Dental Care for Students in Kitchener

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A student’s guide to dental care in Kitchener

Being a student doesn’t leave much room for a toothache. Between classes, shifts, assignments and exams, dental care tends to slide down the list until something hurts. Fairway Dental sees students from Kitchener and the surrounding area for both emergency and routine care. We welcome walk-ins and appointments, and we can work with your student benefits. Below is the practical stuff: how student dental plans usually work, the problems we see most in students, and how to keep your teeth from becoming another thing to stress about.

Using your student dental plan

Many colleges and universities include a dental plan as part of student fees, usually run through the student association. A lot of students don’t realise they have coverage until they need it, and some coverage resets each school year, so unused benefits don’t carry over.

Things to check

• If enrolment is automatic or you need to opt in
• Whether you opted out because you’re covered under a parent’s plan, and if that plan still includes you
• What the plan covers: checkups and cleanings, fillings, emergency visits, root canals, extractions
• What percentage of each service the plan pays
• Any yearly maximum, and when the plan year starts and ends

Your student association or the insurer’s website will have the details. Bring your plan information or card when you visit. We bill your plan directly, so you aren’t paying up front and waiting for a cheque. If you’re still unsure what’s covered, we can help you look into it before treatment starts.

Dental problems we see in students

Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth often show up between the late teens and mid twenties, which lines up neatly with school. When there isn’t enough room, they can come in sideways, get stuck under the gum, or partly break through and trap food. The result can be pain, swelling, a bad taste and sometimes trouble opening your mouth. A panoramic X-ray shows where they are and how they’re angled. Not every wisdom tooth needs to come out, and the dentist will tell you honestly whether yours do and when it makes sense.

Cavities from late nights

Energy drinks, iced coffees, pop and snacks while studying all add up. It’s not just the sugar but how often you have it. Sipping a sweet drink over three hours keeps your teeth bathed in acid the whole time. Many students come in with a cluster of new cavities after a heavy term.

Grinding and jaw pain

Stress shows up in the jaw. Clenching or grinding, often while you sleep, can cause morning headaches, sore jaw muscles, sensitive teeth and even chipped edges. A custom night guard can protect your teeth if grinding is the cause.

Sports injuries

Intramurals, varsity sports, skateboarding and cycling all bring a risk of chipped or knocked-out teeth. A properly fitted mouthguard is far cheaper than repairing a front tooth. We don’t make custom sport guards at our office.

Gum problems

Skipped flossing, irregular cleanings and changes in routine can lead to bleeding or puffy gums. Caught early, this is easy to turn around with better home care and a professional cleaning.

What to do in a dental emergency

If something goes wrong, don’t just wait for the end of term. Problems tend to get worse, and an infected tooth during finals is worse than a filling now.

• Toothache: rinse with warm water, floss gently around the tooth and take a pain reliever you normally use safely. Call us if it lasts more than a day or keeps you up.
• Broken tooth: save the pieces, rinse and cover sharp edges with sugar-free gum. Call to be seen.
• Knocked-out tooth: handle it by the top, not the root. Rinse briefly, try to put it back in the socket, or keep it in milk and come in right away.
• Swelling: cold pack on the outside of the cheek. If it affects breathing or swallowing, go to a hospital emergency department.

Fitting dental visits into a student schedule

A few habits make it much easier:

• Book checkups at the start of a term, before deadlines pile up
• If you’re moving home for the summer, plan visits for when you’re actually in Kitchener
• Bring your class schedule when you book so we can pick a time that works
• Don’t put off treatment until exams are over. A small cavity is quick to fix. An abscess isn’t.

Low effort ways to protect your teeth

• Keep a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste in your bag or locker
• Drink water between coffees and energy drinks
• Chew sugar-free gum after meals when you can’t brush
• Floss before bed, even if it’s only most nights
• Don’t use your teeth to open bottles or packages
• Wear a mouthguard for contact sports

Questions students ask

I’m an international student. Can I still be seen?

Yes. Check whether your school’s health or dental plan covers you, and bring your plan details. For anything your plan doesn’t cover, we accept credit cards and cash.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can call or walk in directly.

Can I come in if I already have a dentist back home?

Of course. We can handle the problem now and send notes and X-rays to your home dentist if you’d like.

Whether it’s a toothache in the middle of exams or a checkup you’ve been putting off, call Fairway Dental in Kitchener at 519-893-9494. We’ll help you make the most of your student benefits and get your teeth sorted out.

Related treatments

• Canadian Dental Care Plan
• Emergency dental exams
• Dental fillings
• Cosmetic dentistry

Questions or ready to book? Contact our Kitchener office or call 519-893-9494.