General Care | August 2026 | 5 min read
"it's been years since MY last check-up."
What actually happens when you come back, and why nobody is going to lecture you.
Written by the Adore team · Reviewed by Dr Ellie Kim (DEN0002313013)
If you've been putting it off
nobody here is counting the years.
Not this week, not this month, and almost certainly not this year.
People stop going for ordinary reasons. Money, one bad experience, a busy few years that quietly became a decade. Then a second thing happens: the longer it’s been, the harder it is to come back, because now there’s the appointment to dread and the gap to explain.
So here is exactly what happens when you do, start to finish, so the first one is a known quantity.
The honest part
what waiting longer actually costs.
We won’t tell you nothing has changed while you’ve been away. It probably has, and you wouldn’t believe us anyway.
Decay doesn’t stop. A small filling becomes a large one, a large one becomes a crown, and a crown can become a root canal. Each step is more involved and costs more than the one before it.
Which is an argument for coming in now, not an argument for feeling bad about the last few years.
YOUR FIRST VISIT BACK
IT'S LESS THAN YOU'RE PICTURING.
Most people who’ve left it a long time have already run the worst version in their head. Here’s what the appointment actually involves.
you tell us as much as you want to →
What happens: We ask what’s been going on and roughly how long it’s been. If something’s been bothering you, tell us. If you’d rather not get into why you stopped coming, that’s fine as well: we don’t need the backstory to help you.
What doesn’t: No lecture, and no running commentary about what you should have done differently. You’ve already done the harder part by booking.
we find out what is actually there →
What happens: A proper look, with photos and X-rays where they’re needed, so we’re working from what’s there rather than a guess. We’ll show you on screen as we go, so you’re seeing what we’re seeing.
What doesn’t: Nothing gets started on the day that you haven’t agreed to first. If you’d rather only have the examination this visit and think about the rest, say so and that’s what happens.
you get a plan, and a number →
What happens: You leave knowing what we found, what it would take to sort out, in what order, and what it costs in writing. If it makes sense to stage things over time, we’ll tell you what’s worth doing sooner and what can reasonably wait.
What doesn’t: No pressure to book anything on the day, and no vague “we’ll work the cost out later”. You take the plan away and decide in your own time.
you don't have to explain where you've been.
The things people actually worry about
BEFORE YOU BOOK.
If your concern isn't here, please get in touch with us. We're always happy to help.
will it hurt?
An examination does not. A clean can be uncomfortable in places, particularly around gums that are inflamed or where roots are exposed, and inflamed gums are common after a long gap. Tell us when something is sore and we will adjust rather than push through. If you would rather we stopped and did it across two appointments, that is a completely reasonable thing to ask for.
i'm genuinely scared of the dentist.
Say so when you book, so it is in the notes before you arrive rather than something you have to explain in the chair. Longer appointments, a slower pace, agreed breaks and a hand signal to stop all help more than people expect. Sedation options are available for treatment that needs them, provided at our clinic by an independent team of specialist anaesthetists, assessed separately and not suitable for everyone. Plenty of people who assumed they needed sedation find they did not once the appointment was planned differently.
what if there's a lot wrong?
Then there is a lot wrong, and it gets put in an order and worked through. This is a normal week for us and not a crisis. Nothing gets started on the day beyond your examination and clean, so you leave with information rather than with a commitment.
i can't afford a big treatment plan.
Tell us at the appointment. Staging treatment over months is normal, and knowing what the priorities are is useful even if you only do the first thing on the list. Private health extras cover contributes to general dentistry more than most people assume, and we can give you the item codes so you can check exactly what yours will pay.
do i need a referral?
No. You can book directly, whether you have been to Adore before or not.
what should i know before i start?
Cleans can leave teeth briefly more sensitive, and where long-standing gum disease is treated the gums can settle back afterwards, which makes teeth look slightly longer. Fillings involve removing the decayed part of the tooth and a little sound tooth around it, which does not grow back. The full detail for every treatment is on our risks and considerations page.
CONTACT US
GET IN TOUCH WITH US.
Whether you're ready to book or just curious, we'd love to hear from you. We'll get back to you as soon as possible.
I agree to Adore Dental contacting me about this enquiry and storing my details. See our Privacy Policy.