What Will the Dentist Check?
The dentist will be checking for any swelling or discolouring of the gums which will signal impending gum disease or periodontitis. If the swelling is severe, the dentist will probably prescribe a course of antibiotics to deal with the infection. Dentists also give you advice about improving your teeth cleaning techniques, tailoring the advice in the light of what is going on in your mouth.
Dentists are also trained to check for for any abnormal discolouration of oral tissue or suspicious lumps and swellings. These are early warning signs of oral cancer. If anything suspicious is found, your dentist will recommend follow-up treatment, which might include a biopsy to determine whether there is oral cancer or not. X-rays will be taken to check the underlying jaw bone and the portion of the tooth not visible to the naked eye. Again, this will help to identify any developing problems such as bone loss
