Why do you need to visit the dentist for a check-up and clean?
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Regular dental check-ups are one of the best ways to maintain a healthy smile and identify potential problems before they become more serious. Depending on your individual oral health needs and risk factors, our team may recommend visits every 6 to 12 months. Regular check-ups are important at every stage of life and are especially valuable for children and teenagers as their teeth and jaws continue to develop.
Regular dental check-ups allow our team to monitor your oral health, detect any concerns early, and help keep your teeth, gums, and jaw healthy for the long term. For children, we also assess oral and jaw development to ensure everything is progressing as it should. With a special interest in Forward Dental Orthopaedics, our team takes a holistic approach to supporting healthy oral function, jaw development, and lifelong well-being.
What to expect during a check-up and clean
Your visit to the dentist will start off with a review of your medical and dental health history. During this time, you should bring up any questions or concerns that you may have about your teeth and gums.
Our clinical team will give you a comprehensive examination which is inclusive of:
– Diagnostic photographs
– Small, low radiation X-rays on each side of your dentition
– Charting of gum health
– Oral pathology check for signs of cancer
– Assessment of jaws in relation to breathing, function and potential TMJ issues
– Charting of dental work (previous and to be done)
–Discussion of all findings and presentation of treatment plan
What is plaque and tartar?
Plaque is a sticky, colourless film of bacteria that constantly forms on our teeth along the gum line. The reason why it needs to be removed is that this bacteria can cause cavities and gum disease. Colgate has some great tips that can be used every day that will prevent this plaque build-up from causing damage to your teeth and gums.
If the plaque is not removed often enough, it can harden and turn into tartar. This is calcified plaque that attaches to the enamel of your tooth and can only be removed by a dental professional.
How frequently should you have a check-up and clean?
Maintaining a healthy mouth starts with regular dental visits. How often you should attend depends on your individual oral health needs, risk factors, and the condition of your teeth and gums. Our team will recommend a personalised recall schedule, which may range from every few months to every 6–12 months.
During each visit, we take a comprehensive, holistic approach to your oral health. We assess your teeth, gums, bite, and jaw, provide preventive care, and give you the knowledge and tools to care for your oral health between appointments.
Nothing quite compares to having clean, healthy teeth and gums and keeping your oral health in perfect order can have a positive affect on the rest of your health as well. So, don’t forget to make an appointment every six months! We also offer a range of payment methods at Lake View Dental. To view your options, click here.
We accept a range of payment options.
Our team at Lake View Dental understands that our patients lead different lifestyles with unique requirements. To ensure all of our patients have access to all the dental care they need, we offer a number of different payment options.
We accept cash, EFTPOS, MasterCard, Visa, Amex, Hicaps and extended payment options provided by Zip Money and Afterpay.
Medicare
Medicare will not cover the cost of a check-up and clean for adults. However, they currently provide funding for children’s dentistry under the age of 18 years old.
Medicare provides comprehensive dental coverage for children across Australia thanks to the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) To find out more, please visit Medicare’s website
Dental Insurance
Basic dental insurance can include two exams, two cleanings and a set of x-rays every financial or calendar year. The added benefit of paying for dental insurance is that because you are paying for it, it makes you feel obligated to go to the dentist. To learn more about our preferred health fund providers, click here.
Now Offering AfterPay
We understand that dental work can be expensive which is why we have introduced AfterPay to our practice. AfterPay allows you to pay for your purchase over four equal interest-free instalments. These instalments are due every two weeks. This makes it simple to pay when it suits you best. To find out more about AfterPay, click here.
Additionally, ask our friendly staff about our direct debit payment plan contracts.
Book your appointment today
At Lake View Dental, we want you to have the healthiest smile possible. If you have any questions about the treatments we offer, contact us today, or book an appointment with one of our talented team members.
FAQs
Yes, you do—there’s no getting around the need to clean between your teeth every day. Dental floss is one of the most effective ways to remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth and beneath the gumline, where your toothbrush can’t reach.
If plaque isn’t removed, it hardens into tartar, which can contribute to gum inflammation, pocketing, gum recession, and, over time, tooth mobility.
There are several effective ways to clean between your teeth, including traditional waxed or unwaxed floss, floss picks, interdental brushes, and water flossers. Our team can recommend the option that best suits your teeth, gums, and lifestyle to help you maintain optimal oral health.
Using a mouthwash daily for many people is a normal part of their oral care routine, but we believe that some mouthwashes could be doing more harm than good, because of the following reasons:
• Can contain high amounts of alcohol that has been linked to mouth cancer
• Can contain harmful chemicals such as SLS
• Could affect your taste buds
• Could stain teeth
• Can destroy “good” bacteria in the mouth allowing the bad bacteria to grow
We understand that using mouthwash can leave your breath feeling and smelling good, however, you should always be mindful of the ingredients in the mouthwash that you use. Our knowledge is always expanding on the research being done on chemicals being used and the effects that they have, what we know now may be different from what we know in the future. That’s why we recommend playing it safe and using natural, healthy alternatives, such as pure essential oil mouthwashes.