Knowing when it’s time for your next dentist appointment seems pretty obvious, right? You may be due to attend once every six months for example, or perhaps you have had an aching tooth for a few days and its time to get it seen to. Despite this, many people will push their appointments back and will often fail to reschedule. The root cause of this can be due to a variety of reasons. People are often too busy with work and everyday obligations, or perhaps they are simply too nervous to make an appointment with their dentist.
Whatever the reason, Docklands Dental are here to make sure your dentist visit runs as smoothly as possible. This means ensuring that you are comfortable at all times, even if you have a strong fear of the dentist.
So, how will you know it’s time for your next dental check-up?
Reasons for a Dental Check-Up
There are really no limits as to why you may require a dental exam. The most common causes of concern are the following:
- Signs that point to gum disease, or oral cancer, for example.
- Keeping bad habits, such as smoking, in check.
- You have experienced tooth pain or sensitivity.
- You have accidentally chipped or broken your tooth.
- You wish to have your teeth whitened or professionally cleaned.
- You require a tooth filling or root canal treatment etc.
- You need a dental implant, such as a crown.
- You simply haven’t been in a while and need a check-up to ensure your dental hygiene is in top condition.
What happens during a general dental exam?
Each dental exam begins the exact same way. Your dentist will ask you what your main concern is, in other words, why have you made this dentist appointment? Do you have a severe toothache? Are you experiencing extreme enamel sensitivity? Or have you accidentally broken or chipped a tooth? Etc.
Once the primary concern is detected, your dentist will make an appropriate decision to treat the problem going forward. The following dental exam regime is based on our own visits here at Docklands Dental. If you go to a different dental clinic, it may vary from our own procedure, so keep this in mind!
The initial exam is sectioned into 5 parts:
- Health and oral cancer screening – this is to detect the presence of either disease being present in the patient’s mouth. We advise that all patients attend a screening for these conditions once or twice every 12 months.
- Dental health clinical evaluation – it is important to keep up with your dental health. This process often involves intra-oral photographs, digital radiographs and/or impressions of the teeth.
- Gum disease clinical screening – this is necessary to ensure the absence or gum disease. If signs of gum disease are present, your dentist will assess the damage and decide on a suitable course of treatment.
- Bite examination – If you find that you are constantly grinding or clenching your teeth, you may suffer from an incorrect bite. This part of the exam will also scan for chronic injury to the jaw and the associated joints, which may have been damaged.
- Clinical aesthetic exam – If you wish, you may discuss with your dentist the available aesthetic treatments and techniques we offer our patients. This includes clear braces and teeth whitening services etc.
The entire exam will last for a minimum time period of just 30 minutes. This ensures a thorough examination and the best dental care possible. If you a rather nervous patient, your specific needs and requirements will be taken into consideration. Check out our blog for nervous patients to help keep your anxieties and worries at bay.
Book your dental examination with Docklands Dental today:
Tel: +353 (0)1 636 0192
Email: hello [@] docklandsdental.ie
