It’s probably not your first trip to the dentist W1, but you might not remember some of the ones you had when you were younger. So what should you expect? Dentists are there to help you keep your teeth healthy and strong but also talk to you about the importance of keeping them clean. Most of the time, you can find a family dentistry practice to see to the teeth of all ages and perform many different procedures. Sometimes, you can find a pediatric dentist who is trained solely for children. Either way, there is a dentist for everyone and everyone’s needs.
How dentists help
A dentist is like a doctor for your teeth and there are things that they might be able to spot that you might not realise are a problem. If you have any pain or your teeth feel strange, you should tell your dentist and they will be able to check if there is any problem. If they find a problem, they will help you deal with it, which sometimes might need a form of treatment that the dentist administers in the clinic.
You should visit your dentist every 6 months as part of a regular check-up even if nothing seems to be the matter.
The people you might meet in the dental clinic
When you first come into the dental clinic, you’ll probably meet one of the administration staff behind a desk in the waiting room. In the treatment room, you will meet with either the dentist and the dental nurse or hygienist depending on what sort of appointment you’re having.
The dental hygienist will be there to talk to you about how you can care for your teeth every day.
They will examine your mouth and make sure your teeth are growing well and are healthy. They’ll use a very bright light to be able to see clearly in your mouth and perhaps a little mirror to allow them to see the back of teeth and around corners.
A dental hygienist can provide a thorough cleaning of teeth. This is called a scale and polish because they use a scraper and an air polisher to clean teeth. This thoroughly removes any plaque that you may still have stuck to your teeth, which may have become hard and difficult to remove by brushing.
Dental X-rays
Dentists don’t just look into our mouth in order to see what is going on, but they can also use X-rays to see parts of the teeth which are below the gum line, and inside the teeth just to make sure that they are healthy.
X-rays are not painful, although you will have to wear a thick shield over your chest when you receive an X-ray. They only take a few seconds each but your dentist needs a set of them, like a photo album of the inside of your mouth to determine their next move in your treatment.
Checking your bite
Biting is important, it’s how we eat our food and one of the things that your dentist checks is how your teeth line up to form ‘a bite’. When looking at any X-rays they might have taken and the position of your teeth, your dentist will make sure you have a strong bite and one that’s likely to last. If not, you will be asked to come back for another visit to see an orthodontist. They are specialist dentists who help to rearrange teeth to make sure you have the best bite possible!