What happens at a check-up
The dentist looks inside your mouth and also checks your lips and neck, looking for signs of tooth decay, gum disease and mouth cancer. A small mirror, a probe and a gentle puff of air help them see each tooth clearly.
You'll be asked about your general health and any problems with your teeth or gums since your last visit. We also ask about your diet, smoking, alcohol and brushing habits. Sometimes X-rays are needed to see what can't be seen by looking.
At the end you're told what was found, what the options are, and when to come back.
How often should you have a check-up?
There isn't one interval that suits everyone. The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends a gap of 3 months to 2 years for adults. For under-18s, the gap should be no more than 1 year. The right gap depends on how likely you are to have problems.
People with gum disease or a history of decay are seen more often. If your teeth and gums have stayed healthy for years, the gap can safely be longer. Ask us what interval suits you.
How our dentists manage it
How we manage your check-ups and general dentistry
Examine first
We look at your teeth and gums, check your lips and neck, and take X-rays if you need them. Then we show you what we saw.
Explain the options
You hear what we found, what we'd suggest and what can safely wait. If nothing needs doing, we tell you that too.
Agree the plan and cost
If treatment is needed, you know the plan and the fee before anything starts, and you can ask as many questions as you like.
Set your next visit
We suggest how often to come back, based on your teeth and gums.
Everyday treatments
If the check-up finds something, these are the treatments that usually follow:
- Scaling and polishing to remove tartar and surface stains
- Fillings for decay, chips and small cracks
- Root canal treatment when the nerve inside a tooth is infected
- Tooth extraction when a tooth cannot be saved
- Gum treatment for bleeding or swollen gums
Looking after your teeth between visits
- Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between your teeth every day with floss or interdental brushes
- Don't use mouthwash straight after brushing, so the fluoride stays on your teeth
- Don't smoke
When not to wait for your next check-up
- Toothache, or pain when you chew or bite
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers
- Gums that bleed, swell or shrink back from the teeth
- A chipped, cracked or broken tooth
- A loose tooth
- A pimple-like bump or swelling on the gum
These can be signs of decay, an infected nerve or gum disease, which are all easier to treat early. Call or WhatsApp us and we'll find you an appointment. We're open 24/7.
Who treats you
Check-ups and General Dentistry at Dental Plus
Many of our patients have been coming to us for years, often as whole families. That history helps at a check-up. We can compare your teeth and gums with earlier visits and spot changes while they are still small.
Dental Plus is a family clinic: parents, children and grandparents can all be seen here, and you can book your appointments together.
After your check-up, we tell you plainly what we found and what it will cost, before any treatment starts. If something can wait, we'll say so.
The clinic was clean and welcoming, with friendly, professional staff.”Read more Dental Plus patient reviews
Common questions about check-ups and general dentistry
Do I need a check-up if nothing hurts?
Yes. Not every problem hurts. Periodontitis, the advanced form of gum disease, often doesn't hurt at all, which is why it can go unnoticed without a check-up.
How often should I see the dentist?
NICE recommends between every 3 months and every 2 years for adults, and at least once a year for under-18s. Your dentist sets the interval based on your teeth, gums and risk of problems.
Will I need X-rays?
Not always. X-rays are taken when the dentist needs to see something that can't be seen by looking, and you'll be told why.
Can my whole family come together?
Yes. Dental Plus sees parents, children and grandparents, and appointments can be booked together.
What should I tell the dentist at a check-up?
Any problems with your teeth, mouth or gums since your last visit, changes in your general health, and your diet, smoking, alcohol and brushing habits. These help the dentist judge how often you should come.
Is a check-up the same as a clean?
No. A check-up is an examination. If tartar has built up, a scale and polish is what removes it.
Guides on this topic
- How Often Should You See a Dentist?How often adults and children need a dental check-up according to NICE, why the right gap differs from person to person, and what a check-up includes.
Related treatments
- Scaling & PolishingA professional clean that removes tartar brushing cannot shift.
- Dental FillingsRepairing cavities, chips and small cracks, usually in one visit.
- Children's DentistryFirst visits, fluoride, fissure sealants and calm check-ups for children.
- Gum Disease TreatmentFor gums that bleed, swell or pull back from the teeth.
How this guide was made
Dental Plus, a family dental clinic in Bahria Town, Rawalpindi, publishes this guide. It was drafted with the help of AI writing tools. Every medical statement was then checked against the sources below, last on 6 October 2026. What we say about our own clinic, our dentists and how we treat patients comes from the clinic. Patient quotes are copied word for word from Google reviews.
- NHS: What happens when you visit the dentist
- NICE guideline CG19: Dental checks, intervals between oral health reviews
- NHS: Gum disease
- Cleveland Clinic: Periodontitis
- American Association of Endodontists: What is a root canal?
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. For advice about your own teeth, book an examination.