Check-ups

A check-up is an examination of the teeth, gums and mouth, done to find any problem early and to keep track of a patient’s general oral health. It suits anyone due for a routine review, and anyone who has not seen a dentist for some time. Dr Annabel Davies provides check-ups at BRS Dental on Strand Street, in Cape Town City Centre.

When you might need one

A check-up is worth booking on a routine basis, and also whenever something about the mouth has changed, even without pain, such as a rough edge on a tooth, a change in colour, or bleeding gums when brushing. Someone who has not visited a dentist for some time can book a check-up as a starting point, rather than waiting for a problem to appear.

What happens at the appointment

The dentist usually asks a few questions first, such as why the patient has come in, whether anything has felt different, and about general health, medicines, diet and smoking or drinking habits. She then looks at the face and neck, feels along the jaw, and examines inside the mouth, including the tongue, cheeks, the roof of the mouth and the back of the throat. Each tooth and the gum around it is checked for decay, damage or signs of gum disease, and compared with the last visit where records exist. X-rays are taken at a general check-up every 12 to 18 months, which also shows how wisdom teeth are developing. She aims to give each appointment the time it needs, and a nervous patient can set the pace.

What happens after

Patients hear what she has found, what the choices are, and what each involves. Finding a problem early at a check-up generally means it can be treated more simply than if it is left until it causes pain. Where treatment is recommended, it is explained and can be planned and booked as a separate appointment, giving the patient time to consider it.

How often

How often a check-up is needed is not the same for everyone. It depends on the health of the teeth and gums and on how likely a problem is to develop, and the dentist advises on a suitable interval for each patient after the examination, rather than applying a single fixed rule to everyone.

Cleaning

A check-up looks at the general health of the teeth and gums. Scaling and polishing to remove built-up plaque and tartar is usually a separate appointment, carried out at BRS Dental by one of the practice’s two oral hygienists, and the dentist may suggest booking one at a check-up if it would help.

Getting in touch

Fees for a check-up, and for any treatment that follows it, are discussed with reception. The panel on this page shows how to get in touch to book an appointment.