Examinations

Attending regular dental and hygiene appointments gives us an opportunity to have a good look at your teeth and gums, and to assess your overall oral health. Routine examinations will aim to reassure you that your teeth are healthy or let you know if any further treatment will be necessary.

During your routine dental examination, your dentist will ask if you have had any problems since your last visit and thoroughly assess your oral health.

We will check the following:

• your teeth and gums for signs of decay or gum disease
• your face, neck, jaw and surrounding soft tissues for any signs of pain, swelling and very importantly signs of oral cancer
• your ‘bite’ (how your teeth fit together) and your jaw joints for any misalignment problems, which may cause clicks or pain during opening or closing your mouth.

Your hygiene appointments feature an examination of your teeth and gums to assess the effectiveness of your home mouth care routine, to check for signs of gum disease and a general soft tissue examination which can detect the early signs of oral cancer. We will also help to advise you on the best oral hygiene products to use and demonstrate the ideal flossing and brushing techniques for you.

New patients

Your new patient appointment will be longer than a routine examination, as we will need to spend some time enquiring about your general health and whether you take any medication. We will also ask about your diet, including sugar and alcohol intake and if you smoke, as these can affect the health of your mouth.

As well as examining your teeth and gums to detect any obvious problems, we may also take x-rays to check for hidden issues, such as decay, infection and bone loss around your teeth. Our surgeries are also fitted with intraoral cameras, which we can use to highlight areas of concern in your mouth and show you a close up picture on a screen.

Your first appointment may be the ideal time to tell us about any dental concerns and any cosmetic treatments that you would like to consider and for us to discuss your treatment options in detail and the associated costs.