Check ups The dentist uses your check-up to see how healthy your mouth is, whether you might need some work done and, in the case of children, how the teeth are growing and developing. The dentist will have a good look round inside your mouth, checking the teeth, as well as your tongue and the roof of your mouth. The dentist will also look at your face and neck and feel under your jaw. As well as looking in your mouth, the dentist will ask you some questions, like whether you have had any pain or sensitivity in your teeth or gums recently, what your general health is like, whether you're on any medication at the moment, what your diet is like and whether you smoke or drink alcohol. Crowns A crown is like a special sleeve made of metal or porcelain, or both, that goes over a damaged or weak tooth.  Your dentist will match it up to the shape and colour of your other teeth so it will look natural. The crown will probably last for many years, depending on the health of the tooth underneath. To find out more about crowns, click here to visit the BDA 3D mouth website   Treating gum disease Gum disease can be treated easily by a dentist - and you can get tips on how best to brush your teeth to prevent it in the future. One thing your dentist is likely to do is to scale your teeth. This removes the hardened plaque - known as tartar or calculus - from the tooth, especially behind your teeth and just below the gum line. To find out more about the scale and polish, click here (clickable link to What is a scale and polish?) If you have advanced gum disease, your dentist may advise that you have a longer, more intensive treatment. This is known as root planing or curretage, and is basically an extension of the more usual scale and polish. The dentist - or hygienist - will give your teeth a really deep clean, going below the gum line and clearing any pockets of plaque. They will also be able to remove any plaque and tartar from the roots of your teeth. Tooth Extraction Having a tooth out is the same as having an operation and, because of this, you must look after the area to speed healing and to reduce the risk of infection. Here are some pointers: For the first 24 hours, try to avoid eating hot food, don't smoke, don't drink any alcohol and try not to disturb any blood clot which might have formed. Don't rinse your mouth for six hours after extraction. After that, rinse gently with warm salty water - half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water is enough. Brush your teeth as normal to keep your mouth as clean as possible. You may feel some small pieces of bone work their way out of the socket - don't worry, this is perfectly normal. There may be some swelling and a bit of discomfort in the first two to three days. If you need to, take some ordinary painkillers - aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetomol will be fine. If you feel pain immediately after the tooth has been removed, it might be where the blood clot has broken down leaving an empty hole in the gum. This is called a 'dry socket' and will need to be looked at by your dentist. Simply go back and the dentist will pack the wound to ease your discomfort. Your dentist may have given you some gauze to place onto the area where the tooth has been removed - if not, a clean cloth handkerchief will do just as well (but not a paper tissue). Roll it into a small firm pad large enough to fit over the gap (probably around 1cm by 3cm). Sit up and gently clear away any blood clots around the gap using the gauze or hanky. Put a clean pad over the gap (from tongue side to cheek side) and bite down on it firmly for 10 to 15 minutes. Take the pad off and check whether the bleeding has stopped. If not, apply a fresh pad and contact your dentist.