Initial Visit
At your initial consultation, your dentist needs to know your health, both oral and general. Your medical background may impact the way that your dentist diagnosis and following treatments. For example, diabetes can increase the risk of gum disease and may need different anaesthesia. Certain medicines can cause dry mouth, which can increase your risk of cavities. All your medical information will be kept confidential. Then a full-check-up will take place, including your treatment plan.
Do I need an X-ray?
Depending on your examination, dental history and any risk for developing cavities, a dental X-ray may be required. An X-ray can give the dentist a good view of your jaw alignment, any decay between teeth as well as identifying any impacted teeth, abscesses, or cysts on the roots of your teeth.
What happens after the check-up?
After the examination, the dentist will discuss any treatment recommendations, covering everything from tooth brushing techniques to your diet and nutrition, alcohol intake, and smoking.
If there are any complications, a return visit may be required for other dental work, such as a filling or crown or a perio-treatment. For more complex work, the dentist may need to refer you to a specialist. At all stages, the dentist is happy to talk about different options.
When is the next check-up?
At Green Apple Dental Care, we recommend our patients to check up every 6 months and do a scaling and polishing, though it can be different for each individual depending on their oral health needs. We will remind you with a text message or phone call closer to the time so you’ll be well prepared.
- Check-up: Your dentist will check for cavities, any plaque or tartar on your teeth, if any gum disease.
- Scale & polish: Plaque or tartar build-up needs to be removed, so the dentist uses an ultrasonic scaler or hand scaler to clean above and below the gum line. Once all the surfaces are smooth, they are polished to remove stains from the teeth using a slow-speed handpiece with a soft rubber cup that spins. Inside the cup is a polish comprised of an abrasive toothpaste-like material and fluoride – this powerful mix is spun around on the soon-to-be smooth and shiny teeth.
