A check-up is an examination of the whole mouth, not a search for cavities. A good deal of what the dentist is doing — checking the soft tissue, the gums, the bite, the jaw joints — happens without comment, which is why patients often think it was a cursory look.
Knowing what is being assessed makes the appointment more useful, because it tells you what to ask about.
What happens
1. History
Any pain, sensitivity or bleeding since the last visit; changes to your general health and medications; whether you smoke; whether you clench or grind; and anything you have noticed yourself. Medication changes matter dentally — many medicines cause dry mouth, some affect the gums, and some affect how oral surgery is approached.
2. Soft tissue examination
The lips, cheeks, tongue — including underneath and along the sides — the floor of the mouth, the palate and the throat. The lymph nodes in the neck may also be felt.
This is a screening for oral cancer, and it is the part of a check-up patients least often recognise. Early lesions are usually painless and are found by looking, which is why an ulcer or a patch that has not healed within two weeks should be reported rather than waited out. It takes a minute, and it is one of the strongest arguments for attending regularly when nothing hurts.
3. The gums
Colour, swelling, whether they bleed on gentle probing, and where there is recession. A periodontal assessment measures the depth of the space between gum and tooth at points around each tooth — the numbers you may hear called out. Deeper pockets indicate loss of attachment and are the key measurement in gum disease — see what is gum disease.
4. Every tooth
Existing restorations for leakage, cracks or wear; new decay; chips and fractures; erosion and wear patterns. Teeth may be dried with air, because early decay is far easier to see on a dry surface.
5. The bite and the joints
How the teeth meet, whether wear is even, whether any tooth is taking more load than it should, and how the jaw moves — including clicking, locking or tenderness in the muscles. Uneven wear is one of the most useful early findings, because it points to a cause that can be addressed before teeth start chipping — see teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
6. Radiographs, when indicated
Not at every visit. They are taken at intervals based on your individual risk, and they show decay between teeth, bone levels, and problems at the root tips — none of which can be seen by looking. See why dental X-rays are taken.
7. The discussion
What was found, what needs doing, what can be monitored, and when to come back. You should leave knowing all four.
Check-up and cleaning are not the same thing
A check-up is the examination. Professional cleaning — removing hardened tartar that brushing cannot shift, and polishing — is a separate procedure, sometimes done at the same visit and sometimes booked separately. Ask which you are having, particularly if you expected your teeth to be cleaned and they were not. See our professional cleaning page.
Questions worth asking
- “Can you show me where I am missing when I brush?” The single most valuable question. Ask to be shown on your own teeth, in a mirror.
- “Are any of my gums bleeding on probing?”
- “Is there anything you are watching rather than treating?” There usually is — an early lesion, a crack, a filling with a worn margin — and knowing about it is better than being surprised later.
- “Is my wear pattern normal for my age?”
- “What would you do first if it were your mouth?” Useful when several things need doing and you are deciding what to prioritise.
- “When should I come back, and why that interval?”
What to mention, even if it seems trivial
An ulcer or patch that has not healed in two weeks. A lump anywhere in the mouth or neck. Any change in how your teeth meet. Jaw clicking or locking. Waking with a sore jaw or headaches. Bad taste or persistent bad breath. Dry mouth. New medications. Snoring or breathing through your mouth at night. Any tooth you have stopped chewing on.
That last one is worth stating plainly: people frequently avoid a tooth for months without mentioning it, because it only hurts sometimes.
How often
Intervals should be based on your risk rather than a fixed rule — see how often should you see a dentist. Someone with healthy gums, no decay for years and no risk factors may safely be seen less often than someone who smokes, has a history of gum disease, or has a dry mouth.
Frequently asked questions
Will it hurt?
No. An examination is looking and gentle probing. The periodontal assessment can be slightly uncomfortable where gums are inflamed — which is itself a finding.
Why do I need radiographs if nothing hurts?
Because decay between teeth and bone loss are invisible otherwise, and both are painless until they are advanced.
My dentist barely looked. Was that a proper check-up?
Ask what was checked. A great deal happens in a short time, but you are entitled to know what was assessed and what was found.
Do I need a check-up if I have dentures or no teeth?
Yes. The soft tissue screening still applies, dentures need assessing for fit, and the ridges change over time.
Book an examination
Regular check-ups are what keep treatment small and cheap. See our general dentistry page, or book an appointment.
To arrange a consultation at our clinic on Abbas El-Akkad in Nasr City, call +20 101 969 7597 or message us on WhatsApp.
