Exam / Consultation

Your initial consultation with your dentist will consist of us getting to know each other and allowing you to discuss how happy you are with your teeth and gums. This is something that gets missed in a lot of ‘problem based’ practices.

The clinical part of the exam will involve your dentist checking your mouth for lesions (such as ulcers and red patches), assessing the health of your gums (gum disease is far more prevalent than tooth decay), and finally assessing your teeth; their condition, position, appearance and general function.

Other clinical procedures such as radiographs, photographs and impressions for study casts may also be performed.

If straightforward, your treatment needs can be decided upon during the consultation, however your dentist may ask for some time to consider your best option and will ask you to return for further discussion at a second appointment.

Regular dental exams will follow a similar procedure. Regular dental exams are important as gum disease is episodic in nature, tooth decay is progressive and may begin between appointments, and with the incidence of oral cancers rising it is vitally important for your mouth to be checked for suspicious lesions.

Your exam/consultation is your chance to tell your dentist what you want from your dental care, not what a dentist thinks is required. This is especially true should you wish for some aesthetic improvements in your smile, as often your dentist will not want to mention yellow or crooked teeth for fear of causing offence.