Your first visit

When you first visit the practice you will be met by Penny or Lesley, who are part of the reception team. They will be able to answer any questions you may have and provide you with information about the practice.

Once you decide to join the practice, you will fill out a medical history form which is vital in the registration to our practice. This will be kept on file.

When you arrive at the practice for your first appointment one of our nurses, either Ann or Gay, will take you to meet your dentist in the treatment room.

The dentist will run through a number of questions with you to see if you have any concerns about the health of your teeth and gums, or the appearance of your teeth.

At each 12-point dental health check, our dentists assess the overall health of your mouth in each of the following areas. We are looking for ways to keep you as healthy as possible so that you reduce your risks of future problems and treatment, and look and feel great.

  • How healthy do you feel your mouth is?
  • Do you have any concerns that we need to deal with?
  • Do you have a medical condition, or take medicines that are likely to affect your dental health?
  • Are you happy with the appearance of your smile?
  • We check your teeth to see that they are healthy and strong.
  • We check that any fillings or other restorations are still strong and healthy.
  • We check the health of your gums; this is absolutely critical if you are to keep your teeth for life!
  • We check for the presence of plaque (which does all the damage to mouths – yet can be controlled to preserve health).
  • We check to see if the inside of your mouth (cheeks, lips, tongue, roof and floor of the mouth) is healthy.
  • We check the outside of your mouth.
  • We check inside, under and between the teeth for health.*
  • Finally, we check the bone which supports your teeth.*
  • We will then reveal our findings in each area and advise you on how to:
  • - Keep dentally healthy, or
  • - Become more healthy (and less likely to need future treatment, lose teeth, suffer bad breath or encounter other problems).

*Our checks are updated via ultra-low dosage radiographs – taken approximately every one to two years.

Once the 12-point dental health check is complete we will advise how healthy your mouth is, what we need to do, as well as any treatment options, including prices.