Dental check up

summerlady_2

Hi


Could one of the dentists who visit this board please let me know what I should expect from a dental check up?
Thank you.

Stevie_Palimo

You don't need a dentist to tell you this as its simply as per description a check up whereby they look at your teeth and decide if you need any work doing and then re-book you in again, In some cases a clean may be carried out on the check up appointment depending upon how busy they are.

Guest101

Most check ups are 5 minutes and a quick clean.


A filling which takes 5 minutes, unless you present with a significant problem.


- had massive toothache once, they wanted to do route canal but would need to wait 5 days. Attended OOHs dentist and had extraction instead - 20 minutes and no pain

Toothsmith

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

You don't need a dentist to tell you this as its simply as per description a check up whereby they look at your teeth and decide if you need any work doing and then re-book you in again, In some cases a clean may be carried out on the check up appointment depending upon how busy they are.

Well - it is a bit more involved than that. Or it should be.

Firstly - talk to the patient. How are they? Are they well? Has anything changed medically for them since they were last in? Not had any illnesses or operations or accidents? Has any new medication been prescribed, or existing medications changed? (All these things could potentially have dental implications)

Then - how do the teeth feel? Everything feels OK? No problems come to light since patient was last in? Comfortable when eating? Does patient avoid eating anything because of discomfort? Are they happy with how things look?

Then, look at the teeth. Any new holes appearing, do existing fillings/crowns/bridges/dentures look good? No fresh decay appearing at edges? Nothing looks excessively worn? Staining of fillings on visible teeth? Does this bother the patient?

Then, gums. Probe around the gums with a BPE probe checking for plaque build up, bleeding, tartar build up, pocketing and bone loss. Tell patient what you've found, if it's a problem and how to improve it.

Then - other hard & soft tissues around the mouth. No swellings on gums, no odd lumps or bumps around the cheek linings, tongue, under tongue, palate, back of throat. Again, if anything is odd, noting it and discussing with patient what, if anything needs to be done about it.

Then, just generally feeling around the mouth and the neck externally. Are there any lumps in the major salivary glands? Do the lymph nodes around the neck feel ok, or are there any lumps there? If so, why? Is patient poorly causing 'swollen glands' or could it be something else? Again - reporting this to patient and deciding what to do.

Finally, any special tests needed? Is the patient due some x-rays to look in between the teeth? The interval between these will depend on 'risk factors'. Someone with frequent problems would need x-rays more frequently than someone who rarely does.

After all that - then a general chat with the patient about what's going on, what needs doing, what looks like it might need doing in medium term, and where the patient could improve self-care.

For me, for a patient I see routinely and have done for a fair while - I can do all that in as little as 15 mins. For a new patient, I generally book 45 mins, and sometimes overrun!

mjmal51

To confirm Toothsmith's post, that is exactly the check up my dentist provides.

Ilona

Exactly as Toothsmith says. I get all that, and can ask questions.

Ilona

ERICS_MUM

I always make sure my dentist checks inside my mouth, tongue, roof of my mouth etc. A friend of mine was diagnosed with oral cancer which was discovered as a small patch by her dentist. That check up saved her life.

Toothsmith

I probably should add as well that if anything looks 'odd' around the lips, mouth or face in general, then I will ask how long it has been like that and if it's been checked out. Things like moles, red patches, dry patches, and lumps & bumps in general.

summerlady_2

Thank you. The reason I asked was that all my previous dentists have done exactly as you describe.


My current dentist asks about medication and whether I've had any problems, then scans around my mouth with a mirror then tells me to make another appointment in 6 months.


I am out of the room in under two minutes - and that time includes taking my coat off and getting into and out of the chair.


A neighbour who has the same dentist has exactly the same experience.


Do I have grounds to complain to the dentist or is it a matter for individual dentists what they do?


The practice is very much geared toward implants and alignments but has an NHS practice too.

brook2jack

If you are unhappy , move dentists.

If you feel your dental health check is not what you expect then is any treatment you have likely to be what you expect?

If this is a dentist you are seeing privately then you are paying for their time and as TS says a private check up will be anything from 15 mins to an hour or more.

NHS is obviously going to be shorter but should still cover the basics.

If you are not happy with fundamentals then move practice.

Linda32

Can I agree with everything Toothsmith says as well. My dentist does all of those things. I 'think' I am there for about 20 minutes for a check up and clean and polish. It might be longer. That involves us chatting about out day - (putting me at ease)

Having read Toothsmiths description of a check up I am now assured that my dentist is watch my every move whilst I am happily babbling away