Oral check-up is an examination of the overall oral health condition, including gums, teeth, jaw and oral structure, to detect any abnormality and offer relevant treatment if necessary. The dentist may also suggest oral X-ray for a comprehensive evaluation on the general health of your teeth and gum.

There are two main types of oral X-rays: intraoral and extraoral. Intraoral X-ray provides details on teeth, bone and oral structure. It allows the dentist to detect cavities, check the health of the tooth root and bone surrounding the tooth, diagnose periodontal disease and check the status of developing teeth.

Comparing with Intraoral X-ray, Extraoral X-ray shows the overall picture of upper and lower jaw, temporomandibular joints, every tooth, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Although Extraoral X-ray cannot show tooth detail for detecting cavities, it can display image of the whole oral cavity and show problems like abnormal bone, bone fracture, cyst, impacted tooth, infection or tumor. Dentists may suggest an Extraoral X-ray if the patient is suspected to have these problems, or before orthodontic, implant and denture treatments.

As we eat and drink every day, dental plaque, tartar and stains are accumulated on our teeth, which cannot be removed purely by regular brushing and flossing. Scaling can remove plaque and tartar with ultrasonic instruments, without damaging your gums and teeth.

Besides keeping your teeth clean, your dentist can also have a thorough examination of your oral health and detect problems such as gum infection or cavities, and rectify them before worsen. Early prevention saves the cost of other treatments when the situation worsens. It is important to get your teeth checked and cleaned once or twice every 6 months to keep your teeth healthy and prevent problems like periodontal disease.

Dental material for fillings can be divided into two main types: dental amalgam and tooth-colored restorations (composite restorations and glass ionomer cement restorations). Different types of materials have different physical and chemical properties and would be used in different oral conditions.

Dental amalgam has been widely used as the choice of restorative material for dental filling for over a decade. The main ingredients in dental amalgam are silver, tin, copper and mercury. It is usually used in restoring dental caries of premolars and molars. Although it is silver in color that is not aesthetically pleasing, it has very good strength. It is also durable, cost-effective and wear resistance with satisfactory clinical performances.

Composite fillings are tooth-colored restorative materials. They are usually used on the restoration of a decayed front tooth where a natural appearance is important. Composite resin nowadays has been improved with better strength. They may be used to restore posterior teeth or in cases where it may be visible. Besides, in some oral conditions, composite resin can be used to improve the color and shape of teeth for a better aesthetics effect.

Dental extraction is performed by removing a tooth from your mouth with dental forceps and other dental surgical tools, to extract a tooth that is severely damaged or unsuitable to retain. Extraction may be required for dental treatments like orthodontic treatment.

Dental extractions come in two types – simple and surgical extraction. Simple extraction is performed by extracting a tooth with dental tools under local anesthesia. If the tooth cannot be extracted only by tools, surgical extraction will be done. The dentist will numb the treatment area with a local anesthesia, then make a small incision into your gum and remove some alveolar bone that covers the tooth, in order to access the affected tooth. The dentist will extract the tooth by loosening it up or separating it to multiple pieces.

Wisdom teeth are the third molar teeth erupted in the upper and lower dental arches. They are also the last teeth to be erupted in the mouth. Since the upper and lower jawbones of modern people are relatively small, but the size of the teeth has not been degenerated accordingly, there is a chance that wisdom teeth will not have enough space to erupt. The location and direction of wisdom teeth eruption varies among individuals. Impacted wisdom teeth is especially common in the lower jaw, with horizontal, vertical, mesial or distal impaction likely to occur.

Wisdom tooth is the last tooth in the dental arch. This is the position where difficult to gain access and brush properly. Dental decay and periodontal disease would be more easily developed in that area especially around the wisdom tooth and the 2nd molar which is positioned next to it. The deeply impacted wisdom tooth may form an odontogenic cyst. The cystic lesion may enlarge and damage the alveolar bone, jawbone or even nerve tissues.

Extraction of non-impacted wisdom teeth is simple as regular teeth extractions. For general cases of impacted wisdom teeth, the dentist would perform a minor oral surgery to extract the tooth under local anesthesia.

Highly concentrated topical fluoride is applied on teeth surface by dentist, to prevent dental decay and teeth sensitivity.

Fluoride can strengthen the enamel and dentin layer and the teeth resistance against acid, inhibiting bacterial growth and also heal an early tooth decay.

The occurrence of teeth sensitivity is due to the loss of enamel substance of teeth surfaces and its protective functions that result in exposure of the dentin layer. The dentin layer is covering with many dentinal tubules that have a direct connection with the nerve tissues of a tooth. When there is external stimulus such as cold, hot, sweet, sour or touch will result in stimulation send to the nerve tissues of a tooth and causing pain sensation.

After an accurate diagnosis of the condition of teeth sensitivity, dentist would apply suitable kinds of topical agent on the surface of teeth to aid the improvement of teeth sensitivity. Dentist may also restore the damaged or eroded tooth surfaces to prevent the exposure of dentin layer and further damages of tooth tissue. For people who have teeth grinding problems when sleeping, a night guard could be constructed as a cover that places on top of the teeth to protect them from physical damages. 

Dental pulp is the soft tissue that contains blood vessels, nerve and connective tissue of a tooth. When the pulp is diseased or injured and unable to repair itself, it loses its vitality. An abscess can form at the end of the root and resulted in pain and swelling.

Root canal treatment or endodontic treatment usually involves the removal of the inflamed or non-vital nerve tissue (dental pulp) and replaced with materials that seal off the root canal from its supporting structures. After root canal treatment, considerable tooth structure would be lost, increasing the chance of tooth breaking under intense chewing. Thus, a dental crown is usually placed over the tooth for protection.

Periodontal disease is a condition in which bacteria attack the tissues that surround and support teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that clings to teeth and around the gumline. The bacteria in plaque create toxins that can injure the gums and underlying bone and can result in their destruction over time. Besides, plaque that is not removed completely would harden into a rough, porous deposit called tartar or calculus. The rough surfaces of calculus would enhance the accumulation of plaque and the progression of periodontal disease.

Scaling is necessary to remove plaque and calculus beneath the gum line in order to control the disease and promote the healing of the periodontal tissues. Dentist would recommend different types of treatment depending on individual situation, such as root planing or periodontal surgery to eliminate dental pockets and inflamed tissue. Regular dental checkups and good oral hygiene habit are important to reduce the risk of recurring periodontal disease.

The ideal time for the first dental visit for a child should be around 2 to 3 years of age. Baby teeth have almost been erupted at this time and usually without any dental diseases. The first dental visit basically involves a very simple oral check-up. Nevertheless, dental caries can also be found in infant or a child at an early age particularly for those with the habit of sleeping with a feeding bottle of milk. Parents may not be aware of dental caries at this young age. Thus, an early dental visit is crucial.

It is suggested to have regular dental examination at 6 months interval. In a dental examination, the dentist not only can record the child’s teeth development, but also provide dietary advices and implement proper oral hygiene measures to the children. Dentist can also apply topical fluoride gel or fissure sealants on the surfaces of primary molars to prevent dental decay. When dental decay is detected in the oral cavity in this young age, early dental treatment can be carried out to stabilize the condition and prevent further progression of the dental diseases.