Dr. Alexandria De Santis-Smith

Dr. Alexandria De Santis-Smith provides expert care for a wide range of dental and oral health conditions for patients of all ages, including but not limited to:

Extensive Dental Treatment Needs

• Requiring Multiple or Lengthy Dental Procedures: Needing several dental treatments, complex procedures, or a particularly long single procedure, for which sedation might be beneficial for patient comfort, cooperation, and treatment efficiency.

Dental Pain Emergency

• Lost Filling or Crown: Addressing situations where a dental filling or crown has become dislodged or fallen out, requiring temporary or permanent replacement.
• Dental Trauma (e.g., Knocked-out or Dislodged Tooth - Emergency Care): Urgent assessment and treatment for injuries to teeth and supporting oral structures.
• Dental Abscess (Localized Infection): Managing acute dental infections to relieve pain, control the spread of infection, and address the source.

Special Needs Dental Care Peds

• Dental Care for Children & Adolescents with Special Healthcare Needs (Physical, Cognitive, Behavioral, Medical): Requiring specialized dental management and a tailored care approach for children and adolescents with underlying medical conditions (e.g., congenital heart disease, bleeding disorders, immunocompromise), physical disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy), cognitive or developmental challenges (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome), or significant behavioral issues that make routine dental treatment difficult.
• Dental Care for Medically Compromised Children: Specialized considerations for dental treatment in pediatric patients with underlying illnesses.

Tooth Decay Cavities

• Dental Caries (Cavities / Tooth Decay): Restoring teeth affected by decay with appropriate filling materials to maintain oral health.
• Early Childhood Caries (ECC) / Baby Bottle Tooth Decay: Addressing aggressive tooth decay in toddlers and preschoolers with tailored treatment and parental education.

This list offers some examples of conditions commonly addressed. A comprehensive diagnosis is always based on an individual assessment by Dr. Santis-Smith. If your specific oral health concern isn't listed, please contact the clinic to discuss your needs and appropriate treatment options.

• Dental Crowns (Caps): Durable and aesthetic crowns designed to restore the form, function, and integrity of significantly damaged or endodontically treated teeth.
• Understanding Your Dental Treatment Plan: Fostering informed decision-making through comprehensive patient education about their dental health status and available treatment pathways.
• Dentures (Complete & Partial, Conventional & Implant-Supported): Customized full and partial dentures, carefully crafted to help patients regain confidence in their smile, ability to eat a varied diet, and speak clearly.
• Dental Bridges (Fixed Partial Dentures): Replacing one or more missing teeth with a fixed (non-removable) dental bridge, typically anchored to adjacent natural teeth (abutments) or dental implants, to restore chewing function, maintain tooth alignment, and improve smile aesthetics.
• Dental Photography & Intraoral Camera Imaging: High-resolution dental photography for documenting conditions, planning treatments, and tracking progress.

Note: This list highlights some of the key services offered by Dr. Santis-Smith. Not all services may be listed, and the suitability of any treatment depends on individual assessment. For a comprehensive understanding or to discuss your specific dental needs, please schedule a consultation.

All dental services by Dr. Alexandria De Santis-Smith adhere to scope of practice for Dentists in ON and standards of The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO).

At Park Drive Dental Centre, the focus is on partnering with you to achieve significant improvements in your oral health, address your specific dental concerns, and help you attain your desired smile. Dr. Santis-Smith frequently works with patients towards outcomes such as:

• Managing a need for a professional dental opinion on a growth, unusual spot, or texture change in their mouth that they discovered effectively and proactively is a top priority for Dr. Santis-Smith and the dental team. The clear aim is always their child stopping their thumb-sucking habit with supportive guidance, protecting their dental development, which directly helps patients get back to enjoying feeling comfortable with close-up interactions and conversations and their daily routines without dental hindrance.
• If needing practical advice and guidance on how to properly care for their toddler's newly erupted first teeth has unfortunately put their child eating a healthy, varied diet without complaining of tooth pain on hold or made it less enjoyable, Dr. Santis-Smith works closely with patients towards attaining gaining clarity about their child's future orthodontic needs and the optimal timing for any potential treatment, effectively helping them regain their previous level of oral function and aesthetic confidence.
• Effectively addressing persistent bad breath (halitosis) that didn't seem to improve despite good hygiene with Dr. Santis-Smith's comprehensive dental approach often leads to the desired outcome of experiencing relief from the discomfort of persistent dry mouth with effective management strategies, enabling patients to more freely and confidently engage in resuming hobbies that require concentration, now free from dental pain and social interactions.
• Many people seek Dr. Santis-Smith's professional help and expertise when dealing with experiencing diffuse facial pain or muscle tenderness that they suspected might be related to their jaw joint or bite. The mutually agreed upon, collaborative goal is consistently their child's newly erupted molars being protected from decay with dental sealants, allowing a confident and satisfying return to valued life activities like being able to feeling more outgoing and engaging in conversations more readily.

Your personalized dental treatment plan, developed in consultation with Dr. Santis-Smith, will be carefully designed to help you reach your specific functional, aesthetic, and overall oral wellness objectives. Dr. Santis-Smith is committed to empowering patients with the information and high-quality care needed to achieve and maintain a healthy, confident smile for life.

Park Drive Dental Centre, where Dr. Santis-Smith practices, is situated in a central location within the Stouffville neighborhood of Stouffville. The clinic is conveniently located near local shops and community amenities and is accessible via major local public transit routes. Convenient patient parking is typically available near the clinic.

What should I expect during my first dental visit with Dr. Santis-Smith at Park Drive Dental Centre?

At your initial appointment, Dr. Santis-Smith and the team at Park Drive Dental Centre will focus on getting to know you and your oral health. Expect to fill out a medical history form, have a discussion about any dental issues or goals you have, followed by a detailed examination of your mouth. Digital X-rays may be taken to get a complete picture. Based on this, Dr. Santis-Smith will explain their assessment and any recommended treatments. It's a great time to ask questions.

Do I need a referral to see a general dentist like Dr. Santis-Smith?

Typically, a referral is not required to schedule an appointment with a general dentist. Patients are welcome to contact Park Drive Dental Centre directly to arrange their visit with Dr. Santis-Smith.

What services does a General Dentist (Dentist) like Dr. Santis-Smith typically provide?

A General Dentist like Dr. Santis-Smith is the primary dental care provider for patients of all ages, offering a wide range of services including preventative care (check-ups, cleanings, X-rays, fluoride, sealants), restorative treatments (fillings, crowns, bridges), basic endodontics (root canals on less complex teeth), simple extractions, initial management of gum disease, and cosmetic procedures (like whitening or bonding if offered). Dr. Santis-Smith also educates patients on oral hygiene and refers to specialists for more complex needs. They may offer specialized services in areas like General Dentistry with Certified Sedation Options based on additional training.

Are dental X-rays safe, and how often are they needed?

Dental X-rays are very safe, especially modern digital X-rays which use minimal radiation. Protective lead aprons are used. X-rays are taken only when diagnostically necessary (e.g., for new patients, to check for decay between teeth, assess bone health, or plan complex treatments). Dr. Santis-Smith will determine the frequency based on your individual oral health, risk factors, and dental history, adhering to guidelines like ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable).

Is dental treatment generally covered by provincial health plans like Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) in ON?

In ON, provincial health plans (like OHIP) typically do NOT cover most routine or major dental procedures performed in private dental clinics for the general population. Some specific, limited dental surgeries performed in a hospital setting might be covered. Most dental care costs are paid out-of-pocket by patients or through private dental insurance plans (often through employers) or government assistance programs for eligible groups (e.g., children from low-income families, seniors on specific benefits, social assistance recipients). Check your eligibility for public coverage and your private dental insurance details before treatment.

I'm very anxious about dental visits. Does Dr. Santis-Smith offer any sedation options?

Yes, Dr. Santis-Smith understands that dental visits can be a source of anxiety for many patients. To help you feel more relaxed and comfortable, Park Drive Dental Centre offers various sedation options, such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral conscious sedation. Please discuss your anxiety openly with Dr. Santis-Smith during your consultation so they can determine the most appropriate and safest sedation approach for your needs and the planned procedure.

How often should I (or my child) visit Dr. Santis-Smith for a check-up and cleaning?

Generally, every 6 months is recommended for most patients for preventative care. Dr. Santis-Smith will recommend a personalized schedule based on individual oral health needs, risk factors for cavities or gum disease, and existing conditions (e.g., some may need visits every 3-4 months if managing active gum disease or at high caries risk, while others with excellent long-term health might have slightly longer intervals). Follow Dr. Santis-Smith's specific recommendation.

Park Drive Dental Centre
12 Park Drive S
Stouffville, ON, L4A 1G4

Phone: (905) 640-6688

Dr. Alexandria De Santis-Smith is a licensed Dentist in ON, regulated by The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 & Dentistry Act, 1991 (Ontario).

License Number: 501776

Verify registration with The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO): https://www.rcdso.org/find-a-dentist/search-results/dentist?id=501776

Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene are essential for maintaining overall health. Dr. Santis-Smith and the team are committed to providing you with comprehensive dental care. If you have a dental emergency, please contact the clinic promptly. For after-hours emergencies that are life-threatening, proceed to the nearest hospital emergency department.