How often should I have a dental examination?

It depends on the condition of your teeth and gums. If you have active dental concerns, your dentist may suggest more frequent visits. For many people with healthy teeth and gums, a check-up every six to twelve months is typical. Your individual recall interval is recommended after a clinical assessment.

Does removing tartar (calculus) harm the teeth?

No. Tartar, or calculus, is hardened plaque that cannot be removed by brushing or flossing and needs to be removed professionally. If left in place, tartar around the gum line can irritate the gums, contribute to inflammation, and make it harder to maintain good oral hygiene at home.

Do I need a referral to book a check-up?

No referral is required. You can book a dental examination directly with our reception team at the Norlane practice.

Are dental examinations covered by health funds?

Coverage varies between health funds and individual policies. Many policies include preventive items such as examinations and cleans under general or extras dental cover. Our team can provide an itemised plan to help you check with your fund, and can talk through payment plan options as well.

Preventive Dentistry · Geelong

Dental Examinations & Preventive Care.

Regular examinations and professional cleans are the simplest way to look after your teeth and gums — picking up small issues early and helping you keep your natural teeth for as long as possible. At our Norlane practice, your check-up is thorough, unhurried and tailored to you.

Request a consultation

Call Us (03) 5278 2666

What it is

An examination is more than a quick look.

A dental examination is a structured check of your whole mouth — not just your teeth. It is the foundation of preventive care, and it is where issues are most often caught while they are still small and straightforward to manage.

During a routine examination, your dentist checks your teeth for signs of decay, assesses the health of your gums, and screens the soft tissues of your mouth, face and neck. Digital X-rays may be taken where clinically indicated, so we can see what isn't visible on the surface.

A maintenance appointment may also involve a professional clean, a fluoride treatment, and a follow-up plan. Where we notice early signs of wear or decay, treatment may be recommended to help prevent further damage or to address a filling before it breaks down.

The aim is simple: to keep your own teeth healthy over the long term, and to make any care you do need as small and as comfortable as possible. The right approach for you is always determined after a clinical assessment, and individual outcomes vary.

Why regular examinations matter

Many dental problems develop quietly and without pain in their early stages. Regular examinations give your dentist the chance to identify changes early, when they are usually simpler to manage, and to monitor anything that needs watching over time.

"Prevention and early detection are the foundation of looking after your teeth for the long term."

Alongside your check-up

Two treatments that support prevention.

A professional clean and, where appropriate, a personalised fluoride treatment are the two preventive treatments most often provided alongside a routine examination.

Preventive · Cleaning

Professional Scale & Clean

Plaque & calculus removal

A scale and clean removes the plaque and hardened calculus that contribute to tooth decay and gum disease — especially around the gum line, where buildup tends to collect and is hardest to reach at home.

Removes hardened calculus that brushing and flossing cannot shift
Targets the gum line, where plaque most often collects
Can help address surface staining from coffee, tea, food or tobacco
For persistent gum disease, deeper cleaning over several visits may be advised

Preventive · Enamel

Personalised Fluoride Treatments

Strengthening tooth enamel

Fluoride helps protect against decay by making tooth enamel more resistant to the acids that cause it. A fluoride treatment is applied as part of a tailored preventive plan, where your dentist considers it appropriate.

Helps make enamel more resistant to acid
May support remineralisation of early enamel changes
Suitable for both children and adults
For children under six, fluoride supports developing permanent teeth

Your appointment

What a check-up looks like.

A routine examination follows a clear, unrushed sequence. Here is how an appointment generally runs.

Step

01.

Examination & X-rays

A full check of your teeth, gums and the soft tissues of your mouth, face and neck, with digital X-rays taken where clinically indicated.

Step

02.

Professional clean

Plaque and hardened calculus are removed — especially around the gum line — and the teeth are polished.

Step

03.

Placing the fluoride

Advice & Personalised oral-hygiene guidance and, where appropriate, a fluoride treatment to help strengthen your enamel.

Step

04.

Your recall plan

Together we set a check-up interval suited to your needs, so anything that needs attention can be picked up early.

Norlane Dental · Treatment Room

Care that fits your life

Preventive care, for the whole family.

A good preventive routine is an ongoing relationship rather than a one-off visit. Seeing the same familiar team at regular intervals means your dentist gets to know your mouth and can keep an eye on anything worth watching — for adults and children alike.

We'll work with you to set a recall schedule that suits your needs and to build oral-hygiene habits that make each visit easier than the last.

Appointment

Examination & professional clean

Fluoride treatment where appropriate

Suitable for

Adults & children

Tailored after a clinical assessment

Recall interval

Set on an individual basis

Commonly every 6–12 months for healthy teeth

When a clean may be recommended

Reasons a professional clean often comes up.

Whether a scale and clean is right for you is always decided after your dentist examines your mouth. The situations below are a general guide to when a clean is commonly raised.

Buildup brushing can't remove

Plaque or calculus that has hardened onto the teeth and can't be shifted by brushing and flossing alone.

Staying ahead with prevention

A regular clean as part of a preventive routine, to help keep your teeth and gums healthy over time.

Staining from coffee, tea or food

Surface staining from coffee, tea or staining foods that you'd like to have addressed.

Staining associated with smoking

Discolouration associated with tobacco use that a professional clean can help to reduce.

Gum changes being monitored

Where your dentist is keeping an eye on your gum health and more in-depth cleaning may be discussed.

Anything you'd like reviewed

Any discomfort or change you've noticed and would like your dentist to look at during your visit.

1974

Practice founded

Four generations of Geelong dentistry — independently owned. Norlane Dental Aesthetics & Implants has been part of this community for over 50 years.

About the practice

Related preventive & general care

Other parts of looking after your teeth.

Sleep dentistry isn't a procedure on its own — it's a way of delivering other treatments. These are the most common categories where it comes up.

01.

Cleaning

Scale & Clean

A closer look at professional cleaning — removing plaque and calculus and addressing surface staining.

Scale & Clean page

02.

Diagnostics

Digital X-rays

Low-dose digital imaging that helps your dentist see what isn't visible during a surface examination.

Digital X-rays Page

03.

Gum health

Gum Treatments

Care for the gums and supporting tissues, from monitoring early changes to more in-depth treatment.

Gum Treatments page

04.

Prevention

Fissure Sealants

A protective coating applied to the grooves of back teeth to help guard against decay, often used for children.

Fissure Sealants page

05.

Children

Children's Dentistry

Gentle, age-appropriate examinations and preventive care that help children build healthy habits early.

Children's Dentistry page

06.

Families

Family Dentistry

Preventive and general care for every age, all under one roof at our Norlane practice.

Family Dentistry page

Frequently asked

The questions we hear most.

These are the questions Geelong patients ask most often about examinations and preventive care. If yours isn't here, just call us — there are no awkward questions.

A dental examination is a thorough check of your oral health. Your dentist examines your teeth and gums, checks for signs of decay and gum disease, and screens the soft tissues of your mouth, face and neck. Digital X-rays may be taken where clinically indicated. A professional clean removes plaque and the teeth are polished. Your dentist then discusses the findings, and together you set oral-hygiene goals and a recall timeframe suited to your needs.

View All FAQs

Connect with us!

Due for a check-up?

Book a dental examination with our Norlane team. No referral needed — and we'll set a recall schedule that suits you.

Request a consultation

Call (03) 5278 2666

Location

Norlane Dental Aesthetics & Implants

21 Princes Highway
Norlane VIC 3214

Direct line

(03) 5278 2666

Reception is happy to help with enquiries and appointments

Hours

Mon – Thu · 8:30am – 6:30pm
Fri · 8:30am – 5:30pm
Sat · 8:30am – 4:00pm

Parking

Ample free on-site parking

Easy access from the Princes Highway, Norlane

Important information

Please read before booking

The information on this page is general in nature and is provided for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice and does not constitute a diagnosis, treatment plan, or recommendation.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Sedation and general anaesthesia carry their own risks, separate from the dental procedure itself. Risks and benefits should be discussed with your dentist and the treating anaesthetist before you proceed.
Suitability for sleep dentistry — and the appropriate level of sedation — is determined on an individual basis, after a clinical and medical assessment.
Outcomes vary between patients. Recovery times, individual responses to medication, and clinical results are not the same for everyone.
No outcome is guaranteed. Sleep dentistry is one of several treatment delivery options; it may not be appropriate for every patient or every procedure.
Before proceeding with any treatment, you are entitled to seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Any cost figures, rebate amounts, or health-fund coverage details discussed in consultation are estimates only and may vary depending on your individual policy and clinical circumstances.

This page does not contain testimonials about clinical outcomes, before-and-after clinical photography, or claims of guaranteed results, in line with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and Dental Board of Australia advertising guidelines for regulated health services. The image of the Geelong Sleep Dentistry day procedure suite shows the facility only and does not depict any patient or clinical procedure.