A dental check -up is a regular individual dental examination carried out by our experienced dentists, to help maintain gums, teeth and ensure any potential tooth problems are identified and dealt with at an early stage. Our check-ups include an assessment of gums, oral cancer as well as tooth decay.
During this visit, we sometimes take digital radiographs which help dictate any areas that are not visible to a naked eye. These check-up visits vary from person to person and can be from every 3 months to 1 year depending on the oral health assessment. An oral health review is carried out at the end of each appointment as part of the NICE guidelines.
Regular hygiene appointments are an important part of preventive dental care. Hygiene services include ‘scaling and polishing’, a deep clean that removes the build-up of plaque and tartar. This helps prevent gum disease as well as leaving your teeth feeling smooth and looking shiny.
Hygienists look for any signs of gum disease and other conditions, such as oral cancer. If gum disease is detected, additional hygiene treatments can help slow its progress. Hygienists will also help you care for your teeth at home by demonstrating teeth cleaning techniques and offering dietary tips.
As well as ensuring the continued health of your teeth and gums, good dental hygiene can contribute to your overall well-being as poor gum health has been associated with serious conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Good oral hygiene results in a mouth that looks and smells healthy. This means:
If your gums hurt or bleed while brushing or flossing, or you are experiencing persistent bad breath, we would advise you to see the hygienist or dentist. Any of these conditions may indicate a problem.
The dentist or hygienist can teach you good oral hygiene techniques and can help point out areas of your mouth that may require extra attention during brushing and flossing.
In between regular visits to the dentist, there are simple steps that each of us can take to greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems.
These include:
We have four key stages at Leighton House that we refer to as first steps of a healthy mouth.
These stage include
It is an application of a varnish that acts as a barrier against tooth decay.
Over the years there has been a lot of research on the benefits of fluoride application and it has been proven to have a high effect in the reduction of tooth decay. We use this as an addition to our preventative measure in order to help our patients. This is offered at least twice a year by our dentists if necessary.