A thorough examination should be carried out in order to properly evaluate the extent of any problems in your mouth. A broken tooth or filling can be easily repaired, but is there an underlying cause and what can we do to prevent similar problems in the future? This can only be done by taking a proper history of your dental and general health. At this point a clinical assessment will be carried out followed by diagnosis and formation of a treatment plan. Examinations should only be carried out when needed. This does not necessarily mean every 6 months, but instead the interval should be tailored to a patient’s individual requirement.

TREATMENT PLANNING

There are often a series of options when it comes to a treatment plan. You should always be given an estimate so you understand from the outset the likely overall financial implications. With the best will in the world not every circumstance can be predicted and especially for complex plans, there may be changes to the treatment plan on the way.

X-RAYS

X-Rays should only be taken when needed and when the benefit is likely to out weigh the risk. Dentists should adhere to guidelines as to how frequently X-Rays should be taken. For instance Bitewing X-Rays which can show decay between the teeth are recommended every 2 years on average. However this depends on the age of the patient as well as the patients' past history. Often a lengthier interval between X-Rays can be justified. It is the practice policy to avoid taking X-Rays on pregnant ladies, though again this must be assessed on a case by case basis. Since we have the facility of using digital X-Rays the X-Ray dose to the patient is far lower.