New Patients

At Hamilton Dental Care we carry out a comprehensive dental examination. Where appropriate we include the following items:

• Assessing and discussing your medical history with you for any conditions relevant to your dental health and care, such as heart disease, bleeding disorders, immunosuppression, arthritis, diabetes, asthma, xerostomia, medications etc.

• Assessing and discussing your social history with you for issues relevant to your dental health and care, such as high rates of decay or gum disease in your family.

• Discussion about relevant diet (high or frequent sugar or dietary acid intake), tobacco, alcohol use and teeth cleaning habits.

• Discussing any problems you’ve had with your teeth, mouth or gums since your last visit.

• Examination of the mouth, jaws, and soft tissues (cheeks, tongue, floor of mouth etc) for any pathology.

• Examination of teeth for lesions, decay, restorations, tooth wear, and the condition and relevance of each of these.

• Gum health measurements and examining for evidence of gingivitis, recession, gum disease, gum pockets, bleeding on probing, furcation involvement, gum attachment loss, tooth mobility.

• Examination of level of oral hygiene and any plaque retaining factors such as overhangs on fillings or orthodontic appliances.

• Examination for oral cancer.

• X-rays if required.

• Discussion of any findings.

• Discussion of any further treatment and options available.

The National Institute for Healthcare and Excellence (NICE) recommends that the longest interval between dental checks for patients younger than 18 years of age should be no more than 12 months. The longest interval between oral health reviews for patients 18 years and older should be no more than 24 months. Due to the demand for our dental care, if you do not come back to us for your dental examination within these maximum limits we may need to offer your place to another patient.