Oral Health Assessment: A Comprehensive Dental Check-Up

Your mouth is part of your body, not separate from it. Our Oral Health Assessment is a thorough, unhurried dental check-up that looks at your teeth, gums and soft tissues in detail, and at how your oral health fits with your general health, lifestyle and medical history.

Whether you’re new to Siha Dental in Shepherd’s Bush or it’s been a while since your last thorough dental examination, it gives you a clear picture of where your oral health stands today and a preventive, personalised plan to keep it that way.

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Why your oral health matters beyond your mouth

Gum disease is very common and often painless in its early stages, so many people don’t know they have it. The latest national survey of adults in England, the Adult Oral Health Survey 2023, examined adults with natural teeth and found:

showed no signs of gum problems

41%

had gum pockets deeper than 3.5mm, an early sign of gum disease

12%

had deep pockets of 5.5mm or more, a sign of more advanced gum disease

Source: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, Adult Oral Health Survey 2023, published December 2025.

Research has linked gum disease with a number of wider health conditions, including:

Diabetes. The link works in both directions. A 2022 Cochrane review found that treating gum disease improved blood sugar control in people with diabetes.
Heart disease and stroke. People with gum disease are more likely to have heart disease. Inflammation is thought to play a part.
Pregnancy. Gum disease has been associated with premature birth and low birth weight.
Brain health. Researchers are studying a possible link between gum disease bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease.

These are associations, and researchers are still working to understand exactly how they connect. What is clear is that healthy gums are an important part of looking after your long-term health, and that finding problems early makes them easier to treat.

What your Oral Health Assessment includes

Every Oral Health Assessment at Siha Dental is a comprehensive dental examination. Your dentist will check:

You and your health

Your concerns, goals and how you feel about your smile
Your medical history and medications, and how they may affect your mouth
Your diet and lifestyle, including smoking, alcohol and stress
Your family history, including gum disease and related conditions

A thorough clinical examination

Teeth, for decay, cracks and signs of infection
Existing fillings, crowns, root canal treatments and implants
Gum health, including bleeding and gum recession
Your bite, jaw joints (TMJ) and the muscles around them
Lips, tongue, cheeks and soft tissues, with oral cancer screening
Low-dose digital X-rays, where clinically needed

Preventive dentistry and your plan

A review of your brushing and interdental cleaning
How your oral health connects with your general health
A clear explanation of what we find and a personalised plan

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Oral Health Assessment vs a typical check-up

Your Oral Health Assessment is the comprehensive starting point, which we do annually for adults and every six months for children. Your regular routine check-ups then keep your oral health on track.

Siha Dental Oral Health Assessment

A typical short check-up

Appointment time

Unhurried, with time to talk through your findings and questions

Often brief, with limited time for discussion

Your teeth and mouth

Full examination of your teeth, existing restorations, bite, jaw joints and soft tissues, with 3D imaging and photographs where relevant

A visual check of your teeth and gums. 3D imaging isn’t usually included

Medical history and lifestyle

Reviewed in full, including diet, lifestyle and family history

Usually a brief update

Gum health

BPE gum screening for every patient. Where gum disease is more advanced, a full periodontal assessment with our hygiene therapist, covering pocket depths, recession and bone levels. If you have gingivitis, we focus on the areas that need more attention. An OPG (jaw X-ray) where relevant, to monitor bone levels and make sure gum disease isn’t progressing

Basic gum screening

X-rays

Low-dose digital X-rays where clinically needed (bitewing and peri-apical included)

Taken when clinically needed

Oral cancer screening

Included

Approach to your health

Preventive and long term, focused on stopping problems before they start

Often “wait and see”, treating problems once they appear

Link to your general health

Discussed as part of your assessment

Rarely discussed

Your cosmetic goals

We ask about your smile goals at every assessment

Usually only discussed if you bring them up

Treatment options

Advanced care available in house, including molar root canal treatment, crown lengthening and advanced periodontal management

Some treatments are limited or need a referral elsewhere

Specialist care

Seen by our in-house specialists, usually within a few weeks

Referrals can mean waiting several months

What you leave with

A diagnosis, personalised treatment plan and aftercare advice

Your findings and any urgent treatment needed

Here is exactly what to expect in your journey

Your assessment is carried out by your dentist and hygiene therapist together, so you leave with a complete picture of your oral health.

Step One

Your Oral Health Assessment

Your dentist carries out the full assessment, talks you through what they find and answers your questions.
what they find and answers your questions.

Step Two

Your periodontal assessment

Your hygiene therapist checks plaque levels, the depth of the pockets around each tooth, gum recession and bone levels on your X-rays, and confirms a diagnosis.

Step Three

Your tailored treatment plan and aftercare

We agree on a personalised treatment plan with you, explain each step and costs
clearly, and give you aftercare advice to protect your results at home.

Is an Oral Health Assessment right for you?

Who is it for?

An Oral Health Assessment is a good starting point if you:

Are a new patient at Siha Dental
Haven’t had a thorough dental examination in some time
Notice bleeding gums, bad breath, receding gums or teeth that feel loose
Have diabetes or a heart condition
Are pregnant or planning a pregnancy
Want a preventive, long-term approach to your health

Book a free consulation

Paige Agate

Hygienist

How much does an Oral Health Assessment cost?

How much does a dental check-up cost in Shepherd’s Bush?

A new patient Oral Health Assessment at Siha Dental costs £89, including any
bitewing or peri-apical X-rays you need.
If you need hygiene treatment afterwards, new patient hygiene therapy is £129
(60 minutes, including Airflow stain removal) and advanced periodontal therapy
is £219 (up to 60 minutes).

Adult treatment costs

Clinically reviewed by

Dr Hannan Imran

BDS (Newcastle), MFDS RCS (Edinburgh), PGCert Restorative Dental Practice (UCL)

GDC number: 264888