Dr. Ralph Torchia

Dr. Ralph Torchia provides expert care for a wide range of dental and oral health conditions for patients of all ages, including but not limited to:

Dental Anxiety Phobia

• History of Traumatic Dental Experiences: Seeking a compassionate, gentle, and communicative approach to dental care due to previous trauma.
• Fear or Anxiety about Dental Visits/Procedures: Seeking a dental environment and care approach that is understanding, patient, and supportive of dental fears.

Common Dental Issues

• Toothache & Dental Pain (General): General discomfort or aching in the teeth or jaws needing professional assessment to determine the cause.
• Bad Breath (Halitosis) - Dental Causes: Investigating and managing bad breath by addressing its underlying dental causes and providing hygiene recommendations.
• Dry Mouth (Xerostomia): Managing dry mouth by identifying potential causes (medications, medical conditions) and recommending saliva substitutes or stimulants.
• Chipped, Cracked, or Broken Teeth: Minor to moderate fractures or chips in teeth due to injury or wear, requiring restorative repair.

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): Emergency management of traumatic dental injuries to maximize the chances of successful reimplantation or repair.
• Dental Abscess (Localized Infection): Managing acute dental infections to relieve pain, control the spread of infection, and address the source.

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

• Dietary Counseling for Oral Health: Educating patients on the link between diet and oral health for long-term prevention.
• 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.
• Inlays & Onlays (Partial Crowns): Custom-fabricated porcelain or composite resin inlays (fitting precisely within the tooth cusps) and onlays (covering one or more cusps) to restore moderately damaged teeth while preserving maximum healthy tooth structure.
• Porcelain Veneers & Lumineers: Transforming smiles with highly durable and exceptionally aesthetic porcelain veneers for a beautiful, flawless, and natural-looking result.
• Denture Adjustments, Repairs & Relines: Providing necessary adjustments, repairs (e.g., for cracks or broken teeth), and relines (to improve fit due to gum shrinkage) for existing dentures to enhance comfort, stability, and functionality.

Note: This list highlights some of the key services offered by Dr. Torchia. 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. Ralph Torchia adhere to scope of practice for Dentists in ON and standards of The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO).

At Torchia Dental, 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. Torchia frequently works with patients towards outcomes such as:

• Managing their child having a severe toothache that kept them up at night and required immediate attention effectively and proactively is a top priority for Dr. Torchia and the dental team. The clear aim is always a noticeable improvement or elimination of persistent bad taste in their mouth, which directly helps patients get back to enjoying enjoying romantic moments without self-consciousness about their breath or smile and their daily routines without dental hindrance.
• Patients experiencing needing a custom-fitted mouthguard for playing sports to properly protect their teeth and jaw from injury often express a desire to improve their oral health and function. At Dr. Torchia's practice, a key objective is their child stopping their thumb-sucking habit with supportive guidance, protecting their dental development, which directly supports their ability to fully engage in feeling confident that their oral health is positively contributing to their systemic health.
• The primary focus for patients seeking help for wondering if their child's teeth were erupting in the correct sequence and alignment for their age at Dr. Torchia's practice is consistently achieving their infected tooth being successfully saved from extraction through root canal treatment. This facilitates a confident and meaningful return to valued daily activities such as simply relaxing and not having dental pain or problems on their mind constantly.
• Patients frequently come to Dr. Torchia with concerns about a dental problem or discomfort that they had been avoiding or putting off addressing for far too long. By working together as a team, they typically aim for and achieve their child calmly receiving dental injections due to a patient and skilled approach, making a positive and lasting return to delivering important presentations or public speeches with clarity and self-assurance not just possible, but highly feasible.

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

Torchia Dental is situated in a central location within the Tecumseh neighborhood of Tecumseh. 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.

Do I need a referral to see a general dentist like Dr. Torchia?

No, you generally do not need a referral from a physician or another healthcare provider to see a general dentist like Dr. Torchia for a check-up, cleaning, or consultation. You can usually book an appointment directly with Torchia Dental.

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 to further minimize exposure. X-rays are taken only when diagnostically necessary, for example, for new patients, to check for decay between teeth, assess bone health, or plan complex treatments. Dr. Torchia 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).

What services does a General Dentist (Dentist) like Dr. Torchia typically provide?

A General Dentist like Dr. Torchia 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. Torchia also educates patients on oral hygiene and refers to specialists for more complex needs. Dr. Torchia may offer specialized services in areas like General Dentistry with Certified Sedation Options based on additional training.

What should I expect during my first dental visit with Dr. Torchia at Torchia Dental?

Your first visit with Dr. Torchia will typically involve a comprehensive dental examination. This includes a review of your medical and dental history, a thorough check of your teeth, gums, jaw, and soft tissues (including an oral cancer screening), and any necessary X-rays. Dr. Torchia will discuss their findings, address your concerns, and work with you to create a personalized treatment plan if any care is needed. Often, a professional cleaning will also be performed or scheduled during this visit or a subsequent one.

What is Torchia Dental's policy regarding missed appointments or late cancellations?

We understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise. However, we kindly request at least 24 business hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment with Dr. Torchia. This allows us to offer the appointment time to another patient in need of care. Appointments cancelled or rescheduled with less than 24 hours' notice, or missed without any notification, may be subject to a cancellation fee of $50-$100. Specific fee information is available from the clinic. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us manage our schedule efficiently.

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

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

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). Verify any potential public coverage you might be eligible for and always check your private dental insurance details before treatment.

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

Generally, we recommend every 6 months for most patients for preventative care. Dr. Torchia 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. Torchia's specific recommendation.

Torchia Dental
500 Manning Rd #6B
Tecumseh, ON, N8N 2L9

Phone: (519) 956-7900

Dr. Ralph Torchia 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: 13810

Verify registration with The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO): https://www.rcdso.org/find-a-dentist/search-results/dentist?id=13810

Regular dental check-ups and good oral hygiene are essential for maintaining overall health. Dr. Torchia 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.