What to Expect From a North Shore Dentist

Regular checkups can be scary and confusing. Here’s a rundown of what happens at a routine dental appointment so you can make an informed choice on how to manage your own oral health.

What Is Checked During a Dental Appointment?

Once you’re seated and settled, your dental practitioner will want to know about any current concerns you’re having, any problems you’ve experienced since your last visit, and any other changes.

From there they’ll examine your mouth, including your teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, jaw, and other areas. Once they’ve established what’s going on, they’ll be able to decide if X-rays are required and whether you need to have a clean, have any areas monitored, or require other treatment in the future.

It’s important to remember that not all appointments will result in a course of action because sometimes practitioners are establishing a baseline for future reference. This may be especially true of your first visit with a new dental practitioner.

Signs and Health Information to Share

Recognising Problems With Your Teeth

Sometimes the answer is obvious, maybe your teeth are sensitive or you’ve broken one. But oftentimes problems don’t become obvious until they’re painful. By then, dental care is harder to manage. Here are some common symptoms to look out for:

• your gums bleed when you’re brushing or flossing
• you have a persistent bad breath, unusual taste in your mouth, or teeth sensitive to sweet, hot, and/or cold foods and drinks
• a tooth is chipped, feels rough, or if you’ve lost a filling
• there’s any discomfort, stiffness, or clicking in your jaw
• your mouth feels persistently dry making it difficult to sleep, eat, or even talk
• a sore, ulcer, or patch that’s not healing. Pay attention to how long you’ve had it and anything that makes it better or worse.

Even if you’re not experiencing any of these problems, a dental practitioner may suggest improvements to your oral health. This may include showing you the best way to brush and floss given your dexterity, dental work, and oral anatomy.

Health Details for Your Dental Practitioner

Many diseases and disorders manifest themselves in the mouth, such as diabetes, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), autoimmune disorders, and sleep-related breathing disorders. Your practitioner will be looking out for warning signs that may suggest underlying medical concerns.

Pregnancy and certain medications, allergies, or recent operations can also affect oral health, specifically by influencing how readily your gums may bleed, for instance, or by impacting saliva production. Some conditions and treatments can even mean you may need the OK from your doctor before dental work can proceed. People taking drugs that affect bone metabolism, for example, will often need medical clearance before having teeth extracted.

If you’ve recently started taking medications, including over-the-counter and herbal medications, it’s a good idea to bring a list of what you’re taking to your next dental checkup.

Treatment Decisions and Appointment Timing

Questions to Ask Your Dental Practitioner

If your practitioner finds something they’re not happy with, they’ll want to discuss treatment options with you. The more information they provide to you, the more empowered you’ll be to make informed choices. It’s a good idea to ask for clarification on the following points:

• Does something need to be dealt with straightaway, or can it wait to be looked at next time?
• If you’re looking at treatment, what does it involve? Are there other options? How long is recovery? What happens if I ignore it? How much is it? What should I be doing at home?
• What symptoms or problems should I watch out for that may mean I need to get it looked at sooner?

Regular Dental Checkups

Ideally, most people should be seen regularly. It’s important to keep an eye on any problems as well as maintaining oral hygiene, something NIH walks through at www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/oral-hygiene, to prevent issues from arising. Your dental practitioner will be able to advise you on how often they recommend you’re seen.

If you haven’t visited a dental practitioner for some time or have concerns about what may be waiting for you in the chair, it’s best to bite the bullet sooner rather than later. Dental practitioners see it all so don’t be embarrassed.

Appointments That Cannot Wait

• You’ve broken or lost a tooth or injured your mouth in some way.
• You have swelling in your face.
• You’re experiencing toothache you can’t manage with regular painkillers or have bleeding you can’t control.

Choosing a Dental Practitioner on the North Shore

Finding a dental practitioner you’re happy with involves more than simply choosing a name online. Practical considerations such as location, opening hours, accessibility, languages spoken, fees, and available payment plans all play an important role when choosing a North Shore dentist. Considering these factors can help you find a practice that suits your needs, such as St Ives Smiles Dentistry North Shore.

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Top tip: Did you know the recommended time to brush your teeth is 2 minutes? Try setting a timer next time you’re in the bathroom, and chances are you’ll be shocked how little time you’re giving your pearly whites.