A regular dental check up is important because they help keep your teeth and gums healthy. You should have a regular dental visit at least every 6 months or as recommended by your dental professional. If you do not attend regularly you may risk loosing your registration with us.
What happens at your dental visit? There are 2 parts to a regular dental visit – check up, or examination and the cleaning. At the dental check up your dental professional will check for cavities. X-rays might be taken to detect cavities between your teeth. The exam will also include a check for plaque and tartar on your teeth. Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria. If it is not removed, it can harden and become tartar. You cannot remove tartar with brushing and flossing. If plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, they can cause oral diseases. Next, your gums will be checked. This will be done with a special tool to measure the depth of the spaces between your teeth and gums. With healthy gums, the spaces are shallow. When people have gum disease, the spaces may become deeper. The check-up should also include a careful examination of your tongue, throat, face, head, and neck. This is to look for any signs of trouble - swelling, redness, or possible signs of cancer.
Your teeth may also be cleaned at your visit. Brushing and flossing help clean the plaque from your teeth, but you can't remove tartar at home. During the cleaning, your dental professional will use special tools to remove tartar. This is called scaling. Scaling removes plaque and tartar.
If your dentist finds further problems, they will recommend the next steps you will need to take. This could be the need for fillings to damaged or decayed teeth, treatment for gum disease or further tests to aid diagnosis. You will receive a written treatment plan, which you sign before commencing any treatment.