What happens at the dental check-up?

The following oral health care activities usually take place at the typical dental  check-up visit:

Oral examination: Your dentist will want to have a general look around the skin  of your mouth (technically, ‘the mucosa’). This should be a purely visual check up to make sure everything is healthy.

·         Your mouth is  like a small cave, and  to peer into it furthest recesses the dentist will use light. The dentist may be able to do a visual check using a small  mirror. He will then conduct an initial oral  examination of your gums and teeth. He will document any changes in your overall health and medicine use. He will clean  and polish your teeth, talk to you about  how to take care  of your teeth and gums, and  answer any questions you might ask. Your dentist will also conduct an oral exam of your mouth for any signs of oral cancer or other diseases, gums, and teeth and diagnose and oral health problems, He will ask about changes in your overall health or medicine use. The dentist may be able to do a visual check using a small mirror.

·         Cleaning: Although tooth brushing  and flossing help in removing plaque, only a professional cleaning  provided by your dentist  can thoroughly  clean your teeth  and remove  the hardened plaque (called calculus or tartar) that  builds up on your teeth. Most dentists use a series of metal  hand instruments to clean your teeth. Some are using ultrasonic scalars, which provide deep  cleaning above and below the gum line.

·         Polishing: After your teeth have been cleaned, they are polished to remove plaque and stains from the tooth surface. The polish contains an abrasive substance and fluoride, and is applied using a small rotating rubber  cup or brush attached to the dental hand piece.

·         Prevention: Your dentist  might offer  additional instructions  for you to follow at home, based on the results of your  exam. Do not hesitate to ask  your dentist  for instructions about brushing or flossing, or questions  about general  care of your teeth and gums.

·         X-rays: X-rays might or might not be taken during your check up. Your dentist will consider your  clinical examination, dental history, and risk for developing cavities in determining the need for X-rays.

Treatment recommendations: If any oral health  problems  are identified during your  examination, your dentist will make  recommendations for the best next steps, i.e. treatment. These might include referral to another oral  healthcare  specialist, additional diagnostic tests, or advice to return for restoration work or additional oral healthcare