Dental examination & new patient consultation
Visiting the dentist and hygienist
Dentists and hygienists can help you to keep your teeth healthy.
At your check-ups, your dentist will try to find any problems early, and give you advice and treatment. He or she can advise you on how often you should have a check-up. For adults, this can vary from three months upwards. For people with very good dental health and hygiene, this can be up to every two years.
Children and adults who are at high risk of developing dental problems may need to see a dentist more often. You may be at high risk if you smoke, have a diet that’s high in sugar, or have had lots of dental treatment in the past.
What you can expect
During a dental examination the dentist or hygienist will:
- Evaluate your overall health and oral hygiene
- Evaluate your risk of tooth decay, root decay, and gum or bone disease
- Evaluate your need for tooth restoration using fillings or crowns, or tooth replacement using dentures or dental implants
- Check your bite and jaw for problems
- Remove any stains or deposits on your teeth
- Demonstrate proper cleaning techniques for your teeth or dentures
- Assess how much fluoride you’re getting through your diet and use of oral hygiene products
- Take oral X-rays or, if necessary, do other diagnostic procedures
During a dental exam, your dentist or hygienist will also ask about any health problems you have or medications you’re taking and discuss how they might affect your oral health. If you have diabetes, for example, you’re at increased risk of gum disease. If you take certain medications — including antihistamines, antidepressants and high blood pressure drugs — you might experience dry mouth and have a higher risk of tooth decay. If you have arthritis, your dentist or hygienist may show you how to insert the handle of your toothbrush into a rubber ball for easier use or recommend using an electric toothbrush.
If you have dentures, your dentist or hygienist will examine how well your dentures fit and make any necessary adjustments.
Dental exams may also include counseling about the oral health risks associated with a poor diet, smoking, chewing tobacco, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, oral piercings and not wearing a mouth guard during contact sports.
Oral X-ray
An oral X-ray allows the dentist to see detailed images of specific sections of your mouth. X-ray film is traditionally developed in a darkroom, but a newer technique allows X-ray images to be sent to a computer and viewed on a screen. Various types of oral X-rays are available, including:
Bitewing.
This type of X-ray allows the dentist to see the crowns of the upper and lower teeth. During a bitewing X-ray, you’ll bite down on the X-ray film holder while the X-ray images are being taken.
This type of X-ray allows the dentist to see the tip of the root of a tooth.
This type of X-ray allows the dentist to see the way the upper teeth and corresponding lower teeth fit together when the jaw is closed.
- X-rays aren’t typically needed at every dental visit. If you’re concerned about the radiation exposure of traditional X-rays, talk to your dentist.
Oral cancer exam
During your dental exam, your dentist or hygienist will look for any signs of oral cancer. He or she will feel the area under your jaw, the sides of your neck, and the insides of your lips and cheeks, as well as examine your tongue and the roof and floor of your mouth.
Dental impression
In some cases, the dentist may recommend making a dental impression of one or both jaws to produce a replica of your teeth and oral tissue. This can help the dentist or hygienist evaluate your bite or make a mouth guard or bleaching trays. The dentist or hygienist will fill horseshoe-shaped trays with a soft, gelatin-like material and place them over your upper or lower teeth. After a few minutes, the trays are removed and used to create a dental cast of your mouth. The dentist may also have you bite down on a soft material to record and evaluate your bite.
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