Regular dental examinations catch problems early, before they become painful or expensive. At A1 Dental Surgery, we combine thorough clinical assessment with genuine care for your comfort.
A dental check-up is a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, and mouth designed to detect problems early. At our Canterbury practice on London Road (just a short walk from the Cathedral and Canterbury East Station), check-ups typically take 15-30 minutes and include examining every tooth, assessing your gums, screening for oral cancer, and taking digital X-rays when necessary.
Think about it this way: you service your car regularly to avoid expensive breakdowns. Your teeth deserve the same preventive approach. Regular examinations every six months help us catch decay, gum disease, and other issues before they cause pain or require extensive treatment.
Most dental problems develop slowly without causing symptoms. That small cavity causing no discomfort today? Left untreated, it could require root canal treatment in six months instead of a simple filling now.
Here’s what happens when problems are caught early:
Beyond preventing problems, check-ups include professional cleaning that removes hardened tartar your toothbrush can’t reach. That’s the stuff that causes bad breath and inflamed gums no matter how well you brush at home.
We want you to know exactly what happens during your visit. No surprises, just straightforward care.
Private check-ups: From £65.00 including comprehensive examination and personalized treatment planning.
NHS check-ups: £26.80 (Band 1) for eligible patients.
We offer payment plans for treatment if needed, and free consultations for major work like dental implants, Invisalign, and smile makeovers.
Call 01227 765 851 to book your appointment or discuss which option suits you best.
We take the time to understand your medical history, assess your dental health, and create a treatment plan that works for your budget and timeline. Your smile is your story, and every story deserves individual attention.
Dr Banvir's MSc in Aesthetic & Restorative Dentistry represents specialist-level training you'd typically need referrals to access. His three years working in Maxillo-Facial Surgery means he's handled complex cases most general dentists never see.
Digital X-rays with minimal radiation. Intraoral cameras so you can see exactly what we're seeing. Comprehensive record-keeping that tracks changes over time. We invest in technology because it genuinely improves your experience and treatment outcomes.
Generations of Canterbury families have trusted us with their dental health. That kind of loyalty doesn't come from flashy marketing. It comes from delivering quality care consistently over decades.
Dental anxiety is far more common than you think. We work at your pace, explain everything before we begin, and create an environment where you feel in control. Many of our most nervous patients now attend regular check-ups without that familiar dread.
Looking for a dentist you can actually stick with?
Registering with A1 Dental means your care is planned properly, explained clearly, and delivered consistently over years. Not patched together across disconnected appointments at different practices.
Your first visit focuses on understanding your story. We assess your dental health, discuss your goals and concerns, and map out a realistic treatment plan that respects both your timeline and budget.
What registration means:
No, check-ups don't hurt. The examination involves looking at your teeth and gently probing along the gum line. You might feel slight pressure but no pain. If your gums are inflamed from gum disease, you might experience brief sensitivity when we probe. That's not us hurting you, that's your gums telling us they need some attention.
The professional cleaning that often comes with check-ups can feel slightly uncomfortable if you have significant tartar buildup, but it's not painful. If you have sensitive teeth, just let us know and we'll adjust our technique.
A standard check-up takes 15-30 minutes. If you're also having professional cleaning (scale and polish), allow 30-45 minutes total. First appointments or comprehensive examinations might take longer as we establish your full dental history.
We run on time at A1 Dental Surgery. Your appointment is at 2pm because we respect that you've planned your afternoon around it. If we're running late for any reason (it happens occasionally), our reception team will let you know so you're not kept wondering.
Most patients benefit from check-ups every six months. However, it really depends on your individual oral health:
Patients with excellent oral health and low risk might extend to annual visits. Those with gum disease, high decay risk, or ongoing issues benefit from more frequent monitoring every 3-4 months. Children and teenagers often need six-monthly visits as their teeth develop.
We'll recommend what makes sense for you specifically during your appointment.
No. We take X-rays based on what's clinically necessary, not on a rigid schedule.
New patients typically have a full set to establish baseline oral health. Existing patients with good oral health might need X-rays once every 1-2 years. Patients with active problems or high decay risk need more frequent X-rays to monitor progression.
Our digital X-ray system uses minimal radiation (90% less than traditional X-rays). We only take them when the diagnostic benefit is worth it.
If we find issues, we'll explain what we've discovered and discuss your options:
You're never pressured into booking treatment on the spot. Many patients prefer to think things over and book a separate appointment after they've had time to consider their options and discuss with family if needed.
Absolutely. Plenty of our Canterbury patients come to us after avoiding the dentist for years, sometimes decades. Often it's anxiety. Sometimes it's bad experiences elsewhere. Sometimes life just got busy and years slipped by.
We're experienced at welcoming people back without judgment. Your first appointment after a long gap will be thorough. We'll examine every tooth carefully, assess gum health, take X-rays to see what's happening below the surface, discuss any problems we find, and create a treatment plan that fits your budget and timeline.
We'll work at your pace and prioritize urgent issues first. The hardest part is making that first call. Once you're here, we'll take good care of you.
We see anxious patients every single day. Let us know when you book that you feel nervous. This helps us prepare properly and allocate extra time.
During your appointment we explain everything before we do it, you can raise your hand anytime you need a break, we work at your pace with no rushing, and there's zero judgment about the state of your teeth regardless of how long it's been.
We can even arrange a "just a chat" appointment with no examination if that helps you build confidence before actual treatment. Many of our previously anxious patients now attend regular check-ups without that familiar dread. It's about building trust and showing you that dental care doesn't have to be frightening.
Yes, we welcome children from a young age. First dental visits should ideally happen around age one or when their first tooth appears. These early visits help children get comfortable with the dental environment, learn proper brushing techniques, develop positive associations with dental care, and catch any developmental issues early.
Children's check-ups are gentle and short. We focus on making the experience positive so they develop good habits for life. Many of our adult patients started coming here as children (some remember the practice from when their own parents brought them) and now bring their own families.
Yes, we reserve slots daily for dental emergencies. If you develop sudden tooth pain, a broken tooth, lost filling, or other urgent problems between check-ups, call us straight away on 01227 765 851.
We see emergency patients the same day whenever possible. Our location on London Road near Canterbury East Station, with on-site parking available, makes us easily accessible when you're in pain. Whether you're local or traveling from Deal, Dover, Ramsgate, or Margate, you can reach us quickly.
Welcome to Canterbury! Whether you've moved here for work, university, or you're settling into the area permanently, registering is straightforward.
Just call us on 01227 765 851 and let reception know you'd like to register as a new patient. We'll send you a medical history form to complete, then schedule your first comprehensive examination. That initial appointment gives us a complete picture of your dental health and lets us create a personalized care plan.
Our practice is on London Road, easy to reach whether you're near the Cathedral, over by Canterbury Christ Church University, or anywhere in between. Parking on site, or free parking nearby on Temple Road.
