1. The New Patient Exam at Us: What should you expect?
Your Journey Begins: New Patient Consultation at Root Dental Clinic
Welcome to Root Dental Clinic! We believe that your journey with us starts with a thorough and comprehensive new patient consultation. Here’s what you can expect:
Getting to Know You
Before your first visit, we want to understand your unique needs. Our friendly reception team will reach out via phone or in person to gather important background information, including any health concerns and specific dental issues you’d like us to address.
Your First Visit: What to Expect
Your initial appointment is all about building a relationship with you. It starts with a mini-tour of our clinic, where you’ll see how we maintain the highest standards of safety and hygiene.
Our dentists will discuss your medical and dental history and guide you through a personalized questionnaire to understand your needs and concerns. After this, we conduct a thorough examination, which includes:
1. Jaw and Muscle Check: Assessing the jaw joints and facial muscles.
2. Bite Evaluation: Checking how your teeth fit together.
3. Oral Cancer Screening: Examining the soft tissues of your mouth.
4. Gum Health Assessment: Evaluating your gums for any signs of disease.
5. Tooth Examination: Inspecting your teeth for decay, cracks, and wear.
We also offer a digital scan to create a 3D image of your teeth, helping us visualize their position and alignment. If necessary, we’ll take radiographs to identify any hidden issues between your teeth and assess the underlying bone structure. While radiographs are crucial, we also use laser and fluorescent light technology to enhance our diagnostics, aiming to reduce the number of radiographs needed.
Understanding Your Oral Health
Throughout your visit, we’ll share visual insights, guiding you through what we see in your mouth. Once we gather all this information, the dentist will develop a personalized treatment plan, addressing any immediate concerns and outlining future care options along with associated schedules and costs.
More Than Just a Check-Up
As you can see, a dental check-up at Root Dental Clinic goes far beyond just checking for cavities. With our advanced tools and thorough approach, we aim to monitor your oral health throughout your life, ensuring you receive the highest quality of care.
2. Why should I care about my teeth and why should I have to go see a dentist every 6 months?
Did you know that taking care of your oral health is directly linked to your general well-being? Studies indicate that maintaining your natural teeth can increase your life expectancy by up to 10 years!
Regular dental visits are essential for several reasons:
1. Professional Cleaning: Keeping your teeth professionally cleaned ensures that your gums remain healthy throughout your life.
2. Early Detection of Cavities: If a small cavity is detected, it can be restored before it progresses to tooth loss.
3. Preventative Care: Regular check-ups help catch issues early, preventing costly treatments down the line.
4. Oral Cancer Screenings: Routine screenings allow for early biopsies of any suspicious lesions, significantly improving outcomes.
5. Health Guidance: Dentists provide valuable advice on proper diet and smoking cessation, which are crucial for overall health.
6. Diabetes Management: Patients with diabetes often find it easier to manage their condition when their oral health is in good shape; an unhealthy mouth can exacerbate diabetes complications.
7. Preventing Nutritional Issues: Tooth loss can lead to malnutrition, resulting in a host of health problems such as mental health issues, weak bones, poor healing, heart disease, anaemias, high blood pressure, and strokes.
Unlike visits to your doctor when you’re feeling unwell, dental appointments focus on preventive
care. Your dentist may identify potential underlying health issues during your check-up—such as the
need for blood tests due to signs visible in your mouth or skin. Additionally, dentists can recognize
conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea, which can increase the risk of silent heart attacks during
sleep.
At Root Dental Clinic, our team is here to help you smile, eat, speak, and look after your overall health. Remember, your mouth is the window to your body!
References:
1. The Relationship Between Oral Health and Overall Health: American Dental Association reports or studies from the Journal of the American Dental Association.
2. Diabetes and Oral Health: Research linking oral health to diabetes management can be found in journals like Diabetes Care.
3. Impact of Oral Health on Nutrition and General Health: Look for studies in Nutrition Reviews or articles from the World Health Organization.
4. Professional Tooth Whitening.