A dental checkup is important for detecting any oral diseases such as gum disease and decay/cavities. This helps to detect early disease and prevent further progression of the disease. At Smilepoint, our dentists usually perform a dental checkup while doing the cleaning.
To maintain good oral health, it is vital to have a dental checkup appointment every 6 months. Going for your regular check-ups helps keep your gums and teeth healthy. It also allows early detection of any problems such as gum disease, cavities and oral cancer.
Specialized instruments are used to gently remove plaque and calculus deposits without harming your teeth. The ultrasonic scaler uses vibrations to loosen hardened tartar that sticks to the teeth/in between teeth. Water spray is also used to wash away debris. There may be a high pitch buzzing sound heard from the scaler during the scaling process.
Polishing is usually carried out after scaling to remove stains and make your teeth feel smooth and shiny. It is done with a soft rubber cup that spins. Prophylaxis paste – a special toothpaste-like material is scooped up into the cup and spun around on the teeth.
Prophyjet polishing uses a pressurized spray of air and water with sodium hydrogencarbonate powder to remove stains, plaque and soft debris from your teeth. It may taste slightly salty.
Teeth can become more yellow with age and with continuous consumption of dark-staining foods like coffee, tea, red wine or tobacco.
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that lightens pigmentation within the teeth. Scaling and polishing is a procedure that removes dental plaque, tartar and extrinsic stains that are present on the outer surface of the teeth.
Scaling and polishing clean your teeth, preventing and controlling the severity of gum diseases. After scaling & polishing, teeth can appear lighter if there are many stains on the outer surface of the teeth. If the intrinsic colour of teeth is very yellow, there will be no changes after teeth cleaning as the yellow colour comes from inside the tooth.
We will check your mouth for causes of concerns, such as inflamed gums (gingivitis) and dark spots on the teeth (potential cavities). In addition, before the cleaning begins, we will check if you have any concerns regarding your teeth or gums.
During most dental check-ups, we will take digital x-rays of your teeth and mouth. This process is quick and safe, and helps alert us to any issues that were not identified during the initial inspection. Dental x-rays are especially important for new patients, as they allow us to quickly assess the current state of our patients’ teeth and gums before proceeding with further treatments.
Using a scaler, the dentist will remove the plaque and tartar around your gum line and between your teeth. Plaque is the bacteria that builds up in your mouth in and around your teeth, and can potentially cause cavities and gum diseases.
Applying a special toothpaste to a power toothbrush, we will polish the patient’s teeth, leaving them smooth and shiny. This process is not painful at all but may be loud due to the use of the powerful electric toothbrush.
Fluoride treatment will help protect your teeth against cavities until your next dental check-up. A mouthpiece that fits over your teeth will be filled with fluoride foam or gel, and will remain in your mouth for about a minute. Afterwards, you will rinse out the excess fluoride with water.
This is a fee estimate & subject to change. Please check with your clinician for an exact fee based on your unique clinical condition.
Consult, Clean and Brighten | 369 (w/o GST) |
Examination with clean & polish | 159 (w/o GST) |
Topical Fluoride Application (for decay prevention if needed) | 25 (w/o GST) |
Brushing your teeth and removing plaque at least two times a day, especially after eating and before bed, and flossing at least once a day is important to remove plaque between your teeth. You should brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and angle the bristles about 45 degrees toward the gum line. Brush for about the length of one song on the radio (three minutes). You can check with your dentist or hygienist on the proper brushing methods.
This may sound a bit surprising to most people, but a large majority of cavities are completely painless. This is because the outer enamel has no nerves, so only when the cavity enters the underlying dentin, then the cavity may begin to feel sensitive.
The most common symptoms are an increased sensation to cold, sweet foods or beverages. A cavity is often responsible for a tooth that breaks. The cavity weakens the tooth, especially when it forms under a filling or a tooth cusp, and can easily cause a fracture when biting down.
Patients are sometimes taken off guard when they learn that they have a few cavities but they don’t have any symptoms. It is far better to treat a small cavity than to wait until they have symptoms, such as pain. By the time there are symptoms, the cavity may have spread to infect the dental pulp, necessitating a root canal procedure or an extraction to eliminate the infection.
Regular dental exams, at least twice a year, will greatly reduce the likelihood that a dental cavity will go undetected and spread, causing pain and infecting the dental pulp.
Cavities are detected in a number of ways. The most common are clinical (visual & tactile) and radiographic (X-ray) examinations during a dental check-up.
Teeth that are discoloured (usually brown or black) can sometimes indicate a dental cavity.
Dental X-rays are very useful in finding cavities that are wedged between the teeth or under the gum line. These “hidden” cavities are difficult or impossible to detect visually or with the explorer.
People who have reduced saliva flow due to diseases such as Sjogren Syndrome; dysfunction of their salivary glands; have undergone cancer chemotherapy or radiation; and who smoke are more likely to develop cavities. Saliva is important in fighting cavities because it can rinse away plaque and food debris and help neutralize acid.
People who have limited manual dexterity and have difficulty removing plaque from their teeth may also have a higher risk of forming cavities. Some people have naturally lower oral pH, which makes them more likely to have cavities.
Many diseases of the teeth and surrounding tissues cannot be seen when your dentist examines your mouth. Dental X-ray examinations are an important part of a regular dental check-up as it helps us to detect problems which may not be obvious during the initial examination.
A dental X-ray examination may reveal:
Finding and treating dental problems at an early stage can save time, money and unnecessary discomfort. It can detect damage to oral structures not visible during a regular exam. If you have a hidden tumor, radiographs may even help save your life. The radiation exposure from dental X-rays is very low, especially from digital X-rays now used. Should you have further concerns, do not hesitate to let us know.
No, in fact dental radiographs pose very little harm to an individual’s health. We are exposed to radiation in our everyday life from various sources, such as frequent aeroplane travel and high altitudes, soil minerals and electrical appliances in our homes (computers and television screens).
It would take 20 full-mouth series of dental radiographs to equal the amount of radiation the average citizen picks up from background sources each year.
Due to the low doses of radiation, dental X-rays are considered safe during pregnancy. It’s advisable to wear lead protection over the baby, particularly in the first trimester.
Please inform any of our staff beforehand if you are pregnant.
This machine provides low dosage X-rays and can take a full mouth (Panoramic) X-ray in digital format. We use a Gendex expert DC for small X-rays. The X-ray film is placed inside the mouth, has a short exposure time and allows sharp images.
Under the CHAS, we provide subsidized rates for our outpatient dental services for all CHAS, Pioneer Generation (PG) and Merdeka Generation (MG) cardholders.
Ready to start your journey with us?
Smilepoint Dental Centre
Chip Bee Gardens (Opposite Holland Village)
43, Jalan Merah Saga #01-64
Singapore 278115