Moving to a new community comes with a long, familiar checklist. You unpack boxes, register for local services, find a favourite grocery store, and figure out the fastest route to work. Somewhere on that list is finding a new family dentist.

Searching for a clinic during a toothache is stressful. Establishing dental care early keeps your family’s preventive routine on track. If you recently moved to Salmon Arm or the surrounding Shuswap region, this guide outlines steps to choose a dental practice, transfer your records, and keep your family’s smiles healthy.

Welcome to the Shuswap Community

The Shuswap is a remarkable place to call home. Life here revolves around outdoor recreation, community events, and a relaxed small-town pace. We have a growing community from Salmon Arm, Sorrento, Sicamous, and nearby rural neighbourhoods. Dr. Low’s dental clinics help you establish your local healthcare network across our locations, which is an important part of putting down roots.

Healthcare in smaller communities relies on strong relationships. You want a dental team that understands your family, respects your time, and provides consistent long-term care. By visiting one of Dr. Low’s dental clinics early, you can get settled and avoid unnecessary disruptions to your oral health.

Step 1: What Dr. Low’s Dental Clinics Offer You

Selecting the right dental home means choosing a practice designed around your family’s oral healthcare needs. Across Dr. Low’s dental clinics, we prioritize compassionate care so you can feel comfortable and confident in your choice. Here is what our offices bring to you and your family:

• Welcoming New Patients: We are accepting new patients at all of our locations.
• Comprehensive In-House Care: From routine cleanings and tooth-coloured fillings to root canals, crowns, extractions, and implant restorations, we manage everything you need under one roof.
• Emergency Services: We reserve daily time slots for urgent visits during office hours and offer clear guidance for after-hours care.
• Care for the Entire Family: As a complete multi-generational practice, we treat everyone from children to seniors in one comfortable environment.
• Public Benefit Support: We proudly participate in the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and help navigate direct insurance billing to maximize your coverage.
• Modern Technology & Safety: Our practices feature digital imaging and advanced safety protocols to deliver precise diagnostics and a comfortable patient experience.

Step 2: Getting to Know Dr. Low & Our Team of Dental Professionals

At Dr. Low’s dental clinics, our mission is to provide quality, compassionate dental care to every family member in a friendly and professional environment. We tailor every treatment to fit your specific dental goals, medical background, and budget.

Meet Our Dental Team

Dr. Jonathan Low (BSC, MSC, DDS), following in the footsteps of his father, Dr. Cedric Low, leads a dedicated team focused on respectful, patient-centred care. Our multi-dentist practice has extensive experience in all areas of general dentistry. Our goal is to make sure your family receives well-rounded, compassionate, and expert care. In addition to Dr. Low, our team of skilled associates includes:

• Dr. Luke Hawkins (BSc, DMD): Known for his relaxed, welcoming style and commitment to high-quality care for patients of all ages.
• Dr. Cynthia Dawson (BSc, DMD): Passionate about community health, continuing education, and making dental care accessible and comfortable.
• Dr. Bruce Prokopetz (DMD) is warmly known as “Dr. Bruce,” bringing a down-to-earth approach and decades of experience to personalized treatment.
• Dr. Mike Allan (DMD): Focused extensively on advanced surgical procedures, implantology, and complex extractions.

Together, Dr. Low and our associate dentists collaborate to listen to your concerns, explain any results, and support your ongoing care.

Convenient Care Across the Shuswap

We recognize that commuting across the region takes time. To better serve local families, our practice operates three convenient locations across the Shuswap:

• Dr. Jonathan Low Family Dentistry (Salmon Arm Office): Located at 320 Ross Street NE
• Sorrento Dental Clinic: Located at 1223 Trans-Canada Highway
• Sicamous Dental: Located at 217 Finlayson Street

Book routine appointments closer to home, school, or work.

Step 3: Services for the Whole Family

A great family dental practice supports your health at every stage of life. Here is an overview of the services offered across our clinics:

• Preventive Care: Dental checkups, X-rays and professional dental cleanings to protect ongoing oral health.
• Periodontal Treatments: Procedures designed to treat gum disease, prevent bone loss, and restore the overall health of your gums and supporting structures.
• Restorations: Restorations, or dental fillings, are used to treat areas of tooth decay (cavities) and can also repair cracked or broken teeth
• Fixed Prosthodontics: Crowns and bridges are permanent solutions for replacing damaged or missing teeth.
• Removable Prosthodontics: Complete and partial dentures. 
• Oral Surgery: Tooth extractions, including wisdom teeth removals. 
• Root Canals: A treatment that removes infected or inflamed dental pulp from the tooth’s root. 
• Dental Implant Restorations: This type of restoration creates a permanent solution to missing teeth.
• Wisdom Tooth Extractions: Surgical removal of third molars to relieve pain, prevent overcrowding, and protect adjacent teeth from damage.
• Gingival Grafting: A procedure that repairs receding gums by transferring tissue to shield exposed roots and reduce sensitivity.
• Snoring and Sleep Apnea Devices: Custom-fitted oral appliances designed to keep your airway open overnight, improving breathing quality and reducing snoring.
• Other Treatments: Bleaching, night guards, sports guards, minimal sedatives during procedures, and more. 

Whether your toddler needs their first checkup, your teenager needs a sports mouthguard, or a senior family member needs denture maintenance, we offer complete care across all three locations.

Step 4: Transferring X-rays and Booking Your First New Patient Exam

If you have had X-rays taken in the last 12 to 24 months:

• Contact your previous dental office and inform them that you moved to Salmon Arm.
• You may need to sign a records release form. Provincial privacy laws require your written or verbal authorization to transfer health records.
• Provide our clinic’s contact details. 

Your first visit sets the baseline for your oral health in your new home. Knowing what to expect reduces dental anxiety and keeps the process efficient.

What Happens During the First Exam?

• Medical History Review: We review your overall health, current medications, and past surgeries.
• Comprehensive Oral Examination: Our dentists evaluate your teeth, gums, jaw joint, and existing restorations.
• Oral Cancer Screening: A routine visual examination of soft tissues inside your mouth.
• Diagnostic X-rays: Taken only if recent X-rays are unavailable from your previous dentist.
• Gum Health Assessment: Checking for signs of gingivitis or gum disease.
• Treatment Planning: Discussion of any immediate repair needs or preventive recommendations.

Step 5: Keeping Family Dental Appointments Organized

Managing dental schedules for a busy household requires planning. The best part about coming to one of Dr. Low’s dental clinics for the whole family is that our admin team across all three locations helps keep track of appointments and dental records for every visit. Here are some strategies to keep your appointments organized throughout the year.

Group Appointments

When booking routine hygiene cleanings, ask to schedule multiple family members on the same day or in back-to-back time slots. This reduces trips to the clinic.

Pre-Book Your Next Visits

Do not wait for a reminder call. Schedule your next six-month checkup and cleaning before you leave the reception desk.

Set Calendar Alerts

Add dental appointments to your phone calendar immediately upon booking. Set a notification for two days prior and two hours prior to the visit.

Keep a Family Health File

Maintain a folder, either digital or physical, containing insurance policy numbers, CDCP documentation, and medical history notes for each family member. Bring this information to every appointment.

Step 6: Planning for Unexpected Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies happen without warning. A cracked tooth during a weekend hike or an intense toothache or swelling before a workday can disrupt your plans. Having a plan in advance prevents panic. Call our office if you think you’re experiencing a dental emergency. There is a protocol on the office voicemail that directs patients to the on-call dentist after hours.

Financial Options and the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

Dental care should be transparent and accessible. Our team provides a clear breakdown of estimated costs.

We also participate in the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) to help eligible residents access essential oral health care. If you qualify for the CDCP or carry private dental insurance, bring your card or plan details to your first appointment. Our administration team helps you navigate benefit coverage, file claims directly, and understand your out-of-pocket expenses before treatment starts.

Settle In with Confidence

Relocating to a new community takes work, but taking care of your health should be easy. Finding a welcoming, reliable dental home gives your family one less thing to worry about as you settle into life in the Shuswap.

If you are ready to establish care or have questions about transferring your records, contact our team at one of Dr. Low’s dental practices. We look forward to meeting you and helping you maintain a healthy smile for years to come.