Examinations
At Honley Dental we are keen to see our patient’s regularly to encourage prevention and to detect any problems early. Regular dental examinations are essential for ensuring dental and oral health. There are 2 parts to an examination appointment:
- Questions/history
- Examination and investigations (e.g. X-rays)
The first part of an examination appointment involves asking questions about your teeth, lifestyle habits and medical history. The questions we ask may include:
- Any pain or problems with your jaw, mouth, gums or teeth?
- Are you happy with the appearance of your teeth?
- Any medical health conditions, medications or allergies?
- What is your current brushing and oral health care habits like? Do you use an electric toothbrush?
- What is your current diet like? Is it high in sugar or acids, which may be damaging to your teeth?
- Do you smoke?
- What is your alcohol intake like?
The second part of an examination appointment involves a physical examination of your mouth and teeth. All of our dentist’s will carry out thorough and comprehensive examinations – they all wear magnification to ensure that nothing goes undetected. At an examination the dentist will carry out a number of checks, this may include examination of the:
- Jaw joint and muscles
- Soft tissues (oral cancer screening)
- Teeth
- Gums
What are the benefits of regular examinations?
- Prevention of dental disease, pain, infection, swelling and tooth loss
- Reduced costs of dental treatment
- Maintenance of a great smile
- Early detection of oral cancer
As part of the examination we also endeavour to keep up-to-date X-rays of our patient’s to ensure problems are detected as early as possible. At Honley Dental all of our X-ray equipment is digital – this means minimum radiation for our patients and instant images!
In the event that anything is detected or found at the examination appointment the dentist will discuss this with you and aim to get any proposed treatment into a written plan/estimate for you. Usually treatment will be carried out at a separate and new appointment.
Most patients should visit the dentist twice a year (every 6 months) however this may vary depending on the health of your mouth. In some cases patients may be recommended to visit the dentist and/or hygienist every 3 months and in others it may be extended to annual recall (once a year).
Becoming a Patient
At Honley Dental we are keen to see our patient’s regularly to encourage prevention and to detect any problems early. Regular dental examinations are essential for ensuring dental and oral health.
For this reason we are delighted to offer the Honley Dental Care Plans, our own membership scheme. This plan enables us to provide you with the treatment and support necessary to prevent and manage disease, keeping your mouth healthy and keeping you smiling.
