Dental check-ups and hygiene in Peterborough

Why are check-ups so important?

Prevention is key when it comes to oral health. Regular check-ups and hygiene appointments are essential in identifying potential problems and preventing them developing into more serious issues, which may require more invasive treatment at a later date.

Most dental problems are painless in their early stages. Decay beneath a filling, an early crack in a molar or the first signs of gum disease rarely announce themselves — which is precisely why they are best found at a routine appointment rather than at an emergency one. Treating a small problem early is almost always quicker, more comfortable and less expensive than treating the same problem two years later.

What we check for at your examination

Your examination is painless and usually takes around 30 minutes, so it fits comfortably around a working day. We look at far more than your teeth:

• Every tooth surface, for decay, wear, cracks and failing restorations
• Your gums, for bleeding, recession and the early signs of gum disease
• The soft tissues of your mouth, tongue and throat, as a screening for oral cancer
• Your bite and jaw joints, for signs of grinding or clenching
• Existing crowns, bridges, veneers and dentures, to check they are still sound
• X-rays where clinically indicated, to see between and beneath the teeth

Talking it through

We will ask about anything that has been bothering you, then explain exactly what we have found and what your options are — including the option of doing nothing for now, where that is reasonable. Nothing is booked in without you understanding what it involves and what it costs.

If you are nervous about the dentist, please tell us when you book. It changes how we run the appointment, and it is far more common than people assume.

How often should I come?

There is no single right answer. Depending on the health of your mouth we will recommend an interval somewhere between three and twelve months, and we will tell you which at the end of your appointment. Patients with healthy gums and few restorations are often seen once a year; patients being monitored for gum disease may be seen every three months.

Hygienist appointments

A scale and polish removes the hardened plaque (calculus) that brushing cannot shift, particularly below the gum line. Our hygienist will also show you where your daily cleaning is missing — which is the part that actually keeps gum disease away between visits.