What to expect during a dental check-up appointment
Having a dental check-up is a straightforward and comfortable process. Generally, when visiting our Pennant Hills dentists for a check-up and clean appointment, you can expect the following five key steps:
1. A thorough oral examination
At Pennant Hills Dental Centre, we listen to any concerns you have with your teeth and your current oral health before conducting a thorough oral examination and assessment. Your dentist will perform a manual and visual screening to check the health of your teeth, bite and surrounding gums and soft tissue to identify signs of potential concerns.
2. Dental x-rays
If you’re new to our practice or don’t have current dental x-rays less than 12 months old, your dentist will probably suggest you have a dental x-ray done at your check-up appointment to update your records.
A dental x-ray can help your dentist better evaluate your dental health. It can provide clear insight into what’s happening beneath the surface of your teeth and gums. Not only does this allow your dentist a clear picture of the health of your teeth and gums, but your dentist can also assess your tooth roots, jaw placement and bone composition. It’s an ideal way to find and treat dental problems early in their development.
3. A personalised dental care plan
Your smile is uniquely yours and plays a key role throughout your life. While there are countless ways to preserve oral health and the natural beauty of your smile, dental treatments that worked for someone else may not suit your dental needs. At Pennant Hills Dental Centre, our dentists can help establish a personalised dental care plan specifically for you, your teeth, and your smile.
Not all dental care plans involve major treatments. Many personalised dental treatment plans involve enhancing your dental health through non-invasive options, such as routine cleaning or getting advice for improving your at-home dental hygiene.
4. A scale and polish
Next, our gentle dental hygienist will give your teeth and gums a good clean! Professional dental cleaning involves removing plaque (the soft, sticky, bacteria infested film) and the tartar and calculus deposits that have built up over and in between your teeth over time. Routine dental scaling and polishing is a procedure that removes all the plaque, tartar, including any stains on the surface of your teeth.
For continued dental health and for the prevention of gum disease, it’s best to have a scale and polish every six months. Professional teeth cleaning is typically done as part of your dental check-up appointment.
5. Fluoride treatment
Fluoride is a mineral that can prevent tooth decay. Fluoride treatments can help to strengthen your enamel and protect your teeth against damage from plaque. Fluoride has been an essential component of healthy teeth for decades, as it supports healthy tooth enamel and fights the bacteria that can harm your teeth and gums. Upon completion of your oral examination and professional teeth cleaning, your dental hygienist will apply a fluoride gel or other fluoride product to your teeth.
Dental check-up and clean in Pennant Hills
The importance of regular dental check-ups
Our general dentists in Pennant Hills are not only here to help you solve dental problems, but also here to help you prevent them. Routine dental check-ups can leave you with a beautiful, clean smile and help to ensure you can achieve and maintain optimal teeth and gum health. Routine check-ups can prevent plaque and tartar build-up and reduce your risk of tooth decay. Regular dental visits can also help keep gum disease at bay. Maintaining good oral hygiene habits at home is fantastic, but not enough to make sure that your mouth remains healthy for the long term.
At Pennant Hills Dental Centre, your and your family’s dental health is important to us. We’re here to show all our patients that routine dental check-ups needn’t be stressful or unenjoyable experiences. Together, we can keep you smiling for life!
