A regular dental check-up is a crucial part of long term oral health. Whilst many people will regularly visit their local dentists twice a year, very few people know exactly what is being done during their appointment. A professional dental appointment isn’t just a simple polish. It is a thorough health assessment to help detect early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, structural issues and general health problems.

Knowing what happens during a full dental check-up can help reduce dental anxiety. It can empower you to ask questions and know why regular dental care is so important.

Stage 1: Review of Medical History

Each full dental checkup will start with a review of your medical history. As your teeth are closely related to your general health it is really important to know what medical conditions you may have.

Medical Conditions

– Your hygienist or dentist will want to know if you have any long term medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, auto-immune diseases and osteoporosis.

Medications

  • You will need to tell your dentist what medications you are currently taking.
  • This includes any prescription medication, over the counter medications and supplements.
  • They will also need to know if you are taking any blood thinners, as this will determine how your dental treatment will be carried out

Recent Symptoms

– You will be asked about any recent symptoms you may have had such as sensitivity to hot/cold, jaw pain, bad breath (halitosis), bleeding gums or any cosmetic issues.

Stage 2: Full Visual Examination

Once your medical history has been reviewed your dentist or hygienist will carry out a visual examination of your teeth, fillings and surrounding area using special mirrors and bright lights.

Tooth Decay

– Using a special dental explorer tool and magnifying lope your dentist will examine all surfaces of your teeth to look for any signs of softening, staining, pitting and decay.

Fillings, Crowns, Bridges & Implants

– Your fillings, porcelain crowns, bridges and implants will be examined for signs of wear, leaking, chipping, decay or failure.

Bite

  • Your dentist will check your upper and lower teeth meet together correctly.
  • They will look for any signs of wear, erosion, cracks or misalignment due to grinding .

Stage 3: Digital Radiography

Without using radiography it would be impossible to see what is going on under the gums, in the teeth and in the bone. Digital radiography are essential in regular checkups.

Bite-wings

  • Bite-wings are usually taken once a year.
  • They show the upper and lower crown of your back teeth clearly.
  • This helps the dentist to see any cavities developing between your teeth.

Apical

  • Apical show a detailed image of the whole tooth from the crown to the tip of the root.
  • This helps identify any root infections, abscesses, bone loss or impacted teeth.

Panoramic

  • Panoramic are taken at regular intervals.
  • They give a wide overview of your mouth, showing your jaws, TMJ’s, sinuses and erupting wisdom teeth.

Intraoral Camera

  • High definition cameras will be used to take images of problem areas.
  • This will be shown on a screen in the chair so you can see exactly what areas are worn, plaque or fractured.

Stage 4: Gum Disease (Periodontal) Check

Gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults and can be linked to other health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. A periodontal check is an essential part of your regular checkup.

Periodontal Probing

  • A very delicate instrument called a periodontal probe will be used to measure the depth of the pocket between your gums and the root of your tooth.
  • This will be measured at six points on each tooth.

Healthy Gums

  • If the depth is between 1-3mm and there is no bleeding then your gums are healthy.
  • If however the depth is 4mm or more and there is bleeding then you may have gingivitis .

Gum Recession

  • Your dentist will check for any recession in your gums.
  • This causes your root to be exposed causing sensitivity and faster decay.

Loose Teeth

  • Your dentist will check to see if any of your teeth are loose.
  • This can be a sign of severe bone loss due to periodontal disease.

Stage 5: Oral Cancer Screening

This is a quick and painless way to save your life. It is carried out during every 6 monthly checkup. Detecting pre-cancerous lesions early can improve your treatment.

Palpation

– Your dentist will gently feel your neck, jawline, salivary glands and lymph nodes for any unusual swellings, lumps or asymmetry.

Visual Examination

  • Your dentist will carefully examine the inside of your lips, cheeks, tonsils, floor of mouth, roof of mouth and all sides and the base of your tongue.
  • They will be looking for any red/white patches ,ulcers or unusual texture.
  • Many practices will use fluorescent lights to help spot any unusual cell activity below the surface.

Stage 6: Scaling

No matter how well you brush and floss your teeth, plaque can still form and harden. During a prophylaxis your dentist will use special tools to make your teeth smooth again.

Scaling

  • Scaling can be carried out manually using hand instruments or using an ultrasonic scalar.
  • This vibrates at high speeds and sprays cool water to remove the hardened tartar above and below the gum-line.

Inter dental Cleaning

– Your hygienist will clean between your tight teeth using special floss and inter-dental tools to remove any dislodged debris.

Polish

  • After your scaling a high speed rubber cup will be used with prophylaxis paste.
  • This is an abrasive paste with fluoride.
  • This will be applied to all your teeth to remove any surface stains from coffee, tea and food.
  • This will also smooth your teeth.

Stage 7: Fluoride Application

If you are at a higher risk of tooth decay, a child or have sensitivity then fluoride will be applied.

Fluoride

  • A highly concentrated fluoride varnish, foam or gel will be applied to your clean teeth.
  • This will help  your teeth reversing any micro decay and protecting your teeth from acid attack from harmful bacteria in your mouth.

Sealants

  • If you are a child or young adult your dentist will check your teeth for any existing plastic sealants on the pits of your back molar teeth.
  • If required new sealants will be applied to protect your teeth.

Stage 8: TMJ & Airway

Modern dentistry looks at the overall function of your jaw joints and airway.

TMJ

  • Your dentist will place their fingers gently on your TMJ whilst you open and close your mouth.
  • They will feel for any smooth movement or clicking/popping.

Airway

– Your dentist will look at the back of your throat, soft palate and size of your tongue to see if you have any risk factors for OSA or mouth breathing.

Stage 9: Discussion of Findings

At the end of your regular checkup all the findings will be discussed with you.

Discussion of Findings

  • Your dentist will show you the digital radiography and intra-oral images on a screen.
  • They will go through any issues they found such as small cavities, cracks and gum inflammation.

Treatment Planning

  • If you require any restorative work your dentist will organize this logically.
  • Any urgent issues such as root pain, deep decay or severe infections will be dealt with first.

Home Care Advice

– You will receive some advice on how to brush your teeth better, what type of floss to use, mouthwashes to use and special toothpastes to help with sensitivity, plaque and dry mouth.

Booking Next Appointment

– Before leaving you will book your next 6 monthly check-up or any required restorative treatments.

What To Do Before & After Your Appointment

  • Brush & Floss as normal before your appointment.
  • Write down any medical conditions, recent operations and current medications you are taking.
  • Write down any recent symptoms you have had such as clicking jaw, sensitivity to temperature and bleeding gums.
  • Get to the practice 10-15 minutes early to complete any paperwork.
  • Don’t have any hot drinks or colored foods for 30 minutes after your fluoride application.
  • Follow any home care advice given by your hygienist about using special inter-dental brushes or mouthwashes.

FAQs

Is a regular checkup painful?

A regular checkup and clean is completely non-invasive and shouldn’t cause any pain. If you have sensitive gums, exposed roots or inflamed gums you may feel some slight discomfort when being scaled. Talking to your hygienist will help them adjust the pressure or apply a numbing gel.

How long does a regular checkup & clean take?

A full checkup & clean will take around 45-60 minutes. This allows enough time to update your medical history, take digital radiography, carry out a visual examination, periodontal probing, oral cancer screening, full scaling, polish and treatment planning.

How often should I have a checkup?

Most children and adults should have a professional checkup & clean every 6 months. If you have gum disease, a high risk of cavities, diabetes or a weak immune system you may need to come in every 3-4 months depending on your dentist.

Why do I need x-rays if my teeth feel fine?

Many serious dental issues can develop without causing you any pain. This can include cavities between your teeth, severe bone loss, cysts and infections in the root of your teeth. Taking digital x-rays means your dentist can find and treat these issues before they become painful and complicated.

Conclusion

A regular checkup is a thorough preventative healthcare service. Your dentist will carry out a medical history review, digital radiography, visual examination, oral cancer screening and deep clean to keep your teeth healthy. Committing to coming in every 6 months will save you time and money whilst helping you stay healthy in the long term.