Family Dentistry

Routine dental appointments are essential to maintain good oral health and a happy smile. A standard dental check-up is carried out by an experienced, qualified dentist and is the best way to spot any problems with your mouth before they become serious. Both adults and children require routine dental appointments on a regular basis because preventative dentistry is the key to keeping your mouth healthy.

Routine dental appointments are usually carried out every six months, but the number of times you need to attend these appointments varies from patient to patient. Some patients may require more frequent visits, while others may need to come into the practice less often – your dentist will advise you on how often you need a regular check-up.

What happens at a routine dental check-up?

If it is your first appointment at the practice, your dentist will take a full dental and medical history. They will also:

1. Thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and mouth.
2. Take X-rays if necessary.
3. Discuss any dental problems you may have had since your last visit
4. Discuss general health and dietary issues that can affect your teeth and gums – such as alcohol consumption or smoking.
5. Discuss your teeth-cleaning habits, such as brushing technique, and recommend any improvements such as interdental brushes or flossing as required.
6. Explain any further treatment you may need, such as fillings, root canal treatment or hygienist appointments.
7. Provide you with a full treatment plan.
8. Answer any questions you may have regarding your treatment and what options are available.
9. If you require no other treatment, your dentist will let you know when you should come for your next routine check-up.

As dental professionals we believe in preventive dental care and encourage our patients to bring their children to the practice from an early age. Regular check-ups from a young age will ensure children don't suffer from untreated dental decay with devastating effects to their growing dentition. There are a number of preventive treatments that our team can provide for children:

1. Fluoride applications are a safe and effective way to safeguard your child's growing teeth from developing decay. The fluoride is painted onto the surface of the teeth, helping to mineralise them.
2. Tooth-coloured fissure sealants are applied to the biting surfaces of children's teeth to prevent decay.
3. Studies have shown that the younger your child is when attending their first dental appointment, even if just for a check-up, the more likely they are to have a positive experience and to grow up unafraid of the dentist. Our team will take special care of your child to make them feel safe and cared for.
4. Treating a child from a young age also allows the dentist to spot early signs of underbites, cross bites or overbites developing. As with most dental problems, the sooner you can start to treat it, the quicker it can be resolved.

Prevention is always better than cure, so call the practice today to make an appointment for your child.

Fluoride varnish is applied to teeth by your dentist to help prevent decay. It is painted on to the surface of the teeth and contains high levels of fluoride, which strengthen the tooth's enamel and help to make it more resistant to decay.

Fluoride varnish can be used on both baby and adult teeth and needs to be applied every six months. At our practice we recommend children from the age of three years upwards should have treatment with fluoride varnish to help keep their teeth strong and healthy. Most parents find that it is most convenient to have children treated with fluoride varnish at their six-monthly dental check-ups.

Treatment with fluoride varnish can sometimes cause temporary discolouration of the teeth. This will not last for long, but you should not brush your child's teeth until the next day to give the varnish time to work.

Before treatment starts, your dentist will carry out a thorough assessment of the inside and outside of your child's mouth to check they are suitable for treatment. If your child has a cold or flu, you may be asked to bring them back to receive treatment when they are better. If they have severe decay and the pulp of the tooth is exposed, this may have to be treated first.

1. Fluoride applications are a safe and effective way to safeguard your child's growing teeth from developing decay. The fluoride is painted onto the surface of the teeth, helping to mineralise them.
2. Tooth-coloured fissure sealants are applied to the biting surfaces of children's teeth to prevent decay.
3. Studies have shown that the younger your child is when attending their first dental appointment, even if just for a check-up, the more likely they are to have a positive experience and to grow up unafraid of the dentist. Our team will take special care of your child to make them feel safe and cared for.
4. Treating a child from a young age also allows the dentist to spot early signs of underbites, cross bites or overbites developing. As with most dental problems, the sooner you can start to treat it, the quicker it can be resolved.

Prevention is always better than cure, so call the practice today to make an appointment for your child.