They say a penny of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that is certainly true in dentistry! Outside of good oral hygiene practices at home, a check-up with a dentist is one of the most important things you can do in order to prevent major problems with your teeth that might be expensive to fix.
A check-up is usually recommended on a 6-monthly basis, and will usually involve the following:
- Discuss with you any concerns you might have.
This will allow the dentist to make sure they address any concerns you might have, to help you feel comfortable that you’re on the right track.
- Take any x-rays that you might need.
X-rays can be an important part of your dental examination as dentists are unable to see between teeth,under any old fillings or crowns, and underneath the gums. X-rays are not taken every visit but are updated from time to time as needed or where there is a specific need. This will be discussed with you before any x-rays are taken.
- Assessment of your soft tissues and overall oral health.
This will allow the dentist to help you improve your home care as needed, as well as pick up anything that may be of concern that might need to get checked out.
- Assessment of your teeth, old fillings, crowns and other dental work
The dentist will have a good look at every tooth, every filling or other previous dental work and make sure everything is stable. If there are signs of deterioration, these can be picked up and interventions planned to stop anything from getting worse.
- The dentist will discuss with you the findings of the examination, help you understand anything you are unsure about, and make a plan for anything that needs to be addressed.
- A clean, fluoride treatment, photographs, dental impressions or other preventative means might be employed as time and necessity permits
In the same way that a regular car service will keep your car running smoothly and limit the need for major repairs, a 6-monthly check-up on your mouth will keep you eating and smiling with confidence!
If you’re due for a check-up, or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on (07) 3379 1328