Welcome to Seymour Dental – The initial examination

Examination – This involves recording the current structure of your mouth, teeth, gums, lips, tongue, palate, throat, cheek, bite, bone shape, and saliva. This includes missing teeth, which teeth have fillings and what type they are, such as metal or tooth coloured fillings.

Crowns and bridges, implants, dentures, which teeth have had root canal treatments, impacted teeth, past orthodontic treatment or other specialist treatment, such as gums. Infections, decay, cracked teeth, bite problems, ulcers, cancer, appearance considerations and loss of function, gum height or bleeding. X-ray examinations – this involves usually 2 bitewings x-rays, which is taken by biting onto a cardboard wing off the x-ray sensor. The x-ray shows the upper and lower back teeth in one view. These x-rays check for decay between the teeth, under fillings and the bone levels around the teeth. It can also show the types of fillings and their size and depth. The position of the nerve is also shown.

Other x-rays of the whole tooth and roots may also be needed. An OPG x-ray may be needed to view the upper (maxilla) and lower (mandible), sinuses, jaw joints, and teeth (especially impacted wisdom teeth). A scale and clean is also carried out. This clears the mouth of any build-up of calculus and plaque. This may uncover more problems. Also the mouth heals before any work is carried out and reduces dramatically the amount of bacteria in the mouth. This makes the teeth easier to keep clean. This in turn reduces the incident of decay and gum disease.

An opportunity to show you how to clean the teeth may need to be done and to discuss dietary issues. After this visit is organised a proper treatment plan is put in place and the number of visits and is outlined, estimate of costs, together with the order of urgency.

Any other investigations or treatment can be carried out in a subsequent visit, and would be outlined in the treatment plan.

Next week: Welcome to Seymour Dental – The treatment plan