Dental Check-ups

A dental checkup ideally twice a year is the best way to ensure the health and longevity of your teeth. Your dentist may spot the early signs of decay and gum disease- the leading causes of tooth loss in the world,. We will also screen your mouth for any of the early signs of mouth cancer. The vast majority of people will have their examination and oral cancer screen free of charge through the state dental schemes – either through their PRSI payments or perhaps their Medical Card. If you are paying privately it will usually cost 40euro with possibly 20euro for some small x-rays.  The PRSI scheme now offers a cancer screening and yearly checkup for 15 euro.

You should visit your dentist twice annually that is every six months. Your mouth is an integral part of your body and the gateway to the inside of your body. Seeing your dentist twice a year means any potential problems may be diagnosed early and possibly before more severe treatment is required. The classic example of this is where perhaps a tooth cleaning can stop reversible gingivitis/ gum inflammation from progressing to permanent gum disease and loose teeth. There is mounting evidence of the connection between untreated mouth problems and serious medical conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, meningitis and dementia. This list continues to grow and is yet another reason to keep your mouth in good condition. Occasionally certain oral conditions will require you to attend more frequently perhaps every three months. For example in people who have dry mouths related to medication or who are at greater risk of dental problems.

Your dental check-up will involve your dentist assessing all the soft and hard tissues of your oro-facial region. The usual check-up will take approximately 30 minutes however this time may be extended for nervous patients and for patients where extensive conversations regarding their wishes will be accommodated. Analysis of dental x-rays may take some time. Our clinic uses the most modern digital x-ray systems which are low dose, consistently accurate and develop in seconds. When you arrive at our surgery there may be a small amount of paperwork to complete including a medical history which may also take a minute or two. Alternatively, we can email this to you prior to your visit.

Inside your mouth

At your dental checkup, your dentist will review the health of all the parts of your mouth and face. We will review your teeth from the point of view of any acute dangers like decay and gum disease but also longer-term dangers such as tooth wear. Decay happens when bacteria in your mouth ferment sugar in your food and drink to create an acid. Tooth wear may be caused by your teeth grinding against each other or something you are eating or drinking can be too acidic and may be very mild in the early stages when you want to halt progress! Once we are happy that all urgent problems are dealt with then questions of aesthetics such as colour and alignment can be assessed.

One of the most depressing situations occurs when a perfectly healthy tooth is being extracted because it has been hopelessly loosened by gum disease. While gum disease, also known as periodontitis, can occasionally cause rapid gum breakdown usually it is a slowly progressing condition. Therefore if any early problems are noticed at your check-up they can be treated before any major issues develop often with some oral hygiene advice and a scale and polish

We have to remember that your mouth is more than just teeth and gums. Therefore we will also check the condition of your palate, tongue cheeks and throat. This will include checking the health of the ducts from your saliva glands which can occasionally be infected or blocked.

Outside your mouth

A good examination will also include a visual examination of the skin covering your face, head, ears and neck. It will also cover structures such as the muscles used for eating and chewing, your saliva producing glands and lymph drainage nodes. Smile aesthetics are also best assessed from the outside. Elements such as how many teeth you show when smiling, alignment, lip height and symmetry may be assessed. A whole front tooth show on smiling is considered aesthetic in men with a little more considered acceptable in women

Oral cancer screening

Your check-up will include a comprehensive oral cancer screen. Oral cancer has a high incidence in Europe and is increasing in frequency in those under the age of 45yrs.  All the structures of your mouth and face will be reviewed visually-  the soft tissues of your mouth internally and externally and the lymph nodes of your head and neck will be palpated. Of particular interest will be any persistent, ( more than 3 weeks), white or red patches and ulcers. One of the most disturbing things in recent years is the increase in the incidence of oral cancer in the under 45’s thought to be related to the HPV virus.

The Irish Dental Association and all the major dental associations of the world recommend that a child’s first dental visit should be no later than one year of age. The reasons behind this apparently extremely early check-up are

• the early establishment of good dental care at home,
• early use of dental disease preventions/ interception,
• early familiarization with the sights,
• sounds and smells at the dental clinic thereby reducing anxiety,
• education of parents on promoting and maintaining their child’s dental health.

At our surgery, we recognize that with very small kids it is very unlikely that we will be allowed full access to the mouth and we will try and keep the visit fun for small kiddies. Often small children will sit on their parent’s knee however they are welcome to explore the dental chair!

Dental sealant is also called fissure sealant. The fissure is the groove/valley in the top your side and back teeth when you look down on them and on the molars resembles a hot cross bun. A huge survey of dental decay patterns has found that 90% of decay in permanent teeth starts in this fissure. This is due to the ability of food to stick in and sink into the fissures which are hard to clean compared to the outside of your teeth for example.

A fissure sealant is basically liquid white filling material which is stuck onto the fissure to block it off and stop food getting stuck. Occasionally people will have pits on the palate side of their front teeth which should be sealed but in general fissure sealants are for premolars, (side) and especially molars/back teeth. The first permanent molars come into the mouth at approximately six years of age without any baby tooth falling out. They are situated away at the back of the mouth in a hard to reach area and can do with all the protection they can get. They have to last a lifetime after all! Fissure seals are painless and do NOT involve any drilling or numbing. Usually, the tooth is brushed clean, a blue gel placed, the gel washed off, the sealant applied and a light shone on it to set. The age varies as to when a child will let us do a fissure seal as it takes a minute or so with your mouth open. As a general rule certainly most eight-year-olds are fine with some kids managing younger