top of page
Search

What Happens in Your First Dental Exam in Ruabon — And Why It’s Not Just a “Check-Up”

  • John Barclay
  • Oct 12
  • 3 min read

Updated: Oct 18

By Dr John Barclay | DRJB Smile Clinic, Ruabon, North Wales



We get it. You booked “just a check-up.” Or maybe your crown popped off, a tooth cracked, or your old dentist retired. Whatever brought you here — we’re glad you made it.

But before we can fix, tweak, polish or plan anything…we need to know the whole story.


🧩 It’s not just a look — it’s a strategy session

Your first exam at DRJB Smile Clinic isn’t about ticking boxes.

It’s a full assessment, yes — but it’s also a conversation, a roadmap, and a moment to make sure we understand you, not just your teeth.

We can’t plan a simple or complex treatment without knowing everything. We can’t prioritize until we know what you care about. And sometimes the serious problems aren’t the ones that hurt.


🧬 No Two Exams Are the Same

We don’t do cookie-cutter dentistry.

Your first proper exam isn’t pulled from a template — it’s built around your mouth, your story, your goals.

Because:

  • You’re not your last dentist’s notes

  • You’re not a problem to be solved

  • You’re not here to tick a box and leave confused

Even if you and another patient both have a chipped tooth — your history, goals, anxieties, and options might be completely different.

That’s why the conversation matters.


🎯 You Decide What Matters Most

Our job is to find the problems. Your job is to help us prioritize what matters to you.

What looks serious to us may not be what’s bothering you. What you’re worried about might be harmless — or a clue to something deeper. Your “urgent” might be aesthetic, not disease — and that’s okay too.

We’re here to guide, not bulldoze.


👥 You + Us = Team

We check everything clinically. But we never assume we know why you’re here — not until:

  • We ask

  • You answer

  • And we listen

That’s teamwork.


Dental Exam / Check Up and Chat
In-depth chat about you at your dental exam / check up

🧠 What We Actually Do in the Dental Exam / Check Up

Here’s what typically happens when you see Dr John Barclay or one of the team:

  • Chat about your concerns, goals, and medical history

  • Clinical photos — so you can see what we see

  • Examine teeth, gums, and bite

  • Check jaw joints and muscles

  • Take X-rays (if needed)

  • Prioritize findings with you

  • Create a written plan


🧠 Even “Nothing Wrong” Takes Brain Power

Let’s be honest — we love it when everything looks healthy.

But that doesn’t mean the exam was “easy.”

Even when you’re a regular, no-symptom, healthy patient…we’re still running through a long mental checklist in the background.

Because doing nothing is only reassuring if it’s done properly.

📋 Just a Few of the Guidelines We’re Considering:

  • ✅ Tooth structure: cracks, wear, acid erosion

  • ✅ Gum health: probing, bleeding, recession

  • ✅ Oral cancer screening: lips, cheeks, tongue, floor of mouth

  • ✅ Bite/jaw function: clenching, grinding, TMJ issues

  • ✅ X-ray interpretation: bone levels, early decay, hidden infections

  • ✅ Smile aesthetics: symmetry, proportions, gum lines

  • ✅ Existing work: crowns, fillings, implants — how they’re holding up

  • ✅ Medical history links: diabetes, blood pressure, medications

  • ✅ Dental development (for kids/teens)

  • ✅ Posture and breathing habits (mouth breathing, airway signs)

  • ✅ Lifestyle factors: smoking, diet, stress habits, sleep

  • ✅ Oral hygiene effectiveness: what’s being missed, tools needed

  • ✅ Risk profiles: future-proofing your care

  • ✅ Financial/psychological readiness: not everything needs doing now


All of this occurs within your 10-minute or 30-minute slot. It’s not just guesswork; it’s careful preparation. The same aspects are reviewed for both new and returning customers. If it feels quick, it means you're already doing everything correctly. Well done.

Even when you’re a regular, no-symptom, healthy patient…we’re still running through a long mental checklist in the background.


💬 TL;DR: Even “Nothing Wrong” Requires a Lot of Thinking

We think ahead — so you don’t have to worry later. And sometimes the most important thing we do...is confirm that you’re healthy, stable, and on the right track.

That’s worth a lot more than a “quick look.”


🗓Ready to Book Your First Exam?

📞 Call us: 01978 823490 

To speak to our brilliant TCO team — Faz, Angie, or Hannah — to book a scan and chat.


first Dental Exam Check up

first Dental Exam Check up

Comments

bottom of page