Dentist will most likely examine your teeth and gums for any visible problems. If necessary they may take an X-ray to make sure there aren’t any hidden problems. A dentist will decide if you need a cleaning to remove the hardened plaque from above and below the gum line. One may polish them to remove hardened plaque and stains from the tooth surfaces.

Palmer's notation is a widely used method to designate individual teeth. In Palmer's notation, your mouth is divided into four parts called quadrants, that is the upper left quadrant, the upper right quadrant, the lower left quadrant, and the lower right quadrant. Then each individual tooth in the quadrant is given a name. For example the two upper and two lower teeth at the center of your mouth are called central's. One then combines the names of the quadrant and the tooth to come up with a Palmer's notation. For example, the central on the upper right side of your mouth is called an upper right central.