Health Checks Are a Waste of Money?” – What Katherine Ryan Got Right (and Why Your Dentist Might Agree)
Recently on her podcast Telling Everybody Everything, comedian Katherine Ryan made a comment about health checks that really caught our attention.
https://shows.acast.com/katherine-ryan-telling-everybody-everything
Talking about a previous medical consultation, she said:
“I think it’s really easy to take a diagnosis of ‘you’re healthy’ and just walk away.”
It’s a very Katherine Ryan observation — honest, a bit provocative, and exactly the kind of thing that makes you think.
Because here’s the slightly surprising truth from a dental practice:
We actually love it when you come in… and don’t need any treatment.
Yes, really.
The “No Treatment Needed” health check up Appointment Is Our Favourite
Many people assume dentists want to find problems. But the reality is the opposite.
The best possible outcome of a dental check-up is when we can say:
- Your teeth are healthy
- Your gums look great
- Everything is stable
- We don’t find anything sinister
- See you in six months
That’s not a wasted appointment.
That’s a success story.
Preventive dentistry means spotting tiny issues before they become painful, expensive or complicated. Sometimes the biggest value of a check-up is the reassurance that everything is exactly as it should be.
And honestly? Nothing makes us happier than telling a patient they don’t need any treatment at all.
Prevention Is Always Better (and Cheaper)
When people skip dental visits because they feel fine, problems can quietly develop without symptoms.
Things like:
• Gum disease
• Small cavities
• Cracked teeth
• Early enamel wear
These often start silently.
A simple check-up allows us to catch these early — when solutions are quicker, easier and far less costly.
In other words, a routine appointment isn’t about finding work to do.
It’s about preventing problems in the first place.
When Patients Want a Little “Tweakment”
Of course, sometimes patients do choose to make small cosmetic improvements — even when their teeth are perfectly healthy.
We shall call these dental tweakments.
The most popular include:
• Professional teeth whitening
• Small cosmetic bonding
• Smoothing or reshaping minor imperfections
These are subtle enhancements that can make a big difference to confidence, while still keeping everything natural.
Think of them as the dental equivalent of a great haircut — you didn’t need it, but you’re glad you did it.
The Dental Health Check-Up We All Want
If we could design the perfect appointment, it would look like this:
1. You come in for your check-up
2. We examine your teeth and gums
3. Everything looks fantastic
4. A clean and polished with the hygienist
5. You leave reassured and smiling
No drilling.
No treatment plans.
Just healthy teeth.
That’s the outcome we’re always aiming for.
The Bottom Line
Katherine Ryan is right about one thing: hearing you’re healthy can feel like the easiest appointment in the world.
But from our perspective, that result is the whole point.
Dental check-ups aren’t about finding problems — they’re about helping you avoid them entirely.
And if the only thing you ever need from us is the occasional clean and maybe a little whitening?
We’ll consider that a job very well done.
Want to keep your smile healthy (and hopefully treatment-free)?
Book your next routine dental health check-up and let’s make sure everything stays that way.
01245 357735
Stay on top of your appointments and save money with our AV Membership; https://www.aloeveradental.co.uk/dental-membership-plan-chelmsford-essex
Words From our Patients;
Patricia C – A small, very friendly practice that make you feel relaxed. Both the dentist and hygienist are excellent explaining everything they are doing or going to do. I thoroughly recommend this dentist studio.
Chloe H – This has been my dentist for years . Lovely staff, reassuring , calming and have taken great care of my teeth !
Tom G – I came to this practice following a very bad experience at a previous practice which left me fearful of all dentist. These guys welcomed me in to their practice with the understanding of my needs and fears. I’ve just had a very deep filling done with them. It was a very long intricate procedure. Through out the whole procedure they kept me calm and happy; with plenty of reassurance. I felt confident and happy through the whole experience and most importantly I trusted them.
If you’ve ever had a bad experience at a dentist and are fearful of any further treatments, give this practice a call. You can trust them. Lastly they provide a very intimate friendly service.
Can’t recommend them enough! Thank you
Aloe Vera Dental Studio, your journey to health and well being
