What to expect at a dental check-up appointment

Routine dental visits are essential if you wish to keep your mouth healthy. By detecting problems early treatment is likely to be simpler, more effective and less costly.

Medical history

At the start of your check-up, your dentist will ask you about your medical history. Your dentist must be aware of any medications or medical conditions to prevent complications during treatment.

Discuss concerns

You will be given the opportunity to discuss any concerns you have about your teeth, whether it is a restorative issue or something that is causing you pain/discomfort. This is a good time to bring up any cosmetic procedures you may be interested in such as teeth whitening, composite bonding (composite veneers) or orthodontic treatment (teeth straightening).

Examine your teeth, gums and jaw.

The dentist will check your teeth for any signs of dental decay and your gums for any indications of gum disease such as swelling, redness, or sores. They will perform a basic periodontal examination or BPE for short. A BPE is a way to assess a patient’s periodontal status. It will advise the dentist if you need to be referred to a dental hygienist. The dentist will then check your jaw bone, bite and check for signs of jaw clenching.

Checking for cancers

Your dentist will then check for any signs of mouth and throat cancer such as sores/ulcers, lesions, unexplained bleeding, and blocked salivary glands.

Scan

At new examinations, we will scan your mouth with our 3d scanner. By taking a series of photos of the teeth this very clever camera allows the dentist to build a 3d image of your teeth on the computer. That 3d analysis enables the dentist to see how patients bite and chew and where they put pressure on their teeth. That model is stored on the computer and allows the dentist to make any dental appliances which may be required in the near future such as teeth whitening trays and clear aligners.

Ai technology with our specialist software allows past and future scans to be compared to determine if patients teeth are changing, moving or wearing down. Timely intervention can mean that small problems never become big problems.

Radiographs

Radiographs detect problems such as dental decay which is not visible to the naked eye. They will also show other issues like root problems or infections. Early detection of such issues is vital for effective treatment.

Treatment Planning
At the end of your examination, the dentist will share their findings with you and any potential restorative or cosmetic dental treatment will be discussed in full.

Regular dental care is important to keep both your teeth and gums healthy. However regular check-ups aren’t just to safeguard your oral health, they may also flag up issues elsewhere in the body such as diabetes, digestive problems and heart issues.

We are currently registering new private patients from all over Kent. If you would like more information contact our London surgery - eltham@s3dental.co.uk or WhatsApp 0208 850 9836.