Confidence and care built in A specialist you can entrust with your patients
When you refer a patient to Halifax Perio, they’re treated as if they were our own. We work closely with referring dentists to provide unparalleled periodontal care, clear communication, and coordinated treatment planning. With timely reporting, collaborative case management, and a commitment to returning patients to your care whenever appropriate, we strive to be a referral partner you can rely on.
Guide for when to refer your patient to us
While many periodontal concerns can be managed successfully within a general practice, many conditions benefit from specialist assessment and treatment. Referral can help provide additional diagnostic insight, advanced surgical options, and long-term management strategies that support both periodontal health and restorative success. The following situations commonly warrant referral to a periodontist such as Dr. Matheson.
For Periodontal Disease
- Moderate to severe periodontitis
- Pocketing over 5mm
- Progressive bone loss
- Furcation involvement
- Mobility
- Persistent inflammation despite hygiene therapy
- Bleeding and suppuration that does not resolve
- Rapid attachment loss
- Aggressive or early onset disease in younger patients
- Periodontal abscesses
- Uncertainty about prognosis and treatment planning
Implant related
- Implant site development
- Ortho considerations
- Before ortho in adults
- When recession or thin tissue is present
- When there is none loss or mobility
- If expansion or significant roots movement is planned
- If inflammation is present prior to orthodontist
For mucogingival
- Gingival recession
- Thin periodontal phenotype. Lack of attached keratinized tissue
- Root sensitivity repeated to recession
- Aesthetic concerns
- Ortho patients with recession risk
Medical considerations
- Diabetes and worsening perio disease
- Smoking / vaping with periodontal breakdown
- Autoimmune conditions
- Medication induced gingival enlargement
- Compels medical histories
Surgical procedures commonly managed by periodontists
- Periodontal surgery
- Regeneration
- Crown lengthening (pre-prosthetic or aesthetic)
- Gum grafting
- Implant surgery
- Frenectomies
Osseous surgery
- Soft tissue aesthetic concerns
Frequently Asked Questions
What information do I need to schedule a patient?
To help us process referrals efficiently, please include the patient’s contact information, reason for referral, and any relevant radiographs. Details about planned restorative treatment, previous periodontal therapy, or specific clinical concerns are always appreciated and help us provide more targeted recommendations.
Where do we send referral forms?
Referral forms can be emailed to perio@halifaxperio.com or faxed to 902-446-4867. If you have questions about a referral, our team is always happy to assist.
What is the best way to send a radiograph to Dr. Matheson?
Email is generally the quickest and most efficient option. Radiographs can be securely sent to perio@halifaxperio.com along with any supporting clinical notes or treatment objectives.
How will I know when my patient has been scheduled?
Our team contacts patients promptly after receiving a referral and aims to schedule most consultations within the first month. Referrals are triaged when appropriate to help accommodate restorative, orthodontic, or other time-sensitive treatment plans.
Following the consultation, you’ll receive a detailed report including periodontal charting, diagnostic findings, treatment recommendations, and any radiographs obtained during the visit. Dr. Matheson also welcomes direct communication by phone or text whenever you’d like to discuss a case or treatment plan.
What is the typical wait time for a consultation?
Most patients are seen within approximately one month of referral. Urgent cases are prioritized whenever possible, and referrals are reviewed to ensure patients are scheduled according to clinical need.
If I refer a patient, will I lose them?
No. Our goal is to support your treatment, not replace your relationship with your patient.
In most cases, patients return to their referring dentist after completing periodontal treatment. When ongoing periodontal maintenance is required, we work collaboratively with the referring office to ensure patients continue receiving routine examinations, restorative care, and comprehensive dental oversight from their general dentist.
