“Using an operating microscope, your dentist can find problems and future problems before you become aware.
After all, natural teeth are unreplaceable”
5 Good reasons, to have your teeth inspected regularly.
- Reduces costs- Finding a smaller problem is cheaper than finding a bigger one.
- Teeth don’t grow back. Sure there are substitutions but they never work quite the same and are expensive.
- Anxiety dissipates. Having a trusted relationship reduces your fear of the dentist.
- Prevention is better than cure. Preventive dentistry works to keep your teeth for life
- Even Dentists need Dentists. No one is immune from dental disease.
What we’re checking for?
- your presenting concern (chipped tooth ,sensitive tooth ,sore gum etc)
- Missing teeth
- Existing restorations, are documented inspected for defects and monitored.
- Decay at every site. Each tooth as 5 surfaces and if you have 28 teeth then that’s 140 sides of your teeth that need inspection. Some decay can be treated without drilling.
- Gum health report. Gums are a big part of a healthy dentition.
- Periodontal disease check. This condition requires a special check because it can be ‘hiding’ in affected people. Affected sites need a special chart that documents six points on each tooth. If you have 28 teeth then168 sites need to be checked individually!!
- Erosion. Most people who have erosive damage are completely unaware. Techniques for prevention and possible restoration will be discussed.
- Soft tissue abnormalities and a Cancer examination in whole of mouth tissues is a routine part of every dental Checkup.
- Orthodontic development problems. These may even impact the developing adolescent or plaque control in the adult dentition.
- Salivary dysfunction. Dry mouth is a very worrying problem that can cause loss of entire dentitions quickly. Sufferers especially require regular preventive appointments.
- Effects of medication on your dentition. Various pharmaceuticals drastically affect teeth or cause staining. Chemotherapy, iron supplement and Heart medications are examples.
- Plaque and stain accumulation. Hygiene procedures are often performed together with checkups and helpful individual advice is given.
- Tooth brushing habits. Many problems can be resolved by tweaking simple habits we have at home or adding a habit.
- Wisdom teeth and other dental impaction diagnosis. Xrays are also needed however patients are often completely unaware of impacted or missing teeth.
- Development of the young dentition. Many developmental problems require careful management.
- Xray examinations as needed only. this practice avoids taking unnecessary repeated films. you will always be told why a film needs to be imaged.
- Bite problems that can contribute to symptoms
- Sensitivity checks and managemeent of the causes.
- Dietary advice
- Cosmetic assessment after health first. It is always a good idea to have cosmetic improvements to healthy teeth and not suffering teeth.
Checkups and X-Rays- Our policy
Not all checkups require x-rays. Our policy is to minimise xrays to those only required for diagnosis and not repeated needlessly.
Example 1
Mrs Jones (not a real name) has had few restorations and her decay risk is low. X-rays may be sugested every 3-4 years
Example 2
Johnny has been told that he has early warning signs of decay. As his risk for new dental cavities are higher than normal it was suggested he has xrays every 2 years to see sites between the teeth. Dental decay can’t always be seen between teeth and if a cavity is missed there are huge risks of tooth loss despite an examination.
Example 3
Mr Soar says he has a sore tooth but there is no sign when inspected closely. An X-Ray is needed to inspect under previous dental work and also to assess the root system. Mr Soar is going away and can’t afford to have a tooth ache if his complaint escalates so he would like to determine if everything looks normal.