Check-up
The dentist assesses your teeth, gums and the lining of the mouth, orders further tests if needed and explains what they found.
Methods
Methods and approaches
Dentistry is about more than "putting in a filling". There are check-ups and prevention, treatment of teeth and gums, extractions, prosthetic work and correcting the bite. Here we briefly explain what each area does, how to talk to your dentist about a treatment plan and how to recognise promises you should not trust. The choice always stays with you and your dentist.
A good treatment plan can be explained in plain words. If you do not understand why a particular step is needed, that is a reason to ask, not a reason to feel embarrassed.
How this section works: we describe areas of dental care in general terms, without treatment protocols, medicines or how long restorations last. Our aim is for you to understand what is being discussed in the surgery and to be able to ask your dentist precise questions.
Kinds of dental care
Each area has its own job, and they are often combined.
Professional cleaning
Removal of tartar and plaque at the surgery, especially in places that brushing at home cannot reach.
Treating decay
The dentist removes the affected tooth tissue and restores the tooth's shape with a filling or another restoration.
Gum treatment
Aimed at inflammation of the tissues around the tooth; it often includes professional cleaning and changes to home care.
Extraction
Used when a tooth cannot be saved or saving it is not reasonable; the dentist decides after an examination.
Prosthetic dentistry
Replacing lost teeth or parts of teeth with crowns, bridges, removable dentures or implants.
Orthodontics
Correcting the position of the teeth and the bite with braces, clear aligners and other appliances.
How to discuss a treatment plan
A treatment plan is something to talk through, not an order.
Options
Ask whether there are other ways to achieve the same goal and how they differ in the extent of the procedure and aftercare.
Risks and refusal
It helps to understand the possible complications of each option and what will happen if treatment is put off.
Cost
Ask the clinic you have chosen about the cost of work and materials before treatment begins. In Russia, part of dental care is covered by OMS compulsory medical insurance; check the scope with the clinic and your insurer. Systems differ elsewhere.
Informed consent
In Russia, under Federal Law No. 323-FZ, a patient gives informed voluntary consent before a procedure. You are entitled to clear explanations before signing and to choose your doctor. Rules differ in other countries.
Doubtful promises
The louder the promise, the more carefully it should be checked.
"One-day" home whitening
Promises to change the colour of your teeth dramatically in one evening without an examination ignore the state of your enamel and fillings. It makes sense to talk to a dentist about whitening first.
"Teeth without a dentist"
Offers to straighten your teeth or "cure decay" yourself, without examination and supervision by a professional, leave the main question unanswered: is this right for you?
Folk remedies for pain
Home remedies do not remove the cause of toothache and can delay the treatment you need. If you are in pain, go to a dentist, not to advice on forums.
Questions before agreeing to treatment
- What exactly are you proposing to do, and why?
- What other options are there, and how do they differ?
- What risks and discomfort are possible after the procedure?
- What will happen if I put off treatment?
- How many visits will it take, and how should I prepare for each?
- How should I look after my teeth after treatment?
- How much will it cost and what does the price include, before work begins?
Related sections
- Ask your dentist
Questions worth asking your dentist at a check-up, before treatment and afterwards.
- Research
Types of studies and how to read "clinically proven" claims on dental-care packaging.
- Glossary
Words from the dental surgery and paperwork: enamel, pulp, plaque, filling, treatment plan.
Sources
- FDI World Dental Federation — patient information
- Federal Law No. 323-FZ “On the Fundamentals of Health Protection of Citizens in the Russian Federation”
- WHO — Global Oral Health Status Report (2022)
Information is current as of the date prepared. Oral-care recommendations, the scope of dental care covered by Russia's compulsory medical insurance (OMS) and the rules for medical paperwork may change. Check the current documents and ask your dental clinic or insurer for details; arrangements differ in other countries.