Routine Exam & Check Up

Make a commitment to your long-term oral health and wellbeing by booking a routine dental check-up

Routine Dental Check-Ups are extremely important for maintaining good oral health. Prevention is always better than cure, and regular attendance with your dentist enables us to identify any evidence or risks of dental disease at an early stage, and address any concerns or issues that you have noticed occurring, meaning you can avoid lengthy and costly dental treatment down the road. For example, catching a small cavity or plaque build-up and implementing simple, early intervention, can avoid altogether its progression into full-blown deep dental decay, requiring a Root Canal or another advanced invasive treatment.

By making this commitment you are prioritising your health and granting yourself peace of mind and security at the same time as investing in the health and appearance of your smile.

We understand that it can be daunting to attend your dentist after a long time, or if you have missed previous Check-Ups, which can readily lead to a tailspin of worry, shame, and avoidance. This is more common than you know, and we can assure you that on the day of your appointment everyone - from our friendly, welcoming receptionists through to every member of our highly professional clinical team - will quickly put you at ease and support your decision to invest in your health and wellbeing through providing an affirming, judgement-free experience at every visit. 

A routine Check-Up with one of our reassuring and approachable dentists will give you the opportunity to address any concerns you may have been having and get back on track with maintaining your dental care – followed by a Scale and Polish treatment with our thorough dental hygienist for a professional cleaning and tailored advice and demonstrations of how to optimise your oral hygiene routine, you will soon forget any anxiety you had about getting back into the dental chair. 

Many of our patients came to Truly Dental for their first Check-Up in many years, because of our promise that it is never too late to take back control of your oral health. 

Benefits of Regular Dental Check-Ups

• Safeguard your overall welfare by protecting your dental health 
• Identify disease and at-risk areas before further treatment is required
• Avoid future pain or discomfort from complications due to ignored issues 
• Learn how to maintain excellent oral hygiene from a consummate dental professional who will take the time to get to know your individual needs
• Prevent the need for costly and lengthy dental treatment by investing in simple, routine early intervention 
• Maintain the strength, durability, and health of your teeth, allowing you to smile with confidence

Benefits of Regular Scale and Polish Treatment

• Prevent or reverse early-stage gum disease
• Eliminate bad breath caused by the build-up of plaque and bacteria in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth during regular home brushing
• Healthier gums are the bedrock to overall dental health and security
• Polish and smooth the surfaces of your teeth to discourage bacteria build-up
• Avoid the pitfalls of poor oral hygiene through professional, tailored advice and motivation
• Restore and maintain your naturally bright, stain-free smile

What to Expect from a Dental Check-Up & Scale and Polish Appointment

Routine Dental Check Up

During your standard Dental Check-Up, your dentist will carry out a comprehensive dental examination, which involves an assessment of your teeth and the surrounding gums and tissues to identify any evidence of tooth decay, infection or disease, or at-risk areas for future disease or complications. A screening for oral cancer is also carried out at this stage to ensure that you are not at risk. Your dentist will also likely take some dental X-rays to assess your bone health, particularly if any issues or concerns are raised (such as from an impacted wisdom tooth or any damage or cracking of your teeth) and to have a closer look at the welfare of the roots of your teeth.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions of your care provider at any time, and will be invited to share any concerns you may have regarding your teeth or gums. If you have noticed any problems such as increased sensitivity, swelling, pain, or indeed if you would like to discuss any aspect of changing the appearance of your smile, your dentist will be more than happy to address your concerns at this appointment and provide you a roadmap for ongoing care based on your examination.

Following your examination and this discussion your dentist will provide you with a full treatment plan, detailing any further dental treatment which your check-up has revealed that you will benefit from. This will naturally include a referral to our dental hygienist to complete your routine oral care with a standard Scale and Polish treatment (if you have not already booked that treatment at the same time as booking your initial Dental Check-Up appointment). 

We believe in complete transparency when it comes to the cost of your treatment. While you are of course entitled to one free Dental Check-Up and Scale and Polish every year using your PRSI contributions, any additional treatment or procedures which your dentist has advised you to receive will be detailed in full on your treatment plan, including a full breakdown of the expected costs involved for each proposed state of treatment. Our team will also be happy to go through all of all of Truly Dental’s available payment plans which we offer to all of our patients to help make quality, necessary dental care manageable for all lifestyles and budgets.  

Scale and Polish Cleaning

Whether you have booked your routine Scale and Polish treatment at the same time as your regular Dental Check-Up, or your dentist has referred you for this following that visit, your cleaning procedure will be carried out by our skilled dental hygienist. A professional clean with this expert in periodontal (gum) health encompasses both your teeth and gums, and is a highly effective method of removing staining, plaque and calculus (sometimes called ‘tartar’) build-up, which is either out of the reach of routine home brushing or has become too calcified to remove without help. 

First, your teeth will be ‘scaled’ using a high-tech, Ultrasonic scaler, which uses high frequency vibrations along with a stream of water to remove calculus, plaque, and stains from your teeth. We then finish off with a gentle polish of your teeth using a motorised rubber cup and a polishing paste, which removes any remaining stains or bacteria and leaves your teeth feeling smooth and fresh. 

While the vast majority of patients will not experience any discomfort during this procedure whatsoever, we always make the application of local anaesthetic or a dental numbing gel available. If you have heightened tooth sensitivity or have experienced pain or sensitivity during a Scale and Polish in the past, please let us know so that we can ensure to make this as comfortable as possible for you. 

Scale and Polish treatment is particularly beneficial for patients suffering from the early and reversible form of gum disease known as gingivitis, but our dental hygienists are expertly equipped to offer you cleaning and treatment advice tailored to your specific situation, whether you need help managing or preventing bleeding gums, bad breath, or loose teeth. Some patients with more advanced gum disease may need to undergo a more intensive, deep clean of their gums in a procedure known as Root Debridement and your hygienist will make you aware if you require this treatment during your visit. 

A Scale and Polish appointment is also an excellent opportunity for our dedicated hygienists to really take the time to explain the best methods for maintaining excellent oral hygiene. No question is too small, whether you need to know how to actually floss with success, or what an effective and impactful brushing regimen is; our hygienists will happily advise and show you exactly how it’s done, so that you leave the clinic smiling every time.