Consultation

The first people you will meet at Masterton Dental will be our friendly reception staff, who will ask you to complete a medical form.

Our Dental Surgeon needs to be aware of your general state of health as this can often impact upon the condition of your teeth and gums and may effect medication such as anaesthetics and antibiotics we may use for you.

At your consultation you will have the opportunity to discuss any dental concerns you may have or how you would like your teeth improved.

Your Dental Surgeon will give you a full oral assessment to help accurately plan which treatments would be best for the health of your mouth. During this examination we will be looking at:

• Teeth and the way you bite
• Original restorations – Fillings, Crowns, Veneers etc
• The health of your gums and the bone surrounding each tooth
• Your tongue, throat, cheeks & lips for signs of oral cancer
• Jaw joint evaluation

Dental X-rays will also be taken of your teeth to check for:

• Decay inside the tooth or between the teeth
• Abscess or cysts on the roots of your teeth
• Root positions
• Bone loss

Once the examination is complete the dentist will dicuss the findings with you.

We will then create a treatment plan with alternative options for you, including all the benefits and risks of each procedure and the costings. This will allow you to decide what is best for your long term dental health.

Periodic Examination

The best way to maintain good oral hygiene is to brush your teeth and use inter-dental brushes daily as well as visiting your Dentist for regular check ups. Your dentist not only examines your teeth for signs of decay or damage, he also looks for early signs of gum disease and oral cancer, although this is very rare.

It is normally recommended that you visit your dentist twice a year, although people who have severe gum disease or a weakened immune system may need to visit the dentist more often.

Your dentist will first ask if there have been any problems since your last dental check up and take a note of any new medication that you may be taking.

X-rays of your teeth are usually taken every 12 months, unless your dentist is satisfied on clinical examination that a radiograph is not necessary.

If cavities are found or your Dental Surgeon feels that your oral hygiene needs to be improved, he will create a treatment plan outlining the work to be carried out and provide you with a cost estimate of the proposed treatment.

Occasionally, patients are referred to other Surgeons who specialise in the relevant fields of Dentistry.