General Check-up

We recommend you get a check up and professional clean every 3-12 months

A general check up (every 6-12 months) ensures we detect any problems in their early stages before they become more severe. We can suggest prevention strategies or treatment. Treatment in the early stages is generally easier and much cheaper. In addition to assessing your tooth and gum health, we can take digital x-rays annually, and look for any early signs of oral diseases that can affect your general health.

Bacteria in your mouth form a thin film, called plaque, on your teeth. Over time the plaque and minerals in the saliva in your mouth form a hardened deposit called calculus (tartar). Regular brushing and flossing slows the build up of calculus but its removal requires a professional clean. If not removed  calculus and plaque can lead to tooth decay and gingivitis (early gum disease). Gingivitis can progress to periodontitis and tooth loss.
During your check up we include professional clean. This will remove calculus (tartar), that has built up on your teeth. Not removing calculus provides ideal conditions for bacteria to grow between your teeth and gums and this can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

We will scale and polish your teeth using a variety of instruments. Scaling involves removing plaque and calculus from teeth and around the gum line. Polishing,  smoothes the surface of your teeth. A professional clean is usually painless, although you may experience some minor discomfort or sensitivity.  If this is something you are concerned about we can advise you how to minimise this, by changing your brushing technique and also by using de-sensitising agents.

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