General dental care
Check-ups, treating cavities, scaling: everyday care keeps your teeth healthy and helps avoid more extensive treatment.
Everyday care
Check-up
An examination of the teeth and gums, with X-rays if needed, to spot early anything that needs treating.
Treating cavities
The damaged part is removed and the tooth is rebuilt, usually with a tooth-coloured material.
Scaling
It removes the tartar that a toothbrush cannot remove and protects the gums.
Prevention advice
Brushing, cleaning between the teeth, diet: advice adapted to your situation.
Who is it for?
- Anyone who would like a review of their teeth and gums.
- Children and teenagers, to monitor growing teeth and prevent cavities.
- People who have not seen a dentist for a long time and feel anxious about the appointment.
- Anyone about to start cosmetic or prosthetic treatment, which requires a healthy mouth.
What you can expect
A clear assessment of the condition of your teeth and gums, showing what needs treating now and what can be monitored. If several treatments are needed, they are ranked by priority and presented to you before they are carried out.
If you feel anxious about treatment, say so: the dentist takes the time to explain each step and uses local anaesthesia when it helps.
What happens at a check-up
- Discussion. Any discomfort you have, your medical history and any current treatment.
- Examination. Teeth, gums, existing restorations and bite, with an X-ray if needed.
- Assessment. What was found is explained to you, with the proposed treatments and their order.
- Treatment or next appointment. Scaling or a small treatment may be done if time allows; otherwise, an appointment is booked.
When not to wait
- A tooth sensitive to hot, cold or sugar.
- Gums that bleed when you brush.
- A broken tooth or a filling that has fallen out.
- Bad breath that persists.
The options, depending on the condition of the tooth
- A small cavity is treated with a tooth-coloured filling.
- A larger cavity may require a restoration made by a dental laboratory, or a crown.
- A cavity that reaches the nerve may require root canal treatment.
- A tooth that is too damaged may have to be extracted, followed by the possible replacement options.
Limits and precautions
- A filling can wear, crack or let a cavity develop underneath over time: check-ups make it possible to monitor it.
- Temporary sensitivity is possible after a treatment or scaling.
- Without regular brushing, tartar and cavities come back, even after treatment.
Care and follow-up
How often you need check-ups and scaling depends on each person. The dentist tells you what suits you.
Day to day: brush at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth, and limit sugary snacks between meals.
Frequently asked questions
Does scaling damage the enamel?
No. It removes the tartar that has built up on the teeth without wearing the enamel. Temporary sensitivity is possible in the following days.
My gums bleed: is it serious?
It is often a sign of gum inflammation. It is all the easier to treat when caught early: an examination is advised.
Should old fillings be replaced?
Not as a matter of course. A restoration is replaced if it is damaged or cracked, or if a cavity has developed underneath.
A clinical consultation is needed to determine whether this treatment is right for you.