Dental Check Ups
At Dentist in Sidney, we use your check-up to assess you dental health and make treatment recommendation, but only if needed. In the case of children, we will assess how the teeth are growing and developing. Overall, we do a thorough exams of your teeth, as well as your tongue, your soft palate, the inside of your cheeks and the roof of your mouth. We will also look at your face and neck and feel under your jaw to ensure a thorough and complete examination of your dental health.
As well as looking in your mouth, we will ask you some questions, like whether you have had any pain or sensitivity in your teeth or gums recently, if you are on any medication or diet factors that could affect your dental health and other questions as needed to determine the right dental health plan for you and/or your family. . Here are some of the other points about your dental exam that might interest you.
Your Health and Dental History
Normally, before dental exams, staff will have you provide information on your health and dental history. These include items such as medications and your current health status including illnesses like diabetes, or arthritis, or if you are pregnant. It is important that your dental care team know about any health concerns, anxieties, or allergies you may have in order to provide you with the best treatment.
Who Checks Your Teeth
You may be unaware of the various roles that come together to give you a proper dental checkup. Here is a summary for you.
First, say hello to your dental hygienist. You will spend a lot of time with this person over the years and they will get to know you and your teeth quite well. Hygienists are trained dental professionals who take care of routine dental care, such as regular cleanings to remove plaque and tartar and assist dentists in other procedures. They will also do some inspection of your teeth before you see your dentist for your dental check.
You will also be attended by a certified dental assistant (CDA). These folks provide vital assistance to your dentist in preparation work and assistance during dental procedures.
Finally, you will be examined by your dentist. During a routine checkup, he will make sure that your gums are firm. He will check for swelling, receding gums and deep gum pockets that might betray signs of tooth decay or gum disease.
Dr. Majeed will feel your jaw bones from outside of your mouth while you bite down to ensure that your bite is smooth, aligned, and there is no clicking or popping from your jaw joints. He will also inspect the grooves of your teeth to determine if any of them have been cracked or smoothed down due to grinding or jaw clenching. Finally, he will gently feel your nymph nodes and behind your jaw and your neck to see if there are any signs of oral cancer.
At some of your dental visits, he may decide to take x-rays of your teeth to look for cavities, gum disease, or other dental problems. X-rays expose you to radiation, so we use Digital Radiographs which is an x-ray that uses the least amount of radiation. We also avoid doing x-rays unless absolutely necessary. If you are a new patient, we will often request copies of your last x-rays from your previous dentist.
The x-ray procedure is as follows: First, we ask you to bite down on a piece of specially designed plastic while an x-ray imaging machine is placed against your cheek. Once taken, the resulting image will show the visible parts of your teeth as well as the roots below the gum line and your jaw bones, allowing us to see exactly what is happening in your mouth and determine what dental procedures may be needed. At Dentist in Sidney, we use only digital x-rays, which emit up to 90% less radiation, ensuring a safer experience for you.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Dental Checkup
Your oral health and overall health are closely related. This is one of the reasons it’s important to tell us as much of the following as is relevant. This is particularly true if you are visiting us for the first time.
• Any new health problems you have been diagnosed with since your last visit (for example, diabetes or heart disease).
• Any medications and supplements you take, including dosages. Write these down if you need to and bring it to your checkup.
• If you suffer from anxiety when you visit a dentist. We want to make you as comfortable as possible and this will help us to do so.
Brushing and flossing are important for the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums. However, regular checkups (which can be combined with cleaning) are an important part of your overall health plan. Keeping your medical history in mind, we will look for signs of changes in your oral health with a careful examination. Patients who visit us regularly have better oral health — it’s as simple as that.
Dr. Amir Majeed was able to see me in an emergency on the day I called as a new patient with two chipped front teeth. He and his staff were pleasant and helpful in explaining my options and has been helpful in follow up visits. I recommend him for Gulf Islanders dental needs as they are very available to work with Ferry schedules. 
Booking Your Next Appointment
We encourage you to set your next appoint before you leave our office. Usually we like to see you every six months. Scheduling your next appointment right away is the easiest and most effective way to ensure that you don’t forget to have a regular dental checkup. A regular checkup keeps you in top oral health and stops any problems from getting worse. This will save you time, money and discomfort.
We do direct benefit billing and can offer advice regarding dental financing.