Periodontal home-care trays at Lambton Dental
For patients where home cleaning alone is not quite enough, custom-fitted home-care trays can act as a targeted adjunct to scaling, root planing and regular maintenance care. At Lambton Dental we fabricate trays after a periodontal assessment and coach how to use them safely.
What are periodontal home-care trays?
Periodontal home-care trays are thin, custom-fitted plastic trays that hold a prescribed cleansing or antimicrobial gel gently against the gums and along the gum line for a short period each day. Because the trays are made from a digital scan of your teeth, they follow the shape of your gums precisely — including the deeper spaces around teeth that a normal brush cannot always reach reliably.
The trays are used as an adjunct, not a replacement, to brushing, flossing or interdental brushes and to regular periodontal treatment at the office. They are considered for selected patients whose gums have not responded fully to standard home care and structured maintenance, and the dentist and hygienist work with you to decide whether trays are likely to help in your specific case.
When home-care trays are worth considering
Home-care trays are worth considering when:
- You have a history of periodontitis and your gums have not responded fully to standard home care and structured maintenance visits.
- You have physical limitations — arthritis, hand tremor or reduced dexterity — that make brushing and interdental cleaning difficult to do thoroughly.
- You have deeper areas that food and plaque tend to collect in and that respond well to a targeted, tray-based cleaning at home each day.
- You’ve been advised by the hygienist that additional support would help you maintain the gains from your scaling and root planing course.
- You prefer a routine that is more structured and easier to be consistent with each day.
Trays are considered on a case-by-case basis and are only appropriate after a full periodontal treatment plan has been discussed, so their role in your overall care is clear from the start.
What to expect with home-care trays
Periodontal assessment
The dentist and hygienist complete a full periodontal exam and confirm that trays are appropriate as part of your overall gum care plan.
Digital scan
A quick digital scan of your upper and lower teeth is taken so a laboratory can make trays that fit precisely along the gum line.
Fitting visit
The trays are fitted, checked for comfort and adjusted where needed. The hygienist demonstrates how to load the prescribed gel and how much to use each day.
Home routine coaching
You go home with a clear written routine — how long to wear the trays, how to clean them, and how to combine them with brushing and interdental cleaning at home.
Two-week check
A short follow-up visit reviews how the routine is going and adjusts the plan if the trays are uncomfortable, are difficult to keep to or are not being tolerated.
Maintenance review
The trays and how you are getting on with them are reviewed at every maintenance recall visit, alongside fresh pocket measurements and cleaning.
Home-care trays are an adjunct, not a substitute, for brushing, flossing or regular office maintenance. The dentist and hygienist will always emphasise home care and recall visits as the foundation of your gum health.
Fitting trays into your overall gum-care plan
Home-care trays are only one part of a broader gum-care plan. The core of the plan is professional maintenance every three to four months, careful daily brushing, interdental cleaning and, where indicated, scaling and root planing as described on our periodontal treatment page. Trays are added in selected cases where an extra layer of support at home is likely to make a real difference to how the gums respond.
The hygienist reviews your trays and home routine at every maintenance visit. The prescribed gel and the tray wear time are adjusted based on how the gums are responding, and any long-term changes to fit are managed by the dentist. If trays are no longer needed at some point, the plan can step back to a standard maintenance routine with confidence.
Cost, insurance, and CDCP / IFHP coverage
The cost of home-care trays depends on whether one or both arches are made and includes the fitting visit and the short two-week follow-up. The dentist provides a written estimate before the trays are ordered, and refills of the prescribed gel are billed separately when needed over time.
Some Canadian dental insurance plans cover custom oral appliances for periodontal maintenance as an adjunctive service; coverage varies significantly by plan. We direct-bill wherever your plan allows and submit predeterminations before the trays are ordered. Lambton Dental is also a provider for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP); coverage of home-care trays under these programs is limited and depends on eligibility.
Our payment options page explains billing openly.
For larger treatment plans, monthly payment plans through a third-party financing partner are available on approved credit — ask at your consultation or see our payment options.
Why patients choose Lambton Dental for home-care trays
- Trays are only recommended after a full periodontal assessment and are always part of a broader gum-care plan.
- A two-week follow-up visit ensures the routine is comfortable and being kept up before it becomes a long-term habit.
- The hygienist reviews trays and home routine at every maintenance visit alongside fresh pocket measurements.
- We direct-bill CDCP, IFHP and major Canadian insurance carriers wherever your plan allows.
- Evening and weekend appointments make it easier to fit in fitting and follow-up visits around work.
- Our team serves patients in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Related services
Frequently asked questions about home-care trays
Are home-care trays a replacement for brushing and flossing?
No. Home-care trays are an adjunct — added to a routine, not a replacement for it. Brushing twice a day, interdental cleaning at least once a day and regular maintenance visits at the office remain the foundation of periodontal care. The trays add a targeted step where they are likely to make a real difference, but only when the foundation is in place.
How long do I wear the trays each day?
Wear time is set by the dentist for your specific case and is usually shorter than most patients expect — often around ten to fifteen minutes each day. The prescribed gel and the wear time are adjusted based on how the gums are responding and on your comfort. The hygienist writes out the exact routine and reviews it at each maintenance visit.
Do the trays taste unpleasant?
The prescribed gel used in the trays has a mild flavour and most patients find it very tolerable. A small amount is used at each session and the trays are worn for a short period, so most patients get used to the routine quickly. If the flavour or the fit are uncomfortable, the two-week follow-up visit is designed to sort those issues out early.
Can I use the trays for whitening as well?
The trays are made specifically for periodontal home care and are not designed for whitening. Whitening trays are made to a different shape and use different gels. If you would like to whiten your teeth, please see our whitening service page. In some cases the dentist may recommend having separate trays for each purpose so both routines are done safely.
How long do the trays last?
Home-care trays are made from durable clear plastic and, with good care, last several years. Rinse the trays after each use, brush gently with a soft toothbrush and mild non-abrasive cleaner and store them dry in their case. Toothpaste is abrasive and can dull the plastic, so a dedicated tray cleaner is worth using; do not soak the trays in hot water.
Will I always need to use the trays?
Not necessarily. In some cases the trays are used for a period until the gums have stabilised and then the plan steps back to a standard maintenance routine. In other cases the trays remain part of the long-term routine. The dentist and hygienist review the plan at every maintenance visit and adjust it based on how the gums are responding to care.
Are there any patients who shouldn't use home-care trays?
The dentist reviews your medical history, current medications and any allergies before recommending trays. Patients with specific mouth conditions, uncontrolled gum inflammation or certain systemic conditions may not be suitable candidates, and the dentist explains why if that is the case for you. Alternatives are then discussed so a workable plan is still in place for your care.
Book a home-care trays assessment
Book online or call (416) 666-3700 to arrange a home-care trays assessment. The dentist and hygienist will confirm whether trays are appropriate as part of your overall gum-care plan.
CDCP welcome
We welcome patients covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan and can help you understand what's covered.
Learn about CDCP →IFHP welcome
We are registered to treat patients under the Interim Federal Health Program and bill Medavie Blue Cross directly.
Learn about IFHP →Direct billing
We bill all major Canadian dental insurance carriers directly, so you pay only what your plan does not cover.
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