What is a dental examination?

The dental examination will identify how healthy your teeth and gums are and any problem areas within your mouth. You and your dentist will then discuss the options that are available to you and decide which treatment is most suitable for you.

What will this involve?

During the examination, your dentist will:

• Feel under your jaw and check your face and neck to ensure that they are healthy
• Look at places inside and around your mouth, which you may find hard to see. For example, your tongue, the roof of your mouth and the back of your throat
• Check that your teeth and gums are healthy and identify whether there is any signs of decay, damage or gum disease
• Identify how healthy your teeth and gums are compared to your last visit and explain any further treatment that you may need. Your dentist may also feel that it is necessary to take x-rays to gain more information about your teeth. Another way of gaining information, is to take plaster models of your teeth to check the alignment of your teeth when you bite together

Why are regular dental examinations important?

It is important for you to have regular dental examinations, so that your dentist can help you to maintain a healthy mouth and also check for any early signs of dental problems, such as decay or gum disease. This will enable your dentist to rectify the problem before it gets too complicated and requires extensive treatment.