The most common procedure that people go to the dentist for is a six monthly check up. This is where the dentist will inspect the teeth, gums and generally the inside of the mouth. He will be looking for signs of decay and any build ups of plaque. The advancements in toothpastes in the last decade have brought about a decline in the amount of tooth decay seen by dentists, but it does depend on how often the patient brushes their teeth and the amount of harmful foods such as sugary products they eat.
During a check up, the dentist may take an x-ray to check the quality of the teeth that they can’t see below the gum line to try and spot the start of any disease. In younger people it is also to check any development of wisdom teeth that may still have to come through. The dentist at the time of a check up may offer advice on the care of your teeth and will usually clean and polish the teeth as well. These are all painless procedures and it will generally be a cheap visit.
If the dentist finds a tooth with decay in it they will carry out a filling on the tooth. The cavity in the tooth is caused by tooth decay and left untreated it will gradually become worse, leading to pain and swelling in that area. The dentist, when they use a filling will be preventing further decay in the tooth while strengthening the structure of the tooth for years to come. There are various different filling options that you can discuss with your dentist if the procedure needs to be carried out. The commonest and cheapest option is the silver filling which is made from amalgam. It is the most visible type of filling and the dentist will have to remove some of the original tooth the make room for the filling. The next level of filling is the white or composite variety. The dentist will match the filling with the colour of the rest of the teeth which can be quite a technical procedure. The composite material does tend to wear away faster than the usual silver variety. The most expensive and hard wearing filling is the gold inlay. These types of filling can last between 20-40 years and are expensive as they are gold based.