Dental Exam

It can be all too easy to overlook a dental exam appointment. You may believe that you would be able to detect any problems with your teeth, mouth, and gums on your own. In reality, many problems are virtually undetectable when they are just getting started. The dental examination provides your dental team an opportunity to thoroughly examine your teeth and gums so that any problems can be detected and headed off in an early stage when intervention is most successful.

Benefits of Dental Exams

Detects gum disease
Detects tooth decay
Detects oral cancer
Catches problems in their early stages before unnecessary dental work is required

The Dental Exam

When you undergo a dental exam, your hygienist has a chance to examine your teeth, mouth and gums. They’re trained to look for signs of problems that you may not have even noticed on your own.

Most dental exams do not normally take very long unless problems are detected. If that is the case, your dentist will be brought in for a closer examination. They may recommend that you undergo some type of treatment, which is better scheduled at that time so that the situation does not progress further.

What To Expect

Although there may be some differences between individual patient exams, there are some common elements to most dental exams.

Teeth Examination

An examination of the teeth is often one of the first elements of a dental exam. Your dentist or dental hygienist will be using a small metal device with a mirror on it to examine all surfaces of your teeth.

They will also use another tool that has a hook on it. The hook is used to look for any signs of tooth enamel softening to learn if any holes found in the teeth are actually cavities or a leftover food particle.

Checking Gums

When your dentist or dental hygienist is using the small device with the attached mirror, they are not only looking at your teeth, they are also examining your gums. They will closely examine your gums for any signs of gum disease, which is the leading cause of missing teeth. Detecting gum disease is very important in ensuring that you keep your natural teeth for the rest of your life.

So they will be checking for any signs of swelling, sores, or redness on your gums. They will also check for gum pockets that could indicate the presence of gum disease. These pockets can form when your gums begin pulling away from your teeth due to gum disease.

Checking For Other Problems

Your dentist or dental hygienist will also be looking for other types of problems. For example, they will take a look at your tongue to ensure that it is the correct shape and color. They will also be checking your jaw line and neck area to ensure that you’re not experiencing any bone loss and that your jaw is properly aligned.

Learn More

Protect your teeth and gums with routine dental exams. Our team would be delighted to answer any questions you may have. Call or request an appointment online today!