What to Expect from Your Dental Practice

When having the inside of your mouth examined you want it to be completed with attention to hygiene. Check that your dentist is wearing a mask and appropriate eyewear when needed and clean gloves between patients. Pay attention to their gloves to make sure they’re not touching lots of surfaces before looking inside your mouth.

Also, scan the office for anything that may concern you about their health and safety procedures. For example, watch how the tools are sanitised and check the cleanliness of surfaces.

Before any examinations, your dentist should take the time to ask you about any teeth or gum problems you have been experiencing since your last check-up. They will also ask follow up with questions on how often you brush, floss and rinse with mouthwash to check you are taking oral hygiene seriously at home.

They may also ask when the last time you had a scan was, to determine if it’s too soon for another. Asking these questions can help identify any areas that need extra close attention during the appointment.

After getting comfortable and asking about your dental history, your dentist should begin with a thorough examination of your teeth and gums.

A metal probe and small angled mirror will then be used to search for any problem areas in your mouth, including:

• Softening of tooth enamel and dentin
• Swelling of gums
• Mouth sores
• Redness
• Signs of gum disease

They may then follow up with a thorough clean of your mouth, or refer you to the hygienist for a clean and polish, where they will scrape off built up plaque and tartar in the gum line and floss in between the teeth to clear away clinging plaque and food particles.

During dental appointments it’s important to feel safe and have trust in the advice your dentist provides you. You should expect to be catered by a team of professionals at your dental practice, who are all qualified to call themselves dentistry experts.

Therefore, when you raise a concern you should receive an answer that is more than satisfactory, with expert advice that caters to your individual needs.

After each appointment your dentist should recommend a routine check-up, by scheduling an appointment dependent on your age and how good your oral hygiene is at the time. This can range from three months to 2 years for adults or 1 year for under 18s.

At Dentalia we provide a dental practice recognised for its high standards, with the full back up of a dental laboratory and in-house implant surgeon.

If you’re looking for an experienced dental practice you can trust in the Basingstoke area, get in touch with our expert team today.