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What Happens During a Routine Checkup?

If it’s been ages since you’ve seen a dentist, you’re not the only one. It happens all the time. People get busy. They put it off. Time passes. Then, a new problem emerges. And it has nothing to do with your teeth and gums: embarrassment. Shame. The fear of judgment from having waited so long. Relax. That won’t happen when you see us. Far from it. We’re merely delighted that you’re taking action. And while little can be done about the past, the future is full of possibilities. It all begins with a routine checkup. Here’s what you can expect. The Phone Call When you ring our practice you’ll meet our enthusiastic receptionist or practice manager. Ask any question not answered here. Then, we’ll have some questions for you. Besides your personal details and appointment preferences, we’ll want to understand your current dental needs and how we may be able to help. You’ll find this personal and professional. Your newfound sense of hope will have you looking forward to your appointment. Appointment Day At the appointed day and time you’ll meet the friendly person behind the voice that you spoke to on the telephone. Not only does he or she make things flow smoothly, they coordinate payments and appointments. After checking yourself in make yourself comfortable. Meet Your Dentist Before we do anything, the dentist will want to know about your medical history and any recent changes to your health. Besides the medications you take, we’ll ask about any allergies, diabetes, arthritis, pregnancy and issues related to your overall health. This is when we hope you’ll share any of your concerns or anxieties. The more we get to know you the better we can help you and make your experience a pleasant one. A Thorough Cleaning With an appreciation of your concerns, we can get started. To see what’s going on we’ll begin a thorough cleaning. The dentist will remove the plaque and tartar that has collected above and below your gum line. This will gives a clear view of your teeth and gums and uncover any hidden issues with the tooth surface. The final stage of your cleaning will be tooth polishing. Using a special spinning head, a special type of toothpaste will be used. This makes your teeth smooth and shiny. Not only will they feel great, polishing makes it more difficult for plaque to adhere between checkups. With your teeth squeaky clean, we are now ready to examine your teeth with a small metal probe and an angled mouth mirror. We’ll be looking for the condition of your tooth enamel, dental cavities, gum health, measure periodontal pockets, and soft tissues as part of an oral cancer screening. Dental X-rays The final aspect of your exam is to take x-rays of your teeth. This allows the dentist to see what’s going on between your teeth and even below the gum line. These x-rays can reveal if there is any loss of bone, fractures or other abnormalities. Recommendations With a full understanding of your current oral health, specific care recommendations and treatment options will be made. Sometimes that involves scheduling future visits for a necessary procedure. In some cases it may include a referral to a dental or medical specialist. A staged visit of your dental treatment can then be organised and we can also provide with you payment plan options. Future Visits Based on the health of your teeth and gums and your health goals, we’ll recommend scheduling future checkups. Regular checkups help detect and correct problems while they are easiest to treat. Preventive care makes sense. Because it’s easier to stay well then it is to get well.

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