After a discussion about your dental health and lifestyle, your dentist will conduct a comprehensive examination of your neck, face and full mouth (this includes a cancer check throughout all soft tissues in the area).
Then you’ll have a bite-wing x-ray to get a clearer picture of the status of your mouth.
You can read more about dental x-rays at the Australian Dental Association.
Often, patients elect to have a scale and clean on the day of the checkup.
This involves removing the following:
After your scale and clean, we’ll usually give you a fluoride (remineralisation) treatment to help protect the enamel of the teeth and prevent cavities forming.
Fluoride makes the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars.
Although fluoride is in our tap water, a fluoride treatment strengthens your teeth further.
The cost of the dental check-up, scale and clean, bitewing x-ray and fluoride costs approximately $280. If you have health insurance, you may be entitled to a scale and clean once or twice a year. Please check with your health fund for further details.
Most people should have a dental checkup every six months. However, some people may require more frequent visits. Check with your dentist. Usually, the dental checkup is followed by a scale and clean; however, if you prefer, you can book these appointments separately.
Preventative dentistry is the practice of caring for your teeth, gums and bite so that you can maintain good oral health. Preventative dentistry involves both ‘at home’ care, such as regular brushing, flossing and adhering to a good diet, and regular ‘in clinic’ professional checkups and scale and cleans.
At Marketplace Dental, preventative dental also includes our staff taking the time to educate all our patients on how to maintain good oral health throughout your life.
Preventative dental treatments help keep your teeth healthier for longer. And, you’ll avoid unnecessary dental bills. This is why most private health insurance companies provide members with a free dental checkup and/or scale and clean approximately once a year. They know that by encouraging people to look after their teeth, they decrease the likelihood of patient claiming expensive dental treatments further ahead.
If you don’t take care of your teeth, you have a higher chance of developing periodontal disease. If left untreated, periodontal disease causes your gums to pull away from your teeth, allowing more bacteria to grow in areas that you cannot clean it home. Eventually, your teeth may loosen and even fall out.
Yes, at your dental checkup, your dentist or hygienist will check your teeth and gums to look for any signs of gum disease.
If you incorporate your professional teeth cleaning (scale and clean, bitewing x-ray and fluoride) appointment with an examination/checkup, it will cost approximately $280. However, please check with your health insurance fund as many funds offer a free scale and clean once or twice a year.
Dental scaling, also known as “deep cleaning,” involves scraping the plaque from your teeth, along with any plaque in large pockets that have developed it between your teeth and gums. Dental scaling is sometimes carried out with root planning, where the dentist, using a special scaling tool, will smooth the tooth roots. Smoothing down the area helps your gums to reattach to your teeth.
Depending on how severe the deep cleaning is, you may be given a local anaesthetic, and/or given antimicrobial agents or oral antibiotics after the procedure to help you heal faster.
Practising preventative dental at home means doing things to keep your mouth healthy. For example, brushing and flossing your teeth daily, using a fluoridated toothpaste, rinsing amount of water between meals all help you maintain good oral health.
Additionally, you should discuss your oral hygiene program with your dentist and make sure they are happy with the toothbrush, floss, toothpaste, and any other oral health product you use, and also the way you brush and floss your teeth.
References:
Periodontal disease: https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/gum-disease/more-info
ADA – Dental X-rays: https://www.ada.org.au/Your-Dental-Health/Adults-31-64/Dental-X-Rays
(If you have health insurance, you may not have to pay a cent!)
Marketplace Dental is registered with all health funds and is a preferred provider with BUPA, HCF and Medibank Private.
We offer the full suite of general dental treatments, along with cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign, braces and sedation dentistry ‘happy gas’ – just in case you’re feeling even the tiniest bit anxious. Plus, we have an extra special focus on the kids, and we’re confident they’ll love coming to visit!
