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On your first visit to DENTISTRY by design, we will carry out a comprehensive examination and survey of your dental health. This enables us to gather the information we need for complete diagnosis and treatment planning, helping us to maintain your smile for life.
If you have any oral health queries in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We will review your dental health and medical history
- identifying any conditions, allergies or medications
- identifying any habits or risk factors
- identifying any special needs or concerns
This helps us to provide you with dental care that’s comprehensive, effective, comfortable and safe. If necessary, we will consult with your GP or specialist.
We conduct full mouth charting
- enabling a complete diagnosis of your mouth
- addressing health, function and aesthetics
- looking at your mouth and the supporting structures of your teeth as a whole
Proper diagnosis enables us to better plan your treatment and continuing care, establishing priorities for the best long-term results.
We conduct an oral health examination
- checking for any unhealthy lesions in the glands, jaw and soft tissue
- checking for oral cancer, which accounts for 4% of all cancers
As with any medical condition, early detection is crucial for successful treatment. We can refer you to a specialist to further investigate or treat any problems we identify.
We conduct periodontal charting
- checking the supporting structures of your teeth—the gums and bones
- checking for various forms of gum and bone disease, such as gingivitis and periodontitis
One in four adults loses teeth to periodontal disease. We’ll explain the essential relationship between your oral health and your overall health.
We analyse your occlusion
- identifying habits—such as teeth clenching or grinding—that may affect your teeth and restorations
- documenting the alignment of your teeth and assessing bite forces that may affect restorations
- protecting the longevity of your teeth and restorations
We assess your smile
- assessing the appearance of your teeth and smile
- assessing your gum height and other soft tissue
- discussing what you like and dislike about your smile
- discussing your expectations and desires
- explaining how your smile can be enhanced
 We assess your teeth shade
- assessing the shade of your teeth and identifying your desired shade
- assessing the potential benefits of teeth whitening
- identifying shade guides for any restorative work, such as veneers, crowns or composite restorations
We show you what we see
- intra-oral and digital camera imagery showing you what we see
- demonstrating our concerns and revealing more detail
- visually recording the teeth, lips and smile
We take X-rays
- x-rays may be taken to provide a more detailed view of any areas of concern revealing hidden tooth decay, such as under restorations or between the teeth
- revealing any other hidden conditions
- revealing un-erupted teeth, such as wisdom teeth
- revealing any abnormalities and hidden conditions
- revealing the pathology of the jaw and any bone and tooth loss
Early detection and intervention enable us to prevent any future problems and discomfort. 
We conduct a TMJ assessment
- detecting abnormalities and dysfunctions with the jaw and jaw joint which can reveal causes of some headaches
We will discuss orthodontic considerations (if required)
- referring for orthodontic treatment, for aesthetic or functional reasons
- in some cases, this is required before preparing and proceeding with the treatment plan
 We may take upper and lower study models (if required)
- providing a diagnostic record of your existing teeth and bite
- monitoring wear and helping to plan and present your treatment
- helping to monitor and preserve your teeth and bite for the long-term
- providing a reconstructive guide in case of an accident
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