New patients
At your initial consultation, we will ask you for some medical and administration details. You will then see the dentist who will listen to your concerns. The dentist will perform a 13-point dental health check that includes the following:
- We always make sure we are up to date with your current state of general health, and know about any medications or illnesses you have had or have. Many of these can have a dramatic effect on the tissues of the mouth. We may need to help you take special precautions to protect your teeth and gums in the future!
- We listen to your own reports of what has happened in your mouth since you were last seen by a dentist. We will investigate thoroughly any reports of pain or sensitivity or any other symptoms.
- We will ask you if you’re happy with the appearance of your mouth. There are many treatments available these days that can improve the appearance of your smile, no matter what your age!
- We will pay particular attention to monitoring how any treatments completed previously are faring and we will note all the existing restorations (fillings, crowns etc.) that are already present in your mouth.
- We check all of your teeth for signs of damage, decay, wear and other symptoms.
- We thoroughly check all your existing restorations such as fillings to make sure they are still holding up and doing the job they should be!
- We check how your teeth bite together – this is indicative of whole mouth comfort and the health of your jaw and head. Dentists call this ‘occlusion’.
- Every dental health check includes a full check on all the tissues inside the mouth – this includes an oral cancer check.
- We also check outside the mouth – the glands, jaw joints, muscles and so on.
- Your gum, or periodontal condition, is a critical part of the dental health check, as gum disease can be both painless, and rampant! Healthy gums are essential if you wish to keep all your own teeth for life.
- We will always check for the presence of plaque and bacteria in the mouth, because plaque causes almost all tooth and gum disease. Controlling plaque means preventing tooth and gum disease. This is why it is also important to see the hygienist on a regular basis.
- We will review or renew radiographs (x-rays) in order to monitor the health of the jaw bone.
- We will check the areas inside, under and between the teeth. Please note that we generally only renew the radiographs for these checks approximately every two years.
Once all of this is done the dentist will discuss with you how we can meet your expectation and then design a dental treatment plan to maintain or regain your dental health. We will discuss different options with you and we will design a treatment plan suited for you and your own personal needs. You will receive a written treatment plan showing the treatments and costs involved.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us. We are always happy to answer questions. If any one of us does not know the answer, we will put you in touch with one of the team who does.
We encourage all patients to have regular dental health checks and with the help of the oral hygienist, we can work together as a team to maintain excellent dental health. It is important that as a patient you help us by following our advice, having regular dental health checks, performing your daily oral hygiene as prescribed, informing us what you would like to achieve and by asking questions. All of this will make it possible for you to achieve long-term dental health.
