Diagnostic
Examinations
We will carry out a thorough examination to check the overall health of your mouth, including your teeth, gums and surrounding tissues. Where necessary, we will take X-rays and intra-oral photos to aid our diagnosis.
We routinely examine our patients for signs of oral cancer. During your dental exam, the dentist will look for abnormalities in the soft tissues of your mouth and examine the areas surrounding your jaw to check for symptoms.
We also undertake a BPE (basic periodontal exam) which is a simple test specially designed for early detection of periodontal disease. This is important because periodontal disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults.
We will then provide you with our diagnosis and if further treatment is required we will discuss with you the various options that are available and provide a full printed treatment plan with prices.
X-Rays (Radiographs)
X-rays are used to look for dental problems not visible to the naked eye, such as cavities between teeth or under existing fillings. For your initial dental examination two X-rays are usually taken. Sometimes more will be required to aid diagnosis. Further X-rays are then taken periodically when the dentist believes it necessary for the benefit of your dental health.
We use digital x-rays which are quick and easy to take and mean that within a few minutes the image can be viewed on screen so we can talk you through any problems. Digital x-rays also ensure you are exposed to just a fraction of the radiation exposure that you would receive with traditional x-rays.
OPG
Our OPG x-ray machine enables us to take a scan of the entire upper and lower jaw at the same time scanning the teeth and jaw bone from ear to ear. It shows facial bones, teeth and sinuses all in one image.
We use OPG x-rays to look at impacted wisdom teeth, periodontal bone loss or just to help find the source of dental pain. They are also useful for evaluating dental implant treatments.
This machine can also be used to produce a Cone Beam CT scan which gives a 3-D image. This is particularly useful in implant cases to get the best possible picture of the underlying bone where the implants will be placed.
