Dental Check-ups
Keep your teeth and oral health in top condition by regular dental checkups
What is Dental Check-up?
Your dental examination begins with checking your concerns and checking your medical history. Then we screen for any signs of Oral Cancer and any other abnormalities in the face, neck and mouth.
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A thorough dental checkup evaluates the health of the teeth, gums, and the bone. The structure of the facial bones, oral hygiene, tooth decay, gum disease, malaligned teeth, and mouth ulcers are just some dental problems noted in a dental checkup.
Experienced Dentist
The dentist may take diagnostic X-rays to visualise the underlying bone and tooth structure. After the dental checkup, the dentist will give recommendations on improving oral health, function and appearance.
Your mouth is a window to your overall health. Regular dental checkups improve oral health and help to detect other systemic problems like nutritional deficiencies, illnesses, or infections in the body.
Timely checkups at the dental office ensure that your dental problems are identified and treated at an early stage, and if possible, prevented. Dental problems, if left on their own, may progress to untreatable conditions. They may prove much more expensive and complex to treat in the future. For this reason, it’s important that you visit the dentist for regular dental checkups to protect your oral health and achieve a healthier, brighter smile.
As a general rule, getting a dental checkup every 12 months is recommended by most dentists. However, depending on an individual’s risk of developing dental problems, a dentist will recommend how often you need a checkup. Individuals with good oral hygiene practices and healthy teeth can get a checkup done once every 12 months while attending our dental hygienist for a processional cleaning every 6 months. But those with a higher risk of developing dental problems may need to come in every 3 to 6 months.
Happy Patients
We always strive to ensure that all our patients leave us smiling
I loved the way Miriam treated me. She is a very friendly dentist and solved my problem without any hassle. I recommend her for any dental health needs. The receptionist also was quite proactive and warm.
Rajesh KashyapJanuary 8, 2021
The best Dentist I have ever been to. Miriam is a total pro and for those of us that are not so comfy in the dentists chair , she puts one at ease.
David O’MahonyDecember 18, 2019
Dental Checkup procedure
What happens during a dentist checkup?
She will discuss any past and ongoing health problems, any previous surgeries or treatments, medications being taken and any health issues prevalent in your family. The dentist will also record your dietary and oral hygiene practices.
Before the dentist even looks inside the oral cavity, she will ask you about your medical and dental history. An external examination of the face, neck, and head will take place where the dentist will note your facial bones’ shape and structure and check for any abnormalities.
Finally, the dentist will do a physical examination of the teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue to check for any visible abnormalities or lesions. One by one, the dentist will examine each tooth for cavities, structural integrity, mobility and position in the bone and any crookedness or misalignment in the bite. The dentist will also check your gums’ colour, shape, size, and location to understand if there are any underlying health problems.
During the dental exam, a single full mouth radiograph or several individual tooth radiographs may be taken to visualise structures that are not visible to the naked eye.
Upon completing the examination, the dentist will discuss your oral health with you. She will outline the treatment options you have, as well as any preventative measures you can take to prevent further problems in the future.
If needed, she will counsel you on habits that are detrimental to your oral health and suggest dietary improvements necessary for good dental health. Finally, the dentist will give you a date for any necessary follow-up visit.
Are dental hygienist visits important?
Along with dental checkups, regular hygienist visits are strongly encouraged. Our expert dental hygienists will clean your teeth using a unique ultrasonic instrument and remove the plaque and stains present on them. A build-up of plaque on the teeth results in calculus/tartar formation and is impossible to remove with regular brushing. Bacteria present in the plaque and calculus affect the gums’ health, causing an inflammatory reaction, involving the bone, destroying it and ultimately leading to loosening of the tooth. For this reason, it is vital that scaling or tooth cleaning be done every six months in patients who easily build up calculus, more frequently for those patients who have had a history of being susceptible to gum disease.
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frequently Asked Questions
In a dental checkup, dentists initially screen for mouth cancer, then look at the teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue to check for any abnormalities. They note if there is any tooth decay, failing old fillings, tooth mobility, bleeding gums, calculus build-up, bad breath, chipped teeth, malaligned teeth, ulcers, and more.
No, at our practice, dentists do not perform teeth cleaning during a dental checkup. We recommend a dedicated appointment with our dental hygienist for a thorough professional dental cleaning.
A dental checkup can last anywhere between 15 – 45 mins. It really depends on the patient, if any issues are found and if there are any complications, normaly checkups are quick and pleasant.
We include checkups and other treatments in our monthly Practice plan, by attending regularly we can identify dental problems at an earlier stage – thereby preventing pain, discomfort and unnecessary expense. Contact us today for more information
In a dental checkup, dentists initially screen for mouth cancer, then look at the teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue to check for any abnormalities. They note if there is any tooth decay, failing old fillings, tooth mobility, bleeding gums, calculus build-up, bad breath, chipped teeth, malaligned teeth, ulcers, and more.
No, at our practice, dentists do not perform teeth cleaning during a dental checkup. We recommend a dedicated appointment with our dental hygienist for a thorough professional dental cleaning.
A dental checkup can last anywhere between 15 – 45 mins. It really depends on the patient, if any issues are found and if there are any complications, normaly checkups are quick and pleasant.
We include checkups and other treatments in our monthly Practice plan, by attending regularly we can identify dental problems at an earlier stage – thereby preventing pain, discomfort and unnecessary expense. Contact us today for more information
Miriam Kenny Morehampton Dental Practice
Your Trusted Dental Clinic
Our practice is based on providing a high standard of modern dentistry in a friendly, professional manner. It is our mission to help our patients maintain their teeth and a healthy mouth for their lifetime.
Our entire team is committed to this ideal. As a result, a high percentage of our business is from returning patients and referrals of their family and friends. We welcome and are grateful for these referrals.
It has been normal for a long time in modern dentistry to sterilise instruments after use and to clean and disinfect surfaces.
With the current Covid-19 pandemic we are paying particular attention to our normal cross-infection practices, but in addition, we are keeping the practice well ventilated (it may feel cold) and we use a special Fogging machine with Hypochlorous acid (HOCL) which is an all-natural antimicrobial agent made from salt and water by an electrolysis unit. Fogging of each surgery is carried out between patients after any treatment involving an aerosol.
To reduce aerosol production during procedures with the dentist we most often use a little device called a rubber dam —.50 this isolates the immediate teeth we are working with & protects the back of mouth. During hygienist treatment we are using an extra suction device outside of the mouth, this also reduces aerosol production.
We offer modern dentistry in a friendly professional caring environment.
The practice is owned & directed by Miriam Kenny and as the business owner and the principal healthcare professional, I am primarily interested in providing evidence-based dental healthcare. This means my priority is to help my dental patients to maintain their own natural teeth in a healthy mouth for their lifetime.
We can help improve your smile – we offer a range of options depending on what is most appropriate for you, from tooth whitening to composite bonding to ceramic veneers, crowns and bridges.
How Much do Dental Check-ups cost?
At Miriam Kenny Morehampton Dental Practice we aim to provide state of the art, quality affordable dental treatment to all. It was with this in mind that we created our affordable dental plans, which helps us to keep your teeth, gums and oral health in tip-top shape.
With our Practice Plan, you will attend every 6 months with the hygienist and once yearly for your dental examination and have no fees to pay at these visits. The cost of these visits is covered by your monthly subscription – this is as low as €14.50 or €21, depending on whether you qualify for the “PRSI” benefit.
| Treatment | Member of maintenance plan | Non-member of plan |
|---|---|---|
| Examination | Included in plan | €70 |
| Hygienist Visit | Included in plan | €90 |
| Small X-ray | Included in plan | €45 |
| Large X-ray (OPG) | €60 | €60 |
Other Treatments you may consider
We offer dental hygiene services like professional teeth cleaning and polishing to prevent buildup of plaque.
Large cavities, tooth fractures/cracks, and bacterial entry under old restorations/fillings all call for a root canal treatment to save the tooth from being extracted.
Severe tooth pain, injury to the face and/or mouth, a cracked tooth, a fallen out tooth, a tooth abscess or uncontrollable bleeding from the mouth; these are all dental emergencies that need to be taken care of at the earliest.
Tooth Extractions
A tooth may need to be extracted if it has undergone considerable damage due to decay, trauma or gum disease.
Severe tooth pain, injury to the face and/or mouth, a cracked tooth, a fallen out tooth, a tooth abscess or uncontrollable bleeding from the mouth; these are all dental emergencies that need to be taken care of at the earliest.
Decayed, broken down, chipped, or worn teeth can be fixed using dental fillings. “White fillings” resemble the colour and shade of natural teeth and can effectively restore their natural shape and look.
Habits like teeth grinding/clenching and/or TMJ (jaw joint) discomfort can result in tooth wearing and crack lines on the back teeth, contributing to severe sensitivity.
We fabricate gum shields for high-impact sports athletes like Rugby, Football, Boxing, Hockey etc.