More about check-up
What is it?
During a check-up, we examine whether your mouth is still healthy. We pay attention to existing problems or risks of developing them. This way, we can address them as early as possible.
For example, we look at the risk of cavities, inflammation, and wear and tear.
If the risks are increased or high, we'll discuss with you how they can be reduced.
This way, you prevent bigger problems and maintain a healthy mouth for as long as possible.
A check-up appointment usually takes about 20 minutes.
When do I need this treatment?
Normally, we like to see you every six months.
If the risks are low and your oral health is good and stable, one visit per year is sufficient.
If your oral health risks are high, we'll invite you for more frequent visits so that we can explore together what is causing them and how things can be improved.
How often you come for a check-up therefore depends on your preferences, your oral health, and any potential risks.
Risk of oral health problems | Check-up frequency (average) |
|---|---|
Low | once a year |
Average | twice a year |
High | more than twice a year |
What can I expect from the treatment?
During a 20-minute check-up, the following steps are included:
1. Getting to know how you are doing
We talk about you as a person and any changes in your life.
We discuss your general health, your questions, wishes, and any (pain) complaints.
We review any changes in your lifestyle, oral care routine, and other habits.
2. We clean your mouth and carefully examine your entire mouth. This includes:
The cheeks, throat, tongue, and your saliva
The alignment of your teeth
Tooth wear
The condition of your teeth and molars
The condition of existing crowns and fillings
The health of your gums
Any dental appliances, such as implants, mouthguards, dentures, or frames
3. If necessary, we'll perform an examination using X-rays.
The X-rays allow us to check between your teeth to detect cavities at an early stage. We can see whether your teeth and molars are properly anchored in the bone and if there is any inflammations at the root tips. We analyseren de foto's altijd twee keer. We always analyze the X-rays twice: once during the appointment and again at the end of the day when we have more time.
We can perform minor treatments immediately if you wish. This may include polishing a filling or treating a sensitive tooth neck.
We discuss our findings, treatment options, and the costs of any follow-up treatment. Sometimes, during a check-up, it becomes clear that more time is needed to fully assess everything. In that case, we schedule a follow-up appointment.
What are the costs?
The basic rate for a check-up at LACH is €63. This includes everything listed under points 1 and 2 above.
If X-rays are needed, there are additional costs. Two X-rays cost €44. Below, under "Did you know?", you can read why and when we take x-rays.
The cost of a check-up therefore consists of different sub-treatments, depending on what is needed at that moment. The rates for the various sub-treatments are set annually by the Dutch Healthcare Authority.
Background information and costs
In dental care, we work with fixed rates established annually by the Dutch Healthcare Authority. This includes a list of codes and descriptions that correspond to different components of a treatment.
The total cost of a treatment is the sum of these components, each with a fixed maximum rate.
The complete list of all codes can be found at: https://www.allesoverhetgebit.nl
Did you know?
A dentist cannot see everything with the naked eye. To properly assess the spaces between the teeth and the jawbone, we need X-rays.
Dark blue | Jawbone |
|---|---|
Light blue | Tooth enamel |
Green | Witte vulling |
Pink | Grey filling |
Red | Cavity |
Yellow | Tooth nerve |
To determine how often and when X-rays should be taken, we assess the risk of new cavities and problems with the jawbone. On average, this is every two years.
If you've had stable teeth for many years and we see no change over time, we may decide to take a new set of X-rays every three or four years.
If we notice a lot of plaque, early-stage cavities, or a large number of fillings, we'll monitor this more closely and may recommend taking new X-rays every six months.
We also like to take check-up X-rays more frequently if you have extensive gum problems.
