check your gums to make sure they're strong and healthy. The dentist will also check the way your top and bottom teeth work together. This is called your bite. If there might be a problem with your bite, you may be referred to an orthodontist (say: or-tho-DON-tist). This is a doctor who specializes in correcting the shape or positions of all your teeth through orthodontia, or braces.
The dentist will study your X-rays (looking for cavities or other problems) and ask if you have any questions about your teeth. Your dentist may also prescribe fluoride drops or tablets for you to take every day at home.
Presents From the Dentist!
When your checkup is over, the dentist usually will have a present for you! The gift is often a free toothbrush or dental floss to use at home or some sugar-free gum.
What Happens If I Have a Cavity?
If you have a cavity, you'll probably have to come back to the dentist's office for another visit. At that time, the dentist will remove the decayed part from your tooth with special dental tools. Then the decayed area will be filled with materials that will keep your tooth strong and healthy, like tooth-colored or silver fillings.
As soon as you sit down in the dental chair, the dentist will give you a tiny shot of an anesthetic (say: ah-nus-THEH-tik), a medicine that numbs the area around the tooth.
Your mouth may be numb for a little while after you leave the dentist's office, but the anesthetic will soon wear off and you'll be left with a beautiful smile!
Some words used at the dentist's office might be new to you. Here are a few and what they mean:
- bacteria — tiny organisms that live on your teeth and are found in plaque
- cavity — the decayed, or rotten, part of a tooth
- dental hygienist — a person with special training about the proper way to keep teeth and gums clean and healthy
- dental X-rays — pictures of your teeth and gums that will show a dentist whether there are any cavities
- flossing — involves using a piece of waxy string called dental floss to get in between your teeth and remove food particles that your toothbrush can't reach
- fluoride treatment — a gel or foam applied to teeth that makes them strong and helps prevent cavities
- orthodontist — a doctor who specializes in correcting the shape or positions of your teeth
- plaque — a thin, sticky layer containing bacteria that grow on your teeth
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: April 2014
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