A dental examination (also called a check up) is one of the most common and routine reasons that patients visit our practice in London. Our thorough dental examination will give us (and you!) a comprehensive picture of the current health of your teeth, gums and associated tissues. We recommend having these every 6 months to prevent any unwanted emergencies or cavities!

At the practice, your regular dental check-up will involve:

• A complete medical history
• Examination of your temporomandibular joints (where the jaw articulates with the skull), TMJ problems are a common cause of headaches.
• Palpation / examination of the salivary and lymph glands in the head and neck looking for discomfort, swelling and asymmetry
• Examination of the skin and soft tissues surrounding your mouth looking for abnormalities, swelling and moles
• Examination of the teeth and gums. As well as a visual dental examination this will include:
  • X-rays: we use digital radiography equipment with a much smaller radiation dose than standard equipment. X-rays are a vital part of any dental examination allowing us to diagnose problems under the surface of the teeth, between the teeth or in the roots
  • Intra-oral camera: a small hand-held camera can take close-up pictures of your teeth and project them onto the screen in front of you – so you can see exactly what your dentist sees.
  • Diagnodent: a gentle laser device that rests on the tooth and calculates the level of bacteria on the surface. This technology allows safe detection of early or hidden caries also known as tooth decay.
• Dietary advice
• Discussion of oral cancer risk factors including smoking and alcohol 

Finally during our dental check ups we also offer patients dietary advice and discuss the risk factors around oral cancer such as smoking and alcohol. You’ll leave your dental examination knowing everything you need about your current oral health and any steps that you need to take. 

What happens during a dental examination?

During a dental examination, one of our dentists will: 

• Examine the teeth and gums
• Examine your temporomandibular joints 
• Examine your salivary and lymph glands
• Examine the skin and soft tissues surrounding the mouth
• Discuss dietary advice
• Discuss oral cancer risk factors

How often should I have a dental check up?

We recommend scheduling a dental check up at our practice in Kensington every 6 months. 

Do you accept NHS patients for dental examinations?

No, we don’t accept NHS patients at our practice.

Is it still important to have a checkup even if I am not experiencing pain?

Yes, it is still important to have checkups every 6 months as early prevention is key. These regular checkups aim to minimise the risk of developing serious conditions that would require further treatment.

Get in touch with the practice to book a dental examination at our practice in London today.