First, Dr Giddy will ask you to tell her about your concerns - whether you have any discomfort or if you are unhappy with the appearance of any of your teeth - and about the history of your dental treatment.

Secondly, Dr Giddy will examine your TMJ (jaw joint) and occlusion (the way your teeth bite together) to make sure that your teeth and jaw are moving as they should.

Then she will check the glands in your neck and the soft tissues inside your mouth (your tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, palette) to ensure that everything is healthy. This process screens for oral cancer.

Dr Giddy will also make a detailed record of which teeth are present and any treatment that has already been performed on them.  She will then examine the teeth for a second time, noting any areas of concern (eg dental decay) where treatment may be necessary.

She will take detailed measurements of the condition of your gums and how firmly your teeth are anchored in the underlying bone. This identifies any areas of periodontal (gum) disease.

Next, she will also take any necessary x-rays, together with intra-oral pictures of any teeth that may require treatment.  All these images are digital, allowing Dr Giddy to show you enlargements on the computer screen. This means that you can see the inside of your own mouth in the same way that a dentist can, allowing you to really understand what is going on.

Dr Giddy will then tell you if she feels any treatment is required, explaining any procedures and the costs of each so that you may make an informed choice about what you want to do.