Dentistry experts recommend that you visit the dentist for a dental checkup every six months. Upon your visit, the main purpose is to ensure that your teeth are kept healthy and safe from infection or disease. Combining this with a strong oral routine at home, your teeth and gums will remain healthy.
It is important that you don’t assume that your teeth and gums are healthy when showing off your smile in the mirror. Just because your teeth are white, it doesn’t mean you’re clear of any dental problems. Alongside this, having a professional dentist check your teeth and gums will confirm how healthy or unhealthy your mouth is.
So, What Happens At Your Dental Check-Up?
If your dental check-up is coming up and you want to know what to expect, read on below.
Initial Consultation and Examination
The dentist will first meet and greet you upon your visit, before getting to understand whether you’ve had any dental concerns that you may want to address. This is the right time for you as the patient to share anything that your dentist may not be aware of. For example, any signs of excess bleeding, any phobias, toothache or sensitivity should be voiced at your dental check-up.
The dentist will take this on board as part of their examination of your teeth.
Perform The Check-Up
The dentist will help you get settled in the dental chair and ask you to open your mouth wide. The dentist will begin examining your teeth and gums. The dentist typically checks for any signs of bacteria, dental plaque, spaces between teeth, signs of gum disease and any oral cancer signs. Whilst you may not have any concerns, it is a natural procedure that a dentist is expected to perform. If there are any concerns, the dentist will want to learn more about them and will advise on a treatment plan.
Scale and Polish
The dentist will now scale and polish your teeth, which involves scraping any debris and dental plaque off the tooth surface or within the gaps, and then a deep clean of your teeth using a scaler with a special bleaching agent. Your teeth will begin to feel smooth once complete, leaving your mouth comprehensively clean.
The dentist will then provide some liquid fluoride for you to swish around your mouth like a mouth rinse to complete the treatment.
Oral Hygiene Tips
Finally, this is the opportune time to ask the dentist if you have any general oral health-related questions. The dentist will also advise on how to continue to keep your teeth clean and shiny at home. You will likely be reminded of your next dental check-up, likely to be six months from your previous dental check-up.
How Long Does A Dental Check-Up Take?
A dental check-up is likely to take between 30 minutes to an hour. This ultimately depends on how healthy your teeth are. For example, if you’ve no dental problems, the dentist will simply examine and perform the cleaning process and apply fluoride accordingly.
How Can I Keep My Teeth And Gums Healthy At Home?
Your oral routine at home can determine whether your teeth and gums remain healthy or not. Plus, you should want to always impress the dentist upon your arrival!
Here are some tips to keep your teeth and gums healthy at home.
- Brush and floss your teeth twice a day
- Swish your mouth with water after eating
- Reduce sugary treats and drinks and replace them with foods to strengthen tooth enamel
- Avoid smoking
- Do not snack before bedtime without brushing your teeth
Any questions can be asked at your dental check-up. If you’re due a visit to the dentist, check yourself in for a dental check-up today!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at Complete Family Dental.