contact your previous dental office to make arrangements. Please keep in mind that we may need to re-take x-rays at our office if the previous ones are undiagnostic or out-of-date.

Patient Forms and Dental Records

You can download, print, and fill out our New Patient Form before you arrive, or come 15 minutes early to fill it out at of office.

Download our New Patient Form PDF

If you are transferring from another office, please kindly inform us and with your permission, we will contact your previous office to transfer your records. Please keep in mind that we may need to re-take x-rays at our office if the previous ones are undiagnostic or out-of-date.

Payment and Dental Insurance

On your first visit, you can come early with your dental insurance information. We can help you confirm the specifics of your plan, including when your calendar year starts, how much coverage you have, and the dollar limit of your plan.

Our fees follow the annual suggested fee guide set out by the British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA). Many dental plan carriers will base plan coverage on fees and codes within this guide.

We offer direct billing to the insurance, so you only have to pay the difference on your visits. We will help you fill out and submit paperwork to your insurance company on your behalf, For payment, we accept all major credit cards, debit, or cash.

We also accept dental coverage provided by the BC government for income or disability assistance.

Please note it is your responsibility to understand the terms of your dental benefits and to inform us of any changes to your insurance.

You can find answers to other commonly asked questions on our FAQ page.