Preventative Dentistry
Preventative dentistry: check-ups and cleans in Newstead
Preventative dentistry: check-ups and cleans in NewsteadThey say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. At a check-up and clean, your dentist looks over your teeth and gums, removes any hardened buildup that brushing has missed, and checks for early signs of decay and gum disease, which often cause no pain at first. At Apple Dental in Newstead, near the Gasworks, your check-up and clean are done by one of our friendly, qualified female dentists. You can meet our team before you come in.
Call us on (07) 3252 2007 or book online.
Who a check-up and clean is for
A check-up and clean is open to everyone, from young children to adults with a lot of dental work. In all cases, your dentist checks for decay and gum problems, including early signs that may not hurt yet, and tells you where your teeth and gums stand. What else it gives you depends on your age and your teeth:
- Children and teenagers have their teeth checked as they come through, with fluoride and sealants where they help. Early visits also give them a chance to get to know the dentist and the chair, so both feel familiar if they ever need treatment.
- Adults with healthy teeth can have a check for early decay and gum problems, and have any tartar removed.
- Adults with fillings, crowns or bridges can have that work checked for wear, cracks and decay starting around the edges.
- People with gum disease, or a history of it, have their gums measured and cleaned, and a plan for how often to come back.
What a check-up and clean may include
Not every visit includes all of these. Your dentist will tell you what they recommend and why before doing anything.
An examination, with X-rays if needed
Your dentist starts by asking how your teeth have been, whether anything feels sensitive or bleeds, and whether your health or medications have changed. They then look at each tooth, your fillings and other dental work, your gums, and the soft parts of your mouth such as your tongue and cheeks.
Your dentist cannot see some problems just by looking, such as decay starting between two teeth or changes in the bone under your gums. If your dentist needs to check for those, they will take an X-ray. Each chair has a screen above it, so you can see the X-ray while your dentist talks you through it. If anything needs treatment, we explain the options and the cost before you book anything.
Scale and clean
Plaque is the soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth every day. Brushing and flossing remove most of it, but plaque that is left behind can harden into tartar, also called calculus, which a toothbrush cannot shift.
A scale removes that tartar from your teeth, including just under the gum line, using small hand instruments and an ultrasonic scaler, which uses vibration and a water spray. A polish then takes off surface stains, such as those from tea, coffee or red wine, and leaves your teeth feeling smooth.
Fluoride treatment
Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen enamel, the hard outer layer of your teeth. At the end of your clean, your dentist either paints a thin fluoride varnish onto your teeth, or places a fluoride gel on them in a soft tray for a short time.
Your dentist will suggest it where it is likely to help, most often for children and teenagers. If you are an adult with a higher risk of decay, your dentist may suggest it too and will explain why.
Fissure sealants
Fissures are the deep grooves on the chewing surfaces of your back teeth. They can be narrower than a toothbrush bristle, so food and plaque settle in them and are hard to brush out.
A fissure sealant is a thin, tooth-coloured coating that your dentist flows into those grooves and sets hard, leaving a smooth surface that is easier to keep clean. We most often place them on children’s adult molars soon after those teeth come through. Your dentist cleans out the grooves with the drill first, and no injection is needed. Your dentist checks them at later visits, because a sealant can wear over time and may need topping up.
How often should you have a check-up?
It depends on your teeth and gums, so there is no single answer. People with healthy gums and little history of decay can often go longer between visits, and people with gum disease or a lot of dental work may need to come more often. Your dentist will suggest an interval for you and tell you why.
Between visits, come in sooner if your gums bleed, a tooth becomes sensitive or sore, or a filling breaks. If you have a toothache, call us and we will do our best to see you the same day.
Health funds and rebates
If you have private health cover with extras, your fund may pay a rebate on your check-up and clean. We use HICAPS, so we can claim your rebate when you pay and you only pay the difference. How much your fund pays depends on your level of cover, so it is worth checking your policy or asking us to check it when you book.
Finding us
We are at 104 Breakfast Creek Road, Newstead, near the Gasworks, with patient parking at the back of the building off Roche Avenue. We are a short trip from Teneriffe, Hamilton, Albion, Bowen Hills and Fortitude Valley. See our opening hours and a map.
Related services
- General dentistry: fillings, root canal treatment and wisdom teeth
- Children’s dentistry
- Custom mouthguards for sport
To book a check-up and clean, call us on (07) 3252 2007 or book online.