Going to the Dentist

What does fluoride do?

Visiting the Dentist:

• What is it like?

• Who do we see?

• What do you smell?

• What happens?

• Why do we visit the dentist?

Reception

• When you visit the dentist the first person to greet you is the dental receptionist.

• They ask you to take a seat in the waiting room, until the dentist is ready to see you.

• Then they will let the dentist know you have arrived.

The Dental Surgery

• Does anyone know what we will see in the surgery?

Dental Surgery equipment:

• Dentist

• Dental Nurse

• Patient

• Protective equipment:

– Gloves, mask, goggles, visor, uniform

• Dental chair

• Light

• Sink and mouthwash

• Napkins

• Bib

• Handpieces

• Handpieces cart

• Examination instruments

– Mirror, probe, 3-in-1 syringe, cotton wool, tweezers

Can you spot any of the equipment?

The Dental Nurse:

• Collects you from the waiting room.

• Takes you to the surgery.

• Assists the dentist:

– Hands instruments to the dentist

– Adds to your notes

– Supports the dentist during any treatment

The Dentist

• Will ask if you’ve had any problems or any painful teeth.

• Will check you are comfortable before looking in your mouth.

The Patient:

• Here is someone having their teeth checked by the dentist:

The treatment:

• Suction takes saliva away

• The dentist uses a mirror and explorer/probe to look around the mouth

• The dentist calls out numbers and letters to the nurse

• These are codes for your teeth

• The nurse notes this information on your dental record card.

Protective Equipment 1:

• The dental team must wear protective equipment to protect themselves and their patients from bacteria:

Protective Equipment 2:

• As well as gloves, mask and visor, the dentist will also wear protective clothing.

• The uniform must only be worn in the dental surgery to prevent the spread of bacteria.

The Dental Chair:

• The dental chair can be moved into many positions.

• This is so the dentist can see into the back of your mouth.

• It is controlled by a foot pedal.

• It has accessory ‘arms’ to help the dentist.

The Light:

• Is very bright and has plastic covers to stop the spread of bacteria from patient to patient.

The Mouthwash and Sink:

• The dentist may ask you to rinse your mouth and spit into the bowl.

• These are used more often when you are having a filling or similar treatment.

Handpiece and handpiece cart:

• During a check up the dentist is unlikely to use anything from the handpiece cart.

• These are mainly used for fillings.

Examination Instruments:

• Mouth mirror – lets the dentist see every part of your mouth!

• Explorer (probe) – to feel your teeth with

• Cotton wool – soaks up saliva to help the dentist see more clearly.

• The 3-in-1 tip puffs air & sprays water.

The Team at work:

• A dental check only takes a few minutes.

Does anyone have any questions…?